Cheap Do-it-yourself shovel/axe carrier for roof racks

[jca21]

Hey guys,

thought i'd contribute something to the forums.

I was looking at getting myself a gobi stealth axe/shovel carrier and found that the price was fairly high ($140) and was a long wait to get (2-3 weeks estimate)


I decided to make something on the cheap. its not as pretty as the GOBI mount but it seems to do the job well.


I went out and purchased a pair of quick fist quick clamps from my local west marine for $18.10 (taxes included). Quick fist clamps on amazon are priced at $10.95 for a pair.

I then canabalized the rack mounts from my yakima fatcat 6. the cost of a replacement universal mount is priced at $20 at my local rackattack but off amazon the cost is $9.00 (http://www.amazon.com/Yakima-Replac...&sr=8-3&keywords=yakima+universal+replacement).

So how much would it cost you to make a decent and functioning shovel or axe carrier? approximately $30 dollars (free super saver shippings through amazon).

I used the mounting screws that came with the yakima mount but had to use 3 washers as "spacers" as the screw that mounts through the quick fist clamp into the yakima mount was about 1/4 inch long. if you got a shorter screw or cut the screw that comes with the yakima mount by 1/4 inch the fit should be perfect and not require any spacers giving a much cleaner/flush look.

Here is a picture of the mount.

I mounted it to the gobi stealth rack and was surprised by how well it held on.

I plan to revise the design a little by getting myself shorter screws when i have the time to go to home depot.

I will take a few pictures of the DIY shovel/axe mount tommorow when its day time.


Thanks for takin a look. :cheers:

 

[brockeverly]

Awesome! I was looking for the best way to mount my Quick Fists. Thanks for the link!

 

[jca21]

no problemo bud,

this setup should work on any round/square bar setup. so gobi, baja, and ARB should all be able to work with this setup.

i'll post some photos tommorow of it mounted with a shovel.

 

[KidVermicious]

Hey guys,

thought i'd contribute something to the forums.

I was looking at getting myself a gobi stealth axe/shovel carrier and found that the price was fairly high ($140) and was a long wait to get (2-3 weeks estimate)


I decided to make something on the cheap. its not as pretty as the GOBI mount but it seems to do the job well.


I went out and purchased a pair of quick fist quick clamps from my local west marine for $18.10 (taxes included). Quick fist clamps on amazon are priced at $10.95 for a pair.

I then canabalized the rack mounts from my yakima fatcat 6. the cost of a replacement universal mount is priced at $20 at my local rackattack but off amazon the cost is $9.00 (Amazon.com: Yakima Replacement Universal Mount: Sports & Outdoors).

So how much would it cost you to make a decent and functioning shovel or axe carrier? approximately $30 dollars (free super saver shippings through amazon).

I used the mounting screws that came with the yakima mount but had to use 3 washers as "spacers" as the screw that mounts through the quick fist clamp into the yakima mount was about 1/4 inch long. if you got a shorter screw or cut the screw that comes with the yakima mount by 1/4 inch the fit should be perfect and not require any spacers giving a much cleaner/flush look.

Here is a picture of the mount.

I mounted it to the gobi stealth rack and was surprised by how well it held on.

I plan to revise the design a little by getting myself shorter screws when i have the time to go to home depot.

I will take a few pictures of the DIY shovel/axe mount tommorow when its day time.


Thanks for takin a look. :cheers:

This is cool. I use quickfists too, but I bolted them to the side of my roof basket. I really dig the Yakima rack mounts and will probably shamelessly steal your idea.

 

[jca21]

This is cool. I use quickfists too, but I bolted them to the side of my roof basket. I really dig the Yakima rack mounts and will probably shamelessly steal your idea.

go for it!

for $60 total its not a bad setup at all.

i took the 4runner for a spin around the block and the shovel and mounts hadn't moved an inch.

tommorow i'll be picking up shorter screws to make the quick fist sit flush.

 

[jca21]

pictures as promised.

 

[jca21]

hoping this gets sticked in the "Modifications, Write-Ups, Quick Links, and FAQ's" lol

 

[brockeverly]

Would these work?

Yakima Universal Mighty Mounts, 4 Accessory Mounts 736745035907 | eBay

 

[jca21]

Would these work?

Yakima Universal Mighty Mounts, 4 Accessory Mounts 736745035907 | eBay

i would venture a guess and say they would given that they are universal mounts.

not 100% though.

 

[BigRogers]

Anybody try this sort of thing with a hi lift jack? Need to get it attached to my factory rack and thought the quick fist would be perfect. Just a little concerned if I can get a strap around the bar.

 

[KidVermicious]

Anybody try this sort of thing with a hi lift jack? Need to get it attached to my factory rack and thought the quick fist would be perfect. Just a little concerned if I can get a strap around the bar.

I would not trust a quickfist to hold a hi lift. What you want are a couple good sturdy bolts, a nut to hold the bolt to the rack, and a wingnut to hold the hilift on the bolt.

 

[BigRogers]

I would not trust a quickfist to hold a hi lift. What you want are a couple good sturdy bolts, a nut to hold the bolt to the rack, and a wingnut to hold the hilift on the bolt.

That was my original thinking, basically sandwiching the cross bars on the roof rack and using a carriage bolt and wing nut to secure the lift down.

Thought it was worth a shot but sounds like i will stick with my better judgement.

 

[mrvandelay]

Anybody try this sort of thing with a hi lift jack? Need to get it attached to my factory rack and thought the quick fist would be perfect. Just a little concerned if I can get a strap around the bar.

I ordered one of these: Slee - Roof Rack Accessories

Should be here this week with my Might Mounts. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[xxaarraa]

Howdy folks. I am going to the landrover 'winter romp' event next weekend and a shovel is on the 'required equipment' list. So I did some searching and found this thread on how to mount it. Thank you to the OP for posting up a neat idea.

I ordered the same parts off of Amazon, and my original intent was to mount it up on my Avid light bar, right below where I have my hi-lift mounted. I went to Home Depot and got longer bolts, but they still weren't long enough to go around my beefy light bar. So I just ended up mounting it on the stock roof rack. Wanted to share photos in case anyone was wondering - You will notice I drilled out the 'cover' of the base to get a hex head bolt through it, as opposed to use the supplied allen bolt from the opposite side as it's intended. it's a weird design I thought, the center bolt and allen bolts both go in the same direction, which makes it very hard to mount the damn thing. Drilling out a whole from the top helped me drive the longer home-depot hex head bolts the opposite way.

Where I originally wanted to mount the shovel but gave up - below the top line on the light bar underneath the hi-lift:

 

[Desert Fox]

This picture is off of my '03. The mount on the passenger side holds the Hi Lift Jack. Same theory but I used bolts not Quick Fists. The Driver side mount holds Axe and Shovel. Same theory but I used a plate to mount 2 Quick Fists.

 

[jca21]

havent been on here in a while,

glad folks are still using the idea.

 

[Sundog7121]

There's nothing cooler on a 5th Gen than a full length roof rack, with lights, antenna mount, and maybe jack and other hardware mounted.

Althought I'd love to have a rack, other mods take precedence for actual 4-wheeling. Like a lift, a winch, etc.

But the need for a full size shovel and axe was really driven home a few months ago when we got stuck in the snow.

With the help of Andy (of the stealth Satoshi grille mod) I have roof mounts for jack, axe and shovel on my stock TE roof rack. And they look great.

Here is one of the the almost finished axe/shovel mounts before painting:

Here's the axe/shovel mounts on the garage floor:

And here's the top of my TE now:

We used the Yakima crossbar mounts here: Amazon.com: Yakima Replacement Universal Mount: Sports & Outdoors

There's no wind noise, and only adds about 4" height.

:cheers:

 

[Desert Fox]

Hey John, that looks real good and practical.

You may want to change the position of the axe. Having the blade facing the outboard side exposes you to a potential cut when you go to remove it.

Just a thought.

Bill

There's nothing cooler on a 5th Gen than a full length roof rack, with lights, antenna mount, and maybe jack and other hardware mounted.

Althought I'd love to have a rack, other mods take precedence for actual 4-wheeling. Like a lift, a winch, etc.

But the need for a full size shovel and axe was really driven home a few months ago when we got stuck in the snow.

With the help of Andy (of the stealth Satoshi grille mod) I have roof mounts for jack, axe and shovel on my stock TE roof rack. And they look great.

Here is one of the the almost finished axe/shovel mounts before painting:

Here's the axe/shovel mounts on the garage floor:

And here's the top of my TE now:

We used the Yakima crossbar mounts here: Amazon.com: Yakima Replacement Universal Mount: Sports & Outdoors

There's no wind noise, and only adds about 4" height.

:cheers:

 

[Sundog7121]

yep, will rearrange them before any trip up the hill.

 

[jca21]

man those look freakin amazing. i'm sure that all generation of 4runner owners would rock those if they dont have aftermarket racks.