Babble Best: Toy Trucks
Our five favorite sets of wheels.
by Aaron Burgess
August 11, 2008
|
Tykes and trucks and are a natural combination, but not all toy trucks pack the best combination of fun and durability for kids. We put a fleet of four-wheelers to the test and emerged with five trucks that'll satisfy the fire chief, the dirt demon and the budding engineer in your family. — Aaron Burgess
|
|
Tonka: Toughest Mighty Truck - $31
We probably could've dedicated this entire column to Tonka: Increased use of plastic components aside, the ultimate toy truck hasn't changed much since its 1947 debut. After spending the day loading it with rocks and dirt — which barely put a scratch in its roomy, rugged steel bed — our testers liked being able to ride this 20-inch-long, foot-high rig down the driveway, much to Mom's chagrin. We don't recommend that sort of extreme testing, but it's comforting to know the Toughest Mighty Truck's six-inch-high plastic wheels can take that much abuse and still be ready to haul. That the truck also includes a lifetime warranty is just gravy.
Get it from Amazon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Playmobil: Ladder Truck - $68
Given all the tiny, removable plastic parts Playmobil includes with each set, you're not likely to set this one loose in the yard anytime soon. But for kids who are more inclined to building and fantasy play than to heavy-duty dirt hauling, Playmobil's line of safety vehicles offers hours of imaginative indoor fun. The ladder extends up to 28 inches for battling blazes in your personal Playmobil city, and with a few AA batteries (not included), you get all the lights and sounds of a real-life fire engine.
Get it from Amazon.
|
|
|
Bruder Toys: MAN Cement Mixer - $46
Bruder's MAN line rivals Tonka for its combination of function and durability, but this Cement Mixer in particular offers some cool features. We tested it in the sandbox, and our little tykes loved the ability to load "cement" (in this case, sand and stones) into the truck's drum and send it pouring down the chute. You can also fill the tank with water and use the built-in hose to clean the chute afterward. It's recommended for ages 3 to 7, but for safety's sake, you'll want to keep an eye on little ones when the concrete starts flowing.
Get it from Amazon.
|
|
|
LEGO Garbage Truck - $15
Another one you won't want to let out of the playroom, LEGO's 206-piece garbage truck (part of the altogether awesome LEGO City line) offers a number of even cooler features after you're finished building it. Put your minifigure to work loading and unloading the hopper, and "recycle" the junk bricks into new creations. This one tested best with our 8-year-old, who's already a pretty skilled LEGO builder — though it's geared toward ages 5-12, his 5-year-old brother needed Dad's help to get it together.
Get it from Amazon.
|
|
|
Fisher-Price: Tuff Rumblin Dump Truck - $43
Not many plastic trucks can take the same level of abuse you'd throw at a Tonka, but despite several days' worth of ramming, crashing and heavy loading, the Tuff Rumblin Dump Truck came through our testing relatively unscathed. Like the Tonka, Fisher-Price's hauling monster is almost large enough to sit in comfortably, and unlike the Tonka, the Tuff Rumblin truck includes a chunky lever for lowering and unloading.
Get it from Amazon.
|
|
©2008 Nerve Media
About the Author
|
|
Related Articles
|
 |
Aaron Burgess lives with his wife and their three wonderful boys in Austin, Texas, where he supports his freelance-writing career with a daytime gig in the high-tech industry. He is a regular contributor to SPIN, Harp, Revolver, The Onion A.V. Club, Alternative Press and the St. Louis Riverfront Times. |
|
|
-
by Meredith Broussard
Fake homemade cookies with our favorite pre-made doughs.
-
by Nicole Feliciano
Our five favorite modern baby baskets.
-
by Nicole Feliciano
Our five favorite onesie washes.
|
