Parent Hack: How To Make The Ultimate Car Toy Using Two Diaper Boxes

 

If you have a child who enjoys playing with cars and using anything they can get their hands on to create roads, you’re in luck. Edgar has devised a perfect solution for you, regardless of your child’s age. It’s a bonus if they’re still in diapers or pull-ups because this project utilizes those boxes. Using two upcycled diaper boxes, he created a car mountain that Xander can’t get enough of. As I’ve mentioned in our toy garden post, I’m a big fan of finding creative ways to use these boxes instead of just tossing them. Check out the teaser video below to witness Xander’s enthusiastic reaction to his new car mountain toy, and be sure to turn up your volume!

Why This Car Toy?

Xander’s love for vehicles goes beyond a simple interest – it’s an obsession! Any toy with wheels is a must-have for him, and he’s always pointing out different types of cars, buses, trucks, and tractors when we’re on the road. He’s even able to pretend that non-vehicle items, like tubes of A&D or food on his plate, are driving around like cars.

Xander’s imagination is so entertaining that we don’t even need a TV during dinner (something we reserve for special occasions, aka ‘dinner movie night’) – he’s enough to keep us entertained! And thanks to Edgar’s engineering skills, Xander has a “car mountain” toy that he still enjoys playing with almost daily.

What You’ll Need

• Diaper/pull-up boxes. For reference, Edgar used two Costco diaper boxes; the measurements are 24 x 9 x 13 in
• Ruler and marker
• Scissors/wire cutter/box cutter
• Duct tape
• 2-inch PVC pipe split in half OR wrapping paper roll
• Wallpaper or paint (optional)
• Play tape (optional)

From Diaper Boxes to Car Toy

First Make The Base

Take one of the diaper boxes, measure five inches from the edge on each side, and mark a straight line to know where to cut. Then cut the lines. Do this on each opposite end of the box so you have three sections. Set the middle section aside to use later.

Take the other diaper box and place it horizontally on the floor; this will be box C. Place one of the cut boxes vertically against C; this will be box A. Position A on the far right of C with the opening facing C. Take the other cut box, which will be box B, and place it horizontally against C and to the left of A.

Boxes A and B must overlap, so mark where B meets A. Then cut out the marked area to slide box B into box A and tape everything together to secure it in place.

Second Make The Tunnel

Next, split the PVC pipe in half to create a ramp to tunnel through the boxes to the floor. Measure from the midway point of box A down to the bottom of box B so it makes a 45-degree angle to the floor. Draw a circle to mark where to cut. The duct tape roll is the perfect size to make this circle. Make one more circle on boxes A and two circles B. These will be openings for the PVC pipe tunnel to pass through. Four circles total are needed. Use your blade to cut out the tracings. Cut the sharp edges off the PVC pipe end at the tunnel’s top. Slide the PVC pipe through the holes to create the tunnel, then smooth and secure it with tape.

Third Make The Ramps

Locate the middle section from earlier. Flatten it so the outside of the box is facing up. Then, measure four inches left to the fold already in the box and make a line. Then measure four inches to the left of that line and then four inches to the left of that marking. You should have a total of three lines with four inches in between. Cut off the excess cardboard at the four-inch marking farthest on the left.

Now it is time to make folds at the lines. Edgar used a convenient hack to make a straight clean fold into thick cardboard: line up the marked line to the inside edge of a door and then close the door with the cardboard inside. This action will make the fold for you. After doing so, ensure this cardboard piece will fold into a square.

Next, take this cardboard piece and lay it flat. Make a line down the middle. Edgar’s halfway point was 5.5 inches. Split the cardboard piece in half, shape both into squares and then secure them with tape. Since these squares will serve as ramps for the bridge access, they need to be bent into a rhombus to provide the perfect angle. Grab an extra piece of cardboard and draw four rhombus shapes using the ones made as the outline to give structure to the rhombus. Then cut these out and tape them to each open rhombus side. Now, place these ramps at the outside edges of box C. Make sure the ramps are angled outwards and secure with tape.

Fourth Make The Bridge

Measure the PVC pipe at about 14 inches if using the same sized boxes as Edgar. Then remove and smooth out the sharp edges of each side on the PVC pipe as done to the tunnel. Add notches in the ramps where the PVC pipe meets the cardboard so the bridge does not protrude out. Then, secure with tape inside the notch, push down on the bridge, and secure with more tape at the bridge entrances. This will also provide a great handle to carry the car toy when necessary. Finally, secure all loose areas with more tape as needed.

Voilà, your car mountain toy is done! Leave it as is, or decorate the toy with wallpaper or paint. It can also be embellished with play tape to make roads.

Here is the complete DIY video by Edgar that provides a clear visual step-by-step guide.

Final Thoughts of the Car Mountain Toy

As you can see from the videos, this car mountain was the ultimate vehicle toy for Xander from upcycled diaper boxes. It is still in one piece today, and it is still a popular item in Xander’s world. We hope you enjoyed this project and your little one finds as much enjoyment in it as our little guy did. Please tell us your thoughts. We would love to know!  Check out Super Simple DIY Dad for more exciting toy ideas!