Selection recommendations
As mentioned earlier, folding structures require high-quality fasteners and parts. This is just the case when the more expensive, the better the quality. Having saved today, most likely, you will need to spend tomorrow. Give preference to reliable structures made from metal parts or when combined with wood. Such a tool will last for many years and will not deform during operation.
Don't forget about the comfort of the handle. It should fit perfectly in your hands without causing discomfort.
It's no secret that telescopic handles are used for folding structures. They are quite convenient and comfortable to use, and their design feature folds and unfolds, if necessary, either increase the size of the shovel or reduce it.
It is worth noting that such a mechanism is not the most durable, and its operational life is limited.
Preparing the car for off-roading
Having huge tires and chrome kangarins is not a reason to go off-roading. The machine needs to be prepared: lift it up, seal it securely, install the winch and snorkel. Lifting. The main task of lifting is to increase the ground clearance - lifting the car above the ground. There are several ways to lift.
Ground clearance
The easiest is to lift the body over the frame. Special stands are placed under all the fastening bolts, and the car grows just before our eyes. You can also lift the suspension by using longer spring shackles or extending the shock absorber rod (for vehicles with coil springs). After lifting, be sure to see if the length of the universal joint shafts is enough, how the steering rods behave, and also check the tension of all hoses.
Sealing
To overcome shallow puddles and streams, standard sealing is usually sufficient. But if the water reaches the roof, especially if you also have to stand in this water (stalled, stuck), then you really need to seal all the cracks and imperfections of the manufacturer.
Winch
Every self-respecting jeep without this mechanism will not budge. After all, with the help of an electric winch, you can not only pull another SUV out of trouble, but also save your life. The power of the equipment is selected taking into account the expected loads and the weight of the vehicle itself. For light off-road vehicles, a winch with a capacity of 1.5 tons will be enough, but for cars of the "UAZ" type, a more serious apparatus is already needed - from 3 to 4.5 tons. Such a winch is powered by electricity, so it would not be superfluous to install an additional battery on your all-terrain vehicle.
Leer
These are branch protectors, which are attached at one end to the kangarin, and the other to the trunk. Perfectly protect the windshield from low overhanging branches and the side of the car.
There should also be some necessary equipment in the middle of the cabin. Every off-road jeep always has a hijack - rack and pinion jack (120-150 cm).
With its help, you can effortlessly raise the machine to the desired height and pull it out of a difficult position. A shovel, a saw (what if there is a blockage on the road), good navigation is not a whim, but a necessity.
Sand trucks are as essential as a good thermos. These runners often save Jeepers when traversing swampy areas and steep ravines, as well as a first aid kit and fire extinguisher - this is the life of a traveler.
Which one is better to choose for the winter
Often, the need for a shovel arises in the winter, when it becomes necessary to free the car from snow drifts that occur on roads outside the city, as well as when leaving the yard, if snow removal equipment has gone along the main road before.
Note! When a car is caught in a snowdrift, it is necessary to free the entire lower part so that only the wheels touch the ground. Before that, the snow near the machine is cleared. Only after that the car will be able to leave on its own.
Only after that the car will be able to leave on its own.
With all the enormous amount of work, digging a car out of the snow with a shovel is the easiest way. Today, the Supreme shovel, produced by a New York brand, is considered popular for these purposes.
Sometimes, when driving on unclean roads, a pile of sticky snow forms in front of the car, over which the car literally jumps, and the snow sticks to the front bumper. Therefore, in order to prevent this, it is necessary to periodically get rid of the formed snow shaft under the hood.
You can have a regular shovel that windshield wipers use. A light bucket will help you quickly tackle large amounts of snow with minimal effort. It is not difficult to remove the compressed snow from under the car, but only from the edges. But it is impossible to get to all areas with it (this does not apply to the jeep). Therefore, it should only be taken as a set along with a less wide, but at the same time sturdy tool, such as the Supreme shovel.
Small sapper blade
Many car enthusiasts dream of a universal shovel for all occasions and choose a sapper shovel.
Small, light, lies somewhere in the trunk and does not interfere, and on occasion can dig.
But the attractiveness in storage turns into torment in work. What will it be like to pick soil or snow from under the bottom of a stuck car? But you still have to make a tunnel in order to make your way to where you cannot reach from the outside! As for the size and weight, to carry in the car is not to carry on yourself. Therefore, it makes sense to keep the sapper blade only in a very small car, which has zero chances of leaving the asphalt: if anything, it will be possible to dig out a stuck car with it, but only for a very long and difficult time.
Materials for making
The length of service life and the number of functions for which the folding shovel can be used depends directly on the materials used in its manufacture. Shovels made of metal are considered to be of higher quality. Accordingly, their cost will be much higher compared to other analogs made of plastic or wood.
The most commonly used metals are aluminum and steel. They are also considered the most durable products.
Models with a combination of wood and metal are of good quality. However, it is metal products that have significant weight. This is an important factor, since most consumers are inclined to purchase a folding shovel due to its compactness and low weight.
Folding shovels made of durable and high-quality plastic will amaze you with their bright colors, but, unfortunately, they will not last long. They are subject to rapid deformation at low subzero temperatures and intensive use.
Description of the popular Spade TRACK model
The most popular small folding shovel today is, of course, the Spade TRACK. The instrument is produced in the Belarusian city of Minsk. However, in a short time, the folding Spade TRACK has become one of the best-selling products in its category. The democratic cost and the high quality of the product offered by the manufacturer has become a rather attractive offer for the consumer.
It is made of high-strength metal (stainless steel), and its weight does not exceed one and a half kilograms. The miniature size does not compromise the functionality of the folding shovel.
This amazing product has a fairly democratic cost of 990 rubles and is available in any travel or military store.
Its main feature is that the addition takes place in three stages. The gun bayonet can be locked in three different positions, namely:
- standard, when the owner has an ordinary shovel in his hands;
- at an angle of 90 degrees to the handle, so the owner of the shovel can use it as a hoe;
- folded, compact and easy to carry.
The bayonet of the Spade TRACK folding shovel is made in the likeness of a pentagon. The front and side edges of one side have grooved edges. This allows the owner to saw through the roots of the tree, if necessary, or use the shovel as a cutting tool. The handle of the product is made in the form of a triangle, which has a positive effect in the process of work, since it does not allow the hand to slip.
When purchasing this model, the future owner receives a cover made of polyester fabric
The synthetic fabric is durable and helps protect the folding shovel from the weather, which is extremely important. This is due to the fact that the product is made of steel, and this material is susceptible to corrosion.
A wide strap is provided on the back of the case, which makes it more comfortable to carry the implement.
Due to the possibility of using the shovel in three positions, the strength of the fasteners, small size, the presence of a durable and convenient cover in the kit, this model will become a faithful and indispensable assistant in any camping trip or travel.
An overview of the folding sapper shovel, see the video below.
Instrument care
Like any other tool, a car shovel requires maintenance. After work, it must be cleaned. If you have worked with snow or water, be sure to wipe the tool dry
It is important to keep an eye on the wooden handle so that it does not dangle.
As for metal tools, here you need to look beyond the edge of the working plate, regularly grind it with a grinder or rasp
When buying, you should pay attention to the junction of the plate with the handle. The fasteners must be solid. Such a tool will last a long time
Such a tool will last a long time.
Every car should always have a shovel, even if the sun is shining outside and nothing portends bad weather. No one knows what will happen on the road, and this simple tool can help you get to your destination on time.
Suzuki LJ 80
Mini-jeep, once quite popular in the Far East, was used by fans of fishing, hunting and active leisure. The Suzuki LJ 80 was produced from 1977 to 1981, after which it was replaced by Jimny. Nowadays it is not easy to find an SUV in good condition, but it was popular 5-7 years ago.
The car had a classic frame structure with one-piece axles and permanent all-wheel drive. It was equipped with a 0.8-liter F8A carburetor gasoline engine, developing power from 39 to 41 liters. with., as well as a four-speed manual transmission. The downside of the dependent suspension was its rigidity - on an uneven road the car "goats" and throws. However, this drawback is inherent in many frame SUVs with dependent suspension.
He also had a rather short wheelbase - 193 cm and a body with small overhangs, which improves the off-road maneuverability of the car.