How to Make a DIY Trash Truck Costume

A DIY garbage truck costume perfect for Halloween or dress up! 

This Halloween, my truck obsessed three-year-old wanted to be a trash truck.  I could have taken the easy road and bought him one, but what fun would that have been?  So, I decided to try and make him a custom trash truck costume out of cardboard.   I have to admit, I was a little nervous about pulling it off, but I knew I couldn't let him down.

This post will be a bunch of "after" pictures with little description since my camera was having issues while taking all the "during" pictures.  Without pictures trying to describe the process of how I built the truck will be difficult and I'm sure boring to read.  So, I'll just spare you all the details and get straight to the pictures.

But, first...

- SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE A TRASH TRUCK COSTUME - 

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• Lots of cardboard!
• Brown gift wrap paper
• Green, white and black spray paint
• Wood for the tires
• 4 screws and 4 nuts
• 1 pack of red and white reflector tape (cut in half)
• Yellow and black reflector tape (cut in half)
• Wire mesh for front "grill"
• Spray adhesive
• 2 battery operated LED lights
• Old belt cut in half for straps 
• Wire to attach straps to cardboard

Total Cost: About $22.00

I had most of the supplies already, which helped keep the cost down.  The only things I had to buy were the reflector tapes, green spray paint, belt (from Goodwill) and the LED lights.  The lights were definitely the most expensive part at $7.00 a piece.  I didn't mind splurging on them since they can be reused pretty much anywhere in the house.

 

 The "tires" were attached to the cardboard with a screw and nut.  

The lights on the front are battery operated LED lights that I taped onto the front of the truck. You know, so you can see while you're Trick-or-Treating!

My son absolutely loves this trash truck and the reaction from him after it was complete was priceless.

     

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