Those with young kids, remote controlled toy advice

[_RaT_]

I want to get my young (5 year old) son a decently built remote controlled electric car, truck, tractor for Christmas. I am a bit underwhelmed at some of the flimsy stuff I have found. Any suggestions to a reasonably built product would be greatly appreciated. How about a slot car type setup as an alternative? He loved the movie Cars (as did I) Any advice is greatly appreciated as I am a really lousy shopper and panic is starting to set in. Thanks in advance. Mark

 

[5030tinkerer]

Traxxas (TRAXXAS) makes awesome stuff, but they are pricey little buggers. Skill level "one" electric units can be seen at TRAXXAS Stampede Monster Trucks.

I, too, have found the other stuff to be relative garbage, though Radio Shack surprised me with their selection.

 

[Tractors4u]

For a 5 year old you will want to stay away from the TRAXXAS, it is hobby grade and hobby fast. I have a TRAXXAS Stampede electric 2WD monster truck and it does 25 MPH. Unless you have a wide open area for the little guy to learn at, he is going to be crashing into everything. There are some hobby grade ones that are smaller and slower but they are big enough for him to run through grass or big gravel. As for the toy grade look at the Nikko brand, they are pretty durable. The TRAXXAS Stampede that I have was $275 for the truck with radio system, a 30 minute peak detection charger and 2 7.2v battery packs. The smaller ones I have seen are around $100 for the truck, radio, 1 battery and slow charger. The best thing about the hobby grade trucks/cars is that if you break something, it can be easily replaced with a trip to the Hobby Shop.

 

[_RaT_]

Wow, I never knew such stuff existed. I want one.

 

[Egon]

First question. Who is this toy for? The kids have no problem with them.

It's us older folk who can't seem to get the bally blighters to work properly!

 

[Tractors4u]

Wow, I never knew such stuff existed. I want one.

That is just my electric one. I had it sent over here to Iraq. I have a nitro powered 4WD truck that rus about 45MPH. I didn't want to fool with cleaning it constantly n this fine sand enviroment. The fuel is an oily alcohol and the exhaust spews a mist of oil as it runs. Everything sticks to that oil!

 

[jwstewar]

I agree with Brent, for a 5 year you don't want anything too fast. I have several and have gotten my kids several cars from Radio Shack. Most of them I have from there have been very reliable cars and reasonably well built. Nice thing about Radio Shack, anything you break you can get parts for it (at least you used to be able to). Unlike some of the ones from Wal-Mart/Toys-R-Us. I haven't played with mine in awhile and neither have the kids because they are still too fast for them (the kids are 5 & 6) but I hope to be able to run them this summer now that the kids are older. Radio Shack is already starting to mark some of their vehicles down. I saw one the other day that had been $129 and it was down to I think $69 or $79.

 

[hazmat]

Why is everyone talking about remote control cars & trucks. He asked about remote control "toys"

this being tbn, I have to recommend the Remote Control TRACTOR (though I only saw it at Target, the boss wouldn't let me buy it

 

[hazmat]

Here are some construction vehicles that are a little easier on the budget

hobbytron

 

[Mith]

Check this one out!
Man I want one! 8 functions!