Home made creeper

[Adam McLaughlin]

Hi Everyone

Considering making a home made creeper over here

I am a transmission guy.....
and I have tried the Bone Creeper. Worked OK, but the cheap plastic wheels didn't hold up and cracked and bent
Tried the Craftsman Professional Creeper. Worked OK, but the casters wore out!
Tried the HF edition, worked alright, but was flimsy

SO
I want to make my own. I have some good wood working skills, a free / very inexpensive place to get steel, and a line on Casters from the distributor.
I was thinking of making my own creeper with A-1 casters, and then building a frame for the whole caboodle with a wooden base. I'd put a neck pillow on it, and cover the pillow with vinyl etc.

Anyway, I got some ideas, lets see what you guys have come up with and then we'll get something started next weekend.

Yes, I have seen the Human hoist, but at 1K its out of my range.

Adam

 

[mudflap]

Iv'e been thru many of them myself.. I work on equipment that doesn't need to be jacked up, or cant be put on a hoist. Back-hoes/dump trucks/ emergency apparatus/etc. So i use a creeper alot, and sometimes not on a smooth,level surface....lol. So im intrested in what you come up with...Or if anybody knows who makes a really heavy duty one......

 

[lilredex]

This is mine. Works OK for my needs. Gets down about as low as you can go.


image hosting

 

[Carves]

This one of mine - ought to take the ugly award ..

Left over ply, pine and chair casters ... Slapped it together years ago.
Gets used as a trolley,
... and it just got some new cheapy chinese wheels - which made it 500% better ... Just needs a removable headrest now.

 

[fxgmech]

If you do a lot of work on them, creepers can become a constant expense. I use Lisle's low profile plastic creeper. The only part warrantied is the body unless you spend big bucks on one of the tool trucks and the dealer will absorb it for goodwill. For me it's cheaper to just keep new casters ready and don't leave it behind on the side of a road after a service call. My third one in 20 years just got a new set of casters because the wheels wore away as usual. The wheels last ~9-10 months on a rough floor under hard daily use.
I used wooden creepers with steel wheels before that but they barely last a year before the wood breaks up. I tried various other heavy duty creepers with big wheels on outriggers but they don't fit under the trucks I work on, especially between tandem axles or under highway tractors with side fairings, low mounted tanks, etc.
Lisle sells new casters (~$4 ea) cheaper than most supply houses sell the bare wheels. When I do find the wheels for ~$2 I stock up and rivet them into good casters. I wore out one neck support. I think the new one was ~$5. I bought a set of casters once for a Blue Point creeper that fit Lisle and they lasted twice as long but triple the cost.

 

[2mJps]

I built one out of 1/2 ply wood by laminating the sides with more plywood. The wheels were at the ends mounted on 1/4 by 1 1/2 steel with 1 1/2 tall wheels. it was very low. I used it for years and gave it away when i moved. It was so low that you couldnt put your fingers under it to help roll. Power Wagon has a very good ideal. I would allso like one for use out side.

 

[WVBrady]

I would make sure that it is long enough. I am only 6'1", but the 40" ones are too short for me. After I sit down, I have to shift my weight or else my head is hanging over the end. I just added an extension on mine to provide a place to hang my weary head.

 

[nahuebsch82]

I'd say if your busting the wheels/casters build it to use the roller blade or wheel chair wheels with casters. Should hold up to alot more abuse. Oh, make it comfy!!! I've used just about every ones in my shop (mostly SO) and they all hurt like hell to lay on. Mine was a 2nd hand SO knock off, I took it apart and doubled the amount of foam.....I could sleep like a baby on it, not to mention all the other jealous mechanics with sore backs.

 

[mudflap]

I have one of these Arcan creepers ay my home shop (wouldnt last a week at work). I ordered it a few yrs ago from Northern. The light quit working a while back. But man...iv'e had some really good naps on that thing...Get comfy on there,with the Reds game on the radio, roll under the car I'm out like a light... I have to set the alarm on my phone every time i use the thing.....

 

[nahuebsch82]

this isn't too bad http://www.mygaragestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=54