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How to Make a Soap Box Cart

Soap box cars, also known as go-carts, are simple box cars made of wood and used for racing games. The simplest soap box car is made of plywood, has no steering and can move only if pushed, dragged or released down a hill. The most complex car has steering, looks like a scaled-down model of an actual car and even has pedals that allow the driver to move the vehicle. With a few basic materials and some tools, you can make a simple soap box car in an afternoon.

Things You'll Need

3-by-4-foot plywood board
2 4-by-2-foot plywood boards
3 3-by-2-foot plywood boards
Staple gun
2 axle rods
2 notched 6-inch-by-3-foot plywood boards
4 wheels
Sandpaper
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Place a 3-by-4-foot plywood board on the floor for the bottom of the car.
- 2
  Attach two 4-by-2-foot boards to either side for the side panels and two 3-by-2-foot boards for the front and back of the car. Use a staple gun to attach each plywood board to the bottom of the soapbox car. You should have a 4-foot-long, 3-foot-wide, 2-foot-deep plywood box.
- 3
  Attach a 3-by-2-foot plywood board to the top of the box at one end, making sure it is flush with the side panels. You should have a box that is covered on one side and open on the other. The front of the car will be the covered end.
- 4
  Flip the soap box car upside down and attach an axle rod to the front and back of the car. Use notched 6-inch-by-3-foot plywood boards to hold the axle rods in place. The notches should be small enough to fit the axle rods tightly but big enough so that the rods can spin. Staple the notched boards to the bottom of the soap box car.
- 5
  Attach the wheels to each end of the axle rods.
- 6
  Smooth the entire outer surface of the car with sandpaper, and decorate the car with paint as desired.

Soap Box Derby