Last winter, I got my Dakota stuck in the snow multiple times in a pasture, providing ample opportunity to test different shoveling methods. This experience led to some insights about using an e-tool for snow removal around a vehicle.
Firstly, I tried a Gerber e-tool and found it inadequate for the task. Its short length hindered moving large amounts of snow efficiently. The spade’s angle, optimized for hoeing, made digging snow from under the vehicle incredibly difficult. It simply wasn’t designed for effective snow removal.
A standard aluminum scoop shovel proved much more effective. It handled soft snow well and was decent for clearing a path ahead of the vehicle. However, it struggled in hard-packed snow and its size made digging under the truck challenging.
A square-headed steel shovel offered a different approach. While it couldn’t move vast quantities of snow, it excelled at breaking through hard-packed snow and clearing the area beneath the truck. Its compact size allowed for precise maneuvering in tight spaces.
Ideally, a combination of a full-size aluminum scoop shovel and a steel shovel would be the best approach for various snow removal scenarios. While small folding shovels like the e-tool have some utility, they lack the capacity for significant snow removal, particularly when a vehicle is deeply stuck. My experiences involved clearing snow from the entire underside of the truck due to falling through hard snowpack, emphasizing the need for a larger, more robust shovel. In conclusion, an e-tool is not ideal for car snow removal due to its size and design limitations. Larger shovels, particularly aluminum scoop shovels and steel shovels, are better equipped for clearing substantial amounts of snow and digging a vehicle free.
