Any experience with Roll Control Creeper?

[bchee]

Saw this cool creeper at O'Reilly's. Anybody have or use one?
http://www.madeinusaproductsstore.com/11926.html

http://www.amazon.com/Blitz-Control-Mechanics-Creeper-Model/dp/B0007R8GAM

I can't find picts of the bottom, but it only has 3 wheels. It pivots right in the center. I should have tried it in the store, but was too embarrassed. On the other side of the red marks is where the wheels are located.

Rugged and durable yet lightweight creeper is able to handle a 300-lb. capacity. 3-pc. center roller system allows for 360° turning (Zero Turning Radius) for optimum maneuverability. 2 base grips on the bottom help hold creeper securely in place to prevent unwanted rolling when torque is required or when getting up. U.S.A.

[bchee]

anybody else seen one?

[nissan_crawler]

I haven't, but what creeper doesn't offer 360* turning:confused:

[bchee]

It doesn't have the wheels at the 4 corners, like most other creepers. There are 2 wheels right next 2 each other, in the center of your back, so it's supposed to be easier to rotate 360 compared to a regular creeper. Any creeper or stool with 4 swivel casters can rotate, but sometimes they can provide enough resistance to make it hard to move. I thought it was an interesting idea. I should have tried it in the store.

I tried to draw the profile of this creeper. Notice there are not any wheels where your butt goes

[nissan_crawler]

seems like it would teeter totter and tip sideways pretty easily.

[38 Special]

Seams like one side on the other would always be on the ground when in use, or you have to keep it balanced. Also your ass is going to hit the ground when you sit down. Am I missing something?

[Fedwrench]

I can kind of see an advantage to the design. When you first sit on the creeper, sit up to get up, or sit on the bottom part to work on something, the creeper will lean down and not move. It will only slide when you lay on the upper part of the creeper when your weight is over the wheels. It might be ok. Of course the only real test would be creeper races down the middle of the shop floor.:beer:

[bchee]

Of course the only real test would be creeper races down the middle of the shop floor.:beer:

I'm not sure it would be stable enough for a straight-line race. It's advantage is in pivoting. If you did more than one lap in the shop it might give you the edge, because then you could turn faster and kick off the wall (like the turns in swimming laps).

I didn't show the contour in the previous drawing. It's kind of shaped like a rocker. When lying flat, your torso weight is over the wheels, so it doesn't rock back and forth.

I think when you extend your legs and put more weight on the other side of the fulcrum, this is what allows it to pivot easily.

As far as tipping sideways like nissan said, I'm not sure how that is prevented. The center wheels are really close together.

[bchee]

seems like it would teeter totter and tip sideways pretty easily.

I can kind of see an advantage to the design. When you first sit on the creeper, sit up to get up, or sit on the bottom part to work on something, the creeper will lean down and not move. It will only slide when you lay on the upper part of the creeper when your weight is over the wheels. It might be ok. Of course the only real test would be creeper races down the middle of the shop floor.:beer:


I finally got around to playing with one of these in the store.
It's made by Blitz in USA for $35

When you sit up, and your weight is on the bottom, it's solid.

It does tip side-to-side, unfortunately. I don't know how annoying that might be if you were using it for any extended period. One huge problem is that you can't move sideways. The caster under your head swivels, but the 2 under your back are fixed. I can see this being really annoying.