Metal Crane Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My son is crazy about diggers and I just had to buy this toy for him. Sadly, I have never known a toy to fall apart so quickly as this one.
On removing from the box, we found the right side lever's plastic grip was broken and would not stay, so I wrapped packaging tape instead. The seat attaches to the base frame by a horizontal screw that fits into a barrel welded to the upright of the frame. At the very first install, the barrel simply crumbled in the hands and thereafter only gravity held the seat in place. The bucket is fixed with two washered bolts and domed nuts with short shafts that kept slipping off regularly. I can't add to this litany because there aren't many more moving parts left to break!
Since we took the toy to Europe, returning it was out of the question. But my son has so much fun with it, dragging the crippled thing everywhere with him, that he and his friends do not share my disappointment. I would have willingly paid another $30 to have more durable engineering. The idea is brilliant, the market is virtually a monopoly, so hope the manufacturer ensures the next model offers better quality.

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The Schylling Metal Crane has a strong working metal frame. This realistic toy allows your child to manipulate the crane to pick things up from the ground by moving the handles. Some assembly is required. Age Range: 5 years and older

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Low loader with Four Wheel Loader Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We received this as a gift, and thankfully so, because it's a bit pricey. I won't dock the rating based on price, because my 2 y/o son LOVES this toy.
Because of its high-quality German construction and weight, I believe it will last a long time. Even though it's (mostly) die-cast metal, I don't see any sharp edges or corners that could injure the child --- just don't let him throw it! As I've said, it's heavy. And just to be safe, your child should be beyond the "everything goes in the mouth" phase before you consider buying this toy. Oh yeah, the plastic ramp on the trailer comes off easily. Just take it off and put it away somewhere if you think your child will keep on taking it off. The tires are rubber, but there is no sign that they'll easily come off.
It is small, but this makes it easy for a child to handle and carry it around. I put some rice in a shoe-box lid and my son will entertain himself for a long time. ("Scoop rice!") Although it's very portable, the price also means that you might hesitate to let it out of the house, lest you lose it!
One oddity with this toy is that the 'digger' is a little wider than the trailer bed. Whether this is accurate to the real thing, I don't know, but this results in a problem with stability: the digger doesn't sit securely on the trailer. A toddler can easily get frustrated (as my son does) when trying to 'transport' the digger on the lowboy. The digger will fall off at 'higher speeds'.
Another problem, for toddlers again, is the way that the trailer attaches to the semi tractor. The tractor and trailer must be at right angles for the hitch to insert into the hole. Toddlers might not understand this and the frustration results (for the child and for the parent!). But this is life.
As a daddy, I appreciate the realism of this toy. The tires, joints and hydraulics look just like the real thing. (I know this because I've seen, uh, videos -- on YouTube.) Even the wheel hubs have 'lug nuts' (tiny bumps, not actual separate parts). Overall, this toy is a winner.
P.S. If you want a dump truck to go with this, I recommend a the Mattel Matchbox 2008 MBX Construction 1:64 Scale Die Cast Metal Car # 67 - Red Dump Tanker Truck with Black Dumpster. But go to Walmart, where it costs $0.97 + tax. I don't know why it's $9.99 (+ $5.10 S&H!?) here at Amazon. It's lightweight, but it costs a fraction of the price of the Volvo Dumper, by the same maker of this Front Loader and 'Low Boy' Truck.
[CORRECTION: In an earlier version, I stated that the bucket was plastic. The sentence has been deleted. It is not plastic, but coated die-cast metal.]

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SIKU Low loader with Four Wheel Loader - Quality die cast product features a prime mover with articulated low loader trailer and a front loader. This durable SIKU item has moving parts and is part of Europe's No.1 line of die cast vehicles. The German engineering quality shows in the details and strength of the product. The wheels are welded to the axles and tires made of rubber for long lasting play. This durable SIKU item has moving parts and is part of Europe's No.1 line of die cast vehicles. The German engineering quality shows in the details and strength of the product. The wheels are welded to the axles and tires made of rubber for long lasting play.

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