Creeper?

[diesel research]

It's reasonable to guess the typical "pro" doesn't use these much with the convenience of lifts.

In a diesel shop lifts aren't as common or convenient. For the longest time I just rolled around on the ground w/o much problems. Seems I am feeling the effects a bit more as of late and have resorted to the typical creeper found in many home garages.

That just doesn't cut it. I'm not big (5'8"/165), nor do I care to have one that could withstand being ran over by a truck.

I do want one that is sturdy, has big wheels, doesn't get shirt sleeves caught in wheels, and a folding head rest. I don't find any that feature all of those plus affordable.

The cheapies have folding head rests but small wheels, flimsy, get loose with time, and are sleeve-magnets.

The more expensive ones are a sturdier "poly back brace type" (the matco/lisle/cownwell ones in shop), don't **** up sleeves, sometimes have bigger wheels, but don't have adjustable headrests.

Is there any that meet all of the above, w/o being some one-off custom fabbed (expensive) piece?

 

[ibedayank]

if you find one let me know... i do have to add to that big wheels that will roll on gravel/grass

 

[Strouty]

Would this fit the bill?

http://www.mygaragestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1749

 

[canuckian]

a friend of mine that works on larger vehicles swears by his "dogbone" creeper - but I don't think those have adjustable headrests.

 

[Buckgnarly]

No headrest, but I swear by the Bone....rolls almost too easy sometimes.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I do want one that is sturdy, has big wheels, doesn't get shirt sleeves caught in wheels, and a folding head rest. I don't find any that feature all of those plus affordable.
<...>
Is there any that meet all of the above, w/o being some one-off custom fabbed (expensive) piece?

You're working on medium duty and heavy duty trucks, so unless something in their design has changed in the last few years, you should still have lots of height to play with.

Build one!

A single twenty foot length of 1 inch square tubing or heavy angle, three feet of 5/8 inch round bar,a couple of those five dollar eight inch tall pneumatic tired wheels and two big *** swivel casters from Harbor Freight. Add a half a sheet of 5/8 inch or so plywood and a few small carriage head bolts to hold the plywood in place. You could rob a headrest cushion off of an old car seat. If you want an tilting back rest, two hinges, some 5/16 inch round stock and a couple of notched adjustment points should be easy enough.

You can make it wider and longer if you want.

If you think about it, two of those harbor freight moving dollies strapped together with a piece of plywood sitting on top would work in a pinch.

A creeper is really nothing more than a platform with some swiveling wheels and a head rest. Or rather, it used to be. I can remember buying a new wooden creeper for about ten bucks. Now you can spend three hundred dollars on one. That's more than three months of notes on my first new pickup truck.

WoD

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Would this fit the bill?

That's a clever design, with pneumatic wheels, it'd probably be unstoppable.

It's still a lot of money for a creeper though.

WoD

 

[Gary S]

I've been using a cheap Harbor Freight creeper for the past few years. It rolls almost too easy too. My garage floor is poured with a couple of inches of slope, and the creeper will roll downhill by itself if I let it.

 

[diesel research]

Would this fit the bill?

http://www.mygaragestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1749

Maybe. (thinking about it)

a friend of mine that works on larger vehicles swears by his "dogbone" creeper - but I don't think those have adjustable headrests.

Correct.

You're working on medium duty and heavy duty trucks, so unless something in their design has changed in the last few years, you should still have lots of height to play with.

It has. Air dams, spilers, and other composite ****. For 2011, even our trailers will have "fuel-saving" (heard they actually work too) air dams spanning most of the entire trailer.

That doesn't matter so much, I will deal with it, just as you are imagining, space isn't so critical most of the time.

Build one!

A single twenty foot length of 1 inch square tubing or heavy angle, three feet of 5/8 inch round bar,a couple of those five dollar eight inch tall pneumatic tired wheels and two big *** swivel casters from Harbor Freight. Add a half a sheet of 5/8 inch or so plywood and a few small carriage head bolts to hold the plywood in place. You could rob a headrest cushion off of an old car seat. If you want an tilting back rest, two hinges, some 5/16 inch round stock and a couple of notched adjustment points should be easy enough.

You can make it wider and longer if you want.

If you think about it, two of those harbor freight moving dollies strapped together with a piece of plywood sitting on top would work in a pinch.

A creeper is really nothing more than a platform with some swiveling wheels and a head rest. Or rather, it used to be. I can remember buying a new wooden creeper for about ten bucks. Now you can spend three hundred dollars on one. That's more than three months of notes on my first new pickup truck.

WoD

I am considering yet, but decided to check the market first. Main concerns are:
increased cost of steel as of late
how to accomplish comfortable/durable padding
head rest adjustment mechanisms
lack of durability in plywood (the cheapies are made of plywood and readily get loose.)

All of those can be overcome, but I want to check the existing "market", first for ideas, and 2nd for price point. (if labor/raw materials cost $150, and mass produced is $100, you can see where I am going)

 

[diesel research]

I don't think I am worrying about rolling too easily. I am pretty sure the slag, broken rivets, and busted bolt heads on the floor will slow me down.

 

[usdemt]

I have this one for about a year now and I like it a lot. The tires arent huge but it rolls over rocks and stuff easy. Extensions cords are too much for it to roll over but I dont like to roll over them anyway. I think I paid lik $75 on sale.

https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?A=BK_8155068_0006396235&An=0

 

[JASTECH]

I like the "make one" idea, then I would have to add a hand brake. After hours you guys could have creeper races, lol

Thanks, JASTECH

p.s. I have a Lisle from about 20 yrs. ago

 

[Moose-LandTran]

The adjustable headrest is a must. Really saves your neck.

I'd second making your own. I paid through the *** for my Snap-on one and i'm really not all that impressed with it. It leaves a fair bit to be desired in terms of quality.

 

[Ghostrider]

I love my new dog bone although there isn't an adjustable head rest.

 

[diesel research]

I like the "make one" idea, then I would have to add a hand brake. After hours you guys could have creeper races, lol

Thanks, JASTECH

p.s. I have a Lisle from about 20 yrs. ago

There are no "after hours", we are a 24hr facility. I will consider making one only if it is cheaper, stronger, and better than what is available elsewhere.

Modifying an existing one is not completely out of the question either.

I see that the "king crawler" has an optional hand brake. I am suspicious of the odd "back rest feature" as opposed to a simple head rest. Yes, head rest tilt is mandatory.

The NAPA appears to be a potential candidate, depending on how sturdy the construction is in real life. I get tired of loose casters and supports that seem to flop and wiggle around. Durable padding cover would be nice too. Of course, I am sure napa won't have one in stock to do any hands on fit/finish testing.

I could always source casters from Northern/Burden/HF if need be.

I am no upholsterer but come to think of it, may actually know one who is.

I think I would prefer there to be no trees harmed in the construction of such device (whether it is store-bought or DIY)

________________________________

I checked prices. I have atleast 6 stores within 10 miles of me, and there is a $57 DIFFERENCE in price depending on which store I choose. Anywhere between $82-$139.

 

[shanker]

I have a Bone Big Dog Creeper and LOVE it...I can roll right up and over even the indention from the driveway to garage which is about a 1.5' lip

I'm 6ft 230 and it works great for me...but no adjustable head rest

 

[chevy_cowboy]

No headrest, but I swear by the Bone....rolls almost too easy sometimes.

Agreed! Once you use a bone creeper you'll never want to use anything else. The original bone or the new bonester are both very nice. They'll roll over cracks, chunks of gravel or anything else on the floor with ease.

I'd also highly recommend their rolling seat, the tailbone.

All 100% american made by the way. http://www.bonecreeper.com/