Compact shovel, trunk friendly

[3930dave]

Just bought a 2 pack of these from Costco:

2-pack Lifeline Utility Shovels

Actually paid $21.99 in-store, in Canada, but I can't even find them on the .ca site.....

Seems reasonably sturdy (for what they are). It collapses down to about 2' long, or comes apart in 3 pieces if you want/need smaller.

I would prefer not using it, but will be glad it's onboard this Winter, just in case.....

Rgds, D.

 

[bajabum]

I carry a surplus GI folding shovel, digs, chops and has a folding pick t!
Tough as nails!

 

[turnkey4099]

Back in the 60s I carried a GI trenching tool - the one with the folding blade. Dug myself out of a problem a couple times. For something that looks like a toy it would move an amazing amount of crap. I keep meaning to buy another bu somehow never remember to drop into the surplus stores.


Harry K

 

[3930dave]

I think I still have one of those GI style trenching tools, down in the shop - will add that to my "Find It" list . The other toys on those are nice too - saw, hatchet.... depending on design.

These Lifeline shovels will move more snow, but you guys are absolutely correct.... for what looks toy- like, you can move quite a bit, when you have to. I used my GI one to do some emergency trenching (sump line) under a deck with very little vertical clearance years ago - tool did great, considering frozen ground, but my ribs were sore for about a week after.

I like the blade design on these Lifeline shovels, as it reminds me a tiny bit of a mini grain shovel - nice for powder snow.

Rgds, D.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Man this thread reminds me of another reason it is great to be in the south. When we get snow, it is a pleasure just to stand at the window and look out at the beautiful white snowscape and not have to worry about snow removal as it will be gone all too quickly. 8" deep would be a large snow fall for us and only once in 4 years here has it stayed on the highways for more than a day which is good as there is no snow plows here. Highway dept. just has sand trucks to sand the bridges but they did have to take out the graders to remove the snow from I-30 2 years ago and it stayed for a week which is very unusual for here as it generally warms up in a day or two and all the snow goes away (bummer)

 

[3930dave]

Man this thread reminds me of another reason it is great to be in the south. When we get snow, it is a pleasure just to stand at the window and look out at the beautiful white snowscape and not have to worry about snow removal as it will be gone all too quickly. 8" deep would be a large snow fall for us and only once in 4 years here has it stayed on the highways for more than a day which is good as there is no snow plows here. Highway dept. just has sand trucks to sand the bridges but they did have to take out the graders to remove the snow from I-30 2 years ago and it stayed for a week which is very unusual for here as it generally warms up in a day or two and all the snow goes away (bummer)

You're killing me Gary ! :laughing: For a few reasons...... just fixed ultra corroded License plate light sockets on my old car, you might have heard some choice words I was using about the saline brine they now use on the roads around here, all the way to Arkansas !

I really wish we still mostly use sand here - it worked well years ago, but the agenda seems different today....

These shovels are a great fit for our smaller car. I used to stuff a full sized shovel into our larger wagon, but even there a short handled shovel is usually better to use trying to clear out snow around wheel wells and under a stuck vehicle.

I run 4 snow tires on the cars in the Winter, and a reasonably aggressive LT E, in AT (vs. HT) style on the E350. Helps, but the most important component is the loose nut behind the wheel ! :laughing:

I've seen people trying to use car mats, or even just their hands to move snow away from a stuck vehicle. I'm on a budget these days, but for $11/shovel, it's worth it to me to avoid that kind of "fun".

I was in Houston one Winter, when they had what they called an ice-storm. In my view, all that really happened was the puddles froze. Displaying the common-sense I associate with Texas, the roads were pretty much deserted, everybody stayed home till conditions normalized - smart, really smart.

Lately, here, we've already had multi-vehicle (40+) pileups on our major highways. Doesn't matter how expensive the SUV you bought is, you can't escape the physics of glare ice/zero visibility.

Road graders do a good job with snow. Years ago when I grew up in Ottawa, they still used graders a lot in the suburban areas of the city. Those Winters in the 70's had very high snow accumulations, compared to today, so the graders excelled at pushing back snowbanks while they were moving at slow speed.

Yeah.... did a lot of shovelling back in those days.... taught me to keep a shovel in the car....

Rgds, D.

 

[charlz]

I have carried an e-tool in my vehicle for almost 25 years, I consider it one of those "don't leave home with out it" items. I also carry some military surplus wool blankets and some bottled water. Some of the 'military' blankets I have seen lately are more like felt. But the last one I found at a farm store and it is Czech military surplus. Very heavy duty, much more so than the one I used when I was in the Corps.

Those shovels shown will move a lot more snow than an e-tool and I think I saw some recently at the local Costco. Snowboarders like to carry those on their packs so they can make jumps etc. Although the ability to fold the blade 90 degrees on the e-tool might make it more valuable if you have to scrape snow out from under a high-centered vehicle.

 

[3930dave]

I have carried an e-tool in my vehicle for almost 25 years, I consider it one of those "don't leave home with out it" items. I also carry some military surplus wool blankets and some bottled water. Some of the 'military' blankets I have seen lately are more like felt. But the last one I found at a farm store and it is Czech military surplus. Very heavy duty, much more so than the one I used when I was in the Corps.

Those shovels shown will move a lot more snow than an e-tool and I think I saw some recently at the local Costco. Snowboarders like to carry those on their packs so they can make jumps etc. Although the ability to fold the blade 90 degrees on the e-tool might make it more valuable if you have to scrape snow out from under a high-centered vehicle.

90deg, like you describe would be better for that situation. I liked these because of low cost, reasonable strength, and good general purpose design that is Missus friendly, if she is driving on her own.

Ounce of prevention, I too carry blankets.... stay safe in the snow (and otherwise).

Rgds, D.

 

[Gunny]

A shovel is fine if you're shoveling, but if you want to dig, then the e-tool is really hard to beat. The latest edition folds up into a very small package, you won't even know it's there, until you need it. As as someone else mentioned, you can hack, cut rake, dig and even shovel with that bad boy.

When I retired and went to turn in my organizational equipment, I intentionally forgot my e-tool and carrier and was willing to pay for it, but our super supply sergeant took care of me!

 

[3930dave]

A shovel is fine if you're shoveling, but if you want to dig, then the e-tool is really hard to beat. The latest edition folds up into a very small package, you won't even know it's there, until you need it. As as someone else mentioned, you can hack, cut rake, dig and even shovel with that bad boy.

When I retired and went to turn in my organizational equipment, I intentionally forgot my e-tool and carrier and was willing to pay for it, but our super supply sergeant took care of me!

When I track down my old civvy version, I'll throw it in my camper trailer, as that's where I'd get the most use of it.

For my Winter use, I mostly need to clear loose snow, or an occasional part of a snowbank - more than that, and it's probably tow-truck time.

Knock wood, quickly.

Rgds, D.