![]()
If your kids like a good adventure then this could be the perfect gift! The Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is a giant, speedy, off road bundle of fun.
Powered by a 12 volt battery your intrepid little adventurer can get up to an amazing 5 mph with this Jeep – for all those moms who are now panicking don’t – you can lock out this high speed option and keep to the lower setting which is a more sedate 2.5 mph and ideal when you first introduce your child to this toy. It can be a bit tricky for a 3 year old (which is the minimum age for use stated by the manufacturer) to get the hang of using a “gas” pedal and steering this monster so the high speed lock out is a great feature. There is also a reverse gear for them to master.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is designed for going “off road” and will perform well in all types of terrain such as grass, gravel, small tree roots and rocks etc. However, opinion seems to vary on this point. Some of the parents I have spoken to say they have absolutely no problems whilst others find that the Jeep won’t perform as expected on certain types of surface and slight inclines.
I have discovered that this appears to be down to two problems. The first is that the Jeep Wrangle Rubicon like most of these ride on toys has hard plastic wheels which seem to have limited traction. There are ways to solve this problem, the first being rubber bands which fit over the wheels – these can be purchased on various sites online, secondly one parent I spoke to sprayed the wheels with a rubberised undercoat – this worked but need to be reapplied regularly, lastly another parent went for the simple option duck tape! Yes, it does work!
The second factor which seems to affect how well the Jeep runs is the weight – a small, light child often has difficulty with the Jeep not moving properly, add a second child and the problem seems to go away. Perhaps if you don’t have a second child adding some additional weight in the rear storage area of the car may have the same effect?
A couple of parents expressed some disappointment that the Jeep doesn’t have proper doors which open and close, but the majority of the kids found the rugged grab bars “cool” just like the pretend seat belts which encourage good car habits for the future. To the rear there is also a storage area so the kids can pack up a picnic for the long trip ahead! Other parents and children would like to see more features like a working radio which some other “ride ons” are fitted with.
The battery does take a LONG time to charge, especially the first time – anything up to 18 hours. If this is a gift be sure to do this in advance otherwise you will have one disappoint child and a long wait on your hands. After the initial charge it is probably best to keep it topped up after each use. Feed back on the length of time the battery lasts has been positive with a large number of parents saying they were surprised how long the Jeep would run.
One further point to consider before purchasing this product – IT IS BIG! With this in mind it is important to decide if you have enough storage space to accommodate it.
On the whole there are very few complaints regarding the Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, adults find it relatively easy to put together using the comprehensive instructions and the kids just love to play in this durable, well designed monster of a truck.
You can purchase your Power Wheels Jeep Wrangle Rubicon at Amazon.com where you are guaranteed to get a great deal and with FREE Super Saver Shipping and secure payment what more could you ask for?