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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMake:’s drivable electric tank is a substantial, custom ride-on build by Brian Bunnell—not a ready-made kit or a certified child vehicle. Its modular design uses conveyor-chain tracks, a single 24V motor, belt tensioners for steering and drive, and mechanical brakes. The plans offer a useful look at how the vehicle is assembled, but they do not establish that a finished build is safe for a child to ride.
What the project is—and what it is not
Brian Bunnell’s Make: project, originally published January 19, 2016 and updated July 9, 2025, describes one builder’s custom tracked vehicle. Make: labels it “Hard” and “>16 Hours”; those are the page’s project labels, not independently verified estimates. Its displayed “$0-$50” price is likewise a page estimate, not a current, verified materials total. The listed components include industrial conveyor chain, aluminum stock, guide material, shafts, bearings, pulleys, belts, and electrical parts.
The article is useful as a reference for a complex maker build, not as evidence of a commercially available ride-on tank, a tested kit, or a certified child-carrying vehicle. Bunnell wrote, “I had always thought having a tank would be fun, and I had toyed with ideas of how one motor could drive two tracks independently.”
How the tracked drive is arranged
The build is divided into tracks, frame and drive, body, and electronics. Bunnell recommends making the track assemblies first, then developing the drive assembly, frame, and body around them. Each track is an independent subassembly built around an aluminum T-slot backbone. A continuous chain runs over sprockets and shafts; a UHMWPE guide rail with stainless backing supports the chain, while an idler assembly slides to adjust tension. Wooden riser blocks and bearing blocks are also part of the described construction.
#1 Best Overall
- Realistic Kids Ride On Tank: Our kids tank has a rotatable turret for simulated firing, allowing kids to fully experience the fighting fun. They can take out the missiles from the missile box, place it in the bomb chute, rotate the turret with 40° to aim, and then press the firing button to enjoy the imaginary battles.
- Double Operation Modes: With the help of buttons and foot pedal, kids can control the tank toy to move forward or backward. They are allowed to press 2 diagonal buttons for left & right rotation. In addition, parent can also operate the tank with the remote control with 3 speeds. Tips: The remote control requires 2 AAA batteries, not included.
- Great Driving Performance: 12V 12AH rechargeable battery and strong motors ensure a speed of 1.2-3.1 mph and long-lasting playing time. Meanwhile, 2 wear-resistant rubber tracks help the tank to smoothly move on the wood floor, brick road, cement road, grass land or cobbled road. It also has 2 rear portable wheels for movement after use.
- Various Safety Protection: The slow start & slow stop functions avoid sudden acceleration or deceleration. The wide seat is designed with a safety belt to firmly fix your little soldier into the seat. Besides, the extra guardrails offer added safety protection.
- Offer Fun Driving Experience: The bright headlights, middle firing light, music, honk, wireless connection and early education make kid’s adventure more joyfully. Toddlers are allowed to freely adjust the volume. And the USB port enables kids to connect external devices to play more music.
Each side uses 52 links of Intralox 880T-K325 bottle conveyor chain, for 104 links total. The author’s frame measures 23 inches across the outside of the tracks. Its two lengthwise 2×4 members are 12½ inches apart, measured outside to outside. These are dimensions of this reference build, not recommended dimensions for a child’s vehicle.
How one motor drives and steers two tracks
The reference drivetrain uses one 24V motor to turn a live shaft. Pulleys and belts transfer power from the shaft to the two tracks. The motor runs at full speed when switched on; the described design does not use motor speed control.
Rank #2
- Authentic Tank Design: This ride-on tank features a working turret with 8 plastic missiles. The tank's tread-style design mimics a real tank, creating an authentic driving experience. Kids can fully enjoy simulated battles by rotating the turret, placing missiles in the bomb chute, aiming, and pressing the firing button for imaginative play.
- Outstanding Driving Performance: This motorized kids' car features 4 anti-slip, wear-resistant wheels designed for multiple terrains such as cement, brick, wood, asphalt, grass, and cobbled roads. With a 12V 12AH rechargeable battery and robust motors, the car can reach speeds of 1.2-3.1 mph and offers extended playing time. It also comes with 2 rear portable wheels for easy post-usage transportation.
- Manual & Parental Control: The kids' car offers two modes of operation. Children can use buttons and a foot pedal to move the car forward or backward and utilize diagonal buttons for left and right rotation. Parents can also operate the car using a 2.4GHz remote control with three speed options. This dual control feature enhances safety during kids' driving experiences. (Please note that the remote control requires 2 AAA batteries, which are not included.)
- Safe Driving Features: The kids' car incorporates various safety measures to protect young users. These include soft start and soft brake functions to ensure smooth acceleration and deceleration, preventing sudden jerks. The wide seat with a safety belt securely holds the child in place, while additional guardrails provide extra safety. Each motor is equipped with an independent overload protector to prevent damage and extend lifespan.
- Immersive Entertainment Features: The electric vehicle tank offers a range of fun and educational features to enhance children's experience. From bright headlights and middle firing light to music, honking sounds, and wireless connectivity, kids can enjoy an engaging adventure. In addition the tank includes USB/MP3 ports for additional entertainment and learning opportunities.
Control handles operate belt tensioners. Pulling a handle tensions a drive belt to engage its track; for a turn, the design drives the outside track while stopping the inside track. Releasing the handles removes belt tension, allowing the vehicle to coast, while pulling both handles back engages the brakes. These are the builder’s descriptions of the design and its operation, not independently verified performance findings.
Electrical layout and the short-circuit hazard
The author’s electrical reference uses two 12V sealed-lead-acid mobility-scooter batteries connected in series to provide a 24V base voltage for the motor. The described parts also include a 24V-to-12V converter, a solenoid used as a high-current relay, switches, and a charging jack. The project does not specify battery capacity, run time, charger model, or an independently validated electrical-protection design.
Rank #3
- Realistic Tank Appearance: This realistic ride on tank is equipped with a working turret that comes with 8 plastic missiles, allowing kids to rotate the turret to aim at targets and activate the firing button. Additionally, the toddler tank's tread-style appearance is a patented design, simulating a more authentic tank driving experience
- 360° Rotatable Driving: This army tank toy features a 360°rotating turret and body design, allowing children to experience the fun of real tank operation in the game. Toddler can easily control the rotation of the turret and the body, simulating accurate aiming and firing of shells on the battlefield, improving their operational skills and reflexes
- Multiple Built-in Fun: This electric vehicle tank comes with bluetooth, music and early education functions, as well as USB/MP3 interface, providing children with a variety of entertainment and learning options
- Manual & Parental Control: The car for kids can be controlled manually. For parents, they can control the car by 2.4GHz remote control. The 2 driving modes are designed to enhance safety during kids' driving (Note that requiring 2 AAA batteries for the remote are not included in the package.)
- Safe Driving Function: Soft start and soft brake functions can make the ride on car start and stop smoothly to ensure the satety of toddler. And each motor is equipped with an independent overload protector to prevent motor damage and extend service life
Bunnell warns that the battery electrodes must not contact the live shaft and recounts that they briefly did, shorting the batteries. This is a concrete hazard in the described arrangement, not a validated safety assessment. Battery isolation, wiring protection, charging, and the potential for contact with moving or energized parts require careful engineering; the project page does not establish that its electrical design resolves those risks.
Bodywork, guarding, and unanswered safety questions
The body includes hardware cloth over the front drivetrain area and a dash intended to prevent the driver from reaching belts and drive components. The presence of these guards does not establish compliance with a safety standard. A child-carrying vehicle also raises questions about structural strength, stability, braking, moving-part access, and battery charging.
Rank #4
- 🧯【Multiple Interesting Functions】 This ride on fire truck comes with water tank, firefighter water sprayer, loudspeaker, fire extinguishing bottle, sturdy shovel and triangle bracket. Ride on fire car's flashing lamp, siren and engine sounds make this electric car like a real fire truck.
- 🧯 【12V High Performance】 This battery power ride on fire car equipped with 2*45w motors to provide strong power, that provide a smooth and comfortable driving experience on different ground, such as brick ground, asphalt ground, grass ground etc. Ride on fire car with 12V7AH rechargeable battery, kids can enjoy up to 1.5-2 hours of safe and exciting riding.
- 🧯【Parent Remote Control】 2 seater ride on car has 2 driving modes. One is the manual mode, children can drive the electric fire truck by controlling the steering wheel and the foot pedal(2 speed shifting). Second is the parent control mode, parent can operate the electric fire car with remote control to play with their little one (3 speed shifting).
- 🧯【Safe and Comfortable】 The seat width of this fire truck car measures 16 inches providing the perfect spacious and comfortable driving space for our kids. The electric fire truck sturdy seat belts, soft start, 4 spring suspension system and remote emergency brake button provide protection for our kids.
- 🧯【Perfect Gift for Kids】 Our kid ride on fire car equipped with multifunctional operate panel, include music, story, Bluetooth, battery display, horn, one- button start,LED headlight, fast /slow switch, forward, backward, loudspeaker, left - horn/fire warning voice. Child can have fun with these entertainment functions. This ride on fire car for kids is the wonderful to boys or girls on birthday, Christmas, Thanksgiving day etc.
The Make: article does not state a rider age, maximum rider weight, top speed, payload, braking distance, range, or tested operating conditions. It provides no independent safety-test results. Those unknowns matter: dimensions and a working drivetrain alone do not show whether a particular vehicle can safely carry a child.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What U.S. toy-safety guidance says
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says ASTM F963-23 became effective on April 20, 2024. Under applicable children’s product rules, toys designed or intended primarily for children 12 or younger are subject to third-party testing and certification requirements. CPSC guidance also identifies stability and overload requirements for ride-on toys and notes that some ride-on products may instead meet the statutory definition of an ATV and be subject to different requirements. Classification depends on the product and its intended use; the project article alone is not enough to determine how a particular build would be classified.
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Best Value
- 【Stimulate the imagination】 Let your kids have an amazing play time and expand their imagination with this amazing remote control military tank toy with lights and sounds. they pretend to drive their own battle tank in an imaginary. They are the heroes of the country.
- 【Function】Remote Control Tank with 360° Rotating Turret, the cannon can move up and down.Forward, turn left, turn right, backward, turret rotating, firing sound effects.
- 【Rechargeable Battery】 RC Tank Car Equipped with rechargeable 4*1.2V battery in the Army Tank,But Remote Control Requires 2 x "AA" Batteries (Not included).Choking Hazard - Small PartsNot suitable for children under 3 years old
- 【Play Time】 This micro tank is 11.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 inches, Gift Army Toys for For ages 3+ boys, girls,kids.With this great mini tanks you can be ready for play with others at any time!
- 【Tips】 Please remove the tank battery after playing RC Military Tank Toys for Kid . Made of high-quality plastic. Materials made in line with international health & safety standards
Instructions for a homemade project are not proof that a resulting vehicle has been tested or certified. Anyone considering a child-carrying build should not treat the Make: article as a safety approval or a substitute for assessing applicable product requirements and the finished vehicle’s design.
Quick Recap
Reference-build materials at a glance
| Assembly | Materials or specification in the project |
|---|---|
| Tracks | 52 Intralox 880T-K325 conveyor-chain links per track; aluminum T-slot backbone; UHMWPE guide material with stainless backing; sprockets, shafts, bearing blocks, and sliding idler assembly. |
| Frame and drive | Two lengthwise 2×4 members, 12½ inches apart outside to outside; 23-inch outside-to-outside track width; single 24V motor, live shaft, pulleys, V-belts, belt tensioners, and brakes. |
| Electrical system | Two 12V sealed-lead-acid mobility-scooter batteries wired in series; 24V-to-12V converter, solenoid, switches, and charging jack. Battery capacity and charger model are not stated in the project article. |
| Body and guards | Bodywork includes hardware cloth over the front drivetrain area and a dash intended to limit access to belts and drive parts; no safety-standard compliance is established. |
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