Fender Mounted Axe and Shovel on JK? Your vote counts!

[mhiscox]

I was getting ready to mount my axe and shovel to the roof rack on the EarthRoamer Jeep using the Warrior Products mount I had. However, for some reason it occurred to me that the mount could be equally well bolted through the fender of the JK, like this:

I'm not worried about security of the tools (got cable locks and they aren't all that valuable anyway), nor am I worried about the mounting staying solid, as I can get sturdy backing plates up under the fender.

Seems to me this is a good idea. No worse than the roof rack--maybe better--for not getting caught in vegetation and it'd be much more convenient, and the center of gravity would be a tiny bit lower. But I ain't seen it done before, except on the occasional Marlin Perkins-edition Series Rover, which makes me wonder why.

The pictures show the mount sitting up above the fender, but it'll mount flush just fine once I drill the holes. And the pictures make it look like the setup would add some width, but the shovel head is actually inside the fender edge.

So, any reason not to do this? Object to the looks? If you think this is too weird, tell me now.

 

[kjp1969]

Well, since you axed. . .

I don't like it. It looks like it will get torn off by a passing bush, and catch all sorts of air on the highway. I've seen Military HMMV's with pioneer kits across the hood- fancy that.

But why not put it where God intended, on the spare tire carrier?

 

[kcowyo]

As long as you're entertaining options... how about across the hood?

.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I like the idea...but have some lingering doubts... maybe I'll keep coming back to it over the next few days and see if it grows on me.

Thoughts as of now.... Looks good, and it would definitely be nice to use up that wasted space up there...

... I'm worried about a branch catching it and ripping the fender off...

... I'm worried about it vibrating... and I suspect you will find the resonance frequency to be at one of the most irritating speeds (like 65mph) (Murphy).

Try it... those fenders are easily replaceable! You may just start a revolution! :ylsmoke:

 

[Lewybrewing]

I personally kinda like it...It's outside the box and it is a clean install. But I would of put it on the drivers side that way you can watch clearance etc.

Lewy

 

[Mr. Leary]

I personally kinda like it...It's outside the box and it is a clean install. But I would of put it on the drivers side that way you can watch clearance etc.

Lewy

I would keep it on the passenger side so it would be easier to see where the fender is... but there are different schools of thought...

 

[TheOne]

It looks like a nice idea but the flares appear to be plastic and it seems they could become an area for limbs and brush to catch and possibly tear either flare or mounts off completely.. Looking back at pic if they are metal go with it looks nice and original idea.

 

[ersatzknarf]

I was getting ready to mount my axe and shovel to the roof rack on the EarthRoamer Jeep using the Warrior Products mount I had. However, for some reason it occurred to me that the mount could be equally well bolted through the fender of the JK, like this:


I'm not worried about security of the tools (got cable locks and they aren't all that valuable anyway), nor am I worried about the mounting staying solid, as I can get sturdy backing plates up under the fender.

Seems to me this is a good idea. No worse than the roof rack--maybe better--for not getting caught in vegetation and it'd be much more convenient, and the center of gravity would be a tiny bit lower. But I ain't seen it done before, except on the occasional Marlin Perkins-edition Series Rover, which makes me wonder why.

The pictures show the mount sitting up above the fender, but it'll mount flush just fine once I drill the holes. And the pictures make it look like the setup would add some width, but the shovel head is actually inside the fender edge.

So, any reason not to do this? Object to the looks? If you think this is too weird, tell me now.

Hi Mike,
I like it.
Initially, I was going to just say, go for it, but then started thinking...
Since the rear door is now clear of the spare and associated bracketry, why not mount it in that now empty space (leaving room for the window to open fully, of course) ? The advantage is that it is now out of the way, but still easily accessible and with the tools and bracket being on the back door there, under the rear window, would provide a bit of a buffer zone for the window in case of something happening when it is being opened or something getting to close to the rear door / rear window...
Of course, I am also completely biased toward any Marlin Perkins-edition Series Rover solutions


Cheers,
Frank

 

[mhiscox]

THANKS FOR THE ANALYSIS!

But why not put it where God intended, on the spare tire carrier?

A good question. But the spare tire itself is going on the roof because the Earthroamer both has a rear window that won't open with a tire in the way and because I go in and out of the tailgate all the friggin' time--from both inside and out--and the less the tailgate weighs, the better.

For those of you ER afficinados wondering what happened to the humungous spare tire carrier/ax mount/shovel-mount/hilift mount/2 jerry can holder/and still space for a Pelican case contraption that originally came on the XV-JP . . . (this thing)

well, I truly hated it. Trapped you in the cabin when you forgot to unlock it and was a 100+-pound bugger to swing open when you did remember. Not a bad setup perhaps for someone rarely needing to get in the rear, but really unsuitable in front of my main entrance.

The "it'll catch a branch and get ripped off" worry is certainly legitimate, and, yes, the fender is totally plastic. But I'm generally on more open roads and, if it looked like it was going to be a problem, I suppose I could easily unbolt the tools and stick them in the cabin.

I temporarily stuck the tools on the hood as suggested and thought they were pretty intrusive. Then put the axe and shovel on the front winch bumper hoop where the hi-lift was and put the hi-lift on the hood and still thought it a no-go. The windshield's pretty tiny anyway, so I hate to lose any of the limited view.

As for the vibration, I figured it was worth testing. Worse thing that happens is that I have a passenger side fender predrilled for deer whistles. :sombrero:

 

[adventureduo]

Mike, with all do respect (and since you asked ) I would vote no. It hangs too far out in the way like that. I'd run them across the hood like the above poster showed.

 

[Antichrist]

Depends on where you drive. If you drive in areas where it's not likely to get ripped off (desert, prairies?) mount them there if it meets your needs. If you drive in areas where brush, trees etc are likely to grab them....

 

[Christian P.]

humm...no.

maybe if you had one object on each side (axe/shovel)...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Looks like big nasty pointy death to me. I think the law might have issue with you mounting a shovel and axe like that.

I think if you put one on each fender, and in tight right on the surface of the fender, it would be better.

 

[4x4mike]

No bueno. Me no likely (at all).

 

[haven]

X2. Mounting a disemboweling tool (the shovel) on the leading edge of the fender might have been favored in the Roman Coliseum, but it has no place in litigation-happy USA.