Little Tikes Pickup Truck - a 3 year olds dream vehicle!
Written: May 30 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Larger Size, Sturdy, Wheels have some traction, a working door, no batteries required
Cons: Black color means it gets hot! non functional steering wheel, only one door.
The Bottom Line: A fun, sturdy, and super cute ride on toy for truck loving kids.
|
|
|
| marytara's Full Review: Pick-Up Truck |
I'm not normally the pickup truck type of girl but my three year old son absolutely loves trucks of all types especially ones that look like ones his dad drives like his little black Power Wheels Jeep Enforcer Jr. which is an almost perfect replica of our, now demised, black Jeep Wrangler. So, I knew when I drove down a neighborhood street and saw this Little Tikes Pickup Truck on the curb, I had a hard time passing it by. In fact, I wondered if it was really "on the curb" or if a small child had just left it there since it was in such great shape, that I actually asked the owner of the house (they were outside) what the deal was. Sure enough, they didn't want it anymore (kids outgrown it, etc) and happily helped load it into my car. Yippee!
All about the Little Tikes Pickup Truck
This is one of larger vehicles in the Little Tikes fleet of kid-powered vehicles, made to look just like a little black pickup truck. The styling is similar to the Cozy Coupe but on a larger scale and with a flatbed in the back. I've seen this pickup truck in black and also yellow. The newer current model includes an accessory set with a helmet and a toolbox as well as additional decal styling. The version I'm reviewing here is the original version. No longer sold in stores but often found at local yard/tag/garage sales and if you get lucky - as a curbside find.
Originally retailing in the $60-80 dollar price range, this truck is not inexpensive but its the Little Tikes rugged quality made to take a beating and last for years. I am not sure when ours was originally purchased since we got it pre-owned. But I'm guessing it is at least 5 years old since the owner stated her kids had outgrown it. The truck is perfect for kids around 2-4 years of age give or take. Younger kids may have a hard time maneuvering it since its larger/heavier size than some other ride-ons. And larger kids may find the driver cab just a bit too tight and bump their shins. My son, who is 3 1/2 years old fits this perfectly and will probably get at least another year out of it.
Fun features of this Little Tikes Pickup Truck include a working horn on the steering wheel, a door to get in and out of, a roomy cab and a truckbed with a tailgate. The truckbed is not very roomy but can hold a toy, beverage, dirt or whatever. I've seen people also use this with another child in the back, and the gate down but I don't really think thats very safe nor do I know if that was the intention of Little Tikes when they made this so I can't personally advocate this. We'll stick with toys, dirt, and rocks as cargo.
I love when there are NO BATTERIES REQUIRED. This vehicle is completely foot-powered, ala Fred Flintsone. Though there is a steering wheel, it is completely for show and doesn't affect where the vehicle goes. This is probably a good thing since my son doesn't always "get" steering, but can also be a frustration.
My son loves that this truck is black and the looks of it. Despite the fact that its several years old it still looks black and hasn't faded at all. I'm sure its been left outside before we got it, and it continues to spend most of its time outside here as well. The only real downside to this is that the black plastic can get way too hot to touch, so caution should definitely be exercised on sunny days.
The tires on this truck actually have a bit of traction, unlike the smooth plastic tires that are on the Cozy Coupe. Its just as noisy (especially on pavement or sidewalks), but handles a bit better on bumpy sidewalks and even in a grassy yard.
Initial assembly I'm sure was a bear, since these ride-ons do require "some assembly" (yeah right...). I'm happy to have been able to skip that step of fitting plastic together, mounting the wheels and decal application. Over time some of the original decals on this truck have taken a beating but it doesn't affect the trucks functionality one bit. In fact, I think it just gives it some character.
Overall this truck has been a big hit with my little boy. Any truck loving kid will enjoy motoring around in this truck from Little Tikes. Even though I personally don't care for trucks, I must highly recommend it based on my son's enjoyment!
Other Little Tikes Outdoor Fun Reviews
Little Tikes Deluxe Cozy Convertible Car
Little Tikes Climb & Slide Playhouse
Little Tikes Variety Climber And Swing Extension 4175
Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug 'n Secure Swing
Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox
Little Tikes Load & Ride Dump Truck
www.littletikes.com
Yet another contribution to the garage sale write off hosted by Pippadaisy.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): FREE
Type of Toy: Car, Truck or Raceway
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
marytara
|
 in Education, Kids & Family |
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: MT
Location: Jersey Shore
Reviews written: 915
Trusted by: 635 members
About Me:
email to suggest a product for Kids & Family/Education
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.