Best Ride On Toys for 3 Year Old Boys
Ranked #142 in Parenting & Kids, #5,797 overall | Donates to Save the Children
Only the BEST Toys for My Little Boys
Welcome all who are looking for ideas for the best toys for little boys - of the ride-on variety.
I have three grandsons 5 years old and under. I want to give them toys that I know they will love and will play with for years to come--think QUALITY.
I do not want to waste money on something that will break in the first five minutes or be discarded under the deck never to be loved again.
This is what I have observed about my grandsons:
All three of them love BIG tractors, trucks, excavators, etc... Vehicles that they see on construction sites.
Therefore, I limited my search for these types of construction toys. Fire Trucks, cars, and motorcycles are not here. They do like these, but, they LOVE "work" toys the most.
I did the research and found the best rated ride on toys for my boys on the internet that I know they will love. When possible, I included links to the best prices I could find for those toys.
PLEASE NOTE: The children pictured on the toys are NOT included with purchase.
PS--I try to keep up to date with the prices, but I am only human!
PS: I have another toy review page at The Best Construction Site Toys for Little Boys
Image of the little boy on the frontloader was taken by me.Before You Buy a Toy, Remember To:
Read all the reviews!
Make sure it is age-appropriate!
Read all the specifications!
Check for toy recalls!
How I did the research to find the best toys:
I watched my grandsons in a toy store.I did many internet searches finding ride-on toys and specific ride-on toys--etc...
Once I decided on the type of toy or even specific toys, I read the customer reviews of those specific ride-ons. If any toy received less than 4 starts out of 5, I deleted it from my list.
I tried to find the actual toys (or brands) in a store so I could touch them. If possible, I took the grandsons with me.
Then I found companies that sold the toys. Some of these were discovered during my internet search. I try to find companies with an online visibility that got good ratings by users. Amazon has a terrific reputation (they also have ratings for the individual stores, too). The customer reviews were very helpful.
WalMart is another online that is pretty good. (see the box below) My daughter bought Kettler Caterpillar Kid Tractor with Trailer ride-on toy and had it delivered to the store for pick-up. It was easy. WalMart also has customer reviews on the site.
MyToyBox.com is another store I link to and it has great toys and reputation.
(Image of the tiny Yellow Man is from Microsoft Clip Art)
Ride On Toy Guidelines:
My Grandsons' Favorite Ride On Toy!
Even 6 year old girls like the John Deere Gator!
My grandsons (ages 4 and 2 1/2 years when this ride-on was purchased) just love this ride on toy. It is battery operated so it takes some effort to keep it going. However, you can make your boys be in charge of charging! Yes!
Click John Deere Gator in action! to see how even a large Basset Hound enjoys the gator!
(this is my personal photo, do not use without permission)
OR click the link below to buy it now from Amazon.com. (usually free shipping!)
Peg Perego Usa John Deere Gator Hpx
Amazon Price: $560.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
List Price: $449.99
Even girls love a gator!
John Deere Gator Reviews:
Own a Gator Ride On Vehicle?
If you own a John Deer ride-on gator, please share your review of this toy here. I thank you for your opinions and so do the parents who visit this page.
-
Reply
-
Edutopia
Feb 13, 2012 @ 1:01 am | delete
- My brother has already bought one for my nephew in anticipation of him being old enough to ride them.
-
-
Reply
-
ladykida
Dec 21, 2011 @ 12:35 pm | delete
- Gotta love, John Deere!
-
-
Reply
-
CeleSims
Dec 21, 2011 @ 11:40 am | delete
- This is the best ride toy I found for boys or girls: Spring Riders (bouncy ride-on toys) http://www.gorillaplaysets.com/Swing-Set-Accessories-s/38.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=38&show=20&page=2
-
-
Reply
-
baby-strollers
Dec 6, 2011 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- yup, bought the original when it first came out. My little ones spent hours on that thing up and down the sidewalk, it was unreal.
-
-
Reply
-
goo2eyes
Nov 30, 2011 @ 7:53 pm | delete
- battery-charged is cool.
-
-
Reply
-
Mickie_G Nov 27, 2011 @ 2:56 pm | delete
- My grandchildren have now possessed their gator for several years and it is still on the move! Takes the licking and "keeps on ticking" like the watch.
-
Little boys at play: ride on toys in Action ourdoors!
My Grandsons at play! Ages 3, 2 1/2, 1 1/2
Tonka Three in One Dump Truck in action
The Excavator: The Ride On Toy that started my quest.
Little Boys Love this CAT Toy
Kettler Cat Digger - $ 99.99
From: MyToyBox
The Excavator by Kettler is the toy that started my search for the best ride on toys for my grandsons. Bubbie (he was almost 3) saw this ride on Cat Excavator in The Homewood Toy & Hobby Store (in Alabama) and had to be forced to get off of it.
My daughter carried him out the door kicking and screaming. It wasn't because he wanted her to buy it, he just wanted to keep on playing on it. I consider that a Big recommendation.
The excavator is now redesigned from the one I originally saw in the toy store. For the better!
On Amazon the shipping is sometimes free!
Caterpillar Ride-On Backhoe Loader
Two in One--perfect toy for your little boy:
My favorite product for my three year old grandson is the Caterpillar Backhoe Loader by Kettler pictured above. Click "CAT Ride-on Backhoe Loader" . to see the Amazon price.
Why is it my favorite choice? It is two BIG machines in one: a front loader and an excavator. It is pricey, but it got great reviews - and remember, it is two machines in one! It is also a pedal pushed toy so there are no batteries to charge. Pedals also make it less expensive for a riding toy.
Product Specifics for the CAT Backhoe Loader Ride On:
Mini-Cat front loader and back hoe designed for kids 3 and up.
Fully functional front loader.
Backhoe digger includes stabilizer foot.
Lifting front hood for authenticity
Fully enclosed chain drive system and over-sized resin tires with rubberized tread
Adjustable seat for maximum comfort.
3-year residential warranty (1 year institutional)
(Image and details from MyToyBox.com website.)
The Caterpillar Ride-On Backhoe Loader was ranked # 2 for pedal Ride On's at Buzzillions
Mini-Cat Front Loader and Backhoe
Best Toys on Amazon
Kettler Cat Front Loader and Backhoe
Amazon Price: $229.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
List Price: $319.00
Used Price:
This is a two in one toy!
What Blogs are saying about Kettler Toys!
Kettler Ride On Toys for Little Boys
DUEL---How Much Is Too Much$$$$ for A Toy?
Should you spoil your little boy?
I want quality for my buck. But I want it at the BEST price I can find. It is a plus if S&H is included. It is a plus if I can get it online and save gas. If a toy is really a good one $200 is ok. But, I think that one needs to really do the research and think about a purchase.
How much are you willing to spend on a quality toy for your child?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLess than $200! In these times, less is best.
ladykida says:
I already bought a lower grade pad for my 3 yr old...he loves angry birds and other various childrens learning activities....it was less than $100 tax included. And the pad has replaced a lot of toys already!
Posted December 21, 2011
TopToysForKids says:
Well, I would spend around $200....but they're only kids for a short time...it's almost like blowing money. I like $50 range, and you can still get GREAT toys! :) And, kids usually only play with something for a while, then they get bored with it.
Posted December 14, 2011
JoyfulReviewer says:
Although quality is important, I think people often overspend on gifts for kids. Remember, as kids get older they'll expect more and more.
Posted November 28, 2011
wordstock says:
It depends on the toy and my child's interest. If it is something that he is going to use a lot, I am willing to spend more. Normally, I try to keep it within the budget which isn't much right now.
Posted November 25, 2011
The sky is the limit. You cannot spoil the boys.
Edutopia says:
I say sky is the limit only because the right amount to spend on a toy is directly proportional to the total amount of money you have at any given time and thus there should never be a hard cap. Though spending a lot on a toy that will only have a very short play life is a waste regardless of the toy.
Posted February 13, 2012
Kate says:
500.00
Posted December 13, 2011
TheseAreAwesome says:
Price doesn't matter as long as it's within reality's realm of what you can afford in your budget and what the child's attitude is; a self-entitled attitude is not getting an expensive toy. My willingness to buy an expensive toy would depend on quality, the novelty (is my child going to stop playing on it in 3 months?), and what it is ($400 video game vs $300 ride-on; video game would be a no-go). If my budget allowed it, I wouldn't mind buying an expensive toy as long as my little one isn't developing a self-entitled attitude.
Posted December 01, 2011
nsixx99 says:
Well considering how much I spend on my son I would have to say the best products with the best reviews are the ones we buy regardless of price. Durability is always my first concern.
Posted November 30, 2011
My Daughter Bought The Kettler Caterpillar Tractor with Trailer --
Push Pedal Ride On Toy for little boys:
Santa purchased this CAT frontloader from Walmart; you can click this link:Kettler Caterpillar Kid Ride-On Tractor
(takes you to MyToyBox.com) and purchase it there, if you would like.
Santa delivered the CAT Tractor with the Trailer for my 3 year old grandson, Bubbie. My daughter and her husband put it together easily--and they are not tool savvy, either. Note, they did it together--it takes two people.
Bubbie LOVES this toy. He can operate it easily. See it in action in the pictures on this page!
John Deere Pedal Loader
Rated in the Top Ten Ride on Toys for boys by "top-10-store.com"
The JOHN DEERE Pedal Loader (Ages 2-6) appears to be another good choice. Click the blue words to go to My Toybox.com for more info. It sells there for $174.99. Free shipping on orders of $79 or more.
John Deere Loader for less than $130.00
One of the best names in little boy toys!
I have also featured some little boy toys suitable for toddlers. They are also less expensive. "Little Tikes" toys are really high quality and get great reviews. The first ride on toy is the same as the John Deere pictured above, but it is available from Amazon.
Catepillar Three In One Dump Truck
A Good Less Expensive Ride On Toy
I quote:
Caterpillar 3-in-1 Dump Truck Ride-on is a versatile toy that offers hours of play as it grows with your child. Kids can roll or sit and ride on the vehicle (see the big picture below), and the push-behind walker is ideal for toddlers just learning to walk. Its sturdy build makes it safe for any child up to 50 pounds.
It comes with 10 Maxi Bloks, and its dumping bin can store many more. Plus, the cool sound effects are a hit with kids, who will be honking to get you to move out of their way!"details are from the website).
We bought this Three in One Dump Truck for our one year old grandson. Found ours at Costco.
This Ride On Dump Truck receives high marks, too!
Little Tikes!
To read more or to buy click Little Tikes Handle Haulers Haul & Ride
Here is the review from the Walmart website: "My son received this as a gift at his two year birthday and LOVED IT. He's ridden it around the house and played hard with it for a year now and it still has held up wonderfully. Love that it can be a riding toy or convert into a dumptruck to haul his toys. The only thing is that he can't figure out how to convert it back and forth (it takes an adult to help with that but it's very easy) but other than that it's WELL worth the money."
My choices might not be right for you!
I picked the toys mentioned in this lens for my grandsons.
You need to pick what is right for your own children. I hope my lens will help you with that choice.
Get Ready for Black Friday!
Ride On Toys for Little Boys on eBay
You can f
More of My Best Toys Suggestions:
What is Your Opinion of these Toys?
Are my choices the best toys for your toddler boys?
If you have purchased any of these toys for your children, let me know what you think of them.
Good and bad reviews are welcomed.
(gif of the backhoe from Microsoft ClipArt)
-
Reply
-
Edutopia
Feb 13, 2012 @ 1:03 am | delete
- Great lens, these will be a great buying guide for my brother to spoil my nephew with.
-
-
Reply
-
ladykida
Dec 21, 2011 @ 12:45 pm | delete
- I have a nephew with a caterpillar loader/backhoe....my son hates to leave it after a visit to aunties house.
-
-
Reply
-
DessertLover
Dec 19, 2011 @ 9:13 am | delete
- Great ideas here! I'm sure these would all be heavenly for little boys!
-
-
Reply
-
TopToysForKids
Dec 14, 2011 @ 2:13 pm | delete
- Nicely done on this lens, it looks very professional! *Thumb'd up!*
-
-
Reply
-
Alyssa
Dec 1, 2011 @ 11:33 pm | delete
- I thought your kids not included was funny. I didn't know some of these toys existed. All the cool tractors. I have a daughter and she loves stuff like this. Wish I saw these before I bought her little push button quad haha. Some were the price I expected, but there were a lot in the $100-$200 range which is awesome. Great list :)
-
- Load More
by Mickie_G
Hi! I am Mickie_G and a Grandmother of 7 (3 are boys!), to boot! I try to keep current on what toys are the ones they love and use. more »
- 238 featured lenses
- Winner of 25 trophies!
- Top lens » Book Care and Repair
- This lens »
Won purple star
Explore related pages
- The Best Playhouses For Little Tikes The Best Playhouses For Little Tikes
- The Best Construction Site Toys for Toddler Boys The Best Construction Site Toys for Toddler Boys
- The Best First Scooter for Kids The Best First Scooter for Kids
- Neat-Oh Take Along Toys Neat-Oh Take Along Toys
- 2012 Hot Toys 2012 Hot Toys
- Best Toys for a 1 Year Old Boy: 2011 Best Toys for a 1 Year Old Boy: 2011
Don't have room for a "Ride-On" Backhoe Digger Toy?
Then here is a great solution:
Bruder Toys MB Actros Low Loader Truck with Jcb 4Cx Backhoe Loader
Amazon Price: $134.98 (as of 02/15/2012)
Are you looking for a bicycle, too?
This is the best beginner's bike!
Strider PREbike Balance Running Bike, Green
Amazon Price: $89.00 (as of 02/15/2012)
These Little Boys want a bicycle, too!
Learn to find the perfect bike for your boy!
