Axe and Shovel Mount!

[trevorrigiron]

Anybody know of a good axe and shovel mount for the LR3 expedition roof rack?

 

[o0OBillO0o]

Hey looky!

AND

HERE

AND

HERE

Now, looks like it's a bolt on part, ask some questions or some one might chime in!

Bill

 

[nwoods]

I don't think mounting a HiLift up on a roof rack is a good idea. I've seen them work loose on bumpy terrian or get stripped off by tree branches, and the do massive damage to the sheet metal and windows on the side of the truck they fall on. Plus they are heavy and it's awkward to hoist them into position, and if you are fatigued, well, you're buying a new window/sheet metal. Besides, unless you have steel bumpers or RS rock sliders, the HiLift is not that useful for the LR3.

 

[GrahamWelland]

I had a local fabrication shop make me some bolts with the square base to fit into the grooves of the Expedition rack. They used the short bolts that come with the ring set as a pattern. The setup has a couple of wing nuts that tighten on to the hi-lift jack for a solid fit.

Be aware that the hi-lift will rattle like crazy, even with the anti-rattle clamp on it. The springs/fixings all bounce around and you can't really stop it from making a pretty loud clattering noise whenever you hit a bump. In the end I took my hi-lift off as I got a winch instead and so it wasn't so necessary for me - for recovery at least.

For the shovel, I had the similar parts made but these were mated with a pair of "Quick Fist Clamps" - there's a hole in the centre of the base that you can put a bolt on to fix them to the top of the rack. These are rubber C shaped clamps that you can cinch down tightly around an axe or shovel handle and it's been a perfect solution.

Quick Fist Clamps

I never did find a good source for accessories for the Expedition Rack - I would have expected there to be accessories available from LR or partners so that you could attach a spare wheel, lights, shovels, etc etc. Perhaps I wasn't looking in the right places and perhaps someone else knows of some sources?

 

[trevorrigiron]

I had a local fabrication shop make me some bolts with the square base to fit into the grooves of the Expedition rack. They used the short bolts that come with the ring set as a pattern. The setup has a couple of wing nuts that tighten on to the hi-lift jack for a solid fit.

Be aware that the hi-lift will rattle like crazy, even with the anti-rattle clamp on it. The springs/fixings all bounce around and you can't really stop it from making a pretty loud clattering noise whenever you hit a bump. In the end I took my hi-lift off as I got a winch instead and so it wasn't so necessary for me - for recovery at least.

For the shovel, I had the similar parts made but these were mated with a pair of "Quick Fist Clamps" - there's a hole in the centre of the base that you can put a bolt on to fix them to the top of the rack. These are rubber C shaped clamps that you can cinch down tightly around an axe or shovel handle and it's been a perfect solution.

Quick Fist Clamps

I never did find a good source for accessories for the Expedition Rack - I would have expected there to me accessories available from LR or partners so that you could attach a spare wheel, lights, shovels, etc etc. Perhaps I wasn't looking in the right places and perhaps someone else knows of some sources?

Yea, I really can't find anything for it either. It is kind of odd shaped for the normal stuff to work. I think I will have my guys at the shop make something similar to what you are talking about. I had thought about that already but it takes my guys away from there normal work which I figure ends up costing me more than buying something off the shelf.
Anyway, thanks for everyones input and I think I will not mount a Hi Lift on the rack.

 

[GrahamWelland]

Expedition Rack gear

Here's a pic from above of the shovel/hilift parts that I had made. The shovel is using the QuickFist mounts on an extended set of bolts.

I don't carry the hilift any more but you can see the mounts though if that helps. I didn't bother with any rubber on the hilift clamps since I got a great hold with the butterfly nuts and just used the hilift anti-vibration clamp for the arm. Note: this stopped anything big rattling but the springs/clips/jaw rattled instead!

 

[trevorrigiron]

Graham,

That looks like the way to do it. I will get some of those quick fist clamps and do the same. Thanks for the info and pictures.

Trevor

 

[Houm_WA]

Besides, unless you have steel bumpers or RS rock sliders, the HiLift is not that useful for the LR3.

...seems like having a Hi-Lift around if you don't have a winch would be a good idea and quite useful, IMO.

 

[nwoods]

...seems like having a Hi-Lift around if you don't have a winch would be a good idea and quite useful, IMO.

Nah, just use a handwinch!
https://www.wyeth-scott.com/index.asp

 

[Houm_WA]

Hi-Lift is cheaper...other than that, same idea.