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May 28 2014

how to make a cardboard box dump truck

Posted by hayley
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how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Back in January, when I wrote about Bug’s 2nd birthday, I also posted a tutorial on how to make a cardboard box bulldozer. Since then, I’ve had a few requests for step-by-step instructions for the cardboard box dump truck too. And since you asked so nicely…

Supplies
– 1 large box (18 x 18 x 24)
– 2 small boxes (16 x 12 x 12)
– yardstick
– pencil
– box cutter
– scissors
– glue gun
– paint

1. Hot glue one end of the large box shut.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

2. On the top side, measure 6″ back from the closed end. Use a yardstick to draw a straight line across. Then, find the middle and draw a line perpendicular all the way through the back flap.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

3. With a box cutter and yardstick, cut the long line first. Angle the vertical back flaps in to better support the back flap as you cut it. Then cut the perpendicular line the same way.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

4. It will look like this when you fold the cuts up.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

5. Fold in the backs of the top and, overlapping about an inch, hot glue together.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

6. Cut off the two side flaps. Fold the bottom flap inside the body, hot gluing in place.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

7. Back to the top, measure down 3″ and cut off all the way around. This step isn’t absolutely necessary, but it makes the scale of the dump truck more accurate.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

8. Next, hot glue both ends of one small box. Be sure the long flaps are on the outside.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

9. Center the small box on the front of the large box and hot glue in place.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

10. Cut the remaining small box open so it lays flat. Trace bowls to make four circles. I used one 11″ bowl and one 14″ bowl because I like the back wheels to be larger. It’s easiest to cut these out with a regular pair of scissors.

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

11. I recommend painting the dump truck and the wheels separately, then attaching them after the paint is dry. But for this tutorial I’m gonna hot glue them in place you can see where they go. Glue the back wheels with a little sticking out beyond the back edge and line the front wheels up against the back of the small box. (and yes, that’s Bug’s head popping out… couldn’t keep him out at this point!)

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to make a carboard dump truck  |  greyhouseharbor.com

12. Now you paint! A little paint goes a long way—I used three 8 oz tester sized jars: 1 orange, 1 black, and 1 white. I mixed the black and white to make the grey tones and used yellow from the bulldozer for accents.

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

Cardboard Dump Truck

Tags: cardboard, cardboard construction equipment, cardboard dump truck, diy, kid stuff, tutorials
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8 comments
Jan 15 2014

diy cardboard box bulldozer

Posted by hayley
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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
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38 comments


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.

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