Creepers or cardboard???

[JRC3]

I have a creeper that a friend talked me into years ago. I think I used it once.

In lieu of cardboard I actually keep pieces of carpet. From time to time I take up carpet when I install other types of hard flooring. Whenever I take it up I keep the nice clean pieces from under the sofa or something. Most of the homes I work are extremely clean households. I also get a newly purchased homes where the seller installed brand new carpet to put it on the market. Carpet actually stays cleaner than cardboard. A few drops of coolant are easily blotted and rust particles can be easily cleaned off. It's also way more comfortable. As a piece get used and becomes dirty, it gets used for a worse task before it gets tossed. Basically a piece that started for sitting or standing works its way to being put down to tear down greasy suspension parts and then rolled up and tossed.

The dog likes it too.

 

[redwrench60]

Double wall corrugated cardboard for the win. I get tons of it at work in big pieces. I keep a bunch up in the rafters of my shop. I even use it at work crawling and laying under and inside equipment. Shields from cold, rough debris covered areas, soaks up oil and I can slide on it easy but not too easy. My creepers mostly sit.

 

[Wamsutta]

I took my creeper out yesterday after having it in storage for about 20 years. All six wheels were crumbling apart like hard cookies. It's MAC branded, but I don't know who the OEM is for it. Now I'm looking into the HyperGlide wheels by Energy Suspension.

 

[fasteddie]

I have tried so many times to use the creeper. I jack up the truck, put the jack stands under, set my *** carefully on the creeper, adjust position so my head is comfy on the little pillow and roll myself under. Then realize I forgot a tool, roll out, struggle to my feet, kick the creeper to the wall, get the tool I need and a nice large clean sheet of cardboard. I can't pass up a nice piece of cardboard, just like a nice piece of free wood or steel.

 

[marineman]

At work on the big trucks I use my creeper all the time. At home my 2 year old likes to sit on it while I push him around the garage. That's the only use the home one sees

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[Super Sport]

Wow I’m so surprised, i usually feel like the younger guy on here most of the time and yet with so many people saying they prefer cardboard over a creeper just makes me feel like an old man because if i were to lay on some cardboard for an hour under our cars or my truck my back would be fubar for the rest of the day.


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Same here, and I'm only 27!

Creeper for me. My cheapo Craftsman is well worn and has served me well. I have another fancier Craftsman Professional model, but it's taller so I find myself avoiding using it.

 

[Carguy99]

I use old carpet padding. Cushion and warmth. I try to like the creeper but it really pisses me off.

This for me

 

[Wanna Ride]

I'm starting to see a pattern here.

I too have a nice Craftsman creeper... somewhere. Seems like cardboard always works better, and with less hassle.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Yep, that's the one. I keep one folded in the trunk too

Here's a coupon, you can get it for $3.99. I like using these too, because sockets don't tend to roll around on them.

I just bought about ten of them last week, using this coupon.

 

[unslow1]

I think I have 4 creepers and still use the cardboard nearly every time.

 

[engineer2]

Insulated foil car sunshade. You can slide very nice on it. Doesn't fit any car i own and I'm too fat for a creeper.

 

[2manytools]

I will use blankets sometimes, but don't have an abundance of cardboard where I work on under my truck. Though with the mention of working on gravel, I should probably have a few sheets laying around.

My brother bought a cheapy plastic creeper that *****. 6 tiny wheels that get held up on just about anything. And not comfortable if you aren't in the mold just right. So I bought (or rather free with Sears points) the Craftsman folding padded one with only 4 wheels. What a difference! I'd burn the other one if it wasn't plastic.

 

[woody6904]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw0KN4Re_bZFINhlNTNUZOYs

Got one of these in the service truck. So far like it, nice to be able to fold up and kneel on.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

We have a few creepers in the shop that get used sometimes, but what a nuisance. Even the nicer ones cant roll over a crumb of dirt without getting hung up. I use cardboard tho every day or an old rug since half of what I do is outside.

 

[TonyCH]

Cardboard for dirty jobs, carpet for others. I have used my creeper only once as it was intended, few times as tool tray.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

80% just lay on the floor. 10% creaper and 10 cardboard. I have the off road dog bone and it rolls over most things. Work good in the grass.

 

[bczygan]

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.

Cardboard for the win!

I have a creeper too. Not used in a long while.

Cardboard gives more vertical space.

Better leverage.

Creeper gets stuck in driveway cracks.



Bill

 

[wood02]

I am sure that I have stored my creeper for about 30 plus years...used occasionally. I generally use cardboard for most of my adventures under the car/truck. The older I get the higher the vehicle needs to be raised. My stomach has a hard time getting under said vehicles!

 

[snickers muncher]

The creeper is still in the box after all these years. I'm more likely to use the cardboard box it's stored in before it.

 

[6PTsocket]

Cardboard. Almost never use the creeper.

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[zendriver]

Creeper, the red HF

I found the key is to use heavier jackstands and put the vehicle up higher.


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[mcdye]

I have both, but it seems the cardboard gets used more.

 

[JRC3]

Creepers were big in movies and TV shows, that's probably why we all bought into them thinking it was the normal thing to do. Creepers provide nice clear transition for actors to slide into the frame from under a car, or in and out of conversations for affect. Of course the actors had nice handles or other people to precisely guide them. Cue Fonzie.

Maybe Loni Anderson had something to do with it. It sure wasn't Gomer.

 

[theoldwizard1]

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.

Same here ! I got one the the last really GOOD Craftsman hardwood creeper. Hardly ever use it. Cardboard also handles drips/spills well. Soaks them up and you throw it away !

 

[fasteddie]

SHOW US YOUR CARDBOARD

Which do you prefer? I tried the Harbor Freight, never again. It sheds fibers that get all over your clothes and who knows what they put in Chinese cardboard. Snap-on cardboard is way over priced and has gone downhill in recent years, really **** rough texture. It's so hard to find made in USA cardboard these days. Best cardboard I ever used came from a Barbi Dream House, huge piece with nice slick pink finish on one side, superb sliding quality.

 

[bdbecker]

About 20 years ago, my Dad got a little annoyed with me because I used his "good" cardboard for an oil change and the wind kicked up and spattered oil all over the sheet. It was then I learned the cardboard rules of etiquette. For quick/dirty jobs like oil changes, use the cheap stuff. For big jobs, you can use the triple-layer appliance box folded flat for six luxurious layers of corrugated comfort.

Ever since then, its been a running joke. We might be helping a relative with a new dishwasher and I might say "You sure you don't want to keep that box? That's a good piece of cardboard." or if I ask him how difficult a certain repair job might be he might say "Oh, you'll want a good piece of cardboard for that."

 

[Shadowdog500]

I gave my creeper away decades ago. Cardboard works much better! I have several big pieces of cardboard from big screen televisions and water heaters to slide around on. I have a lift now, so for the most part my days of sliding around on the floor and bench pressing transmissions in is behind me. Chris

 

[brooktre]

I use a creeper, cardboard or carpet depending on the task. I have a few thick area rugs that are very handy especially for outdoor work.

 

[Toomanytools?]

I use cardboard because I've never had a creeper but want one now that I have a nice shop. After reading this heck I'm saving my cash and going dumpster diving for some new cardboard. Or maybe it's time for that new 80" TV??

 

[Coach James]

My dad and I both tried creepers years ago and didn't like them. Cardboard now. Most of my work is in my dirt driveway so wheels wouldn't work anyway. Last oil change I did on the Honda, I just laid on the dirt.

Coach

 

[driz]

My dad and I both tried creepers years ago and didn't like them. Cardboard now. Most of my work is in my dirt driveway so wheels wouldn't work anyway. Last oil change I did on the Honda, I just laid on the dirt.



Coach

Creepers were ok until the cars started laying on the ground a while back. Even back in the day they cost you 3” -+ and. Hat can mean a lot especially with a 19” jack as most are. Hell you have to drive up on 2x 6 to get the old style under the car [emoji1787]




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[erty67]

Cardboard

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[Qualitytools]

I use all 3, cardboard, moving blanket or my bone creeper. It just depends on the job and how high the car is on stands

 

[coljar]

Both have their place in my garage even though I have a hoist.

 

[Elsinore13]

I was creeperless for years! Around the body shop we always get big cardboard boxes that hoods and bedsides come in, nice thick cardboard and it often times finds itself in use on the floor. I may or may not have, over the years, snagged a nice accessory trunk mat or three that the customer left behind after their car was totaled and headed to salvage. Roll them up and stand in the corner when not in use.

Old floor mats from cars work good under dirt bike stands on the epoxy floor to keep from gouging up the floor.

 

[Shehzada]

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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[_Stang_]

Good cardboard with a HF moving blanket on top. Pure joy

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[davewo]

I use cardboard. I got tired of rolling my shirt, over coat, etc. into the casters.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Cardboard all the way. I also have some corrugated plastic sheets (literally looks like cardboard that's made out of plastic) that I use if the ground is wet. The plastic is more durable than the cardboard, but it's a bit more unwieldy.

We call that corrugated cardboard "election board". After a political campaign you can usually pick up some decent size pieces along the highway. Doesn't use much space and has multiple uses.

 

[Krokodil]

I’m a cardboard guy.