Customer Reviews

Fisher-Price TRIO Cargo Loader

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My 4 year old son got this for his birthday and he already has 2 other sets and once you combine all the sets he can build more out of the trio then just what is in the booklet that you receive. I like the idea that fisher price came out with something for the 3-5 year olds that have out grown the duplex legos, and are not quite ready for the smaller legos. My son still enjoys playing with his blocks, he loves to build and create new things from them.

I concur with another reviewer that it is far too difficult to snap the pieces together. We have at least 12 other Trio sets and I suspect manufacturing quality may have slipped. The ends of the rods are not as smooth as they ought to be. I know from other sets that the pieces should loosen up with further use. Another manufacturing defect (in my view) is that the hoist rope (string) is not long enough to let the hook block (part that picks up pieces) reach the ground or a piece on the ground, an impediment to play.

In terms of assembly, I concur with another review that the base is too challenging for nearly all children in the recommended age range. It fell apart at least 6 times while I (a Big 10 engineer) was assembling it. If you get this toy, I recommend that you assemble the square "body" completely, form the octagonal "base" using angled rods then use 8 angled rods to snap the "body" to the octagonal base. Essentially, as the directions are written, to snap each part of the top on, all the pieces at the bottom have to withstand the force necessary. As described previously, out of the box, that force is too great for most preschoolers/elementary school students to apply and for the base to withstand.

Fisher-Price needs to do further testing/modification of this design and do better process control on the force necessary to snap pieces together. I don't consider it suitable for most 4-7 year olds and we clearly like Trio, based on the number of sets we own!

My son received this set for his 3rd birthday 8 months ago. Him and my 5 year old son play with these all the time. They don't make the construction scene as much as they use their own imaginations and create all sorts of things with the blocks. This is a very sturdy, great product and we plan on buying more of these sets for them for Christmas.

You can't go wrong with TRIO building sets!

My son has Aspergers and this toy fits right down his ally. Lego's are to frustration but he needed something more that just duplos and such. This allows him to use his imagination and still be able to makes something that stays together. He can make things by picture or just go with what he is thinking. Some of the pieces are a little tough but that just assures me that it will last for awhile until he is ready to do something else. I am just so happy that Fisher price came up with this product we have been looking for something for some time for a 4 year old and my 3 year old that meets them where they are at but still allows for them to grow. and the stages are great and I absolutely love they can all be combined and work together. We have 5 of the sets so far and will be getting the kings castle next.

We purchased this item as well as other Fisher Price Trio products as Christmas presents for our son. The pieces are a little stiff and hard to work with at first, but after you play with it a bit it becomes easier for children to use on their own. The directions were fine for my husband and I to follow, but a bit much for a 5 year old to take on himself. Over all we are extremely pleased with all of our Trio purchases. They are fun to put together, and once they are built, they are quality toys to play with. (don't easily fall apart when you use them as some building toys can) The price was outstanding, shipping was very quick, what more could a consumer ask for?! :-)

My 4 yr. old grandson loves this. Blocks are easy to construct and disassemble. He especially likes the crane lifting feature.

my grandson spends hours making structures I can't figure out but he enjoys putting them together.

I honestly thought this would be the next craze for my son. He was asking so much for a crane, and this fit him perfectly. He was really excited when he got it, and really enjoyed putting it together with his Uncle....but once his Uncle left, the toys remained in the box. It's been two months, and he hasn't touched them. I find the pieces scattered through the house , he likes to use them as throwing pieces. I think the main problem with these is the fact that the silver "connector" pieces are not that stable. They do not stay in the circles very well. If you put too much pressure on them, they will fall out. And for a little boy, that can be very frustrating!

We have added this to our son's basic bin Trio set. Very cool toy and decent size. for the current high pricing, I wish these sets were more versatile so that more can be done with them. After awhile a child wants to build something other than a cargo loader. Despite the multiple designs, it's still a cargo loader concept. I purchased a couple sets at a good sale price so the above complaint was less bothersome to me. I think the sets are nice additions to the more preferred basic bin set which has more options.

We have 4 Trio sets and we love them all. They are very durable and easy to use. My 3 year old loves to build things and then take it apart and make something new. These are great toys because he can use his imagination and then can actually play with what he makes because they stay together. I love that all the sets are interchangeable, but color coded. The cargo loader is his favorite.