Grey House Harbor
  • Home
  • about
  • contact

Jan 15 2014

diy cardboard box bulldozer

Posted by hayley
Tweet

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

For Bug’s birthday party I put together a cardboard box construction site. I created this bulldozer design so that small toddlers can easily get inside without having to be lifted in and out by an adult. Click HERE for the dump truck tutorial.

DIY Cardboard Box BulldozerWhat you need:
I got all my boxes for free from a neighbor that recently moved!
– 1 Large box (18x18x24)
– 1 Medium box (18x18x16)
– 1 Small box (16x12x12)
– 2 wrapping paper tubes
– box cutter, pencil, yardstick
– hot glue
– paint (I like the $3 sample latex paints from Home Depot/Lowes)

1. Start with the main body section. Hot glue one end of the Large box closed.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

2. Measure 12″ from the glued end. Using your yardstick as a straight edge and a box cutter, cut from one side of the box to the other. Also cut a line perpendicular through the flap on the open end.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

3. Lift up the part you cut, slightly overlap the flaps and hot glue together.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

A quick tip on cutting cardboard – using the yardstick to stay straight, gently score the box several times, not cutting through.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

Then, bend the scored line and cut inside the crease on the other side for a clean edge.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

4. Cut the top of the back flaps at a small diagonal.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

5. Angle the back flaps in slightly. Mark line with a pencil on the bottom flap. Use box cutter to score the line (don’t cut all the way through). Fold the scored part up and hot glue to back flap. This will keep all the back flaps securely in place.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

6. Now let’s make the front blade. Hot glue one end of the Small box together. On the long side mark a line 4.5″ from glued end. On the short side (12″ side), draw a bulldozer blade shape and cut out. SAVE THIS PIECE.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

7. Take that piece, flip it over, and trace the same line on the opposite side. Cut out that side and the straight line along the top. SAVE ALL THESE PIECES FOR LATER.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

8. It should look like this. Flip the bottom flap into the blade and secure with hot glue.

wpid1802-DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozercardboard-bulldozer-13.jpg

9. Now for the roller tracks. Cut all the flaps off of the Medium box. SAVE. Cut the box evenly in half long-ways.

 DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

10. Roll one of the flaps you cut off the Medium box and glue into a cylinder. Glue another rounded flap around the first cylinder to make it taller. Set both cylinders inside the long half-box and glue together.

wpid1DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer792-cardboard-bulldozer-8.jpg

11. Remember those two pieces you saved from the scoop?

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

To give the tracks some rigidity, glue them to the back & inside top of the track. Also cut the straight piece from the top of the blade cut-out in half. Glue one half-way under the bottom of the track. This will slide under and be glued to the bottom of the bulldozer body.

Make two tracks!

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

12. For the blade lift cylinders, cut this shape out of both wrapping paper tubes, about 8″ from one end. This will allow them to fold down nicely.

wpid1DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer810-cardboard-bulldozer-17.jpg

13. To attach the tubes to the bulldozer body, trace the tube circle where you want them to be on the top of the bulldozer. Cut an “X” shape through the circle.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

Generously apply hot glue around the circle and in the middle of the triangles. Place the tube on top and push the triangles up inside the tube. Run a bead of hot glue around the outside too.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

Lookin’ good, lookin’ good.
Now all it needs is paint! It’s easiest to paint all the parts separately before hot gluing them together for good.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

Amazing what some color can do!

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

Easy to crawl inside!

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

construction birthday party

Using another large and 2 small boxes, I also made a dump truck. That step-by-step is HERE.

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer

Paint a few smaller shipping/diaper boxes and you’ve got a complete construction site for your little crew.

If you make one, come share a photo of it on our Facebook page! »»» facebook.com/greyhouseharbor

construction birthday party

Tags: cardboard box bulldozer, cardboard box truck, cardboard construction equipment, cardboard dump truck, diy, kid stuff, make believe

Comments (36)

Add a comment Top
  1. GG
    January 17, 2014

    This is really amazing, as I have said before, what very lucky little children they are and of course the parents are very lucky also, really enjoy your blog.

    Reply
  2. nadine
    April 12, 2014

    how much paint did you use for the bulldozer?

    Reply
    • hayley
      April 12, 2014

      Hi Nadine. Paint goes a long way! I painted the whole thing with three tester sized (8 oz) jars. Two yellow and one black.

      Reply
  3. Antoinette Kimbrough
    May 22, 2014

    Do you have the plans for the dump truck?

    Antoinette

    Reply
  4. Caroline Locke
    September 18, 2014

    Where can I get the boxes?

    Reply
    • hayley
      September 20, 2014

      If you are in the USA, you can purchase them for a couple dollars each at Home Depot.

      Reply
  5. Pingback: Construction party ideas: Food, decor, games and favors! | Chickabug September 30, 2014

    […] 20. Make a DIY cardboard bulldozer for the kids to play with – via Grey House Harbor […]

  6. savannah
    June 2, 2015

    How many sample paints do I need

    Reply
  7. Anna
    June 15, 2015

    I did my son’s 4th birthday n Disney pixar Cars Themes and made alot of box cars out of cardboard boxes n came out really neat. Even made a bigger Mack (semi) .. lovin these construction ones thanks for sharing I just might have to try em for my 2 yr old who is turning 3 soon!

    Reply
  8. Brittany
    August 1, 2016

    I love both the bulldozer and dump truck. Just wondered if I could have the same effect with spray paint?

    Reply
    • hayley
      August 1, 2016

      Hi Brittany! Spray paint is pretty ineffective on cardboard. Because it absorbs unequally your project will end up splotchy. Plus, you’ll go through a ton of spray paint just trying to get an even look. Not worth it when you’re shelling out $4/can. Stick with those “tester” sizes at most most home improvement stores and you’ll only need 2-3 of them!

      Reply
  9. erica
    August 8, 2016

    you are amazing!!!! I am so doing this for my nephew’s party

    Reply
  10. Sami Mohammad
    April 28, 2017

    I love It! I’m 11 years old, and I’m going to make just for fun! I love Construction vehicles!

    Reply
    • hayley
      April 28, 2017

      Sami, thanks for taking the time to comment! I hope you have fun making yours!

      Reply
      • Sami Mohammad
        April 30, 2017

        Thank you very much! You are so nice! I hope you have fun too!

        Reply
  11. Sami Mohammad
    April 30, 2017

    Inches or Centimeters?

    Reply
    • hayley
      April 30, 2017

      Inches

      Reply
  12. Sami Mohammad
    April 30, 2017

    Great! I just bought the boxes! I’ll let you know when I will start to build!

    Reply
  13. Sami Mohammad
    May 1, 2017

    I just started to build!

    Reply
  14. Sami Mohammad
    May 1, 2017

    Never mind, I had my mom help me :)

    Reply
    • hayley
      May 1, 2017

      Hi Sami! Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. Were you and your mom able to figure it out? Let me know if you have any more questions! Hopefully I can see a picture of your finished dozer.

      Reply
      • Sami Mohammad
        May 2, 2017

        Yup! We figured it out, and I will know if my mom and I have any questions; and it’s very okay if you didn’t get back to me! :)

        + You are going to see a fully finished picture of our dozer!

        Reply
  15. Sami Mohammad
    May 1, 2017

    Woo-hoo! I’ve just finished a lot! I’m finished with the small box, and the big box, and now, tomorrow, I’ll start with the medium box! I’ll let you know when I’m done!

    Reply
  16. Sami Mohammad
    May 4, 2017

    I’ve built the the tracks, and today I’m going to glue them on the the bulldozer! I am really almost don,e and ready for painting! Woohoo!

    Reply
    • hayley
      May 4, 2017

      So awesome! You’re making great progress.

      Reply
  17. Sami Mohammad
    May 4, 2017

    Wow!

    Reply
  18. Cassie Walker
    July 6, 2017

    I can see you originally posted this a few years go but notice that you responded to another comment just a couple of months ago, so I’m hoping you may have an answer. My 4 year old is in LOVE with construction trucks and I think I may make this for him but wonder if I could cut the bottom out of the main piece and add straps to the top with some grommets. once assembled is this very heavy that the front may not be supported by the hot glue or is it pretty light and sturdy?

    Reply
  19. shehnaz kadri
    November 30, 2017

    so perfect use of cardboard.Really liked the idea.Will surely going to try this for my kid’s 5th birthday celebraion.I love making things and decorating the house.This will be perfect theme party for my kid.He will surely going to have bash with guest and his friends.

    Reply
  20. Pingback: Keep the Kids Busy: 20 Ingenious Cardboard Box Projects February 10, 2018

    […] DIY Cardboard Box Bulldozer from greyhouseharbor.com […]

  21. Arthi Kothandaraman
    February 21, 2018

    I just made the bulldozer for my son’s 3rd birthday. Fantastic instructions, thanks much! Although, I will say, you made that paint job look waaay easier than it really was for me. :-) I left out a lot of the details, and it still looks good.

    Reply
    • hayley
      February 22, 2018

      Hi Arthi, I’m so glad you found my tutorial and decided to give it a shot! It’s a fun build, but I will agree with you that the painting is the most tedious part. :) Thanks for coming back to share your story and Happy Birthday to your son!

      Reply
  22. Corinne
    February 27, 2018

    How cool! How long do you think this project takes?

    Reply
    • hayley
      February 27, 2018

      Cutting the box took me one afternoon, but painting it was another couple evenings. So maybe 7-8 hours total?

      Reply
      • Corinne
        February 28, 2018

        Thank you Hayley :)

        Reply
  23. Michele
    November 14, 2018

    Thanks for the detailed instructions. I enjoyed making this for my grandsons birthday party. I was sad to see it get destroyed so quickly but, I got some great pictures beforehand.

    Reply
    • hayley
      November 14, 2018

      You’re welcome Michele! So glad you had a fun time creating it. Untimely deaths are a definite disadvantage to cardboard creations.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply


I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

featured on button

New posts delivered fresh to your inbox!

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • big ‘ole magnet board / job chart
  • a collection of caps a collection of caps
  • a new chapter a new chapter
  • treasure rocks treasure rocks
  • missing grams missing grams

 

S P O N S O R S - & - F R I E N D S

Categories

Archives

Follow

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • big ‘ole magnet board / job chart
  • a collection of caps a collection of caps
  • a new chapter a new chapter

disclaimer & copyright

All opinions within are exclusively and honestly mine. I do not commit to posting positive reviews of any promotional items I may receive. However, if the product or service suits the interests of my readers I may feature it and denote such compensation.
All content © greyhouseharbor.com 2015.