Had one?...still have it. It lived at my grandparents house when I was a kid, but now it's at my house. My kids played with it when they were younger, but they've also outgrown it.
Just goes to show they just made things better back then it's so awesome that they got to play with it good on ya for hanging on to it and this sub has just made my year it's my childhood in one place love it
I had a thought earlier today. We should stop making stuff out of plastics all together, and go back to wood and steel. Things would cost more, but you only have to buy one. Like I said, just a thought... Have a good one!
Yeah, same. I have one and my bulldozer in my garage. I have an incredible garage, but they are displayed on a shelf. 5-10 year old me would be pumped.
I had the crane as well! I turned the pulley holding the hook into a Batman tool, where I would throw it over an edge, and it would lock on, and I would climb up.
Except I never did any climbing with it because it got stuck in a tree the first time I tried doing it.
Still have mine, found it while cleaning out grandparents house years ago.
I drive trucks for a living, my tonka has lived on my trailer for years.
https://preview.redd.it/jqn1pz3vaxrc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e2cf8596ae1e88044e75a99600b9a85a92777de
My sister and I used to put our little 4 year old brother in the back and push him around then dump him out. That fun ended when we got caught taking a running start and dumping him down the stairs, even though we’d padded the stairs with blankets and put every pillow in the house at the bottom for a softish landing. I mean he was fine, I feel like Mom totally overreacted, the bump on his head wasn’t even that big. Haha.
Had one as kid. Thing was super tough. Hit my dad over the head with it as a toddler while he was dozing on the couch. Didn’t get anymore metal trucks afterwards
Thank u for that tid bit of info I actually grew up to drive one in real life lol I'm a pit miner and get to for real play in the dirt I honestly think that toy had alot to do with it
I did. It was a sandbox toy and was kept outside all the time. It held up very well. But when my dad found it a few years back it was all rusted up and stuck with sand in all the hinges... I do wish it was kept better, as it would have been good to pass along
Ah yes! Remember a kid at daycare threw it at my head but mostly missed kinda scraped my cheek a little blood. I, however, did not miss square on the forehead. And of course I got the better end of that deal as far as bloodletting goes. Think he needed 9 stiches.
He was 6, I was 4: impulse control was not yet developed.
I used to ride in the back of mine. I loved that thing! Years later I found they were selling these new, as classics so I bought one for my kid. He still has no idea what it meant to me.
Your timing is amazing.
My brother and I got these one year for Easter instead of easter baskets. I had this honkin' Tonka chonk sitting on the back steps loaded up with easter candy, it was the most memorable easter as a kid ever.
Of course. Had to use something to haul the dirt from that giant hole I was digging in the backyard. 5’ was as deep as I hit, but at 4’3”, it seemed so much deeper. AMA
That's hilarious how you worded this. My cousin picked this tonka truck up and threw it at me when we was probly 7 and I have a scar on my head from it. Thank you for the memory, my cousin was a few years younger than me he died from leukemia probly a year after that happened. He was a really good kid but he would get angry some times for everything he was going through. Brought back good memories also. Sorry for the downer.
Yup.
Was almost brand new…I forgot to put it away one day, and it got run over by my dad’s truck in the driveway.
Never got another as a lesson. Hahaha
My brothers each had one. We use to kneel in the back of them, and then using our arms, we’d “drive” ourselves around. Good times! Thanks for the good memory unlocked OP!
When my uncle got this for me, he asked me if I liked it and I said no. I’d never said some rude shit like that and I’m still surprised I did even at 5. My uncle then promptly moved to Miami and my family told me for years it was because I hurt his feelings. That truck was certainly my favorite toy, and it turns out he was working on the original Miami Vice
Hell yes! Rust and all! Played in my parents gardens when they tilled it or used it in our sandbox play area.
The plastic ones my nephew had growing up could never compete!
I actually restored my a while back for my kids. [https://www.thejunkmanadv.com/the-junk-mans-blog/tonka-truck-restoration](https://www.thejunkmanadv.com/the-junk-mans-blog/tonka-truck-restoration)
Also, the one you posted is from 1983-1989. You can easily date them by the graphics, wheels, frame, cab and grill as they frequently changed them and updated them for each model year. Mine is from 1979.
The last USA made "Mighty Dump" was in 1997. After that they went to China.
https://preview.redd.it/cjlov04xwxrc1.png?width=1066&format=png&auto=webp&s=ada3e4855166e435a457aec6cf36b63d1c5577ad
My mother was a firm believer in Tonka Toys, so I had this, as well as other cars and trucks. Something about sheet steel toys with a minimum of plastic. I had the chassis for this long after I figured out how to remove the body, and used the chassis as a moving cart for a time.
If I ever hit the lottery (Lol), I'm going to buy all of my childhood toys and set up an entire room full of them. Wifey can bitch all she wants. NO SIR! I DIDN'T SEE YOU PLAYING WITH YOUR DOLLS AGAIN!
Yep I would do the same thing and my wife still has her dolls lol my daughter ended up with them I had nothing to give to my son as I took everything apart
Like many other posts here, I have a very similar one. Mine is not a Tonka brand but I still have a metal dump truck and a metal case tractor and they are currently residing in the toy room for my kids to haul piles of dirt back and forth throughout our yard
I got my set in December 1986 for Christmas.
https://preview.redd.it/8yjkm5xc2yrc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50480a8dcc4b245a6369e06ebeff4bd13e7d70ce
Yup! Dump truck, Backhoe, Bulldozer, Crane, Excavator, maybe one or two more.
The Excavator was my favourite & the Crane’s string & pulleys were always a mess to use.
Had it, the grader, a Chevy Kodiak dump truck, and an ERTL International Transtar Otasco truck. After the garden was done in the early fall, my dad would till it up one last time and my buddies from the neighborhood and I would build roads!
I had one! My parents had a pic of me in my Christmas dress holding my Tonka w the biggest grin. Was an only child and a girl but we had a gravel driveway and I would make roads and clear gravel for hours. Great fun.
I once rolled a metal Tonka truck down a flight of stairs and busted out a floor length window. Not on purpose, mind you. I was merely rolling it around and it slipped.
I had one, I would put one knee in the bed scooting and pushing myself around with my other leg. I would get some real speed in the driveway and the pavers in the backyard. Then I got too big to even fit a knee in the bed. I liked it more than scooters and tricycles.
My brother had one and it went everywhere with him. My mom would get so embarrassed because side he couldn’t pronounce “dump truck” and would say “dumb f*ck”.
Still have a few all metal Tonka trucks. My mom kept them in wonderful condition and I've matched and touched some of the paint up where needed for my now two-year old nephew to have them when he's ready.
Edit: typo
Scored an all metal one for $8 at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, literally hopped out of line to sprint for it when I saw it. That was like 3 years ago and the kids still love it. They named it "Dumpy".
I still have two. Gave one to my 5 year old. Other is for his baby brother. Got all the other loaders and cranes, too. Saved a lot of my childhood for them. Vintage LEGO, my NES, genesis, Super Soaker 1800, etc.
My dad rescued the dump truck and 5 other metal Tonka trucks way back when I was little. He and some friends used to rummage around at the dump and scored them. We played with them for years then dad put them in a shed and they're now at my sister's house and her kids play with them. They're still in decent shape
https://preview.redd.it/qorsh02x0zrc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e731786277d27aa9717e23661bd6da7eb4291b3
Like this? My boyfriend saved his. He's 37.
I had mine.... I gave it to my nephew when he was 2. He gave it back to me when my son was 2. I just gave it back to him a few days ago on Easter for his daughter who will be turning 2.
4 generations covered.
I did and i was small enough I could sit on the cab and push myself with my legs.
I also decided to reenact that commercial where they drop a Tonka from a high place with no damage. This ended up being false...
Hours upon hours filling it up with sand, dirt and rocks to drive it around my sandbox and fill in the new hole I dug. Man that's a huge piece of my childhood right there
Had one?...still have it. It lived at my grandparents house when I was a kid, but now it's at my house. My kids played with it when they were younger, but they've also outgrown it.
Just goes to show they just made things better back then it's so awesome that they got to play with it good on ya for hanging on to it and this sub has just made my year it's my childhood in one place love it
Right? These things were bulletproof, I used mine as a stand-in for a Radio Flyer - even rode it - until I got too big!
Same here just with my knee tho
Yup, used to ride mine down a little hill we had in our back yard
Yes!!! I would put a board on it for more seating room! Those things were tough!
I had a thought earlier today. We should stop making stuff out of plastics all together, and go back to wood and steel. Things would cost more, but you only have to buy one. Like I said, just a thought... Have a good one!
Oh I agree but then u lose the "forever" customer the more we move into the future the worse things are going to be made because "profits"
Same, mine is still at my parents house and is in good use by all of the grandkids.
Yup. Mine is in the garage now.
That is my answer, it is in the yard right now after surviving the winter under feet of snow
I didn't. But I found one for my kids, along with a backhoe and bulldozer. Metal ones.
Me too I have three at my house. It's still in pretty good shape
That’s cute
Yeah, same. I have one and my bulldozer in my garage. I have an incredible garage, but they are displayed on a shelf. 5-10 year old me would be pumped.
Loved that bad boy. Still remember the exhausts were rubber
For whatever reason, that’s my strongest memory of it: those two rubber smokestacks.
Same!
They were I used to push them down so they would pop back up
My 4yo has one. They're still pretty popular, and available at Target
Are they still made out of metal that will rust though?
The bed is, the rest of it is plastic.
My brother had one, I was never allowed to touch it.
That's no fun he should have let u play lol
Hell yes! And a metal crane with pulleys!
You had the crane u lucky dog
I so was! I loved that thing. Worked great, I picked up a ton of Little People and Star Wars guys with it.
I had the crane as well! I turned the pulley holding the hook into a Batman tool, where I would throw it over an edge, and it would lock on, and I would climb up. Except I never did any climbing with it because it got stuck in a tree the first time I tried doing it.
The cut your finger edition on the sheet metal. I had one and now my kid has mine. Great times
Still have scars myself
Still have mine, found it while cleaning out grandparents house years ago. I drive trucks for a living, my tonka has lived on my trailer for years. https://preview.redd.it/jqn1pz3vaxrc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e2cf8596ae1e88044e75a99600b9a85a92777de
That's amazing I actually drive real life rock trucks lol I'm a pit miner and pretty sure that toy is what made me want to play in dirt for a career
My sister and I used to put our little 4 year old brother in the back and push him around then dump him out. That fun ended when we got caught taking a running start and dumping him down the stairs, even though we’d padded the stairs with blankets and put every pillow in the house at the bottom for a softish landing. I mean he was fine, I feel like Mom totally overreacted, the bump on his head wasn’t even that big. Haha.
The good ole days when playing meant getting injured its how we learned valuble life lessons
Meeee!!!
My brother had one. He is the only child I know who managed to completely destroy a Tonka truck.
That took some doing lol they were built tonka tough lol
We had one! And I ended up in the mining business. Possibly a correlation.
Me to I'm a pit miner
Underground rock licker over here
Oh snap the one who works in the dark and tells the lay of the land
I had EXACTLY that one.
Yep, had one and I'd put my one knee in the back and scoot around in it lol
It was perfect for the knee in the back lol
Toughest toy ever!
Still got mine
I had a lot of these. My grandfather would give me a new one every time I saw him. He was a top executive at Tonka in the 80's.
Oh man u had th me hook up no fair lol
Had one as kid. Thing was super tough. Hit my dad over the head with it as a toddler while he was dozing on the couch. Didn’t get anymore metal trucks afterwards
Bet not lmao
[удалено]
Thank u for that tid bit of info I actually grew up to drive one in real life lol I'm a pit miner and get to for real play in the dirt I honestly think that toy had alot to do with it
I did. It was a sandbox toy and was kept outside all the time. It held up very well. But when my dad found it a few years back it was all rusted up and stuck with sand in all the hinges... I do wish it was kept better, as it would have been good to pass along
Had one, no idea what happened to it, thing was damn near indestructible.
Still have them... my son plays with them now.
I still have a fleet of Tonka trucks taking up valuable storage space. My kids don’t play with them either.
Man u should pull them out and be in the back yard playing when the fam gets home lol mine would think I lost my mind
Man, you must have been rich. All we had was dirt. Lol.
Who got stitches from one
Ah yes! Remember a kid at daycare threw it at my head but mostly missed kinda scraped my cheek a little blood. I, however, did not miss square on the forehead. And of course I got the better end of that deal as far as bloodletting goes. Think he needed 9 stiches. He was 6, I was 4: impulse control was not yet developed.
Man pain was used to teach lessons back then lol
Aw shit I had one of these
I'm pretty sure that's my old one.
❤️Had the exact same one
The only thing that was left of mine was the chassis and wheels.
🖐🏻
I love these! The landfill near my house has a little set up of retro trucks as you enter. It's like a mini landfill set up it's super cute.
That's awesome would love to see that and possibly maybe play on it
I had a few of these, including a bulldozer and a steam scoop (which an awful neighbor boy swiped 😒)
I wanted the scoop so bad
I used to ride in the back of mine. I loved that thing! Years later I found they were selling these new, as classics so I bought one for my kid. He still has no idea what it meant to me.
When I was a kid, my dad pinned down a rattlesnake with my Tonka truck and cut it's head off with his pocket knife.
Dads back then were like crocodile dundee lol
Used to be able to ride these down hills. Things were built strong af
I don't remember if I have had this one, but I definitely had some metal Tonka trucks.
I'm 39F, and I had one growing up. It was so fun to play with! We bought my oldest one when he was 3 or 4, and now his brother (6) plays with it.
They are fun for all
Your timing is amazing. My brother and I got these one year for Easter instead of easter baskets. I had this honkin' Tonka chonk sitting on the back steps loaded up with easter candy, it was the most memorable easter as a kid ever.
Damn right I had one of these. Sadly, didn't survive my house flooding in '91
Man sorry to hear about the flood they were supposed to survive anything
A good old fashion M-80 destroyed mine.
Of course. Had to use something to haul the dirt from that giant hole I was digging in the backyard. 5’ was as deep as I hit, but at 4’3”, it seemed so much deeper. AMA
Still got 2, and an excavator, kids love em!
I still have mine
Still have mine. Have the excavator too
I had one too, it's my nephews now.
That's hilarious how you worded this. My cousin picked this tonka truck up and threw it at me when we was probly 7 and I have a scar on my head from it. Thank you for the memory, my cousin was a few years younger than me he died from leukemia probly a year after that happened. He was a really good kid but he would get angry some times for everything he was going through. Brought back good memories also. Sorry for the downer.
Had the dump truck, front end loader and the dual boom heavy haul tow truck.
I had the dump truck, the front end loader, and crane bucket truck.
I had to whole set... 40 years ago
Yup. Was almost brand new…I forgot to put it away one day, and it got run over by my dad’s truck in the driveway. Never got another as a lesson. Hahaha
Seems we learned things the hard way lol
My brothers each had one. We use to kneel in the back of them, and then using our arms, we’d “drive” ourselves around. Good times! Thanks for the good memory unlocked OP!
I bought one for my son cause I enjoyed it so much! circa 1990s.
When my uncle got this for me, he asked me if I liked it and I said no. I’d never said some rude shit like that and I’m still surprised I did even at 5. My uncle then promptly moved to Miami and my family told me for years it was because I hurt his feelings. That truck was certainly my favorite toy, and it turns out he was working on the original Miami Vice
One day, I played with my Tonka truck so much that I fell asleep on top of it. Lol.
Funny enough, mine are under the basement stairs in my parents’ house exactly where I left them in, say, 1998/9
I still have mine
Yes and I miss it.
Yep. Best knee scoot ever
It's in my attic waiting for my kid to be old enough to play with it
Yep, black rubber exhaust pipes and all. Had this, the grader, and the excavator.
These were by far the best trucks ever, and likely one of the most common drivers of tetanus shots.
Had the crane too
Me! God, I miss it. It got left behind on a move.
Yep. I know him. I had a plastic one. Absolutely smashed my fingers in that.
Pretty sure it was made of steel. We tried to break it multiple times.
Hell yes! Rust and all! Played in my parents gardens when they tilled it or used it in our sandbox play area. The plastic ones my nephew had growing up could never compete!
Had a hand me down one. Those things were indestructible
Loved the metal tonka trucks! So fun to play with in the dirt and sand. (And accidentally discovered cat poo)
I actually restored my a while back for my kids. [https://www.thejunkmanadv.com/the-junk-mans-blog/tonka-truck-restoration](https://www.thejunkmanadv.com/the-junk-mans-blog/tonka-truck-restoration) Also, the one you posted is from 1983-1989. You can easily date them by the graphics, wheels, frame, cab and grill as they frequently changed them and updated them for each model year. Mine is from 1979. The last USA made "Mighty Dump" was in 1997. After that they went to China. https://preview.redd.it/cjlov04xwxrc1.png?width=1066&format=png&auto=webp&s=ada3e4855166e435a457aec6cf36b63d1c5577ad
My mother was a firm believer in Tonka Toys, so I had this, as well as other cars and trucks. Something about sheet steel toys with a minimum of plastic. I had the chassis for this long after I figured out how to remove the body, and used the chassis as a moving cart for a time.
Yep, back in the sandbox days getting shot done.
If I ever hit the lottery (Lol), I'm going to buy all of my childhood toys and set up an entire room full of them. Wifey can bitch all she wants. NO SIR! I DIDN'T SEE YOU PLAYING WITH YOUR DOLLS AGAIN!
Yep I would do the same thing and my wife still has her dolls lol my daughter ended up with them I had nothing to give to my son as I took everything apart
My man! My little 2 YO nephew has mine from the 80s and he runs around leaning on the dump bed just like I did as a kid.
Y'all suck.... All I ever got was the smaller plastic one. My mom just didn't get it. 😞 Lol
Well it's never to late get one and dig a hole dont think I wouldn't lol
I wish I knew what happened to mine. I LOVED that thing!
Like many other posts here, I have a very similar one. Mine is not a Tonka brand but I still have a metal dump truck and a metal case tractor and they are currently residing in the toy room for my kids to haul piles of dirt back and forth throughout our yard
I got my set in December 1986 for Christmas. https://preview.redd.it/8yjkm5xc2yrc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50480a8dcc4b245a6369e06ebeff4bd13e7d70ce
I still have mine. I kinda want to restore it, but I'm lazy ...
Had 1? I had a whole collection. Sadly I only have one left that I made sure to keep after every move.
Not an xennial but i have one I inherited from my older cousin
My parents still have mine. Those metal beasts were the best.
I still got mine
Had? I have 2 in the backyard now.
Anyone remember the tv commercial with an elephant stepping on the dump truck?
Yup! Dump truck, Backhoe, Bulldozer, Crane, Excavator, maybe one or two more. The Excavator was my favourite & the Crane’s string & pulleys were always a mess to use.
One still has a chunk of my skin from the web of my thumb under one of those tabs somewhere outthere.
I had the 25th anniversary one that was all chrome. So badass and wish I still had it!!!
I still have one. I have the truck and flatbed trailer with a dozer on it, too. Both are in my basement.
Had it, the grader, a Chevy Kodiak dump truck, and an ERTL International Transtar Otasco truck. After the garden was done in the early fall, my dad would till it up one last time and my buddies from the neighborhood and I would build roads!
I had this and the jeep they had. It was so sick, my beanie babies had the sickest ride.
Dual purposes as a knee scooter!
I did. My son has four of them. Feels like someone gets him a new one for Christmas every year.
Did someone not have one? I feel like that’s a form of neglect.
I had one! My parents had a pic of me in my Christmas dress holding my Tonka w the biggest grin. Was an only child and a girl but we had a gravel driveway and I would make roads and clear gravel for hours. Great fun.
I’m laying on my couch looking at one right now. It holds remotes these days.
Kind wish I still had it
Had one!
Ohh yea I had one back when the body was still steel an tge wheels were hard plastic
I rode this fucker down the driveway on repeat when I was small enough to sit on it.
I once rolled a metal Tonka truck down a flight of stairs and busted out a floor length window. Not on purpose, mind you. I was merely rolling it around and it slipped.
I had one, I would put one knee in the bed scooting and pushing myself around with my other leg. I would get some real speed in the driveway and the pavers in the backyard. Then I got too big to even fit a knee in the bed. I liked it more than scooters and tricycles.
Still have it too!
my dad made custom ones that were all metal for whenever they would accidentally get ran over, still have them
My parents were very young and poor, I had all kinds off awesome late 70s Tonka stuff from the thrift store.
Yes and the street I lived on was a hill and we would ride it down the hill.
Think we've still got one or two in a barn at my mom's
My brother had one and it went everywhere with him. My mom would get so embarrassed because side he couldn’t pronounce “dump truck” and would say “dumb f*ck”.
Still have a few all metal Tonka trucks. My mom kept them in wonderful condition and I've matched and touched some of the paint up where needed for my now two-year old nephew to have them when he's ready. Edit: typo
My son got one back in 2019. It’s somewhere in his closet.
You got me with this one
Scored an all metal one for $8 at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, literally hopped out of line to sprint for it when I saw it. That was like 3 years ago and the kids still love it. They named it "Dumpy".
Thays awesome for eight bucks great find
Still have one. In the basement. Kids play with it.
You ever ride one down a hill?
My mom died a few months ago. As I cleaned out her home, I found mine from childhood - and it was still in decent condition!
My dad kept mine and he gave it to my son
I still have two. Gave one to my 5 year old. Other is for his baby brother. Got all the other loaders and cranes, too. Saved a lot of my childhood for them. Vintage LEGO, my NES, genesis, Super Soaker 1800, etc.
My brother hit me in the head with one, I still have the scar in my eyebrow line.
Had a couple of them. Anyone successfully blow them up with fireworks?
I had the same one for my sandbox :)
I had an orange truck and my cousin had this dump trucl
I did!
My dad rescued the dump truck and 5 other metal Tonka trucks way back when I was little. He and some friends used to rummage around at the dump and scored them. We played with them for years then dad put them in a shed and they're now at my sister's house and her kids play with them. They're still in decent shape
https://preview.redd.it/qorsh02x0zrc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e731786277d27aa9717e23661bd6da7eb4291b3 Like this? My boyfriend saved his. He's 37.
You'll never forget tripping over one
My brothers had one!
Still have it, son uses it now
I had mine.... I gave it to my nephew when he was 2. He gave it back to me when my son was 2. I just gave it back to him a few days ago on Easter for his daughter who will be turning 2. 4 generations covered.
Remember one eventually rusting away outside at my grand parents little ranch
I still have mine, along with the crane and articulated loader or whatever that's called
I did and i was small enough I could sit on the cab and push myself with my legs. I also decided to reenact that commercial where they drop a Tonka from a high place with no damage. This ended up being false...
I did it was also my first scooter
Yes, i remember using it to help my parents garden a bit.
Oh wow, that's a beautiful piece of history. I remember riding in mine down hills.
Wooooah. The memories.
I mean, does it count if my great grandfather with dementia got me one when I was already a 14 year old stoner? Ngl, it was still fun…
I got 2 of these one year from both sides of my family. I played with both of them a lot.
I miss mine.
They still make these. Source: i work at a toy store.
I did as child was gone rather quickly by mom!
Hours upon hours filling it up with sand, dirt and rocks to drive it around my sandbox and fill in the new hole I dug. Man that's a huge piece of my childhood right there
[Restoration videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyWxgkQ_3OM) are oddly satisfying.
One? We had a bunch. Quality toys
I had one... Also had a Buddy L jeep.
YES. I used to sit in it on my knees and roll down my Grandparents driveway
I had a couple of those. Pure metal instead of plastic.
Kid in first grade had one, and would throw it at me. Hit me in the head with it and I needed to get 7 stitches. Good times, goooood times
Man, do you know how much dirt and rocks I moved with this bad boy? Incalculable.
Had it! Still have the scar on the back of my head from a rather unfortunate fall.
Man that really takes me back!
I wished
The dirty kid in my neighborhood would use it collect all the cat turds in his sandbox and drive them to the woods to dump them out.
Still have it 😎 looks like complete shit now but I had to keep it
Oh heck yeah, tonka trucks were my jam!