Poll: How important is a shovel in your 4 wheeling recovery arsenal?

[wibornz]

There are two types of liars, those who say they don't get stuck, and those who say they don't get stuck anymore jk!

Once in a while you just might need a shovel. I've had my fair share of stucks. Sometimes for being stupid (hydrolocked), sometimes for mechanical failure (locking hub, t-case, u-joints), and a few times for getting in over my head. Of course I was young and dumb. And I'm not so young anymore...

I have been stuck, just never used a shovel to get unstuck. I have hooked my winch line 10 feet up in a tree to pick the front of the JLUR out of the mud hole. Sure, I could have used a shovel there, but hey a 12,000 pound winch will pick the front end up out of a hole.

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[DShanesky]

Update: I purchased the small Rhino brand folding shovel. I have it in my recovery bag. Hopefully I don’t need it but you know......Thanks for all your help everyone!!

 

[DShanesky]

I have never used it but I sure do have one. If I could take only one thing it’d be a shovel. You’d be surprised what you can do with them.

Thanks! This is the one I wound up buying.

 

[Toycrusher]

I have been stuck, just never used a shovel to get unstuck. I have hooked my winch line 10 feet up in a tree to pick the front of the JLUR out of the mud hole. Sure, I could have used a shovel there, but hey a 12,000 pound winch will pick the front end up out of a hole.

If we're being honest, the couple times I've been stuck in deep sand where a shovel would have been useful, I didn't have one on me. And had to resort to the chancla method...

 

[Coops4284]

I carry a shovel and need have used it a few times.

 

[AirportDave]

Nice! What mount is that?

It's a Teraflex high lift jack mount modified with a couple of Quick Fists instead of the jack mounting bolts. Works great!

 

[jasmeetbabra]

Never used it, but it's always there :P

 

[Gadgettr1]

It's a Teraflex high lift jack mount modified with a couple of Quick Fists instead of the jack mounting bolts. Works great!

Can you take a pic of how you have the mount attached?

 

[AirportDave]

Sure- here you go. Used large fender washers on the back side of the Quick Fists to provide some additional rigidity. Rubber pad glued to the bolt heads helps keep the shovel from rotating.

 

[Dgr401]

The majority of my off-roading will be while surf fishing on the beaches. All beaches that I will be frequenting require a shovel as part of your mandatory gear. I have a folding military shovel that will go in my kit but am thinking of putting a long handle shovel on the roof rack in the event I need to shovel out in the center line of the Jeep. I also like to travel back roads for photography opportunities and a shovel would be good to have especially in snowy situations. You never know what will arise.

 

[Dgr401]

Never used it, but it's always there :P

What is the mount you are using for the shovel? Looks interesting.

 

[Bruce Willys]

After getting high centered in deep snow with my first 4x4 (Grand Cherokee) many years ago and having to dig myself out by hand, I’ve always brought a shovel since. No gloves either. To be young and dumb again, good times.

 

[neil]

All you people w foldable shovels.

Me thinks you never worked one.

 

[Oldbear]

All you people w foldable shovels.

Me thinks you never worked one.

True, they’re not the most comfortable thing to use, BUT they beat the heck out of no shovel. Small enough to always be there.

 

[neil]

True, they’re not the most comfortable thing to use, BUT they beat the heck out of no shovel. Small enough to always be there.

I would put it there w better than hands. But not by much. And hands might be faster depending what your digging.