How to Build a Ride On Backhoe Trencher
One of the most enjoyable projects for a craftsman is to build a wooden ride-on toy for a child. Not only do you get the pride of making something with your own hands, but you have the added pleasure of seeing the joy on a young child's face when he takes his new toy out for a spin. Airplanes, trucks and trains are all popular inspirations for this sort of project, and making a construction toy such as a backhoe trencher with a working scoop can spark the imagination of a child.
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Things You'll Need
- 1-inch thick plywood
- 2 2-by-4-inch boards
- 1-inch diameter dowel
- 3/8-inch dowel
- Drill
- Wood screws
- Wood glue
- Bolts
- Nuts
- 3 washers
- 1-gallon milk jug
- 2 metal axles
- Four axle brackets
- 4 wheels
- Cotter pins
- Straight edge
- Compass
- Saw
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrushes
- Paint
Instructions
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1
Cut a 56-by-18-inch piece of 1-inch thick plywood with a saw. Round off the corners and sand the edges until they are smooth to make the baseboard.
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2
Drill a 1-inch hole 16 inches from one end of the baseboard. Drill a 1-inch hole through a 24-inch long 2-by-4 board. Drill a 3/8-inch hole through the shaft of a 1-inch diameter, 20-inch long dowel, about 3 1/2 inches from one end.
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3
Insert a 2-inch long 3/8-inch dowel through the hole in the 1-inch dowel's shaft. Insert the 1-inch dowel through the hole in the baseboard so that the smaller dowel acts as a stop. Turn over the baseboard, place two washers with a 1-inch interior diameter over the large dowel, then put the 2-by-4 over the dowel end.
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4
Drill a 3/8-inch hole through the 2-by-4 and the 1-inch dowel shaft. Place a washer on a 3/8-inch bolt, push the bolt through the hole, add another washer and secure the bolt with a nut to complete the steering wheel shaft. Turn the baseboard right side up, so the longer part of the dowel is sticking up.
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5
Cut an 8-inch diameter circle out of the 1-inch plywood. Drill a 1-inch hole in the center and sand the circle until it is smooth. Drill a 3/8-inch hole through the large dowel about 1 1/4 inches from the end, and insert a 2-inch piece of 3/8-inch diameter dowel. Place the plywood circle over the large dowel so it rests on the smaller dowel, then glue the circle and the smaller dowel in place to form the steering wheel.
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6
Cut a 14-by-10-inch rectangle and two 12-by-10-inch rectangles from the plywood. Match one of the smaller pieces along the 10-inch side under the edge of the larger rectangle. Attach with three wood screws. Repeat with the other 12-by-10-inch rectangle to complete the bench. Center the bench on the baseboard about 12 inches behind the steering wheel and attach it to the baseboard with wood screws.
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7
Cut a 2-by-2-inch square and an L shape that is 18 inches on each 2-inch wide leg from the plywood. Drill a 3/8-inch hole through the center of the square and through the angle of the L arm. Hold the square perpendicularly to the rear edge of the baseboard and attach with wood screws. Put a washer over a bolt, slip the bolt through the hole in the square, add two more washers, slip the L arm over the bolt, add another washer, then secure the bolt with a nut to complete the trencher arm.
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8
Cut another 2-by-2-inch square and a 16-by-2-inch arm from the plywood. Drill a 3/8-inch hole through the center of the square and both ends of the arm. Hold the square perpendicularly to the front of the baseboard and attach it with wood screws. Place a washer on a bolt, put the bolt through the square, add two more washers, slip one end of the arm over the bolt, add another washer, then secure the whole thing with a nut to form the backhoe arm.
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9
Cut a 2-by-20-inch arm from the plywood, and drill a 3/8-inch hole 6 inches from one end. Cut the handle and spout off an empty 1-gallon milk jug so you are left with a scoop shape. Hold the base of the milk jug against the free end of the wooden arm and attach it with two wood screws through the plastic jug to complete the backhoe scoop. Attach the scoop to the backhoe arm with a bolt, washers and a nut.
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10
Turn over the project and attach a metal axle to the bottom of the 2-by-4 with two axle brackets. Slip a washer over each axle end, then put on the wheels, and hold them on with cotter pins.
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11
Cut a 24-inch long 2-by-4 and center it under the baseboard about 6 inches from the rear of the backhoe trencher, attaching it with wood screws. Center an axle under the 2-by-4 and attach it with axle brackets, add a washer on each end, then attach two wheels with cotter pins.
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12
Turn the project right-side up. The front wheels should turn easily when the steering wheel is turned. The backhoe scoop should stay in place but still move easily when the handle is used to manipulate the arm. The trencher likewise should stay in place but be easy to move and be able to touch the ground for those heavy trenching jobs.
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13
Sand the whole project smooth, then paint your project in any colors you like, using brushes and enamel paints. Paint the image of a saw-like blade on the trencher arm.
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Tips & Warnings
If the front wheels don't turn easily enough, put some water-displacing spray on the washers between the baseboard and axle.
