AXES and SHOVELS?

bladeolson

bladeolson

New member
Do you guys have an axe or shovel in/on your rigs?

Axes?
What length axe do you think is best for a Jeep?I feel a hatchet is too small and will be useless. I am considering a 26" Axe. I am Swedish, so considering to get a nice Scandinavian Forest axe.

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What about shovels?
I am kinda wondering people's thoughts on best shape ? Round, Square? With handle? Any particular brands?

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I am leaning towards getting a medium length wooden handle and round with a handle. I feel if I am digging I want something comfortable, but a full size is just plain too huge in the Jeep. A folding army spade seems too tiny.I'd put it across the top roll bar. I have extinguisher on driver side cage, I'd put the axe on the passenger side cage.
I'm just wondering if folks have had real-life experiences both positive or negative with certain kinds of shovels and axes.

Pictures of the gear in or on rigs would be cool too!

Blade
 
I carry an e-tool in my Jeep. Folds up small enough to take up minimal space, and opens to maybe 2 - 3 ft long. It's short, but not so short I can't still push it down in with my foot to get it to dig deep. Has a serrated edge to use for chopping wood on one side of the shovel end. I've never had to use a shovel on the trail, and figure this is better than nothing if I ever do need one.
 

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I carry a medium axe on the passenger side rear roll bar. Same as the one in the photo it's about 3 foot long and is a perfect fit with the head on the crossbar.

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I have a fiskars telescopic spade on the cross bar which is a good compromise between a full size shovel and being able to carry it in the jeep. I went with the straight edge rather than a point to prevent damage to the roll bar padding.

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I also carry a Gerber gator machete hanging from the crossbar for clearing lantana from overgrown trails
 
I also carry a Tri fold shovel and I also carry the smittybilt trail axe and for the times I've needed the axe it hasn't let me down and is still sharp. Have used it to chop quite a few 3" diameter branches that have been across the trails and then was able to clear the path after that and have used it to slice kindling for a fire multiple times. The handle isn't the best I've ever felt however it is comfortable enough to use And doesn't try to turn in your hand. It also fits in the cubby underneath behind the rear seat ha ha since I have a 2dr and space is limited those options work well for me. It also has other gimmicky stuff in the handle that I have yet to use but I did test the flint rod and it would work in a pinch hiwever I'd rather use the good one I have
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I have a Fiskars X15 axe as well as a Fiskars brush axe. I would not mount anything anywhere in the vehicle that Is going to kill someone in a crash. They are high quality and stay sharp. I have used them many times.

Mine are strapped through the blade covers between the seat back and the cover on the seat so it's secure and protected.

I have a small telescopic shovel from costco I believe, bigger than a folding shovel, smaller than a full size. It's on my spare tire carrier.
 
bladeolson said:
Do you guys have an axe or shovel in/on your rigs?

Axes?
What length axe do you think is best for a Jeep?I feel a hatchet is too small and will be useless. I am considering a 26" Axe. I am Swedish, so considering to get a nice Scandinavian Forest axe.

Blade
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Gransfors Bruks? They have a SFA. I bought their Wildlife Hatchet a few years ago in Durango, CO. It is small but it can cut quite a bit. Coincidentally their SFA is on my list o things to buy. GB is expensive but well worth the money. I want to go to Sweden for the sole reason to visit their shop. I was told by a buddy that used to fell trees on the regular that Husqvarna makes good axes as well.

Here is what I have.

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I carry a shorty HomeDepot shovel that I fastened with quick fist clamps on the back of my hatch along with a cheapy aluminum show shovel that telescopes. Out of the elements. I have a full length cheapy axe (that I have only used once) under my back seat. I have a picture somewhere I'll try to add in a little bit. Love these clamps. I use the snow shovel all the time. I use the regular one here and there for putting out campfires more than anything.

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Jackal01 said:
Gransfors Bruks? They have a SFA. I bought their Wildlife Hatchet a few years ago in Durango, CO. It is small but it can cut quite a bit. Coincidentally their SFA is on my list o things to buy. GB is expensive but well worth the money. I want to go to Sweden for the sole reason to visit their shop. I was told by a buddy that used to fell trees on the regular that Husqvarna makes good axes as well.

Here is what I have.

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beautiful axe! I agree, the Swedes make awesome axes.
 
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I have a SOG backcountry axe. I've only used it once, but it did its job. Will probably get a shovel here soon before it I go camping this year.
 
WJCO said:
I carry a shorty HomeDepot shovel that I fastened with quick fist clamps on the back of my hatch along with a cheapy aluminum show shovel that telescopes. Out of the elements. I have a full length cheapy axe (that I have only used once) under my back seat. I have a picture somewhere I'll try to add in a little bit. Love these clamps. I use the snow shovel all the time. I use the regular one here and there for putting out campfires more than anything.

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Link for clamps? I like those. Had to drill holes to mount? Nutserts?
 
GraniteCrystal said:
Link for clamps? I like those. Had to drill holes to mount? Nutserts?
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DWiggles said:
They look like quick fists: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=quick fist clamps

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They are quick fists. I love em. I've used them for a lot of stuff. They include a plastic washer an one hole through the center of the rubber. I just used self tappers where they go into trim. Doesn't seem like it would hold but once you start working with them, you'll see they are fairly sturdy. If you wanted to, you could put a bolt with a washer and nut on the back too. Lots of places sell them.
 
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jmac603 said:
So, those quick fist clamps are just fastened to the trim using self tapping screws?
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Almost everyone I've used, that's how I did. It's surprising how well they hold even in plastic. I did have one that came out, but it was because I pulled on it improperly. But those shovels have been there for almost 2 years. With metal anchoring (not going into trim plastic), they'll be there for ever. That's how I've done it. If you are worried about a heavier item, you could always reinforce the back with a washer and nut or even use an extra clamp to distribute the weight. I've seen guys hang hi-lifts with them, but I wouldn't do that with self-tappers.
 
Sorry for the hijack, but since there's been some interest in the clamps, I'll post some pics, I had a couple extra laying around. The picture of the bolt cutters has the clamps secured into the metal of the back seat with self-tappers. All the other ones I have go into plastic trim with self-tappers. The clamps come with a plastic washer to keep the bolt from sinking into the rubber of the clamp, but based on the thickness of the washer, I did not use it because I only had short self-tappers laying around. You could always use the washers and use longer screws too.

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