Top Ride-On Toys for My Little Boys
Welcome all who are looking for suggestions for the best toys for little boys - of the ride-on variety.
I have three grandsons three 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.
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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!
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 teriffic reputation (they also have ratings for the individual stores, too). The customer reviews were very helpful.
WalMart is another online store I link to that is pretty good. 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.
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)
Having A Themed Party For Your Little Boy?
Here are some invitations with tractors and diggers!

Tractor Truck - $ 1.74
A blue tractor towing a flatbed of logs sets the tone for your son's truck themed birthday party. Setup an area in your backyard with little roads and Lincoln logs to let your son's friends tow items in their vehicles or take them to a local farm to see real life tractors in action!

Digger Truck - $ 1.74
Invite your son's friends to dig into some cake and fun with this playful birth announcement. Featuring a construction digger, this design is perfect for a truck themed birthday party, so ask all your guests to bring their favorite toy trucks to play together in the backyard.
The product descriptions are from TinyPrints. Click on the link under each invitation to get to the website for this company.
Before You Buy a Toy, Remember To:
Read all the reviews!
Make sure it is age-appropriate!
Read all the specifications!
The Excavator: The Ride On Toy that started my quest.
Little Boys Love this Toy

The Excavator by Kettler is the toy that started my search for the best ride on toys for my grandsons. Bubbie (he is 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.
At $199 plus tax at this particular store, it was pricey. The Excavator only does one thing and it is too heavy to push around the yard. However, its weight could be a plus because it won't tip over easily.
If you are interested and want to read more: KETTLER® Caterpillar Tracks Digger at MyToyBox.com.
The Ride-On Excavator below, looks perfect for Bubbie's 1 yr old brother, Coop, and his cousin Seth. And it is priced just right!
On Amazon the shipping is sometimes free!
Kettler Cat Excavator
$151.92 and free shipping
Amazon Price: $139.99 (as of 11/25/2009) ![]()
List Price: $300.00
Used Price:
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 HERE. 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:(from Kettler website)
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 oversized resin tires with rubberized tread
Adjustable seat for maximum comfort.
3-year residential warranty (1 year institutional)
Mini-Cat Front Loader and Backhoe
On Amazon
Kettler Cat Front Loader and Backhoe
Amazon Price: $199.99 (as of 11/25/2009)![]()
List Price: $310.00
Used Price:
This is a two in one toy!
What Blogs are saying about Kettler Toys!
Kettler Ride On Toys for Little Boys
- Yahoo + Kettler Training Bike, Kettler Caterpillar, Use Kettler ...
- Yahoo + Kettler Training Bike, Kettler Caterpillar, Use Kettler Balance Bike, ? Dumbo in Calhoun ?, ? 8718-740 in NORTH CAROLINA ?, ? Pedals in ID ?, ? Browse in IL ?, ? Brake in MARYLAND ?, ? Machines in TENNESSEE ? ...
- kettler caterpillar backhoe loader - your kids fully functional ...
- ideal for kids ages 3 and above, this fully functional kettler caterpillar backhoe loader features a fully enclosed chain drive system, adjustable seat, oversized resin tires, backhoe digger with stabilizer foot and a lifting front hood ...
How Much Is Too Much$$$$
Can 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.
Pukeko says:
Maybe my kids are too old and i just don't remember, but I couldn't imagine spending even $200 USD (I assume you are talking US dollars) on a toy for a three year old.
Posted September 03, 2009
The sky is the limit. You cannot spoil the boys.
spunkyduckling says:
Don't have any kids but if I did price won't matter. The best is the best.
Posted November 15, 2009
Kettler Caterpillar Tractor with Trailer
Push Pedal Ride On Toy for little boys:

The yellow Kettler Caterpillar Kid Tractor with Trailer $119.88 in Dec. 2008 push pedal ride-on toy is also a good choice for a little boy. Click underlined link in this paragraph to go to the Walmart site to read more.
My daughter bought the CAT Tractor with the Trailer from Walmart (on line thru this lens) for my 3 year old grandson, Bubbie. She 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 below!
If the CAT Tractor is sold out at Walmart, the link will take you to the home page for this ride on. Do a search for "ride on toys" and see what you can find that might meet your needs. OR keep this article for more suggestions.
The above John Deere offers another option. Click the photo to go to My ToyBox.com (free shipping).
The John Deere version shown above does not have a front loader but it also looks good and got good reviews as well. This model is a little less expensive ( with free shipping to the store).
Click the photo to go to the Walmart website for this toy. (opens in a separate window)
Little boys on ride-on-toys in Action!
My Grandsons at play! Ages 3, 2 1/2, 1 1/2
Coop (1 1/2 yrs)on the Tonka Three in One Dump Truck. The "dumping part" can be taken off.
John Deere Pedal Loader

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 . Free shipping on orders of $79 or more.
John Deer 6-volt Utility Tractor
Not A Pedal Ride On Toy
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.
John Deere Loader
Amazon Price: $179.99 (as of 11/24/2009) ![]()
List Price: $179.99
Used Price:
Handle Haulers Haul & Ride Dozer
Amazon Price: (as of 11/24/2009) ![]()
List Price: $34.99
Used Price:
Classic Toddler Tractor and Cart
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 11/24/2009) ![]()
List Price: $49.99
Used Price:
Catepillar Three In One Dump Truck $39.99
A Good Less Expensive Ride On Toy

I quote:
Caterpillar 3-in-1 Dump Truck Ride-on (click here) 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.
The dump truck is $39.88 at Walmart (free shipping to the local store). Click the blue colored toy name above to go to the website (opens in another page). If the toy is sold out you will land on the home page.

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.
More of My Best Toys Suggestions:
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The Best Playhouses For Little Tikes
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A few weeks ago, I was in Costco with three of my five grandbabies. Well, as most Costco members know, it is the BEST place to buy Christmas or Hanukah presents for one's grands. Then there it was: a display model of a Little Tikes Playhouse! The ki...
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Top Construction Site Toys for Toddler Boys
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I have done the research. My Grandsons love trucks, bulldozers, cranes--any vehicle you see on a construction site! I have spent many hours researching the top construction site boy toys. All the best construction toys I have listed here are highly...
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A Beautiful Rocking Horse
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One day while surfing the net, I discovered a wonderful toy site from England: Bouncy Happy People. I do not know why, but the Europeans always seem to have some of the most beautifully designed toys. Think Brio. Think Wood. Think out-of-the-box. O...
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The Best Scooter for Kids ~ The Radio Flyer!
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My 3 year old Grandson, "Bubbie" has the Radio Flyer Scooter pictured here! (FYI: there is a picture of him further down the page where you can sign my guestbook.) He loves it! He loves it so much, he is willing to wear a helmet to ride it! A must!...
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.
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Reply
- spunkyduckling spunkyduckling Nov 15, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
- Your grand kids look so adorable with the toys..are you really sure they didn't come with the toys? LOL awww..
Cool choice of toys for kids got to admit that!
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Reply
- Mickie_G Mickie_G Nov 5, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
- Any time Johann! My grand-kids are used to dogs! [in reply to JohannTheDog]
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- EagleScoutMom EagleScoutMom Oct 7, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
- Great lens ! I used to teach preschoolers and would have loved to have these great toys! We did have trikes and the mighty Big Wheel which were great. You can't go wrong with a little red wagon either ! I will lensroll you with my Radio Flyer lens !
http://www.squidoo.com/ClassicRadioFlyer 5 Stars!
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Reply
- Pukeko Pukeko Sep 3, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
- I had no idea there was this kind of selection out there. Really interesting page, and I got a great laugh from your disclaimer about not including the children.
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- Laniann Laniann Jul 30, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
- The children are so cute on the toys and they look like they are having a lot of fun. The toys are great looking. 5*s
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by Mickie_G
I am a wife, mother, & grandmother who also happens to be a Baby Boomer. I am also trying to find my place in the world. So who isn't?
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