Tonka Mighty Dump Restoration

I bought this Tonka before they became a trend on restoration videos, but I never got around to restoring it. I decided it was time to finally restore the thing and get it out of my pile of things rusty pre-restoration junk.

Even though I didn't powder coat it like everyone else does, I think it still turned out pretty nice for a crappy rattlecan job. This is probably one of the last few times you guys will see me use a rattle can on a restoration job.

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Products used in video:

[stevemclean]

The Christmas of 1969 I was 5 yrs old. Santa brought me one of these that year I remember how excited I was. I rode on it down hills and played with it for many years. It stayedut in the yard when not being played with. It made it through exposure to the elements and the abuse I delivered to it. I remember seeing it a few years ago in a corner of the shed when visiting my parents. Hands down one of the most durable toys ever. The bwas always stacked full of hot wheels. Great job on the resto! Brought back some long forgotten memories

[maxcactus]

I came from a big family, have several brothers. Growing up, each of us would receive a Tonka truck of some kind for Christmas until we were well into adolescence. We LOVED those things! We had an entire FLEET of mining & construction vehicles in our back yard. My younger brothers and I would actually race these exact dump trucks down a steep hill behind our house, riding on one knee inside the dump! We used them even during the frozen, snowy winters, too! They were honestly some of the very best toys young boys could own as a kid.

[cdjhyoung]

I have memories of this truck also, but not the good kind. My son, aged less than two, had one. His second favorite toy. We lived in an apartment, and I worked second shift. A small place, and I was always careful to try to not wake anyone when I came home from work. One night I was extra late. I came and set down and took off my shoes, and headed to bed. I never bothered turning on the lights. As I strode blindly across the living room, I kicked this Tonka truck in full stride. Remember, they used to advertise how tough they were by having an elephant stand on one. Well, I launched it clear across the room with my bare toe. Instantly, everyone in the apartment was awake from my KiYi-ing. Didn't hurt the truck one bit. Wish I could say the same for my toe. So, my memories are not so good about these Tonka trucks. Great video.

[bobbob]

to this day I feel that some of my knee problems are related to me pushing one of those around my back yard with one knee in the bucket.

[brockmitchell]

I had a Tonka truck just like this one when I was a kid back in the late 70's to early 80's. Amazing work!!!

[nbrowser]

Not many restoration videos hit this close to my heart...I had one of these back when I was a little kid...4 decades ago to boot. Riding in the back of this thing up and down the hall at home, such good memories brought back from childhood....some tears too of a simpler time, thanks for the trip.

[danielleburchette]

Good lord. Lol. It was late 70's early 80's when my older brother got a Tonka Truck for Christmas. We had a staircase leading up to the bedrooms in our house. My brother was sitting at the top of the stairs playing, which is code for" being up to no good." He was picking on the cat, and for some reason bit its tail. About ten minutes later as my brother was riding the truck around, the cat came flying spread eagle out of nowhere and latched on to my brothers head. That cat rode my brother on that truck, all the way to the bottom of the steps. They were both fine, but they made a lot of noise coming down those stairs. I remember my Dad trying so hard to keep a straight face while my brother explained what happened. Dad told him that he should only ride the truck on the main floor, and to leave the cat alone. My brother still dislikes cats to this day. Lmao. That's a great memory. This restore brought that back pretty clearly. Thank you. And well done. Looks brand new.😉

[p.dubyah]

12:47 OMG That bright yellow is BEAUTIFUL!

[larrykramer]

This brought back a flood of memories because I remember having one of these as a small child. Simpler times...

[Jason]

I had the same one. Nearly 30 years later i still think of it.

[jeffally]

I had a tanka truck when I was 11 years old in foster care home in orange county ny I. 1978 I miss the truck. I looks real good in its new yellow paint 🎨💛 thank u

[ggem]

That thing is built better than my f350 awesome job

[Twistedstar]

I used to have one of these, it's still one of my favorit toys from my childhood.

[BuddhaGanesh]

My brothers and I played with this same Tonka dump truck when we were little. They took a beating then, and thanks to you they will probably outlive us all!

[vVemoXnemoVv]

7:00 wow... He really loves his work...

[anibalbabilonia]

👌🤯👍wow! Im impressed! Better than new!

[vernonmartin]

Another remarkable restoration, and one cannot truly appreciate this work until you are my age, and I cane still look back over 65 tears and remember so many hours of playing with these same trucks. We completed many construction projects in the dirt and rock(gravel).. This is another work or ART...Thanks For The Memory...

[scottthomas]

I had just about every Tonka trucks and heavy equipment in the late 70s early 80s. I even had one of the Jeep Cjs that had the removable tires to do a wheel change when you had a flat on the job site or in the mts on the weekend.

[jonathanhall]

I appreciate how you use different tools and techniques for repeat tasks throughout your videos.

[tmiller]

Gotta love a toy built so well that it can be restored! Great job.