creeper

[showcrop]

What do you have for a creeper that you are happy with? I am looking for something basic that will last a few years. My son gave me one for Xmas a few years back, but it was light construction and the welds kept breaking. I set the cushioning on fire one time welding a break. The one I have now is an all plastic Pittsburgh brand. One of the six castors fell apart, so I replaced it with one labeled the same size, but it turned out to be 3/4 of an inch larger, so the area where it mounts is all breaking apart now, and I am constantly scraping the floor. The best one I ever had was a NAPA branded one that was made primarily of wood with four of those steel castors that run on their edge. I bought it at a farm auction maybe 25 years ago, and it probably lasted me 15 years.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 17:34:19 05/17/23) What do you have for a creeper that you are happy with? I am looking for something basic that will last a few years. My son gave me one for Xmas a few years back, but it was light construction and the welds kept breaking. I set the cushioning on fire one time welding a break. The one I have now is an all plastic Pittsburgh brand. One of the six castors fell apart, so I replaced it with one labeled the same size, but it turned out to be 3/4 of an inch larger, so the area where it mounts is all breaking apart now, and I am constantly scraping the floor. The best one I ever had was a NAPA branded one that was made primarily of wood with four of those steel castors that run on their edge. I bought it at a farm auction maybe 25 years ago, and it probably lasted me 15 years.

welded one up from 1" angle with a plywood floor and transferred the pillow and wheels from my old one. Kinda heavy, but durable.

 

[buzz saw]

I am a heavy equipment and diesel mechanic by trade and although the price may scare you to death, Snap On makes one heck of a creeper. I had one of those Pittsburgh creepers and got involved with a road tractor transmission warranty campaign, pulling and repairing one right after another. After about 15 trucks the Pittsburgh fell apart. Bought A Snap On and did 85 more units with absolutely no problems. I just got the regular six wheel model, steel frame and adjustable head rest, which is nice. If I remember right it was 170 dollars. I think the casters are warrantied for life but I may be mistaken on that.

A guy I work with has one with big rubber wheels on it, also a Snap On, that may work good on non concrete surfaces, he likes it real well also.

 

[504]

Lyle brand, plastic. They are sold with different
brand names on them. Not cheap,I think I gave around
$75.00 for this one off of the Snap-On truck 25 years
ago. If you need wheels for a creeper,Amazon and
replace all of them at the same time.

 

[Hobo,NC]

The one I made out of wood. They are EZ to make.

 

[shaun wallace]

Since have to most of my stuff in the dirt/grass use water heater or refrigerator card board box.

 

[Janicholson]

Mine is now reinforced with 2 3/4X1.25 channel irons down each side. Snap-On wheels and 1/2 Baltic Birch plywood. I have a full dress Subaru engine on it as I key this in. Jim

 

[NDIHC]

Mine is ultra low profile, lightweight,
easily portable and has no moving parts.
It's a sheet of cardboard.

 

[matthies]

Just warrantied creeper wheels on a 25 year old snapon, but my buddy tried and they stopped making his creeper so he wasn't as lucky but still found wheels to work.

 

[Barts Dad]

I have a Craftsman, body is plastic with plastic casters. It has a trough on either side for tools and parts. Got it as a Christmas present in 1968 when I was going to Tech School for Auto Body. It has served me well all these years. Still use it in the garage for changing oil and such.

 

[Jim in LA]

I kept on of my Dad's old creepers and last year I couldn't take it anymore(casters locking up) so I bought a nice 6 caster creeper with adjustable headrest form O'reilly. I have to be careful getting up off
of it because it will shoot out from under you real quick. That adjustable headrest is nice though.

 

[DMartin9N-2N]

Good Evening, showcrop and others: For a quick creeper, try the cardboard box from a washing machine or similar, also try heavy duty bubble wrap if you have some around. Both of these are cheap or free, and a bonus is you get the max possible head room under the equipment you are working on.
.
As I get older, I find a drawback: getting my lazy bones up from the floor is more work. I usually have pretty good luck getting on my hands and knees, then get my butt up in the air, then use my hands to pull myself up on whatever is nearby.
.
BTW, if I want mobility while flat on my back, I use my 25-year old Craftsman creeper.
.
Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
.

 

[JWA]

X2 on the getting up, that's my biggest problem when using a
creeper. I usually prefer to just lay on the floor so I can roll
over on my front and push myself up. This getting old sucks
sometimes. IMHO.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I probably have the same Pittsburgh creeper. I haven't had any problems with it except 9 out of 10 times I have to work on a car there isn't a concrete floor under it.

 

[kencombs]

I have a couple, one wood with the metal casters that my Dad bought at least 50 years ago. Still works fine but is too short.
When I sit up to get up, it tilts up on the head end sliding my rear to the floor.

So I picked up an older Snap-On at an auction. Square steel tube frame, six casters, and the pad is at the bottom of the frame, not the top so it's really low. The fiber back for the pad was broken so I took it apart and replaced that.

Works really good and is at least 6 longer than the original one.

 

[Mike M]

I don't like creepers. I also tend to wear hooded zip up jackets. Sure is heck when the hood gets
tangled up in the casters ! Dad has one of the old wooden ones that shoots out from under you if you
get off the back of it.

 

[showcrop]

Thanks for the responses about creepers. I remembered a very old wooden one that I had tucked away. I pulled it out and checked it over and pressure washed it. It may be what I need with a little repair. First I will check it for that "dismount tip up" which I can vaguely remember. I could possibly add a tool/parts tray to one side too.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Make the board so you can slide it out. 17 X 41 I use harror freight casters.

I should have added more cross supports

Screw the head rest to another board so it can be exchanged if you have to replace the wood you lay on.

Nuttin to it and it does not filp over.

 

[710ltd2002]

Bought mine at Autozone. The more expensive of the two thy
offered, and I think it was under $60 a few years ago. Plastic
board with four side trays. Six steel casters. Very low profile.
Works well. And I have only rolled over my fingers two times.
Dave

 

[T in NE]

I got a viking from jersey discount tool
co. Still only $100, at your front door in
2 days. Rated for 440 pounds with soft
rubber wheels it will usually run over a
zip tie.
Viking at JDTCo