Does anybody *actually* use a creeper on a regular basis?!

[johnny1290]

They always seem like a great idea, especially when I'm soaked in ****** fluid underneath the car or something, but does anybody *really* use these frequently?!?

I'm sure it's great in certain instances...and I've heard the more expensive ones(the dog bone style?) are worth the money...but the driveway I work on is pockmarked with craters and I hate jacking cars up high enough that I could have enough clearance on one of these...

Can you guys actually get these to be helpful?! What's your circumstances that allow that(work on the smooth garage floor, car up on ramps, I dunno, you tell me! )

For me they've been more hassle than they're worth. I'd *like* an excuse to get one, the fancier the better. Please help!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

i find them very useful, i do a lot of work under cars/trucks/commercials that are on axle stands, and it makes life easy to have a creeper. when you're undoing/tightening something that takes a bit of muscle, they're a pain because the reaction just pushes/pulls you. you need to have your back on the floor for that. and you got to get in a comfy position on the creeper too.

never used a dogbone creeper, only steel tube frame ones. personally, i wouldn't go with a plastic creeper. when you put a gearbox/steeringbox/diff/whatever on your chest they flex and bottom out.

oh, and Snap-on ones are very good.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have a creeper - never use it. I like the feel of cardboard.

 

[Fedwrench]

I use the one at work almost daily for quick under vehicle checks on drive ins. It's a shop environment with a smooth floor. It's alot faster to roll around a vehicle than to shimmy/crawl around it before racking it up.

 

[chad s]

I have a creeper - never use it. I like the feel of cardboard.

Same here. I hate creepers. maybe if I had the dogbone one, Id like it, but standard ones always catch up on debris or tools sitting next to me on the ground.

 

[wythors]

I used one fairly regularly before I installed my Racedeck floor. Never since.

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

I actually just got one. The basic craftsman steel frame one, no frills for me. Used it the other day for an oil change, on my pockmarked, fluid stained driveway, a driveway that likes to give way (on the more stained parts) whenever I use my 4 ton jack on it. The creeper worked out great. It was easier to get under, easier to get out, and more comfortable. I *should* put the jackstands up a bit higher next time though, my face was about 6 inches from my exhaust pipe, which of course, was hot because I'd forgotten to buy a filter and had to run out last minute.

 

[ImportTuner]

I have a creeper - never use it. I like the feel of cardboard.

I have a creeper too ... I like the feel of cement ... j/k - I do most of my work in the driveway which is sloped ... the creeper likes to roll down hill ...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have two old wooden creepers and two metal framed, wooden seat and bottomed creeper seats. They all have those horrid old bevel metal casters. On the carport concrete at my folks home it was no problem, but on the floor of my present shop, those metal bevel casters scar up the floor, so I have quit using them. I need to replace the creepers and get new casters for the seats, just haven't got around to it yet.

Charles

 

[Moose-LandTran]

i like the creeper seats. very handy when you've either got the car on axle stands or low on a lift, if you're doing something like working in the wheel arch. makes it a whole lot easier.

 

[wilbilt]

I learned to dislike them back in the days when I had long hair. Those old casters would wind up a bunch before yanking it out.

These days, I use mine for swatting mosquitoes, since they do not roll well on gravel. I can't actually bear to part with them, though.

 

[mrsleeve]

I have one of the "bone" creeper's with the Big *** casters for using out in the yard or gravel drive. It works quite well an I use most of the time espically when I will have to be getting up an down to get tools and what not.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have a metal tube frame one with I think 6 casters under it. I have had it for years and I use it a lot. I cannot say all the time but about 90% of the time I do us it. I have been very curious about that bone creeper it looks like it would work very well, but I won't look at getting a bone till this one dies and that may be a few years. Who knows, by then I may be tired of keeping our daily drivers propped up and on the road and just say the hell with it!

 

[IDASHO]

Ive got this low profile creeper....

I absolutely LOVE it. And use it quite often for routine maintenance, undercarriage upkeep, etc.

If I have a serious job, like dropping a subframe for a clutch job, I go for the large sheets of cardboard. I get large sheets of cardboard from work for free. 3'x7' sheets, used to protect door slabs.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Ive got this low profile creeper....

I absolutely LOVE it. And use it quite often for routine maintenance, undercarriage upkeep, etc.

If I have a serious job, like dropping a subframe for a clutch job, I go for the large sheets of cardboard. I get large sheets of cardboard from work for free. 3'x7' sheets, used to protect door slabs.

So where did you get it? YADA YADA YADA!

 

[IDASHO]

Got it for X-mas a few years back from my mechanic brother-in-law

Dont know where he got it!

 

[PoorOwner]

I think this one is from Harbor Freight

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2745

Pretty darn good price as I pay $50+ for my lisle and they are probably the same thing

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis92102.html

As to creepers, my car are usually low and it just goes as high as the jack will go in one operation, about 15" It's too low to use the creeper Ever since I got the kwiklift which raise the wheels 20" and oil pan to about 26" relatively, I must use the creeper. Regardless of the epoxy or tile floor garage is always dirty, I am so much cleaner when using a creeper than just on the floor.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I think this one is from Harbor Freight

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2745

Yup, I think you nailed it!

 

[Nikolai_V]

I use one all the time - but then again I dont need to jack up my truck to get under it on one - just slide straight under gotta love the under axle clearance of a lifted Range Rover

Ahem not that I spend much time underneath it trying to cure oil leaks.... its just marking its territory

 

[eschoendorff]

As to creepers, my car are usually low and it just goes as high as the jack will go in one operation, about 15" It's too low to use the creeper Ever since I got the kwiklift which raise the wheels 20" and oil pan to about 26" relatively, I must use the creeper. Regardless of the epoxy or tile floor garage is always dirty, I am so much cleaner when using a creeper than just on the floor.

That's my problem. If I had a Kwiklift, I'd probably use a creeper a lot more.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I have a Craftsman Pro one with a reclining back, use it all the time. I have a seat, too. Then again, with two of the vehicles I've had (one sold now) I could slide a 5 gallon bucket under it and almost sit upright to change the oil.

If I work on a vehicle on jackstands, it always goes high enough to get a creeper under it.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have a Craftsman Pro one with a reclining back, use it all the time. I have a seat, too. Then again, with two of the vehicles I've had (one sold now) I could slide a 5 gallon bucket under it and almost sit upright to change the oil.

If I work on a vehicle on jackstands, it always goes high enough to get a creeper under it.

I am not drawn to the Crafty Pro or any of the folding convertable back types, simply put I don't like how much they weigh and they just seem too clunky to me. Mind you I am not knocking the quality, more the weight and design.

 

[sharpe427]

My gripe with creepers is that I always seem to catch my leg on the corner of the steel tubes with I am getting on or off. Very annoying after a while. Best advice...get a lift and work standing!

 

[ba614]

I have an old wooden creeper that I bought from NAPA so long ago I don't remember when. I almost never use it. In fact if it dissapeared I probably wouldn't realise it was gone for years. Cardboard works better for me. You can slide on it as well as using a creeper and when you finish a job all you have to do is throw your tools and parts on it and pull everything out from under the vehicle at one time.

 

[fourfeathers]

I use a 5" caster Dogbone creeper, and like it a lot. Got it new on ebay.

 

[NOMAD]

I've got a cheapie that I got for free and have been using it periodically. I need to remember to raise the car up higher or else I'm 1" from the frame rails.

I find it's quicker to roll around to different parts of the car to check stuff out or maneuver into a better position for wrenching etc. If I have to get out from under the car it's nice to just roll and sit as opposed to 'back-crawl' and roll out

 

[kartracer55]

I only use them at work when I need to get under something we cant fully put up on a lift. Ambulances, small bus looking things, big pickups etc. The in ground lift is great beacause it allows us to put up at least one end of the vehicle.

They are good for jack stands, as long as you have a smooth floor to roll on. My garage floor has several major cracks, similar to the grand canyon, so a creeper is out.

EDIT: Instead of cardboard, I like using large laminated pieces of paper. Usually corprate posters or calenders. I have them in all different sizes. Since they are laminated, a little bit of simple green cleans them right up when I am done, and I can roll them up tight with a rubber band so its out of the way.

Jim

 

[rsanter]

I have several creepers and use then everytime I get under a car/truck. when doing lots if work I will use two of them, one for me and the other for the tools so I can keep them near me. I have never had a lift or a pit so jackstands are all I have to hold a car off the ground which means a creeper is needed.

bob

 

[1320stang]

Ive got this low profile creeper....

I absolutely LOVE it. And use it quite often for routine maintenance, undercarriage upkeep, etc.

If I have a serious job, like dropping a subframe for a clutch job, I go for the large sheets of cardboard. I get large sheets of cardboard from work for free. 3'x7' sheets, used to protect door slabs.

I got one of these from the 'Zone on a gift card and my big **** causes it to drag. I still use it though, the tool bins on the side are handy. I want to get a dogbone that won't flex on me though.

 

[64merc]

Back when I used to have a garage I found that creepers were a pain in the ****!! I would use mine occasionally but most of the time I either fell off or ran over my tools on the ground. They work great for quick inspections but other than that the floor is my friend. Granted, I was poor so I only had one of those cheap wood creepers with the cheapy casters.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

We use them quite a bit on the farm. Have two of them actually. We have one of the dog bone style ones and one of your more traditional flat style creepers. We service our own tractors, dozer, and 8 Semi's, and we use the creepers a lot to roll around underneath them.

 

[jay50]

The Bone creeper with the large casters works great...

 

[T56 Impala]

I have one. I try to use it but it never works out. Either the cars are too low or I don't lift them up enough. Mine has roller blade wheels and rolls well on all surfaces. It gets used more for a dolly than as a creaper.

I have 2 creaper seats. Both are used a lot. They are to different heights. When buffing/detailing the side of a car or the wheel well, nothing can beat them. (I even wax the spings!) I need a wheel creaper now. Maybe I design something. You know, to have the wheel at a comfortable height when off the car for cleaning. You guy do remove your wheels every week for cleaning, right?

 

[chavist93]

Reading this really suprises me. I could not imagine working under a car without one.

 

[lucasd2002]

I use mine almost every time I work on the car(s).


edit: but if I had a lift...

 

[Sack]

I've had a nice new Matco one for about 6 years now. Yup. New, because it never gets used. Even tried to give it away on here awhile back and nobody wanted it. I'll probably end up cutting off the casters to use some some project or something. Damn thing just takes up space.

 

[snorky18]

I use them on a rare occasion for moving furniture that barely fits under door frames (moving dolly too tall). OK, so that's once every 10 years...

Seriously, if I have to spend a while in the same position (ie scraping old gasket material off engine block between engine and firewall), it's priceless, especially my nicer one that has the adjustable back.

I get mad at it sometimes too, like when I try to apply force to move a bolt and the only thing that moves is the creeper across the floor.

As my dad says, it's like working in space.

My wife also figured out one day while helping me that they're not very nice if you have hair long enough to get in the wheels... youch

 

[WVBrady]

My biggest problem with them is that they are all too short. I am only 6'1'', but I am longwaisted. When I sit down on them, I have to sit in the middle and scoot down, otherwise if I try to sit on the end before lying down the darn thing flips up on me. Same problem with getting up. I usually wind up putting on my knee pads so that I can just roll on and off of them. I did put a padded extension on mine so that my head could stick out over the end; that helped. Mine has regular wheels, so the tiniest pebble will stop me. I would have gotten one of the Bone ones, but was afraid that it would be too short.
I wish that I had known about the above ground lifts when I built my garage 25 years ago. I might put one in anyway and just sit on a stool; that would be a big improvement. A creeper is still a big improvement over what I used to do when I lived in Calif., pull up on the curb and hope that I didn't get a ticket for working on a city street.

Brady

 

[6skott]

I have the same Whiteside 6 wheeler with the steel frame others spoke of, but mine has an adjustable rising head rest that I absolutely love--it really helps with the wear and tear on one's neck. Seldom are you looking straight up, so having something to prop your neck up is really nice. It rolls around well on my concrete floor and easily on the drive and with six wheels glides well over ruts/expansion joints. I keep the old wooden one with the beveled wheels for helpers/ spectators or if someone asks to borrow one...

 

[Rickster]

I have a cheapo Harbor Freight one with flames and an adjustable height head piece. I bought it to help out with refinishing the bottom of my project Mustang. It works pretty good.