TONKA originated in 1947 in Mound, Minnesota originally created and manufactured by Mound Metalcraft (manufacturer of garden implements).
The company began selling metal toys, which soon became the primary business. In November 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to TONKA Toys Incorporated. The name TONKA comes from the Dakota Sioux word Tanka or Tonka, which means great or big.
In 2001, TONKA trucks were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York.
For almost 70 years, TONKA trucks have been the undisputed kings of the sandbox for decades. Built on the notion that “a toy shouldn’t break just because a child plays with it,” they’re strong, sturdy and long lasting. Back in the 1970s, TONKA even had an elephant stand on one, just to prove their point.
The new Tonka Climb-Overs are the latest in 4×4 motorised off-road vehicles that climb over almost anything! There’s a number of vehicles and playsets to choose from all of which interconnect using a Click ‘N’ Climb system so kids can configure countless obstacles!
We were sent the Boulder Escape to review.
The set contains a motorized 4×4 Jeep CJ7, 8 x straight tracks, 4 x 90 Degree turn tracks and a large plastic boulder.
The Jeep goes really fast and the track is no problem for it as it races around. Simply balance the plastic rock on top of the grey mountain and as the jeep tears around the track it knocks it off.
If I am honest, we were a little disappointed by the set. It is sturdy enough, stays together and the large yellow button on the back of the jeep that turns it on and off is a doddle to use for 3 year old Sebby, however, balancing the rock is tricky and he gets frustrated that he cannot get it back on the mountain in time for the Jeep to knock it off again.
There are only so many times you can knock the rock off before it gets boring and Sebby prefers to race the 4×4 up and down the lounge. I think this set would be much better when combined with others in the range.
This new series, available in Argos, has many fun sets for tough kids to get to grips with such as Snack Pit Pass and Ripsaw Summit that feature tough barriers such as swinging boulders and snapping crocodiles!
toys nowadays become more and more realistic
this definitely something that our little chap would love, he is into trucks and destruction at the moment!
I know Taylor would love the truck, whether he’d play for long with the track is another thing. He’s had train/car tracks before that only get used a few times x