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Exercise guide

Car Deadlift

How to do the Car Deadlift with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundOtherIntermediatePull
Primary muscles

Quads

Secondary

Forearms, Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Traps

Equipment

Other

Step by step

How to do the Car Deadlift

  1. 1

    This event apparatus typically has neutral grip handles, however some have a straight bar that you can approach like a normal deadlift. The apparatus can be loaded with a vehicle or other heavy objects such as tractor tires or kegs.

  2. 2

    Center yourself between the handles if you are a strong squatter, or back a couple inches if you are a strong deadlifter. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the handles. With your feet and your grip set, take a big breath and then lower your hips and flex the knees.

  3. 3

    Look forward with your head, keep your chest up and your back arched, and begin driving through the heels to move the weight upward. As the weight comes up, pull your shoulder blades together as you drive your hips forward.

  4. 4

    Lower the weight by bending at the hips and guiding it to the floor.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Car Deadlift set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your quads volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More quads exercises

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