I am looking for some solid 'boy toys' for my 3 year old son. Toys that will last.

You could buy a train set.  There are a couple of them out there.  There is Thomas and Friends.  My son personally loves the Geo Trax.  At first I didn't think these would be strong enough for our four year old.  But they are.  You can have bridges, stations and other fun features.  These also come with remote control trains.  It is very simple to use.  Thomas is that way too.  Most are made of wood, which makes a very sturdy toy.  These most of the time are pushed by little boys.  They are so much fun.   I hope this helps you in your search.  Thank you for the question.