Axe and Shovel Mounting

[dnellans]

I'm finally going to move my axe and shovel out of the back of my tacoma and onto the side of a basket on the roof. It looks like there are people using standard metal mounts to hold their axe/shovels and others using quickfist clamps.

I've got quickfists for holding flashlights and other things and am a bit worried about how sturdy they would be holding an axe if i got in a fender bender. i would hate for an axe to go flying off the truck and hurt someone. anyone have any input into axe/shovel mounting on the roof rack?

a quickfist is so easy to use it would likely be saying steal me while getting gas or parked in town is my other concern. a wingnut would take at least a little more work... or am i just being overconcerned.

anyone have any input or suggestions on good mounts?

 

[CYi5]

I had the same concern as you when I received my quickfists. I would hope they'd do the job, but the stretching sorta made me think twice. I ended up just using my quickfists to hold my shovel on top of my toolbox and leaving my roof solely for my RTT...it's heavy enough up there as is.

 

[BigAl]

How much do you use the axe? If every trip, then maybe on the roof, but if you only use it occasionally and it's just for emergency (moving downed trees) then i would store it securely behind the seat or mounted to the floor. I use my shovel every trip so it's mounted with quickfists to my swing away spare tire. My axe is mounted with quickfists inside the jeep out of the way, out of sight.

This is the only shovel pic I have

 

[dnellans]

Thanks for the info guys! I use the shovel every trip for cat holes and the axe almost every trip as well to split wood. Most of my trips are 3-4 days for camping/fishing with the significant other and usually a set of friends in a less capable vehicle so I seems to end up carrying enough gear for 4 people.

I'm in an extended cab tacoma with a sleeping platform in the back so "inside" storage is at a bit of premium.

This is why I'm thinking that attaching these to the rack would be convenient since they are things that can handle the elements. I've got the colman basket setup that lives attached to yakima rack bars that are put on and taken off on per trip. Two people lift it up and on the truck by the bars and the basket keeps the bars aligned properly so its very convenient to drop into the roof rack mounts and be ready to go.

Attaching the axe and shovel to the rack full time would be one less thing to load and forget

 

[BogusBlake]

There's a couple ideas in this thread: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8460

 

[dnellans]

looks like there are plenty of people who seem to have no problem mounting shovels and axes on them!

 

[Overland Hadley]

I use Thule Get-A-Grip Paddle Holders (link Here) They work great, plenty strong and they can be locked. Pricey though.

 

[adventureduo]

Never had any problems with my old setup like this....

Now the shovel is on the back tire and the axe stays inside my storage box for safety purposes.

There's a entire thread on quickfist mounting here http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4161&highlight=quickfist

 

[dnellans]

thats exactly the kind of pic i've been looking for, did you feel like if you got in a fender bender the shovel/axe might go flying?

 

[offroad_nomad]

A simple mount I made for my shovel:

 

[adventureduo]

thats exactly the kind of pic i've been looking for, did you feel like if you got in a fender bender the shovel/axe might go flying?

Naah. They kept pretty dang tight. I mean they had to hang on for hours of washboard roads so they had to be tight. They might slide forward a bit until they catch the handle , but i dont think they'll fly off.

 

[SAR_Squid79]

I have my shovel mounted with a set of FourTreks shovel mounts. They have mounts for just about EVERYTHING! They're a little pricey, but they're a high-quality, clean & nice looking solution.

http://www.fourtreks.com/

 

[dnellans]

sounds like quick fists have become the standard with everyone. guess its time to weld a few pieces onto the roof basket for mounting.

will post a few pictures when its done, hopefully should be able to get to it this week. thanks for all the info guys!

 

[jerdog53]

Some of you might have seen this if not here it is again, my axe is in the trunk

High lift mount