attaching shovel?
 

I am hoping someone can point me to some URLs or books or??? that would show some of the ways people have mounted shovels on vehicles. I have been trying to avoid fitting a roofrack, and like photos I see of old WW2 jeeps with shovels mounted on the side, but don't know what sort of fittings would be needed.

Or are there better (but still strong enough not to fall off) options?

Thanks...

For the past four years I have used a bungy (elastic strap with hooks at each end); wrapped a few times around shovel shaft and bull bar on front. Easy to attach/release and not worth enough to steal (yet!!) - it is debatable whether the bungy is worth more than the shovel!

Sam

Hello,

Mantec in UK sell a shovel mount (and shovel to fit it !), as used by Land Rover 110 Camel Trophy vehicles which goes on the front wing.
Not cheap but good quality - no rattle, and easily modified to allow pad-lock to be used.

I modified one to fit on the side of a Brownchurch roofrack OK.

www.mantec.co.uk

Best regards,
James

Just a couple of notes of caution.

Padlocks can get gunged up by sand and dust. You might want to consider keeping your shovel inside the vehicle until you get on the piste.

Mounting things on the side could get you into trouble with the police in European countries. There are laws about pedestrian safety.

Do you not have better things to spend your hard-earned cash on? It is, after all, only a spade!

The whole point of my question was to see the range of solutions people have found, so that I can copy one myself on the cheap.

Perhaps there are better things to waste my time on, but I'm certainly not planning to spend more than $10 or $15, spade included.

Exactly!
I usually have a second one lurking somewhere (two people are twice as quick; and in case the thing breaks on you!)

Sam

I have a long-shafted shovel on the front wing of my 110 with standard Brit military mounts, a metal brace to hold the blade on and three canvas straps to hold the shaft on, with buckles. Its fine and Ive taken it through all sorts of bizarre places and it hasnt flown off yet! On the other wing is a pick head, with the pick shaift above the safari door at the back. The tools used to be mounted on the door itself but I had to move them to the wings when I added a pivoting spare wheel carrier. It means you have to be careful when you walk on the wings but its not really a problem. I rivetted strips of checker-plate onto the wings too as protection. When I need to lock them on I use padlocks or simply take them off and stow them in the vehicle. The Landy doesnt stay in civilisation long enough for them to be nicked when she has all her desert gear on.
They would be easy to make with some pop rivets and straps and buckles from old British '58 pattern webbing from a surplus shop, or, failing that, some nylon utility straps. Ill email pix if you want.

Yes, pictures please!
Thanks a bunch,
J

Hi

If using padlocksthen either fill the key hole with copious amounts of grease/vaseline or better still....cut a small strip from a cycle inner tube and wrap around the padlock thereby protecting the keyhole from dust!!!

cheers

Chris

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ChrisC

You could use the system used by those who drive cars down to West Africa to sell. This involves throwing the shovel onto the back seat of the car when not in use, but this sounds a little bit too easy looking at the solutions mentioned above.

I think that really there are some serious safety concerns having a sharp and heavy object inside not strapped down--rolling over does happen from time to time, and is bad enough without the risk of decapitation-by-shovel.

But on the other hand doing it this way is probably safe 99% of the time...

In terms of having a place to store the shovel on the outside of the vehicle, when you have five weeks stores for three people in a car everything should have its place. When its desert recovery gear it needs to be easily accessed from outside the car.

I WANT TO HAVE MY SAY!!!!!!

(if you stop soon enough those things on the ends of your arms are usually good enough and don't chip the paintwork)

Rapaz....

Whats your email? ill send you .jpgs of how I attached my shovel etc.

If you are off to the Uk Billing show this year I can show you in person

LRN

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Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but wheeltracks..... tread lightly.

I'll send you an email (using address found under the little mail logo above the messages) but in case that does not work, I can be reached via
vidp@yahoo.com

The landrover system works Ok. And with a vise and some bar stock is pretty easy to copy. Look at the general design then use your shovel for dimensions. It sound's like you are in the usa- take a trip to home depot and look through the boxes of hardware for conduit, water pipes, and chain link fencing. You'll find a bunch of brackets already formed to the diameter of your shovel. Most under $1.Then you just need some good bolts, and a wing nut. When you won't be using it throw another nut on top of wing nut- If a theif has a wrench set he won't start by stealing your shovel.
Also you can try maglight flash light brackets. I wouldn't trust them alone, but with a bungy or strap they'll hold it pretty well. BTW- if you have the spae a long handle shovel is much more usefull in the desert than a D handle.

Chris writes http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gifif you stop soon enough those things on the ends of your arms are usually good enough and don't chip the paintwork)
Chris Scott is right:
A shovel in sand (the most common desert use)is LESS effective than two bare hands and a litle enthusiasm.
On my last big hand-dig in N.Mauritania my guide told me to "feel for mines...". I found none, moved nearly a cubic yard of soft sand by the armful, dropped in the sand channels under the SIII Land Rover, and drove clear in around 4 minutes.
A shovel in rock won't be helpful.
A shovel in mud - well, perhaps, but this is a desert forum.
I have carried a shovel for 25 years of desert travel but have never used it once!
But I will continue to carry one...
Good luck


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Kitmax - Traveller
Desert Pictures at
http://www.kitmax.com/kitmax/kit03ph...velgallery.htm
homepage http://www.kitmax.com

I've given up on shovels in favour of a short handled mattock, as used by Syrian/Jordanian farmers. Great for shifting sand from under the vehicle, and can easily be wedged into the back of a 110.
Alex

I can see what you mean about not carrying a spade etc in terms of bulk... but all I can say is the sand in the Moroccan desert is too hot to touch in August.... especially when the car travelling with you (Nissan crewcab) bogs every hundred yards. I found spades very useful for moving large volumes of sand (eg to clear away the tails of windblown fechefeche) very fast. I agree, though, when youve just bogged a little and the wheels have just broken the crust, its far quicker to clear it by scrabbling by hand.

Its all personal preference though... sauce for the goose and gander etc (echoes of the Rover vs Cruiser debate!) http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Tried that and it was great untill I got an Acacia thorn stuck in my bulging veins! ill probably take a small lightweight shovel next time.

Sean

Alex is right. It is much easier to drag sand out of the way than shovel it. The Spanish mattock is probably the best tool for the job.

If you have a folding shovel, then lock the blade at right angles to the handle - you'll shift much more sand that way.

Since we are now on the subject of garden implements. If you use a ground tent, then take a rake with you. It is the perfect tool to get a reasonably flat patch on rocky ground.

I take a mattock too, mainly for shifting big rocks!

I lived in Africa for years and always drove 4x4's. We used to strap the shovel to the chasis inside one of the back wheel arches with binding wire or cable ties. This works pretty well as it is easily accessable, people will not even realise it is there unless they know where to look and it is completely out of the way. Oh! It also costs nothing!