Best value in creepers?

[tom-ky]

What is a creeper that will hold up for a good price? Tried one of the plastic Harbor Freight ones that sagged and dragged before a wheel broke off. So that thing broke well under it's weight rating.

 

[Fedwrench]

The Lisle one piece plastic creeper that HF copied is pretty good. They also offer some old school wooden models that have withstood the test of time.

Look at whiteside manufacturing, they make most of the tool truck brand creepers & seats.

 

[brokeboater]

For me it's not so much which one is best bang for the buck, it's how to get one shipped with all the pieces surviving transit. I tried twice with Zoro to buy an Omega but they put zero effort into packaging it to survive the trip. It's a real PITA to have to piece together a shredded, inadequate in the first place, shipping box to make the return trip. Besides that I thought the Omega 91452 looked very nice.

 

[tom-ky]

The Lisle one piece plastic creeper that HF copied is pretty good. They also offer some old school wooden models that have withstood the test of time.

Look at whiteside manufacturing, they make most of the tool truck brand creepers & seats.

So the Lisle plastic ones will hold up? I had a Lisle with metal frame and wood in a truck shop that heal up good years ago.

 

[Certified Drunk]

I've had a Lisle for years, zero issues.
It's the standard of plastic creepers, should last a lifetime..., If it's used for what its made for. lol
I had to use mine to move a 350lb differential, no damage to the creeper.

 

[Fedwrench]

So the Lisle plastic ones will hold up? I had a Lisle with metal frame and wood in a truck shop that heal up good years ago.

It's hauled my fat *** and other things without any issues. lisle also sells replacement casters if needed. Best 8 bucks i spent at a swap meet years ago.

 

[CJM8515]

plastic harbor freight job here, I love it. Its held up very well over the years.

 

[PJNJ]

As said already - Lisle. I'm 260 lbs. and have problems with my legs. I've probably "fallen" onto it at least 75 times in the last few years with no cracks, bending, sagging or other problems occurring as a result. And it's pretty comfortable.

 

[tom-ky]

plastic harbor freight job here, I love it. Its held up very well over the years.

Glad yours has, mine broke a wheel out just after the 90 day warranty.

 

[hammerhead611]

I got this Lisle creeper a couple of years ago and have had no problems with it

 

[American Locomotive]

I don't recommend the plastic harbor freight one at all. We went through two of them before we gave up and switched to something else. The smallest pebble on the ground will cause a wheel to rip off. We kept trying to patch and repair them, but more wheels would just rip off. They're junk unless you work on a polished glass surface that you keep completely clean at all times.

Sounds like the Lisle one is better made.

 

[CJM8515]

Glad yours has, mine broke a wheel out just after the 90 day warranty.

Shame. In never had an issue, probably had it for like 5 years now

 

[vavet]

I have a metal frame unit similar to this. I think it was a Walmart purchase 15-20 years ago. I don’t use it frequently, but it’s held up.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200672988_200672988

Before that, I had a couple cheap wood units...from pep boys I think. The wood cracks, the screws holding the casters pull out, etc.
if I was buying a new one today, I’d be tempted to buy one that flips up into a seat (great for brake work when the car is on jack stands or door panel/window regulator work) or offers a reclining position so you don’t have to keep your neck elevated when doing work where that’s required.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Big pieces of cardboard !

I have a beautiful old wooden Craftsman creeper that I never use.

 

[txvwnut]

Lisle is what you want.

I’ve got two Lisle creepers, the plastic one and a metal framed one. The metal frame I’ve had for over thirty years and still has the original cover and wheels on it. The plastic one I’ve had for about twenty years and accidentally ran over it and it held up quite well even after being subjected to 40,000lbs.

 

[AA/FC]

We had a bunch of these Harbor Freight low-pro creepers in our truck shop. We were NOT a full time repair shop, we only worked on our own trucks but had mixed results with these. They would last long time when the lighter guys used them, but the bigger guys had trouble with them cracking, sagging, and breaking wheels off. For the price, if you're not a big guy, they seem to be fine. If you use a creeper all day, every day, I would look for something a little nicer.

.

 

[hammerhead611]

Here's another idea...

 

[Scout Driver]

I have a metal frame unit similar to this. I think it was a Walmart purchase 15-20 years ago. I don’t use it frequently, but it’s held up.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200672988_200672988

Before that, I had a couple cheap wood units...from pep boys I think. The wood cracks, the screws holding the casters pull out, etc.
if I was buying a new one today, I’d be tempted to buy one that flips up into a seat (great for brake work when the car is on jack stands or door panel/window regulator work) or offers a reclining position so you don’t have to keep your neck elevated when doing work where that’s required.

I recently picked up a Northern Tool creeper like the one in the link. Its "ok" at best. Within half an hour of using it, the thin vinyl covering started to split. Not happy with it in that respect.

Scott

 

[driftpin]

The best value, as-in 'free!' A Harbor Freight creeper, I was at the right place at the right time, I got this and a HFT 40 lb media blasting cabinet, both free. They were being discarded at a foreign car service center. The blasting cabinet is getting more use than the creeper. Neither has any issues.

 

[manwithtools]

Take a look at Bone-ster creepers. I've been very happy with mine.

 

[crane operator]

I have both a bone creeper and the lisle. I actually prefer the lisle in most cases, the only nicer thing with the bone is the bigger wheels will roll over cord/ cracks in the pavement a little better.

Bone rides a little lower to the ground, and its hard to roll on to your side in the bone, due to the humps where the wheels are.

I'm 6'6" and not really light, but not huge, and they both hold me fine. I have no luck with cheap (HF) creepers, they don't hold up.

 

[anndel]

Big pieces of cardboard !

I have a beautiful old wooden Craftsman creeper that I never use.

+1 for cardboard I just get them at CVS, Costco or Wal-Mart. I have an old wooden Snap-on creeper from the 80s that I hardly use.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I would suggest getting a Lisle Jeeper Creeper or a Bonester. The cheap ones don't roll around well.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Lisle plastic creeper...an industry standard that gets rebranded by many manufacturers

The big wheel version rolls over anything I only went with the small wheel version for working on backhoes and small dozers

 

[Rustypigeon]

Another vote for the Lisle plastic creeper.

Before I got the Lisle I had a couple metal framed creepers that would bruise my shoulders and pinch my skin when the wheels castored. I can turn comfortably with the Lisle as there are no hard square edges or pinch points. It rolls smoothly over my garage as well as my driveway.

 

[jimindm]

I have has a snap-on one for years. The casters are guaranteed, and have been replaced several times.

A few years ago the head rest tore down the center. Always catching my hair or the shirt I was wearing. I was at an auction and bought a plastic creeper. Not sure of the brand, but if I recall it was something similar to the bone one.

I liked it pretty well, until one day I was looking for a wiring problem in the back of a pick up. I think it was late fall, and sort of dark out. As I slid under, reached for the trailer ball. I just caught out of the corner of my eye and electric arc from my fingers.

I could recreate it just my moving some on the creeper and touching the truck. I thought at the time, good thing I was not working on a fuel system. I think I gave t away the next week.

 

[manwithtools]

I have has a snap-on one for years. The casters are guaranteed, and have been replaced several times.

A few years ago the head rest tore down the center. Always catching my hair or the shirt I was wearing. I was at an auction and bought a plastic creeper. Not sure of the brand, but if I recall it was something similar to the bone one.

I liked it pretty well, until one day I was looking for a wiring problem in the back of a pick up. I think it was late fall, and sort of dark out. As I slid under, reached for the trailer ball. I just caught out of the corner of my eye and electric arc from my fingers.

I could recreate it just my moving some on the creeper and touching the truck. I thought at the time, good thing I was not working on a fuel system. I think I gave t away the next week.

Static electricity is a concern on a creeper? Guess it's a good thing you don't lie on cardboard while weaning a flannel shirt.

Metal framed creeper will do the same thing if the casters are plastic like most are. Me thinks you are tilting at windmills.

 

[tarbellb]

Harbor Freight creeper FAIL.

Just did my clutch, bought it brand NEW, 2 days rolling around, completely blown out.

Im 6'2" under 200lbs.

 

[fasteddie]

Big pieces of cardboard !

That's what I have settled on. Creepers were always more trouble than than they are worth.

 

[EVOLVO]

IMO any creeper has to have an adjustable headrest! Trying to wrench on something and holding your head up at the same time is exhausting. I have a no name creeper, but it does have that. I've actually locked it into about a 45* angle so it can't accidentally flop down. Of course since I've installed my two post what kind of creeper to have is a moot point

 

[mdog892001]

Harbor freight with adjustable head rest. Only complaint is the wheels come loose


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WWheeler]

Bone Rough Rider. A LOT stronger and rolls better than any other creeper I've tried, right over cracks or rocks that bring other creepers to a dead stop. Made in USA.

That said, I've been looking at a Fastback Pro by Creepex. Looks like it's pretty badass. anybody got one of these yet? I'd like to see some real reviews of it.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ReSI7v8KWQ" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[AA/FC]

I'm sure this has been posted here many times in the past.... but just for fun I'll post it anyway. (not my video)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJ68kjRMHys" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[scooby074]

I have a Bone creeper and a Mac rebranded Whiteside. The Whiteside is way easer to get out of but the bone is more comfortable. It just locks onto you. Can roll over many things that will stop a normal creeper. Only issue is getting out of it to get tools etc, its pretty deep and you tend to have to roll out of it to get off it.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I went with the Bone. Im sure the Lisle will do just as well though.

 

[Tynee]

I wish I’d read this before I bought a HF a while back. The first time I laid down on it, The whole thing sagged, and the wheels wouldnt roll. Now there is a possibility that my excess weight was the sole cause, but if I’d seen this thread, I’d have known there was a 50/50 shot of it working for me at best.

 

[Skin]

 

[Dumber than lumber]

The best value, as-in 'free!' A Harbor Freight creeper, I was at the right place at the right time, I got this and a HFT 40 lb media blasting cabinet, both free. They were being discarded at a foreign car service center. The blasting cabinet is getting more use than the creeper. Neither has any issues.

Am I the first one to say, "You ****"?

 

[like2wheel]

Harbor Freight creeper FAIL.

Just did my clutch, bought it brand NEW, 2 days rolling around, completely blown out.

Im 6'2" under 200lbs.

Mine blew out the first time I used it. Both center wheels after rolling over a concrete joint.
I'm 180 lbs.

 

[AmishFury]

i weigh significantly more than each of you and mine doesn't sag and the wheels are rolling just fine... put a fair bit of use on it