Tuner Lift
Oswald Estrada
Tuner Lift is a vehicle jack system designed to handle the problems car enthusiast are having while lifting their cars. By using actuators mounted on a vehicle, Tuner Lift provides numerous combinations for lifting at a moments notice. It works with a touch of a button, requires no tools, and lifts the car in place. With the help of a trunk mounted switch panel or a bluetooth connected app the user has quick access to lifting capabilities. With Tuner Lift users are able to perform at home maintenance in small garages, on the road, or even at the race track. Simply put Tuner lift will revolutionize the way the automotive industry approaches the process of lifting a car.
In order to understand who this product best fits we can take a look at current market and its growth.
SEMA, is the largest automotive tradeshow held in North America. Leading the $44.6 billion-dollar automotive aftermarket industry.
2,400 exhibiting companies at SEMA consist of automotive accessories
71,000 companies are seeking the hottest products to sell
Car enthusiast spend $7.2 billion dollars each year customizing their vehicles.
I wanted to focus on the needs of the enthusiasts, the do-it-yourself hobbyist, and track drivers. This crowd interacts with their vehicle more than the normal A to B driver. They like to do their own repairs, modify their cars, and at times test the limits of what their cars potential is on the track. Enthusiasts tend to have larger spending budgets and are also more willing to invest in parts and equipment for their cars. I designed a niche market product, that can help enthusiasts while attracting the attention of the common driver and the automotive industry to show them a solution that should be a standard feature in a vehicle.
The actuators extend up to 17” and retract back to 6” due to the ability of the telescopic feature. They are made from steel to support 1 ton at each jack point. The actuator is bolted on to the frame with a bracket and once the actuator is in use it maintains grip and balance with the help of its over molded footings. If the user is working at night or in a low light visibility area 3 reflective rings help ward off nearby traffic. There are 4 LEDS located on the foot that can be turned on and they will provide lighting to the entire under carriage of the vehicle.
The Tuner Lift app acts as a secondary control in case the user doesn’t want to access the trunk or isn’t near the vehicle. The app does not depend on internet since it works based off of Bluetooth. The app provides all the functions of the switch panel in an orderly manner. When using the Tuner Lift app, the owner can also look up his specific vehicle and will be provided with quick tips and maintenance information such as preferred oil type, torque specs, or tire pressure recommendations.
The control panel is trunk mounted and receives power from the car battery. It has a protective red cover on the power button to avoid accidental actuation incase items in the trunk turned it on. Furthermore, there is a secondary safety on the cover that uses the magnetic lock. The switch panel is made from aluminum to ensure its durability and light weight. With the help of indication arrows and lights, Tuner Lift will let you know what position you are actuating and what direction it is going.
Once you select the required lift, you will be able to turn on the system and use the arrow keys to either extend or retract the actuator jacks. Press and hold the on-screen arrow for the direction you desire. In about a minute the entire car will be off the ground and you will have easy access to complete repairs or minor maintenance tasks.
Hi, I am Oswald, an Industrial designer born in Long Beach, California. While growing up in California I was able to be influenced by the automotive industry and motorsports. This influence is a passion and hobby of mine that has always played an integral role in my life. Having a knack for mechanics, a want to have an impact in my community and a thirst to learn how things worked led me to joining the United States Air Force. I completed training as an Avionics technician where I was tasked with performing technical repairs on C-130J aircraft. Soon after I transitioned to my current role as a sensor operator on the MQ-9 Reaper. The MQ-9 is a remotely piloted aircraft utilizing state-of-the-art equipment that allows me perform surveillance and reconnaissance, provide close air support, and real time battle damage assessment. With over 8 years of military experience and now my Industrial design degree I am looking forward to making an impact with my designs and seeking opportunites to cement myself withing the automotive design industry.