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Shovel choices ? I'm curious

Discussion in 'Off-Roading & Trails' started by Moon Landing, Jun 4, 2021.

  1. Nov 4, 2021 at 3:45 AM
    #31
    RedWings44

    RedWings44 New Member

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    I guess it depends on what you want it for. I carry a plastic grain shovel in my Tacoma in the winter. However that's with snow in mind since it will move a lot at once. Not so good for digging though.

    20201121_164509.jpg
     
  2. Nov 14, 2021 at 2:47 PM
    #32
    PhantomTweak

    PhantomTweak New Member

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    None. Bone Stock. EXCEPT: Brushguard, tow hitch, both welded to the frame. It's good to have friends and a fully equipped garage!
    I, personally, don't do much off-roading any longer, but we do get snow/ice here. I do need to dig out of my driveway on occasion. At least enough to throw some carpet under the wheels to let get on top of the snow.

    I carry a Marine Corps issue e-tool.. complete kit. My middle daughter, who is a former Marine like her father <ahem> seems to have "forgotten" to turn it in when she got out, and she passed it to me. Along with a number of other issue items she "forgot" to turn in. In return, I let her keep the K-Bar I was issued. She got a LOT of looks from some of the older enlisted men she encountered in Iraq and Iran. Including a few Mossad agents she encountered. Dead eyes...
    They always wanted to know where she got it from, was it original issue, etc etc. She even wore it correctly. Upside down on the left suspender of her "deuce gear". She got a lot of respect. Not bad for a tall, slender, truly beautiful, blond chick. They expected the usual "ditzy blonde", but she quickly disabused them of that concept.

    Sorry, I ramble. Anywho, that's what I carry. Works great, especially in the tight spaces under and around snowed in tires.

    Have fun, gang!
    Pat☺
     
  3. Mar 2, 2022 at 6:59 PM
    #33
    BionicRandy

    BionicRandy New Member

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    Those Army e-tools are great for saving space, but they suck if you have to dig anything much more than a hole to poop in. We called them “sh!t spoons” in the Army for that reason…it is all they are good for. E-tools are what you make Privates dig foxholes with when theydon’t clean the barracks; they are not for real work. Lmao

    We had one of these on every truck and unfortunately used them more frequently than I care to recall. Odds are when you need a shovel it is rainy and/or muddy, you will need that D handle to do any real work. I sanded, stained and sealed the wood on one and clamp it to my ladder if I am going somewhere I may need it.

    789AF59B-BF71-4248-B196-D0F71CBE801F.jpg
    3DEC671E-F435-48C6-B186-50EE2BB4AE77.jpg
     
  4. Mar 3, 2022 at 4:15 AM
    #34
    GenoBluzGtr

    GenoBluzGtr New Member

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    Thatbassguy likes this.
  5. Mar 3, 2022 at 6:48 AM
    #35
    crashnburn

    crashnburn New Member

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    Kyx nerfbars, TRD roof rack.
    I don't have a shovel yet but I picked up these for driving on the beach. Used them to help 2 cars stuck in the sand right where the beach starts. One was a rental without awd let alone 4wd. They should know better. ECOTRIC Recovery Boards Traction Tracks Mat for Sand Mud Snow Off Road Tire Ladder Black 4WD W/Storage Bag - Black https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B086MLH1RB?_encoding=UTF8
     
    DRobs likes this.
  6. Mar 14, 2022 at 8:14 PM
    #36
    newlife

    newlife Not all who wander are ...... squirrel

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    All of them.
    Murder Spork for the win. Plus side is if your mount it teeth into the wind you can catch that nights dinner if you’re feeling lucky. 4B4D8863-F139-4C0A-AFA2-74E9F641D2BC.jpg
     
  7. Apr 28, 2022 at 7:49 PM
    #37
    standard

    standard New Member

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    stock so far, what could he possibly need
    I have a double folding trenching shovel that fits in the tire chain case. with the chains. and a short D handle spade that handles the other stuff. and is always in the way and bouncing around. have to cover it with the sleeping bags and jam the chuck box up against it so it doesn't launch itself at me. :)
     
  8. Apr 28, 2022 at 8:16 PM
    #38
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

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    I’d like one that actually works for digging and can double as a weapon. No such thing exists.
     
  9. Apr 29, 2022 at 4:57 AM
    #39
    DRobs

    DRobs New Member

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    Pinstripes, lots of em. Plus a couple dents.
    Colt Steel Spetsnaz Shovel - if you believe the hype.
    https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1022664299

    A friend of mine was using one to tend a bonfire the other night and I commented, "Is that a Cold Steel Spetsnaz Shovel?" He's like yeah. "It's my murder spoon."

    Really the only thing I like a shovel for is for tending a bonfire. Going back to shovels and off roading. Outside of snow, I've yet to see anyone (in person) use a shovel off road. The soil here in SW Missouri is rocky. You aint digging deep around here. Sure there are some mud holes, best practice is to wheel with a buddy and be prepared to pull each out or winch out.

    I suppose I could come up with a scenario where there are no trees and I need to bury a spare tire to use as an winch anchor. A full length or longer shovel would be nice for that. That rare scenario doesn't validate carrying a full length shovel for me. I have a winch though.

    If Maxtrax or similar traction boards are your main form of recovery, a shovel would be handy to dig in front of your tires.
     
    LandCruiser[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Apr 29, 2022 at 12:36 PM
    #40
    standard

    standard New Member

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    stock so far, what could he possibly need
    i bet there are stats on how many people are killed with shovels every year. cdc tracks that kind of stuff i think...
     
  11. Apr 29, 2022 at 12:53 PM
    #41
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

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    I think you can either have a good murder shovel or a good digging shovel, but not one that is good at doing both.
     
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  12. Apr 29, 2022 at 5:10 PM
    #42
    Stoney Ranger

    Stoney Ranger New Member

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    I'm pretty sure a home run swing to the head with any "good digging" shovel will be more than adequate for it to become a murder shovel.
     
    GoSlow likes this.
  13. Jun 11, 2022 at 10:58 AM
    #43
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

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  14. Jul 5, 2022 at 8:21 PM
    #44
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    I’ve only had to dig out once. I used old trusty long handle round-nosed digging shovel. When it’s really time to use a shovel for recovery purposes, and nothing else will do, a long handle shovel sucks.

    Why? As mentioned above, if it’s that bad you need a shovel to get out, you’ll be sunk down to your frame, and your target is to dig deep to get those traction boards under the tire. It will be muddy, and standing to not get dirty will be pointless. As your friend watches and starts suggesting calling your auto insurance guy, all dignity will be lost and you’ll be digging on your knees in a min or two anyway. You’ll have to anyway because the angles and clearance will be so bad against the vehicle, it’ll be the only way to get in there.

    And yea, mud will make a shovel without a d handle a slippery pain in the ass, and as you get more desperate, it will start to become dangerous, and another possible source of injury.

    A nice short D-handle round-nose like the one quoted is what I use now.
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2022
    Jedi5150 and BionicRandy[QUOTED] like this.
  15. Jul 6, 2022 at 7:07 AM
    #45
    rphillips66

    rphillips66 New Member

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    [​IMG] Best damn shovel ever!
     
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  16. Jul 6, 2022 at 7:29 AM
    #46
    BionicRandy

    BionicRandy New Member

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    Bwahaha! Written as only one who has been there can do. Btdt
     
    McSpazatron[QUOTED] likes this.

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