cheap RC construction vehicles for kids that aren't junk

[masraum]

Anyone got any inexpensive construction equipment that isn't junk? The kids are young, 5 and 8. Their interests vary like a moth in a lighting store, and they aren't easy on toys. I think they'd enjoy something like this. I don't need it to be a $300 kit that's going to last years, but I don't want total junk that's going to be dead in a day or because it was in a sandbox.

Anyone got any experience with this sort of thing?

[aschen]

Have 3 small kids, and tons of RC stuff, like way too much from 20$ amazon toys to many hundreds of dollars rc helis and planes.

I think RC construction toys are certainly going to break quickly and not be that much fun to play with. I think something like an RC rock crawler would be more fun and durable.

I don't have any particular one to recommend below hobby grade, but WL toys usually makes some decent low $$ stuff and you can actually buy spare parts. They kinda strattle the line between hobby grade (team associated, axial, Losi etc) and toy grade

[Ayles]

My 10yo son has been in to RC for 5 years. We started with a team associated 1/12 scale crawler. Still gets used to this day. Never had a real problem with it parts are readily avaialable. I would invest in a decent charger. They are a must with maintaining lipos.

[Scott Douglas]

My three year old grandsons have these:

They are used as 'indoor' toys as they have large Tonka toys for the sandbox.
While down at my son's house last weekend we played with their RC trucks.



Had a blast with them. They do require supervision with the little guys though.
My son got a new RC truck and it was a TOTAL blast to drive, so much so I got one for myself so I could be a part of the fun when down there.

It was under $160 delivered to my door next day which blew me away. It's a real big boy toy though as it goes 55kph when on full power, a setting I'm working up to.
The toys in the first photo seemed well built and were fun to play with inside. Not sure how well they'd hold up to outdoor use though.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by aschen

Have 3 small kids, and tons of RC stuff, like way too much from 20$ amazon toys to many hundreds of dollars rc helis and planes.

I think RC construction toys are certainly going to break quickly and not be that much fun to play with. I think something like an RC rock crawler would be more fun and durable.

I don't have any particular one to recommend below hobby grade, but WL toys usually makes some decent low $$ stuff and you can actually buy spare parts. They kinda strattle the line between hobby grade (team associated, axial, Losi etc) and toy grade

Thanks, sounds like good info based on solid experience.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

My three year old grandsons have these:

They are used as 'indoor' toys as they have large Tonka toys for the sandbox.
While down at my son's house last weekend we played with their RC trucks.



Had a blast with them. They do require supervision with the little guys though.
My son got a new RC truck and it was a TOTAL blast to drive, so much so I got one for myself so I could be a part of the fun when down there.

It was under $160 delivered to my door next day which blew me away. It's a real big boy toy though as it goes 55kph when on full power, a setting I'm working up to.
The toys in the first photo seemed well built and were fun to play with inside. Not sure how well they'd hold up to outdoor use though.

Cool, thanks!

[Scott Douglas]

Here's an Amazon link to the truck I pictured.
https://www.amazon.com/HAIBOXING-Brushless-903A-Off-Road-Vehicles/dp/B0BF5MDK8J?th=1
The only thing I had to supply to run it were the three AA batteries for the controller.
They have upgrade parts available too.

[masraum]

thx

[Rusty Heap]

you want a Porsche on a KIA budget, is that what I'm hearing?

maybe a Steel Tonka Yellow Dump Truck instead, mine lasted years.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

you want a Porsche on a KIA budget, is that what I'm hearing?

maybe a Steel Tonka Yellow Dump Truck instead, mine lasted years.

Nope. I'm wanting a Hyundai, Kia, or Nissan. I don't even need a Toyota or Honda. What I don't want is to end up with a Yugo. I definitely don't want a Porsche or Ferrari.

[cabmandone]

I'll send ya the old school Tonka dump truck, front end loader and fork lift I used to play with as a kid. RC? Nah... put em in the sand, let them make engine noises and do some diggin. If ya wanna go cool, Bobcat has some pretty cool RC stuff. If ya wanna go REALLY COOL, The full size Bobcat track loaders are RC ready.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

you want a Porsche on a KIA budget, is that what I'm hearing?

He'd probably appreciate something more reliable than a Porsche - something without weak IMS bearings or soft valve guides.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

I'll send ya the old school Tonka dump truck, front end loader and fork lift I used to play with as a kid.

I had the full complement of Tonka stuff as a kid and a huge sandbox until I was 4 or 5, then my dad went back into the Navy and we started moving. Almost all of my toys got distributed to the various cousins. We did get the grandsons some modern Tonkas. They've got a pretty big dump truck and a few smaller trucks (because they only have small containers of sand to play in).

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

I had the full complement of Tonka stuff as a kid and a huge sandbox until I was 4 or 5, then my dad went back into the Navy and we started moving. Almost all of my toys got distributed to the various cousins. We did get the grandsons some modern Tonkas. They've got a pretty big dump truck and a few smaller trucks (because they only have small containers of sand to play in).

Mine were at my parent's house in Convoy before they moved. I found them and now they're in my barn. I can't believe the dump truck is still alive. We used to play demolition derby with the neighborhood friends. Somehow my dump truck always won. One time a kid's dad got tired of him brining home demolished toys so he welded up a cage for his kid's derby car for the next derby. I pulled my truck from the derby.

[dad911]

We had a Rokenbok set for my son. RC dump trucks, loader, tracks, etc. Wish we still had it for my grandson.

[Scott Douglas]

The twins are still small enough they can ride their dump truck down the hill in the backyard.