Shovel/Ax

Hey guys, I'm gonna get a this shovel/ax mount to mount to the front of my bed behind the cab.

Smittybilt D8005 Axe And Shovel Mount Axe And Shovel Mount

Smittybilt D8005 Axe and Shovel Mount , Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQFE47E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aNIizbE5H5S5T

What shovel and ax are you guys using? I don't off road much so I don't think it would be used much. Just want to have it if needed.

 

Take a look at this link...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-hi-lift-and-tool-mounts.260147/

Build your own mounts and you'll save 1/4 of the price. I'd imagine any shovel and axe you can find at your local hardware store should suffice.

 

If you're going to carry an axe, might as well carry a Pulaski. It's got a sharp grubbing end opposite the axe head good for digging a trench around your tent, or a quick hole to shit in. Also great for bashing roots. It is a versatile and useful forestry tool.

 

x2, this is what I carry and its really handy.

for the nerds out there its a tool with a ton of history as well:

Pulaski never patented the tool because he wanted it to be accessible/affordable to all Forest Service teams. He actually died broke because of this and the injuries he sustained in the 1910 fire. If you want to read a good book on this, the history of the Forest Service, and the largest forest fire in US history "The Big Burn" by Timothy Egan should be on your list.

 

Excuse me, SIR. Do I smell a little forestry on you?

 

Not myself, but I have some friends are foresters. I went to the University of Montana. Missoula is the home of the smoke jumper academy as well. But mostly just a history nerd who grew up running around the woods that were all in that fire.

 

That's awesome man. Everybody likes driving around on their 35's through the woods but you don't run into a lot of people who appreciate forestry. A tip of the full brim hat to you.

 

Got a Krazy Beaver Shovel and a Husky 4.5 pound Special Wood Splitter from Home Depot, hasn't failed me yet. Solidly beaten the shit out of the two on my last trip.

 

I like your FJ40, irish_11. For me it's a forever cult classic, and yours looks pretty much stock (as it should be). Keep in that way...

 

Definitely better than just an axe, by far my favorite trail tool. I carry one and a D-handled pointed shovel.

 

Thanks, its pretty much stock. It has a mild lift and an aftermarket roll cage, but still has the 2f and guts that make it a classic. It was a bit of a project putting it all back together, but totally worth it. FJ40's are something I've always loved and really wanted one growing up. When I came across a deal on one that was a bit run down (4 different colors, a few bad tires, but a solid core) I jumped on it.

Here is the build for it (https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/irishs-slow-1978-rustic-green-build.802114/#post-9151152). Its a 1978 Rustic Green with the factory hard top (just not in the photos below)

 

What amazing project. Very nice done indeed, Congratulations, irish_11.
I know there are some companies focused only to Rebuild FJ40s. They were in constant search of old original FJ40 "cores" of old original FJs with a sound chassis at least). In most of those cases they're selling the 'new' FJs for 60K up to 100K and more, so for sure you already have a good investment.

 

Beautiful FJ man! i love pulaskis I worked the california conservation corps for a little over two years where I worked on a back country trail crew n the southern sierras for 5.5 months and on a wildland fire crew in humboldt and I have to say the pulaski is one of my favorite tools extremely versatile you can chop, grub, scrape, use the side of it for pounding wedges in or various things. the pulaskis you buy at hard wear stores are not balanced right they are heavy and made of cheap material so the axe wont hold its edge . you can buy used forest service pulaski heads off ebay that are too beat up for fire use any more but civilian use they are excelent you can find them for $20-$40 clean it up throw a new handle on it boiled linseed oil and you have tool that will probably out live you. or you can buy a brand new one from council tools i think they were around $70-$100 last time i checked. picture below of my poundaski its a pulaski but the axe portion was cut off and a flat plate welded on. this was used by a saw crew one guy would be running saw while the swamper would carry the poundaski to help pound wedges in and he still has his grubbing edge to help dig line with the crew orcheck for hot spots.

 

I carry a short gardening shovel and a hatchet from home depot. Maybe $40 total. And as someone earlier said, I made my own highlight mount using some flat bar. Those $50+ mounts are ridiculous, but they serve the brolander very well.

I can see carrying a chainsaw if you're making the first run of the season or run the less popular roads. I rarely use my hatchet or shovel, though. I think if you're constantly digging yourself out, maybe better line selection is necessary, lol. My shovel gets used more in conjunction with tp than digging a truck out.

The problem I see with the axe/shovel mount linked above is that it seems that if you want to use one of them, you have to take them both off. I prefer single mounts.

 

when i go out in the woods i regularly run into blow down and some over grown trails ive had a few instances where i drove into an area and driving back out had a decent sized oak tree had fallen over our only route out 30 miles from nearest town we managed to rock push it out of the way but had the same thing happen to me another time now i carry a saw with me when i go out

 

at the bare minimum i usually bring a full size shovel an axe or pulaski a svenn back packing saw good for cutting brush or branches even small trees out of the way. that way if i do have to cut through a tree accross the road i can make straight cuts with back packing saw and chop at an angle with the axe/pulaski and slowly work my way through never had to do it but just my own little thoughts on how i chose my Oh shit kit

 

Looks like a perfect pile of firewood on the way to camp. Like a treasure pile haha

 

Nice FJ Dude! Restoring an old Land Cruiser is a labor of love!

 

I carry a Fiskars X27 splitting axe that I sharpen about once per year and a Raorback short D handled, full sized shovel. They have both served me well for years in many recovery situations, clearing roads, and making fire wood.

For the record I also carry a Bahco bow saw with extra blades, a fiskars hatchet, and a pair of loppers which are nice because lets be real most of the time the most plentiful/easiest firewood littering the forest is only 1 or 1.5 inches in diameter.

 

Found this thread cause I'm just looking for mounts. I'm only using mine to gather firewood so I just carry a Hults Bruk 2lb hatchet, the name of which I can't recall.