Review: 60182 City Pickup & Caravan
Design: The figures and accessories in this set are simple but nice, especially the kid with his fishing jacket and huge net. The truck looks alright at a distance, but it is very simple. The doors do not open, the interior of the cab is about as minimal as you will ever see, and the bed looks unfinished (you can see through to the tires). There’s also a hitch at the back that connects to nothing. The trailer connection is a very loose one, which is good if you want to remove it quickly and easily, but I was expecting a piece that actually locks in and holds. The trailer itself looks great from the outside and has some good details, such as the opening side panel and the little ‘foot’ that can be put down to hold the trailer steady when it’s not connected to the truck. The interior left me with mixed feelings. It’s nice that there’s a sleeping area, but I felt claustrophobic just building it. The colour choices are a little odd, too, such as the green carpet (?) and mismatched white and yellow coffee cups. Overall, I feel that this is a set that looks good when you put everything together and step back, but when you open it up and look a bit closer, there are certainly areas for improvement.
Play Experience: There are lots of things to do with this set – driving around, catching a crab and fish and cooking them, taking family photos, etc. – but this set definitely wants to be taken outdoors or combined with other sets/accessory packs. Water, vegetation, wildlife, more food items, a fishing rod, a kayak/raft, a campfire, and a tent would all complement this set nicely. This could actually be seen as a positive thing – not that the set is lacking per se, but that it inspires you to expand on it to build a more complete play experience. With a few additions, you could have a pretty awesome family trip!
Level of Difficulty: The instructions for the truck and trailer are well-done and very easy to follow, so the builds themselves won’t be any trouble. There are, however, nine stickers to contend with, which will take up a bit of your time! Also, the base of both the truck and trailer have a lot of plates (great stability/structure!), so you’ll need to be pressing firmly to make sure they’re all stuck together.
Value for money: I was able to get this on sale for a very reasonable $25, and for that price I have no regrets, but if you’re paying full price, I honestly don’t feel that this is the best use of $40 if you’re looking at it as a stand-alone set. The Creator Sunshine Surfer Van is the same price, and while it obviously has a different vibe, it is a better and more versatile set than this one for the road trip/camper theme. If you or your family have fond memories of camping, or you want to take this set on a trip with you, or you just want to put together a little wilderness scene with some other sets, then this is fine. And if you’re willing to make a few improvements and additions, it could be very nice.
