Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review

Power wheels Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
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?

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The eZip 500 Electric Scooter Review

eZip 500 Electric Scooter
The eZip 500 Electric Scooter is great for older kids, it’s great for adults – ride it to work, ride it round the golf course instead of hiring a buggy, students ride it around campus! However, I should point out that this scooter is not suitable for young children, it really is designed for those aged 13 and over, although I’m pretty sure that there will be many 9 – 10 years olds zipping around the neighbourhood on these too.

There are a great many adults cutting down on the number of short car journeys they make either whilst on vacation or everyday going to work – they are riding an eZip 500 electric scooter instead! It is better for the environment and saves a whole wad of cash because it actually does not cost a huge amount to keep your battery charged.

This cool looking electric scooter is powered by a 24 volt rechargeable battery and has a 500-watt DC earth magnet motor giving it a maximum speed of 15 MPH. It is possible to travel around 8 miles in total provided the battery is fully charged when you start out. This also depends however, on load it is carrying i.e. the weight of the person riding and the type of terrain you are riding on. The maximum rider weight is 240lbs.

If you have limited storage space owning an eZip 500 electric scooter won’t cause you any problems, because it has folding handle bars and the seat can be removed easily, so, for students living in small flats or to put in the trunk of the car to take on vacation the eZip 500 electric scooter is ideal.

Other features include 12.5 inch alloy 5- spoke MAG wheels which have Street Slick tyres, a variable speed power system with an auto shut-off and a battery pack which is very easy to access.

Some eZip 500 Electric Scooter Information at a glance:-

* Dimensions – 44 x 18 x 11.5 inches
* Weight = 56 pounds pounds
* 500 watt DC earth magnet motor
* Battery – 24-volt/10 Ah pack, two 12-volt/10 Ah valve regulated. The battery is rechargeable
* Speed – max. 15 MPH
* Range – Up to 8 miles
* Suitable for age 13 years and over
* Max. Rider Weight – 240 lbs

The eZip 500 electric scooter is very durable and the speed it can achieve is fantastic, however I should point out the fast start may catch first time users by surprise! You will also find it very easy to keep steady and control.

The one main problem which does annoy appears to be that as with pretty much all electric scooters it really is not much good on hills, this of course can be very disappointing for any teen who receives a eZip 500 electric scooter and lives in a less than flat neighbourhood so, it is a point which should be considered before making a purchase. Another little niggle that has come to my attention is a high pitched whining noise made by the scooter, however I am assured that this is greatly reduced by oiling the chain regularly.

One huge advantage is that this scooter has a detachable seat, so for scooting to the corner store you can just stand on the deck and for a longer journey just put the seat in place and enjoy a more comfortable ride!

You will have to assemble your eZip 500 but this procedure I am assured takes little time and is not in the least difficult.

The eZip 500 electric scooter is available at Amazon.Com were price, service and secure payment are always guaranteed. This item also qualifies for the fantastic FREE super saver shipping!

REMEMBER – safety is essential so why not purchase a suitable helmet and other protection gear as the same time?

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Power Wheels Barbie Ford Mustang Review

barbie ford mustangWhat little girl doesn’t love all things Barbie? Well, I’m sure your little one would be absolutely thrilled to receive the Power Wheels Barbie Ford Mustang!

The Barbie Ford Mustang couldn’t be more realistic both outside and in. Outside, it has a classy looking rear spoiler and a stylish pony grill and fog lamps on the front. You can see it has chrome wheels and additional chrome accents throughout. Inside, is just as impressive, with it’s tan coloured bucket style seats, bright pink seat belts, cup holders and a radio with equalizer lights which plays pre-recorded music for the journey! On the dashboard it even sports coloured LEDs which flash and light up when the key is pressed showing a realistic speedometer and tachometer just like Mom’s car. At the push of a button your little one can also get engine sounds for a real driving experience.

The only disappointment for some is that the doors and trunk of the Barbie Ford Mustang do not open, so there is really no room to take provisions on that long trip around the back yard and some smaller children may have difficulty climbing in. The manufacturer does recommend this car for age 3 years+ but I do know of younger children who own one.

Once again, as seems to be the case with most of these battery powered ride on toys traction is an issue, especially on damp or wet grass. However, one parent did point out to me that the problem did seem to lessen with two children in the car, the additional weight obviously making the difference. The other solution to this problem is to purchase rubber bands which fit around the plastic wheels, or put duck tape around the wheels – this I am told works just as well at a fraction of the cost.

The car runs on a 12 volt battery which will take around 8 hours to charge fully the first time so best try to charge it before giving the Barbie Ford Mustang as a gift. Otherwise, it will be a long and miserable wait for your child and you. For future charging there is an indicator light on the cars dashboard which will show when the car requires “gas.”

For beginners the car has a lock out which means that the higher speed of 5mph cannot be reached unless the parents do some work under the hood. For many younger children and those just learning how to steer and control the car the lower speed of 2.5mph is plenty fast enough! Once the higher speed has been enabled the child can choose their speed using the realistic shift lever. The Barbie Ford Mustang also has a reverse gear – this can take a bit more getting used to, fortunately it can only operate at the slower speed.

Some Barbie Ford Mustang Details at a Glance:

Dimensions: 30.9 x 51.8 x 18.4 inches

Weight: 72.6 lbs

Age Recommendation: 3 to 6 years

Features:

Adjustable seats, Cup holders, Seat belts, Two forward speeds plus reverse, Pretend radio, engine sounds, Flashing equalizer lights when music plays.

For parents there is a down side, this car needs to be assembled. However, the instructions are clear and whilst it may take a bit of time I am assured by parents who have done this before it really is not that difficult.

Despite the couple of niggles pointed out kids seem to have a fantastic time riding round in this bright pink Barbie Ford Mustang. It gives hours of imaginative play and excitement and in the majority of opinions is well worth the money.

You can buy the Barbie Ford Mustang on Amazon.com where you are always guaranteed excellent customer service and secure payment. This item also qualifies for Amazon’s fantastic FREE Super Saver Shipping.

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