Editorial Review

Just like the real front loaders you might see working along the highway, the Mighty Front Loader was designed to dig, dump, and haul. With its large working bucket, deep-cleated tires, and heavy-duty steel construction, this solid truck is guaranteed for life and built for endless hours of fun in the sandbox or yard. Two handles let you control the angle of the work bucket so you can dig or dump sand and dirt, or move rocks around. Or you can set the bucket in a middle position when you want to haul things for a while without holding the handle. The cab and engine sections swivel, making it easy to steer the front loader to where the work is. The large wheels (4.5-inch diameter) have been mounted over strong steel axles, tested for up to 50 pounds. Realistically styled, the front loader measures 22 inches long by 8 inches wide by 9.5 inches high. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Tonka Toys are Tough!
This is a GREAT toy for a rough little boy which is exactly what we have here! My son received this for Christmas a year ago & it still looks great & works great! That is saying lots!! He can destroy a lot of toys quickly b/c he is all boy!! For example, he received a truck for his birthday a month ago which was supposed to be a good rugged truck well it has been pronounced dead & retired to the trash already after just a month, but not his Tonka toys! But then we always buy the metal ones for him! I dont think you can go wrong with this toy! We are actly buying him a few more in this same line for this Christmas b/c they are so rugged!

The best construction toys
After much research I'm back to the old steadfast Tonka for my 3 year old.

These are the best construction toys for kids. I gave it a 4 for the plastic parts. I still have my Tonka loader in perfect condition from 1970, it has a metal loader bucket and mechanism. Although you could argue that the plastic bucket might be more safe if it gets plowed into anything other than dirt or it won't get scraped up from digging and corrode if left out in the elements too often. I like all metal.

But these are still just great construction toys. The competitors use too much plastic in places where they'll actually break. They feel like they're going to fall apart unless sitting foreven on a shelf.

Kids will push anything to it's limit, at least smaller kids. So expect any flimsy plastic, realistic looking parts to get broken, unless it's building blocks or something like that.

There's a difference between hard plastic and softer plastic in terms of durability. Most of the competitor trucks feel like hard plastic. The harder plastic snaps frm fatigue. The bucket on the loader is a bit softer, it's more pliable so it shouldn't snap from moderate abuse

I'd also stay away from the Tonkas that look more realistic but are all plastic, a harder plastic, and battery operated. Although alittle more realistic looking, those aren't really made for digging or pushing or anything but pretending to dig on a carpet inside only. Perhaps for older kids who play more realistically than forcefully. I've seen some with all of their realistic brittle plastic loader parts just broked off where they attach from over use from preschoolers.

These look much more durable, and they are. My sons still look pretty darn good and they've seen much use.

Buy it
These are the BEST toys in the world for kids who love transportation.I got this on special with the free dump truck and they have been all over the house, yard and even went on display for show and tell in grade K.All the kids love it.

If this is on special with the free dump truck as it is several times then don't hesitate get two and save it for a birthday gift.Both girls and boys love 'em.Great buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Construction Vehicles    3. Preschool    4. Push and Pull Toys    5. Die-Cast   

Reviews (3)

Great Truck!!!
We bought this truck for our 1 year old son yesterday. He loves it. He has been pushing it around all day. It is very durable and my future grandchildren will probaly play with this. It is totaly worth the money. Plus it is big enough that you can put your child in it and push it around. With adult supervision only. I am also going to use this for my sons second birthday party, I am going to put the cake in the back of it because it is a construction theme.

Nice Truck!
We bought this for our 16 month old son's Christmas present, after much deliberation. We bought this truck, instead of a softer, all plastic one for several reasons.
The metal(steel?) bed has rolled edges, and very few corners. It's coated with some kind of enamel, so it should last awhile.
The rest of the truck is made of some kind of really heavy plastic; I can't imagine a child being able to break it if they tried. The tippy part of the bed is suspended above the truck, to leave about an inch of space, making it almost impossible to pinch little fingers. It's big enough for my almost three year old to sit in, and I can hardly wait for Christmas!
~Incandesia

Awesome Truck!
Boy, what a great investment this was!We bought this along with the front loader and wow, does it get used a lot!My little one just loves filling up that front loader and dumping stuff into the back of this dump truck.The dump truck then goes all over the place delivering whatever is in the back, and comes back for more.He goes through sand, mud, you name it and looks great.These trucks clean up very easily and don't marr hardwood floors.It's pretty cute seeing how many things he can do with this truck - it just provides hours of fun for him. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Trucks   

Editorial Review

Mighty indeed! This Tonka backhoe is aptly named. Riding high above the ground (11 inches) on large, rugged tires (4.5 inches indiameter), it's constructed of heavy-duty steel and durable plastic. Realistically styled after a full-size backhoe, it has a long steel arm for digging deep or scooping up rocks and dirt. The backhoe can swivel a full 360 degrees on the truck bed, making it easy to load dirt into other trucks or get to those hard-to-reach rock piles. There's a sure-grip handle on the side of the arm for lifting and lowering, and another handle at the base of the arm lets the "driver" extend or retract the work bucket for scooping and dumping. The backhoe sits on strong steel axles that have been tested with a 50-pound load. With a lifetime guarantee to back it up, the Mighty Backhoe is built to withstand all the rough play your kids can dish out. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (14)

But .....its not a backhoe.
It looks like a cool toy, but it really isn't anything like a backhoe you would normally see on a construction site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhoe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cat-backhoe-loader07.jpg

Built Strong for Hours of Play
We purchased the Tonka Mighty Backhoe and the Tonka Mighty Dump Truck for my son for Christmas this year.As a child, I had numerous Tonka trucks, and I can remember how much fun I had playing with them.Although plastic has replaced some of the parts that used to be steel, these trucks are still built strong for hours of fun play, either indoors or outdoors.As for the backhoe, it has a strongly-built cab and handles for the child to hold on to while operating the backhoe.This is an improvement from when I was a child.The backhoe bends in two places, so picking up small objects is very easy.The wheels are made of a sturdy plastic.I highly recommend this fun toy.Combine it with another Tonka vehicle to give your child hours of construction fun.

My 3 year old grandson loves favorite trucks
I bought the backhoe, dump truck and the back loader and recently purchase the crane for him.He takes them everywhere he goes. His father takes him to see the real ones at work and he know what each one is called.

They are very durable.Great trucks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Construction Vehicles    3. Preschool    4. Push and Pull Toys    5. Die-Cast   

Editorial Review

The name Tonka means "big 'n' chunky" to many people, and this dump truck doesn't disappoint. Even the plastic chassis and front end are sturdy, and the tipping truck bed--itself nearly a foot long--is a solid slab of yellow steel. The tires are almost 5 inches in diameter and can ride confidently over any random pile of lesser toys. This is not a vehicle with a great deal of sophistication--the truck bed tilts, and that's it--but it is one that encourages, and can take, a lot of rough use. Included with the truck are a sturdy plastic construction helmet with the Tonka logo and two tools, a shovel scoop and three-pronged rake. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• Construction Helmet
• Tools
• Special Gift Pack includes:
• Tonka Mighty Dump Truck

Reviews (8)

over aged tonka lover
i got it used and kinda rusty (...)it is stronger than nails i play in my garage with it & hall gravel in it its a good sizei over flow it with rocks & unhapply end up crashing it sometimes dosnt scratch this monsteri have had plastic trucks before they did not hold up very well i recomend it for all little kids your not 2 old for till u cant engoy it no more

Tonka Tough
It is a very durable toy.My boys (ages 3 & 5) have pushed each other around in it for a year or more. It has taken trips through the rock garden and weathered a few rain storms too. With a little care and cleaning it looks a great as the day we got it.Not to mention the hat is really neat!The tools last quite a long time for staying outside all year. Most other sand/dirt toys last a month and then crack and break into a million pieces.

Built Strong for Hours of Fun!
I remember when I was a child and I received a Tonka dump truck for Christmas.Now that I have my own son, I've carried on the tradition and purchased one for him.Tonka has always been known for their strong and durable toys, and this mighty dump truck keeps up the tradition.Although no longer completely made out of steel, the plastic is still stong and durable and holds up very well.The colors are bright and inviting, and the main parts (i.e. dumper and cab) are still made from steel.I highly recommend this excellent toy.I hope my son gets as much joy and fun from his new mighty dump truck as I did when I had mine. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mighty is right! This Tonka crane, constructed of heavy-dutysteel and durable plastic, rides high on large, rugged tires.Realistically styled, it has a long, steel arm with a bucket attachedfor scooping up and relocating rocks or dirt. With its deep-cleatedtires and heavy-duty steel construction, this solid vehicle isguaranteed for life and built for endless hours of fun in the sandboxor yard. The bright-yellow cab section swivels, making it easy to steerthe crane to where the work is. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A frustrating toy
My son loves all the Tonka vehicles, but this one frustrates him.The crane mechanism comes out of the slot easily.It also tips over easily.It doesn't balance very well when lifting something.It is also awkward to move and store due to the crane part.

A little disappointed
I am a big fan of the metal Tonka trucks. My son has the dump truck (which he loves) and the backhoe (which he also loves). I bought the crane thinking it would be a great addition to his backyard fleet. For the most part it is, however if your child is rough and tough like my 3 year old, you might encounter some problems. For one thing it kept tipping over when he would try to operate it and then the bucket came off and had to be retied on. He still plays with it but I was a little disappointed in Tonka on this one.

Choose the backhoe, front loader or dump truck instead...
This is a great looking truck that really excited my 4-year old at first.It quickly became frustrating for him because the arm would collapse and the string would come undone and get jammed.We have the other 3 trucks in this line and absolutely love them. Skip the crane! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Construction Vehicles    3. Preschool    4. Push and Pull Toys    5. Die-Cast   

Reviews (1)

Great trucks, and a great value!
These trucks are the perfect size for my three year-old construction fanatic.The "mighty" Tonka trucks are too big for him, the "jr. basic" Tonka trucks are too small for him (though they were excellent for him in the sandbox a year ago), and the "jr. force" Tonka trucks are too flimsy for working in our tough Oklahoma dirt!These trucks have a steel body and plastic wheels and accents.The description does not contain their dimensions, so here they are...the grader is roughly 17Lx8Wx7H, and the dump truck is roughly 14Lx6Wx7H.The price is excellent, the quality is very good, and my son loves them!What a deal! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast   

Editorial Review

This motorized rescue helicopter from Tonka is sure to be a hitwith helicopter-loving toddlers. The motorized winch can raise andlower the provided stretchers (which then fit cleverly into slots onthe sides), the rotor turns at the press of a button, and additionalbuttons trigger the siren or helicopter sound. The button to turn therotor is in a perfect spot for holding the helicopter while flying andalso turns on the adjustable spotlight for night rescues. The cockpitand cabin open to insert a pilot or other characters if desired (notincluded). The helicopter contains small parts that could pose achoking hazard to children under the age of 3. It requires four AAbatteries (included). --Jay Weinland ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jack's mom
this is a sturdy action packed toy, BUT who ever packaged this without the "GUY" to pilot it was absurd in the highest degree...not a parent no doubt!Hey Tonka ADD THE PILOT! It's very hard to find one after the fact, that's why I'm here today! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast   

Reviews (1)

Great toy
I am 14 years old and just got it for Christmas. This toy is awesome. Houres of fun. I will get this for my 17 year old brother. I have 5 of them. This was my favorite gift ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Reviews (3)

a good sturdy toy that doesn't light up or make noise!
I wanted one good toy for my 18 month old that didn't make noise, light up , or require batteries for anything else. I may end up getting one for the sand box and one for inside..It is also a great value.My son likes to pile in his weebles and push the truck around.

Best toy truck....
My mpom brought this truck for my 10 month son to play with at her house.He loves it, even though he is still young and has no idea what a truck is, he can say dumptruck when we talk about trucks and stuff.He really loves this little truck and it is of great value for the money.I can see it being used in th sandbox this summer.Great truck!!

Durable - good value
Purchased this dump truck for my 3 year-old to use at the beach, and it passed with flying colors! Easy to handle for small hands, cleans up great (although make sure to drain the tires if it has been submerged - they sure hold a lot of water!) and managed to survive being dropped, thrown, stepped on and crushed under a pile of beach gear. Good value for only [item price]. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast   

Editorial Review

Always ready to help out stranded drivers in the playroom or onthe back patio, this Lights and Sound Tow Truck is a good vehicle to addto your car and truck collection. An all-plastic, hand-powered replicaof a real roadside service vehicle, this 13-inch truck is equipped witha working winch and four different light and sound effects, includingtwo horn sounds, a rumbling motor, and the sound of the truck's towingwinch being cranked in. All four sound effects are accompanied byflashing emergency and front headlights, and you can activate thetruck's winch sound by hooking a car, or simply tuck up the towing winchand reeling the car in by hand. The tow truck is powered by two AAbatteries (included). --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (4)

FUN! FUN!!
Our son loves this Tow Truck!He is always towing his cars around his room. Great gift.

St. Louis, MO.

My 2 year old LOVES this toy!
Last Christmas I brought this toy for my 2 year old son and he LOVES it!The lights and sounds give him the real feeling of being the driver of the truck.He's had this toy for 11 months now and so far nothing has broken and the paint has not chipped.It still looks like new.I am so impressed that I am also going to buy him the lights and sound fire engine.This toy was well worth the money!

Grandson LOVES This Toy
While my almost-3-year-old grandson and I were opening the box, Jacob was already looking for the buttons to press on this tow truck.He loves the sounds!Then I explained to him the tow truck's job -- to help cars that can't "go" anymore.This truck will take the broken-down car to a garage to get fixed.So, we found a little car he hooked onto the tow truck.Right now, he's learning how to work the winch.And, the lights on this toy are VERY impressive!I told him this truck is not afraid of the dark.It has to help people all day and all night long.Last, but not least, we put M&M candy in the "secret compartment" in case SOMEONE got hungry while on the job.Great toy!Loads of fun!Well made, very colorful, not too heavy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Vehicles    3. Die-Cast    4. Trucks   

Reviews (2)

Tonka Jr.small, durable and a good deal
First off, I disagree with the first reviewer.My son has three of these vehicles and they are perfect for a 1 year old like they are intended.
My son and husband spent hours of together time, on the floor, playing with his "cars."There are no worries of things falling apart or breaking off...very well made for their compact size and the price is a literal steal!
And these are just wonderful.You can wipe them down or spray them with lysol and they are germ free.
While Tonka is known for it's metal vehicles these are child friendly and less likely to break thanyou'd think.
I've given several as 1st birthday gifts to little boys and have gotten rave "reviews" from parents.
They're chunky and the wheel "axels" are covered by the base of the vehicle so there is little liklihood that they will fall apart.My son has dropped his, played with them in the sand and a quick rinse and they are good to go again.
I think this was a smart move for the people at Tonka...and they are much safer than some of those other brands of cars and trucks that usually end up in little mouths.
But you be the ultimate judge.

Not worth the money!!
Please move on! This toy is not worth the money!! It is very small. Not very durable! Cheap plastic!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Construction Vehicles   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast   

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast   

Editorial Review

Like all of the trucks and vehicles in the Tonka line, this Motorized Front Loading Tractor isdesigned to help young builders get the job done right. Smaller and lighter than the sturdy steel trucks thatTonka is famous for, the tractor's realistically styled body is made of heavy-duty plastic and comes withthe requisite "Tonka Tough" guarantee. The tractor can be controlled manually, or you can use the twohand levers mounted on the back to lift and lower the front bucket, and to activate the tractor's motorizedengine. The tractor's lights flash when it is moving in both the forward and reverse directions, and a hornsounds when it is circling in the reverse direction. Two small buttons on the side of the 10-inch tractor canbe used to activate the horn and motor sounds separately. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (1)

NOT "tonka tough"
My son received this toy as a gift and absolutely loved it.However, it didn't hold up anytime.One of the two plastic wheel tracks almost immediately came off and seemed too big to stay on after that.Also, the plastic pieces that make the bucket lift broke off quite quickly.Beyond that, the batteries died after about the second week as well (and who can afford new batteries every two weeks).My son still plays with it, but I would rather invest in a more durable non-motorized toy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Vehicles    3. Die-Cast    4. Construction Vehicles