Creepers or cardboard???

[Iluvbeer]

I use both. A creeper is the berries when you’re doing lits of work under a vehicle in different areas.

 

[Nivekdodge]

Foam insulation. After 2 minutes you can feel the heat reflecting back at you body.

 

[TheLurker]

Creeper if the driveway is wet.

Cardboard if I know I'll be getting up and down a lot.

Bare concrete any other time.

 

[Skin]

I could never use foam or carpet. By the time im rattling on the second bolt the whole thing will have turned into a rust cactus. Bad enough keeping it out of my eyes, mouth, nose, ears, don't need the stuff trying to stick me in the back too.

 

[engineer2]

Rust is an issue here too. You don't want to get rust in your eye. Goggles help. Difficult for the ER doc to remove rust since it is porous and soaks into your cornea. They go from swab, to pick, to dental drill to remove it depending on how embedded it is.

 

[nmantas]

Wife's old yoga mat, the padding makes it slightly harder to get in and out because you don't slide as well BUT.....its padding nonetheless.

 

[like2wheel]

****.
I just burned a giant box from a soaking tub today...

 

[Jtels85]

Another +1 for cardboard.

I’m OCD about safety when the vehicle I’m working on is in the air. Sometimes I’ll add some wood blocks along with the jacks. I love working on cars, but being underneath one makes me nervous. On cardboard, I feel I can maneuver and pull myself out a lot faster than I could laying on a creeper.

 

[JRC3]

...Rust...

I grabbed these when they were on sale. Best thing ever for telling rust and gravity to kiss your ***.

https://www.harborfreight.com/face-shield-with-flip-up-visor-62995.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/mesh-face-shield-97010.html

 

[M6erfan]

I only use cardboard that has a lifetime warranty

 

[unslow1]

Wife's old yoga mat, the padding makes it slightly harder to get in and out because you don't slide as well BUT.....its padding nonetheless.

I use those for fender covers.

 

[bigtiger]

I use cardboard, floor mats, carpets. But always have ants crawling up and around kissing my ***. Creeper use, no ants but not as maneuverable and tight fit. Dream is to have lifts.. Lol

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[macs_rock]

I've got a plastic HF creeper, and I really like it. Maybe I'm just lucky but it's very comfortable for me and I prefer to roll, not crawl.

 

[TJS101]

+1 on the cardboard here as well, I like the cardboard to buffer the cold concrete old carpet works as well. I’ve used several creepers but prefer plain ol cardboard

 

[DGersic]

I have had a nice craftsman creeper for about 20 years. Never use it. I always throw down a slab of cardboard. Much easier to slide around on or stay put if you are wrenching i find.



The creeper is tough to get into spots......and a hassle to roll around on or stay put when you want to.



Which do you prefer. The only reason i havent gotten rid of the creeper is someday i think i will like it. I think it has run its course and i need to sell it off.

I’ve had several creepers. Love the concept, hate the actual products. So it’s cardboard for me. I scored some huge pieces of four ply cardboard from an equipment delivery at work a few years ago.



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[Magnum440d100]

Growing up, I worked in dirt, mud, gravel, weeds, etc... My Grampa had an old piece of carpet that was so well worn, it was super slinky and floppy. It was awesome. It finally wore out.


When I first got my house, I put down an 11’x12’ piece of carpet in my driveway. It was perfect. Drive a vehicle over it, work on it in comfort, and be warm if it was cold out.

Had it there for about 3 days until my then pup tore it to shreds. She even tore up the carpet on the stairs.

Then I used cardboard.

Then a few years back, I was given a creeper from an old friend. It’s a craftsman. It works well, but folds in the middle, even with the bolts tight. I use it rarely.

I mainly keep the concrete as clean as possible, and work directly on it. I have some big pieces of cardboard now, so I’ll probably use that.


The previous post about using the creeper for tools?!? THAT IS GENIUS!!!! One thing I hate is crawling back under there to grab tools! Oh man, I can’t believe I’ve never thought of that before!

 

[SuperCat]

Most of the time I use cardboard if I have a nice large piece to use. I have an old Craftsman creeper, but I can't remember the last time I used it. The wheels on it just don't roll very well at all. I wish I had a lift or a mechanic's pit, but neither are a possibility at my current home.

 

[colin39]

Perhaps its just me, i find it so much easier to use a 2post lift far less restrictive,and i dont ache as much after fixin stuff. Jmho you understand

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[Jazz1]

I like creepers. Cardboard is fine once I'm in position. At my age it's zipping in and out from under the vehicle that gets me mostly.

My kids bought me a creeper when I was 40, amazing how much effort I had been using dragging myself back and forth under a vehicle. Creepers rule!
Outside used a "Magic Carpet" working under trucks and trailers in the winter.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I think the biggest takeaway from this thread is that creepers are great if you are doing visual inspections as you can slide from one bumper to the other end.

But for actual wrenching...a carpet/cardboard might be more feasible as it will provide more leverage when breaking a fastener loose since a creeper will probably move around due to the wheels.

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In addition the tools always wound up rolling under the creeper. Along with clothing and hair getting caught up in the wheels. Years ago I had a friend with long hair who climbed out from under the car with a creeper hanging from his hair. We had to cut his hair to remove the creeper.

 

[Eds_tls]

Cardboard

 

[428PI]

At work (large national used car chain) we don't even have a creeper in the shop. We do keep the floor clean as we usually wash it down once a week and work on mostly newer vehicles. I can roll around on the floor and you wouldn't know it by my clothes but rarely do we need to as most bays have lifts. At home I used to use an old Matco wooden one that has the steel wheels and an old Snap On with metal and wood frame with the metal wheels but my cement isn't perfect so bought a Northern Hyd. plastic one for 20 bucks. No such luck. Worked good for a couple months until the middle wheel caught some concrete at the parting line between outside and inside and it busted and layed over the wheel. I finally traded for a black Bonester? from Northern Hyd. and love it. It doesn't really roll better than the 20 buck job but I believe it will last. Cardboard for ouside in the dirt. I usually just get down on the concrete outside but in the shop it's a creeper. My floor is too dusty from floor dry, etc. At work, we don't use any floor dry. Only absorbent mats when need be. I like to stay clean.

 

[Formula]

At home with a car up on jack stands, I'll always just use cardboard. The extra few inches on a creeper takes away from some clearance lying on your back. Plus it just feels easier to slide around on cardboard.

 

[GaryM909]

I usually use a leaf blower to clean the floor first.

 

[ezover]

I would prefer to use a creeper but the added height makes it tuff getting under the car.

 

[CJM8515]

Depends on what Im working on and where. Cardboard is fine but if I need to go in and out several times a creeper works better. I have the CMan creeper but it never rolled well ever, the HF one works better and is more comfortable.

 

[El_Guapo]

I usually use a Summit "pit mat" for a little cushioning - just the clean floor if it's something quick and easy.

About the only time I use the creeper at all anymore is detailing or when I'm fooling with the Blazer (lifted).

 

[Slednut]

Must be something wrong with me, most of the time I use this.

 

[DGersic]

Perhaps its just me, i find it so much easier to use a 2post lift far less restrictive,and i dont ache as much after fixin stuff. Jmho you understand

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I’d love to have a lift. With 8’ ceiling, and a flat roof above it, a lift isn’t an option. Even with just jackstands I have to be careful if I have the hood up on my truck.



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[scale]

I always dumpster dive and typically office buildings renovate after tenants leave. THey usually will rip out basically new high traffic carpeting and put in new. I take HUGE sections of that and have put that in the garage. Keeps me off the cold concrete which is great. IT doesnt go all the way to the walls nor is it professionally installed. It doesnt go under cabinets or benches etc. It overlaps in a few spots but in the end it covers a 2+ car garage floor nicely. Driving over it is fine. Rolling stuff on it is fine. Sure it gets dirty. Your best friend here is the shop vac. It ***** up EVERYTHING and leaves the carpet clean enough. Anything with a motor in it gets a piece of cardboard under it so if it does drip, the cardboard soaks that up and can be replaced. Even if it gets wet, one of those floor blowers dries it in no time. It is so nice to sit on the floor and work on projects in the garage. Its just like sitting in the living room....and the best part is its all free.

Speaking of shopvacs.........boy i sure love mine. IT really helps get things cleaned up either wet or dry. I have had some pretty heavy spills and water seapage under the garage door.........and it takes care of it with ease. One of the best things i ever bought.

 

[Matt XYZ]

Ironically I just thought about this today when changing the oil and transmission fluid in my Honda Odyssey. I pulled out my Craftsman creeper but ended up just sliding a large sheet of cardboard under the car. It also helps soak up an small leaks or a few drops that miss the drain pan.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Unless I'm on gravel, I'm a creeper person, then it's cardboard on top of carpet. Actually I have 2 - one for my ****, one for the tools I'm using, like a flat tool cart, and that'll roll on the cardboard as well... but I realized when I was much younger I didn't like hanging out on frozen concrete or gravel for very long, and I'd always end up with rocks in my pocket or in my ski cap (used to keep my hair out of the way, and out of the moving parts)...

I guess it's all what you get used to, tho.

 

[Two Speed]

I prefer cardboard/piece of carpet. I can just squeeze under my vehicles without lifting them. I do have a creeper I got from a former boss, nice cast iron brackets and mounts, but mostly it just takes up space in the garage.

 

[lilredex]

Always use my ""lowboy"" custom creeper. Can slide under my old trucks with minimal lifting.

 

[The Fall]

Cardboard. My hair gets caught in the casters. If it didn't, creeper for sure.

 

[laser3kw]

Cardboard. My hair gets caught in the casters. If it didn't, creeper for sure.

or roll up your flannel shirt and cut you in half

 

[JollyRgr]

or roll up your flannel shirt and cut you in half

Generally use cardboard. When I bought my Volvo 245 in 1999, and I could slide right under it on cardboard. These days, my stomach gets caught (sagging springs?) So I need to use jack stands or ramps.
Saving pennies for quick Jack's...I'll try a creeper with those

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[driz]

Cardboard. My hair gets caught in the casters. If it didn't, creeper for sure.

I found a sure fire cure for that, I joined the Army. Problem solved . After that never could stand hair over my ears. It sure put a dent in my love life though being the [emoji1739]70s. “Couldn’t get laid with a fist full of 50s”[emoji85] we used say. On the bright side I never did run over my hair with a creeper at the craft shop. [emoji848]


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[Here2Learn]

Cardboard Creeper for me.

Here's a couple of tips that maybe someone can make use of.

1. Go to your LBS (Local Bicycle Shop) and see if they have some empty bicycle boxes to give away. When mine got oily, it was time for a new box (cardboard creeper).

2. If you can find big enough pieces and it is possible, drive the vehicle onto the edges of the cardboard to keep it from blowing up in the wind.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

I live in Texas and keep my floor clean so I normally just use the floor, even using my QuickJack.