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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> DIY Projects >> DIY Wagons in 10 Minutes from Crates

November 17, 2015 By Jenna 32 Comments

DIY Wagons in 10 Minutes from Crates

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How to Make Wagons Out of Crates - Easy DIY project that kids will love to play with! Also works great to hold gifts during the holidays - doubles as holiday decor!

Create your own “custom” wagons from crates in just minutes using this tutorial. It’s so simple and perfect for kids, holiday decorating and more! Find out how to make a wagon that can be used for all sorts of things below!

The Circus loves to carry things on herself.

Have you ever seen a kid with a pink turtle zipped up in her jacket with its head popping out like it was a baby in one of those wrap things?

Well, you could have all day yesterday.

She also likes to load up a doll, perhaps a stuffed animal or two, her juice cup, probably a cash register as well and a few other random items in boxes, clothes baskets and other “carrying” devices and drag them across the house.

So if I told you that these wagons were still on the front porch and decorated just like this, I’d be lying.

However, I can say that these wagons – made out of crates – are quite easy to make and really do make pretty holiday decor when loaded up with various holiday items sans a princess cash register.

how to make a wagon - play wagons made out of prefab crates.

This post is sponsored by Crates and Pallets, however all opinions are 100% mine. Affiliate links may be contained in this post.

How to Make a Toy Wagon

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Materials & Tools Needed for the Wagon: 

  • Crates – I used an Extra Large Crate, a Large Crate, and a Medium Crate.
  • Paint or Stain Colors of Your Choice – I used Vivid, Modern, and Baroque.
  • Wheel Casters – Four per crate

Step 1:

Paint the crates your desired colors and let them dry.

how to make a toy wagon out of crates - painting crates red, blue and green.

Step 2:

Attach the caster wheels to the base of the wagon with your drill. Use a small drill bit first to drill a hole to prevent the wood from cracking, then attach the wheels with the 3/4″ wood screws.

toy wagon made out of a crate - attaching wheels to the base.

The screws may come through the bottom slats just a bit, so don’t put anything that you may not want snagged in these. You could also purchase shorter screws and use them rather than using the screws that come with the caster wheels.

Set aside the wagons and start making the handles.

Related: See how I made a DIY Lemonade Stand using these same crates too!

DIY Wagon Handle

Materials and Tools Needed for the Pull Handle:

  • 1/2″ x 2′ PVC Pipe (It comes pre-cut in this size at Home Depot.) – I used four of these in total. It takes about one and 1/4 of another one per wagon.
  • 1/2″ PVC Tee (One per wagon.)
  • 1/2″ 45° PVC Elbow (One per wagon.)
  • 1/2″ 90° PVC Elbox (One per wagon.)
  • 1/2″ PVC Caps (Three per wagon.)
  • 1/2″ PVC Straps (One per wagon.)
  • PVC Cement
  • Black Spray Paint
  • Drill
  • Saw (Circular or Miter Saw – I used my miter saw.)
  • 3/4″ Wood Screws

Steps

Step 1:

Take one piece of the 1/2″ x 2′ PVC Pipe and cut four pieces that are approximately 1″ – 2″ in length. The length doesn’t have to be perfect on these. Lay out your pipe as shown in the image below.

diy wagon handle made out of pipe

If you want to make the handle shorter, cut down the main piece of 1/2″ PVC pipe. I left it full length on one wagon and cut it down a bit on the other two.

The second photo above shows how everything will fit together. Before fitting everything together, apply PVC cement to the joints as shown below and then fit them together.

attaching pipe fittings to make toy wagon handles.

Don’t try to put the cement on all the joints all at once – do it one joint at a time and fit it together, then move onto another joint. Let the handle dry for a bit and then you can remove the excess cement with a baby wipe.

Step 2:

Spray paint the handles and PVC strap for each wagon black.

Step 3:

After the handles and straps have fully dried,  attach a strap to the side of each wagon. I attached mine lower, however if you wanted your handles to be higher up, you can attach them higher.

attaching wagon handles made from pipe

Attach the strap on one side only first, then gently lift the un-attached side and slide the handle under the strap where the small piece of PVC is between the cap and 90° PVC elbow and screw the other side of the strap into place.

Load ’em up with whatever your little heart desires…

DIY wagons made from prefab crates

Also, I am proclaiming that wrapping paper rolls be designated as holiday decor even if it isn’t on a present. I mean – those rolls are essentially out all season long (at my house anyway) so why not put them into multiple use?

easy crate projects - making wagons out of crates.

And yes, those are real, live wrapped presents. Like actual gifts – not just boxes I wrapped up. I’m on top of my gift-giving game. #winning Fantastic and unique gift ideas are HERE!

DIY wagons in red, green and blue

I think it would be really fun to fill these up with gifts for people who you gift more than one present or for couples. If it’s not for a kid, you could leave the handles off and then the person has a handy little crate to use as part of their gift too.

These could also make fantastic garden carts for gardeners! Load them up with a few gardening essentials and you’ll make their day!

Any other ideas you have to put these wagons to use?

Looking for more creative DIY upcycles?

DIY Faux Jadeite – looks just like the real thing, but uses thrift store finds.

DIY Kitchen Island – using reclaimed barn wood and old porch posts.

Locker Baskets turned Shelving – vintage metal locker baskets turned decorative and functional shelving.

How to Make a Lamp Out of a Bottle – did you know you can pretty easily turn just about any bottle into a lamp? Here’s how.

Want to remember these wagons for later? Just pin the image below!

How to use prefab crates to make wagons

Stalk Me Here:

Pinterest / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, Holidays and Seasonal Tagged With: christmas, crates, holidays, wagons

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Comments

  1. Susan the Farm Quilter says

    November 17, 2015 at 1:18 pm

    What a great idea!! Love the way they have multiple uses!! One other thing, I really appreciate the fact that the title of your post is in the subject line of the email…I save your DIY/recipe emails and when I am looking for a specific project or recipe, it is really easy to find – thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 20, 2015 at 8:55 am

      Thanks, Susan! And thanks for letting me know that about the titles -sometimes I think I should try and be more witty with titles, but maybe not!

      Reply
  2. Lisa says

    November 17, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    I’m thinking I need to make 3 of these to put presents in around the tree this year!!!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 20, 2015 at 8:55 am

      Go for it, Lisa! They are super easy to make – and I think I’ll be bringing in one or two of mine to hold presents around the tree in as well – if I can keep them away from the Circus! 😉

      Reply
  3. Debra@shoppeno5 says

    November 17, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    These are so darn cute. I don’t have any little kids but I may need to make a wagon for myself.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 20, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Thank you, Debra! I think you should totally make a wagon for yourself. 😉

      Reply
  4. Amy says

    November 17, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    I am obsessed!!!!! Such a cute and cheerful Holiday décor idea!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 20, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Thanks, Amy – super easy DIY!

      Reply
  5. Terri Hughes says

    November 17, 2015 at 11:43 pm

    Love the little wagons, they are so cute. This was a great idea!!!!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 20, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Thanks, Terri! I think they are cute too and a really easy make!

      Reply
  6. Suzy @ Worthing Court says

    November 27, 2015 at 11:04 am

    What a cute idea, Jenna! I’ll be featuring your project at The Scoop this Monday night. Thank you for linking up!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 29, 2015 at 6:55 pm

      That’s awesome!! Thanks so much, Suzy!

      Reply
  7. Cindy Eikenberg says

    November 28, 2015 at 6:34 am

    Hi Jenna – these wagons are such a great idea and so adorable! Popping over from The 36th Avenue and of course, pinned! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy a happy weekend!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 29, 2015 at 6:55 pm

      Thanks so much, Cindy!! They were easy to make and are really fun!

      Reply
  8. Linda says

    December 1, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    Love the bright and bold colors! It’s eye popping happy looking! Know all the Circus’s friends and moms love it too.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      December 1, 2015 at 5:17 pm

      Thanks, Linda! They’ve been really fun to have around!

      Reply
  9. Charlotte Burkholder says

    November 2, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    This is a neat idea. The wagons could be decorated for any season. Thanks for sharing at Family Joy Blog Linkup.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 3, 2016 at 12:29 pm

      Yep, they totally could! Thanks, Charlotte!

      Reply
  10. Casserole Gal Rhonda says

    November 3, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Very Creative! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 3, 2016 at 12:27 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  11. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelail says

    November 11, 2016 at 11:47 am

    Hey, Jenna! Just wanted to let you know that we loved your How To Make Wagons Out Of Crates so much when you shared it at the #HomeMattersParty last week, we’ve FEATURED it THIS WEEK! Hope you can check it out when you get a sec. Happy Friday!!!
    http://lifewithlorelai.com/2016/11/10/home-matters-linky-party-112

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 15, 2016 at 7:46 am

      That’s awesome! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  12. anna says

    October 23, 2017 at 5:45 am

    Cute !
    Anna

    Reply
  13. Jamie says

    October 24, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    These are so adorable. Thanks for sharing on More the Merrier Monday link party!!

    Reply
  14. Nancy says

    October 25, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    Such a cute idea! Great for decor or little ones to play with….thanks for the tutorial.
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    Reply
  15. Trisha says

    October 25, 2017 at 2:30 pm

    Love this idea! I have crates that have been very unstylishly holding chip bags in my pantry. I need to pull them out and recycle them pronto!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      October 26, 2017 at 11:34 am

      Thanks, Trisha!

      Reply
  16. bonbon says

    October 29, 2017 at 9:25 pm

    Thanks for sharing at Inspire Me Monday….I wanted to let you know that you are one of my featured picks this week.

    Reply
  17. Marjan says

    December 17, 2018 at 12:58 pm

    Such a cleaver idea to use PVC pipe for the handle. The wagons look just great.

    Reply
  18. Rhonda-Gales says

    December 18, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    I love this idea. I’m thinking it would be perfect in the garden or a great toy for seasonal decorating. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.

    Reply
  19. Kippi says

    December 23, 2018 at 9:31 am

    Great idea I want to make some of these too. Merry Christmas, Kippi

    Reply
  20. Judy says

    January 1, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    What a super cute project! I will be featuring this tonight at my Winter Blues Wednesday party that opens at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I’ve Been Featured button. Thanks.

    Reply

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