What's the best Axe & Shovel setup

Ordered these relentless fab mounts over the TG weekend and finally got around to putting them on a month or few ago.

I changed the hardware to all stainless steel and hex head to make it less easy to unscrew and walk away. Also used nylock nuts to hold the hilift on instead of the wing nuts, if I need to use the HL I'll have the time to grab a 3/4 wrench.

IMO the mounting HL mounting studs could have been a bit longer and maybe a hole so that you could put a cotter pin to keep the wing nuts from backing off.

A pulaski is a far MORE useful tool than a regular axe, mounting it in the top location wasnt an option because the blade was over the bed sides.

Not sure if I'm missing something but the regular D handle rigid brand shovel wouldn't fit, had to use the trenching shovel that is straighter....

 

What gauge plate are people using for custom quickfist mounts? 3/16"? $50 for the relentless fab mounts seems high..

 

Thanks! I originally had Relentless Fab's and now I made my own. If you buy the relentless ones, all you need to buy are the quick fists.

Checkout the links below:

• my relentless fab tool and hi-lift mount write-up
• my custom tool mount write-up
• my custom hi-lift write-up

 

This shovel and the red handled hatchet in a Plano sportsman tote.

All items pictured cost me about $23 due to yard sale finds, and extreme frugality. Just don't see reason for Fiskars or Estwing. YMMV.

 

I don’t have that bed rack anymore, however I still use a quick fist mount via bedrail and have been running it like that for 2 plus years with no problems.

I assuming it will wear eventually. But with how cheap they are I’ll just get new ones when the time comes etc

 

Here is my set up...

 

https://warriorproducts.com/quicklatch-10375-universal-accessory.html

 

A clear winner here. Love the Molle setup.

 

Sure you can....just oil the handle. This ones going on 15 years...sun/rain/snow.

 

I'm not really sure what the reasoning to keeping your shovel and axe in the truck 24/7. Do you need to dig yourself out of the walmart parking lot? Do you need to cut down a sycamore to get to the dentist? I'm assuming most of you in this thread DD your truck so what would the benefit be to carrying them all the time? I personally have a fiskars splitting axe and some random Amazon shovel that was black and orange so it matched. I have relentless fabs quickfist mounts in the bed rail and a softopper so my tools would be out of the elements, but I cant wrap my head around always carrying them. I only strap them on when I go camping or driving on trails. Why give the thief the ability to steal your tools but then also have a tool to bust a window and grab more of your stuff?

 

I don’t drive my truck to Walmart, work, or around town. It is a pure rec vehicle. I also don’t leave the axe and shovel on 24/7

At any given time there are hundreds of dollars of stuff in my truck unsecured. Megh.

 

Maybe they just took a photo when they originally acquired said tools.

 

Sorry for a noob question, but why keep an axe in your truck? I don't understand how it works for recovery, or is it for something else?

 

Down trees, camping, but most importantly...why not?

 

I mean...ok. I understand the urge to make the truck a swiss army knife is strong and all...is that the only reason? Just to be able to chop things...if the situation arises? You know, in case there are things that need choppin?

 

I carry an array of tools and emergency items including a small shovel and hatchet.

 

Recovery - Cutting a tree that’s across your path

Practical - Splitting wood for the fire

Mmmmmmm....Swiss army truck

 

Good man Better to be prepared and have the tools and not need them, than to need the tools and not have them. A lot of folks across the country, myself included live and do stuff over the winter in terrain that can be challenging if you are not prepared. I live in the PNW and am always hiking, fishing, hunting, snow shoeing up in the mountains and I use and travel a ton of forest service roads...it pays to be prepared I always says. I can't count how many times I've had to help guys who didn't have ANY gear to help themselves while traveling the forest service roads...

 

Kevin Jones, where did you get that heavy duty container? I'm looking for something similar.