DIY collapsible shovel

[Netpackrat]

Thought I would share some pictures of something I made up for the gear bag in the Jeep. Carrying full size tools on board a jeep is a pain because space is at such a premium, but trying to get yourself unstuck, or past an obstacle without them can also be a real pain. There are various take-down tool kits available, but they are all relatively expensive, and usually include stuff that is either already duplicated in my existing gear kit, or unlikely to be needed.

I found an old shovel with a broken handle in the woods on one of my recent trips, and brought it home to my shop with the idea of modifying it to fit the handle of the Hi-Lift jack that lives on the Jeep full time. I measured the inside of the handle and found that a piece of 1-1/8" tubing I had should work, but first I had to clean up the inside of the handle and remove the ridge from the welded seam, which I did with a 1-1/8" hole saw in my drill. This made the smaller tube a nice slip fit inside the larger jack handle. The shovel head was cut and notched to fit the smaller tube at the proper angle, and welded in place using a MIG welder. Finally, the jack handle was slipped on, and holes drilled in the 1-1/8" tube using the pre-existing holes in the handle for the hitch pin that normally attaches the handle to the jack.

It should be pretty self explanatory from looking at the pictures. I think next I am going to find or make a suitable pick handle that attaches in the same fashion.

[Dedicated_Dad]

Nice work!

You might also consider adding a "D-handle" to the top end for extra leverage - should be easy to do with a drill and another pin!

Thanks for the idea -- I have a broken shovel I can't bring myself to toss -- now I know what to do with it!

DD

[AlaskaTRX]

apparently you have too much time on your hands...

[Whirlibird]

Makes perfect sense to me.

[Netpackrat]

apparently you have too much time on your hands...

Took all of a half hour.