Like s.e.charles said, a hoe is much easier for certain tasks (insert all of the puns you want
). Seriously though, it's much easier to pull sand and even mud away from the tires/frame/whatever than it is to scoop, lift and move it- that work smart, not hard principle. I learned that from a couple of farmers who used them much more often for getting unstuck than a shovel. Less chance of jamming it into a tire as well.
The one I used to use was an older model with a welded socket style head, not the sleeved type that you most commonly find these days. I cut and removed the pin, drilled the hole in the handle slightly oversized and tapped in a a metal sleeve and put a bolt with star washer and a wingnut on it. The two pieces store more compactly than when it's assembled. I can't currently find it though so I need to make another. If I ever get around to it I'm going to set it up so that i can use the same handle with a shovel head.
In or on the Land Cruisers and trucks I've usually carried a D handle when traveling just for space consideration. The work well enough for my uses. When I was younger and my friends would call me to get them unstuck (when i had my FJ-40 w/ a Warn 8274) I would toss a full sized shovel in the back.
A WWII era US entrenching tool lives in the back of the truck full time and a couple of months ago I picked up a Cold Steel shovel after seeing some other people's. It does fine for digging small holes but it's more fun to throw at stumps or sections of log. It comes pretty sharp and you can easily sharpen it more if you want. One of those survival show winners carried one on his challenge and uses it a lot on his youtube channel; Fowler's Makery and Mischief.
bullytools.com
www.amleo.com
