Simple Cardboard Vehicle with a Working Steering Wheel

Simple Cardboard Vehicle with a Working Steering Wheel

One lazy day at home we decided to turn our empty Huggies diaper box into a vehicle. Last time we did this I drew the window and other details on the box with a sharpie and cut a door out. This time I figured details wouldn’t show up easily on the outside of the box as the box was already printed on and something made me remember the extra paper plates we had in our cupboard so I added a turnable steering wheel to the vehicle and kept it simple with a single door on the side. Having two kids that both prefer using the same toy at the same time I decided to go with two wheels, one on either side, so they can both drive the vehicle at the same time.

Assembling toys for a car hangout while Zoey naps.
Assembling toys for a car hangout while Zoey naps.
Peek-a-boo with the box flap!
Peek-a-boo with the box flap!
Both driving the vehicle while watching Stinky and Dirty on Amazon Video. Got to watch the occasional wheel turn as they were immersed in the show.
Both driving the vehicle while watching Stinky and Dirty on Amazon Video. Got to watch the occasional wheel turn as they were immersed in the show.

As we accumulated more boxes I decided to use the opportunity to use more paper plates and pipe cleaners to make a cardboard box train…. as the living room felt smaller and smaller the train slowly became shorter, but it was a fun project to do and the paper plates (with the threaded pipe cleaners) are ready for the next time we have boxes and need a distraction.

Simple Cardboard Vehicle with a Working Steering Wheel

Materials

  • Large cardboard box that your  child can fit in
  • X-acto knives
  • Paper plates for the steering wheel(s)
  • Pipe cleaners to secure the wheel to the box and let it easily rotate
  • (optional) Sharpies, felt pens, or crayons to decorate the inside or outside of the box – windows, tires, people in the windows…

To create the working steering wheel I started by cutting a hole in the cardboard box where I wanted the paper plate wheel to be. I ended up centering it at the top of the end of the box. To create the hole I cut an ‘X’ with my x-acto knife.

Used an X-ACTO knife to poke a hole in the top of one end of the box.
Used an X-ACTO knife to poke a hole in the top of one end of the box.

I then cut two side by side holes in the center of my paper plate.

Then cut two holes in a plate.
Then cut two holes in a plate.
You can see the two holes better from the back.
You can see the two holes better from the back.

I found the center of my pipe cleaner and brought either end through a hole on the plate from the front to the back.

Then center the pipe cleaner on the plate and bring both ends to the back.
Then center the pipe cleaner on the plate and bring both ends to the back.
Either end of the pipe cleaner is out behind the plate.
Either end of the pipe cleaner is out behind the plate.

I then twisted the two ends of the pipe cleaner around each other so it would be secure and, more importantly, the wheel will be spaced a little ways away from the box interior so it doesn’t scrape when being rotated.

I twisted the pipe cleaners around a couple times.
I twisted the pipe cleaners around a couple of times.

I then brought the ends of the pipe cleaner through the side of the box, from the inside to the outside, and attempted to secure it by tying a knot.

Then with the wheel/plate inside the car/cardboard box bring the pipe cleaner ends through the box to the outside.
Then with the wheel/plate inside the car/cardboard box bring the pipe cleaner ends through the box to the outside.
You can try to do a knot to keep it from pulled out of the box.
You can try to do a knot to keep it from pulled out of the box.

To make sure it was fully secure I decided to create a couple of holes in the box flap and bring the pipe cleaner end through it before twisting the ends together again.

I ended up poking a couple holes in the box flap to secure the wheel.
I ended up poking a couple of holes in the box flap to secure the wheel.

And there you have a working steering wheel in your cardboard box vehicle. All you need now is to create a door by cutting a vertical line on the side of the box and then cutting into the box horizontally before bending the newly created cardboard flap to have a working side door.

And the paper plate wheel is secure (and turnable) in the car.
And the paper plate wheel is secure (and turnable) in the car.

As I attached more paper plate steering wheels to the other cardboard vehicles I changed up my method a bit. I figured I’d share so you can decide which way you prefer. On this box I started by cutting three ‘X’s in the box; I cut one centered at the top of the end of the box and then cut two more above the first in the box flap.

The next iteration started with a hole on the front of the box along with two holes in the flap of the box.
The next iteration started with a hole on the front of the box along with two holes in the flap of the box.

I still cut two holes in the center of the paper plate steering wheel.

I then poked two holes in the plate again.
I then poked two holes in the plate again.

Like before thread the pipe cleaner through the paper plate. Unlike before I didn’t center the pipe cleaner first and instead had one long length out the back and one much shorter one. Like before I twisted the two pipe cleaner ends together on the back of the plate to allow it to stand away from the cardboard box.

Brought the pipe cleaner through the holes on the plate making sure one end was longer than the other.
Brought the pipe cleaner through the holes on the plate making sure one end was longer than the other.
Twisted the pipe cleaner ends around each other to secure it on the wheel and add space between the wheel and box.
Twisted the pipe cleaner ends around each other to secure it on the wheel and add space between the wheel and box.

I brought both ends of the pipe cleaner through the single hole in the end of the box. I then brought the long end of the pipe cleaner through one of the holes in the box flap and then back through the other hole before securing the two ends of the pipe cleaner together.

Then bring it through the box side so the plate is on the inside.
Then bring it through the box side so the plate is on the inside.
I then brought the long end of the pipe cleaner up through the hole in the flap and back down through the other hole.
I then brought the long end of the pipe cleaner up through the hole in the flap and back down through the other hole.
And then secured the two ends together by twisting them around each other.
And then secured the two ends together by twisting them around each other.

And all you need to do is add the door and perhaps decorate the vehicle.


I then lined up all the boxes so we had a cardboard box train with fully working train cars to ‘drive’.

I then cut the box vertically and then horizontally so there would be a door to get into and out of the box vehicles safely.
I then cut the box vertically and then horizontally so there would be a door to get into and out of the box vehicles safely.
Cardboard box train!
Cardboard box train!

If you need extra cushioning for a quick break you can easily fold up a blanket to line the floor of the vehicle.

With the door you don't even need to be fully inside before laying down for a break.
With the door you don’t even need to be fully inside before laying down for a break.
A vehicle for everyone!
A vehicle for everyone!
Sitting in a vehicle to watch vehicles on the television.
Sitting in a vehicle to watch vehicles on the television.
Create a 'tent' by draping a blanket over the box and maybe play peek-a-boo.
Create a ‘tent’ by draping a blanket over the box and maybe play peek-a-boo.

I hope this idea gives you a quick, simple, and cheap toy you can make with materials you have lying around the house. I especially hope it gives your kids many hours of fun while you get to accomplish other wanted tasks or sit back with a book and coffee. If your kids are older I can see giving your them markers and having them decorate their vehicle. I’d love to hear and see what you and your kids come up with. You can contact me anytime through the comments below, through a post on my Facebook page, or tag me through Instagram.




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