Some toy dump trucks, especially those created for collectors or individuals creating dioramas or model railroads, are built and detailed to be as much like the real thing as possible.  These trucks are said to be scale models of the original.

When model makers produce a scale model of a vehicle, like a dump truck, they want to keep everything in proportion. In order to so this, they convert the dimensions of the real truck down to smaller dimensions. This is known as scaling.

For example, a 1:12 scale means that every 12 inches of the real dump truck become 1 inch on the toy dump truck. Scaling works with any unit of measure, so you could also say that every 12 feet of the real truck is equal to 1 foot on the scale model.

For example, a model of a 24 foot long dump truck in 1:12 scale would be 2 feet long.  Most scale model dump trucks therefore, as well as many other construction vehicles, are typically found in 1:50 scale to keep the overall size of the model reasonable. First Gear makes some great scale model dump trucks in this size.

Model railroaders use railroad scales. O scale (1:43), OO scale (1:67), HO scale (1:87), and N scale (1:160) are the most commonly used.  If you are looking for a toy dump truck for a scale model builder, be sure you know which scale they build in so that you can get the proper size. Athearn makes HO and N scales specifically for model railroads.

Of course, not all toy dump trucks are scaled from the real thing.  Many are sized age-appropriately for the kids that will be playing with them, and so scale is not a concern.

There are a number of methods used to construct a toy dump truck. The particular method used will determine the trucks cost, quality, durability and uses.

Diecast

A diecast truck is made by pouring or injecting a metal alloy into a mold. This is the most common method of creating metal trucks today, and it allows for quite a bit of detailing to be included in the truck. Diecast dump trucks typically include plastic parts for detailing.

Pressed Steel

A thin sheet of steel is pressed over a mold. When the steel is removed, it has taken on the shape of the mold. This is a common method used in antique dump trucks. Vehicles created using this method often have a somewhat rounded appearance and less detail than a diecast toy truck.

Wooden

Before metal became popular, many toy dump trucks were created out of wood. These range from actual play toys to works of art. While a wooden toy truck will never look realistic, the use of different types of wood and stains can be used to create very unique and beautiful collectibles.

Plastic

While most toy dump trucks will contain at least some plastic parts for details, others will be created entirely of plastic. These are great for infants and younger children. The parts are typically molded from a soft plastic that will bend before it breaks. These are no sharp edges or small parts for children to accidentally swallow.