We stumbled upon the Marastar Tire Lift Caddy while browsing Amazon for a solution to a familiar and often painful problem—lifting and installing heavy off-road wheels and tires. 

With each tire easily weighing between 70 to 90 pounds or more, even a single mishandled lift can result in lasting injury.

The promise of an ergonomic tool designed to save our backs was worth investigating, so we decided to give the Tire Lift Caddy (TLC) a shot.

The first pleasant surprise came right out of the box—no assembly required. True to the product description, the unit arrives ready to use.

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The design is simple and sturdy, featuring a powder-coated steel frame, a lift system actuated by a 19mm socket, and hard polymer rollers that support the tire and allow for easy rotation.

Smooth rolling swivel casters make positioning it straightforward, even in tight garage spaces.

 

How To Use the Tire Lift Caddy

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1. Using the TLC is intuitive. We first loosened the lug nuts slightly, jacked up the vehicle, and then rolled the caddy under the wheel.

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2. Raising the rollers with a powered impact driver (or a manual socket wrench, if preferred) allowed us to gently lift the tire off the ground.

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3. With the tire cradled by the Caddy’s rollers, remove the lug nuts.

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4. With the lug nuts fully removed, the wheel and tire will fully rest on the rollers. If it does not, raise the rollers until it does.

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5. This makes it easy to pull the entire assembly straight off the studs without any heavy lifting or awkward angles.

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6. To lower the tire, we used the caddy’s removable ramp, letting the tire roll down safely and under control.

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7. Putting the wheel back on was just as straightforward. We reversed the process, using the caddy’s ramp to roll the tire up onto the rollers, lift it into place, and spin it for precise alignment with the studs.

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8. This spin-on capability is especially helpful when dealing with heavier wheels and tires that can otherwise be a struggle to rotate and align manually.

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9. Reinstall the lug nuts. Don’t forget to properly torque them after the vehicle is back on the floor.

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10. Once the wheel and tire are secured, lower the TLC’s rollers and roll it out of the way. Lower the vehicle on to the ground, torque the lug nuts to the proper spec and you’re done, all without excess stress to your back.

 

The TLC is marketed as universally compatible with most car, truck, and SUV tires, and so far, we’ve had no issues using it with larger off-road wheel setups.

It supports a maximum load of 150 pounds, which covers the range of most wheel and tire combos you’re likely to encounter in a home garage or shop environment.

 

Final Thoughts

We approached this product with healthy skepticism—it was a relatively low-cost Amazon find, and there was no shortage of overpromising tools in this space.

After several uses, we’ve become firm believers. For us, it genuinely does what it claims to do. A quick search online didn’t turn up anything else quite like it, which is surprising given how practical and effective this tool is.

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Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, need to do seasonal tire changes, cleaning wheels and suspension parts, doing brake jobs – or any other chore that requires wheel and tire removal, the Tire Lift Caddy is a practical addition to your garage that helps take strain off your back and makes wheel handling a whole lot easier.

 

Marastar Tire Lift Caddy

 

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Disclaimer: Working on a vehicle can be dangerous and may result in serious injury or death if proper safety procedures are not followed. Always ensure your vehicle is securely supported using appropriate jacks and jack stands before removing or installing wheels. Use tools as intended and follow all manufacturer instructions and safety guidelines. If you are unsure about any part of the process, consult a professional mechanic. The information in this article is based on our personal experience and is provided for general informational purposes only. Use at your own risk. 

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