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I've HAD IT with Creepers!

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Bubba Fett

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Joined
Jun 11, 2018
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1,516
Location
Eastern NC
I have an old Torin Black Jack creeper. Not bad, but it isn't great. I often will use flattened cardboard boxes instead. When I pull on a breaker bar, I don't have to worry about rolling around like I do on a creeper.
 

tiredoldironworker

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Joined
Jun 14, 2024
Messages
243
I've had the original Bone for over 20 years I think. They are hard to find now. I have never found a superior creeper. Ironworkers use cranes and that's what I'm usually working on. When they are broken down in the field over gravel or grass nothing else even comes close.
 

driftpin

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Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
11,229
Location
Miami-Dade/Broward Co. Florida
A good thread for creeper feedback.

I admit to being in the 'old scrap of carpet or piece of cardboard' for much of my life.

I had an old wood name-brand creeper, don't recall the exact name, but the wood delaminated and instead of finding some plywood to replace it, I pitched it.

A few years ago, I was headed to an electrical/electronics supply house for some wire and molex nylon electrical connectors for a project. I was in a Miami industrial district, about to pull into the parking lot, and as I passed an independent Porsche repair shop, they were bringing out stuff to the curb. What was being put out for the scrappers, made me park. First dibs!

I had a worker who was bringing things to the curb help me to load a HFT media blasting cabinet, a HFT creeper, a 20 ton bottle jack, and that was it, for me. All the pieces worked, some replacement needed, like gloves for the media blaster. I replaced the glass and got a better gun and a new box of blasting media, and since it was a benchtop model, I built a floor roller frame for it using BORA casters and 2X4's. I also added a filter, and made a stainless steel fine screen to fit inside the cabinet, and to protect the glass from etching. It works great.

The HFT creeper was ok, but after using it awhile, the middle wheel part of the plastic platform cracked. I added a piece of metal sheet, and through-bolted the caster, no issues since, and the opposite caster area has not yet cracked. I'm over 200 lbs and the creeper has worked well for my bulk. No catching t-shirts or long hair, I keep my hair short these days.

1729181402996.png

I added some oil to the bottle jack, and it works OK now.

1729181356433.png
 

Jagmandave

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Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
6,303
Location
Overland Park, Ks.
I've had my old wood creeper for about 60 years now and it's still good, but I never use it as about 10 years ago I bought a lift!
I might still have to get down on the floor for something, but since getting up again has become more difficult I try to limit that......when I do a small carpet scrap or cardboard is what I grab instead of the creeper.
 

PWC Repair

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Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
3,175
Location
Arkansas
The best creeper ever is large piece of heavy cardboard or a piece of old paneling.

Put me in the big sheet of cardboard camp. I find creepers to be too short, and I'm only just over 6 feet tall. I have to sit on the creeper, lie down, then slide down some so my head is supported. Cardboard also has the advantage of keeping spills off your driveway!
Another vote for cardboard. I'm 6'8", creepers just don't fit. On top of that......my long hair doesn't get along with them either. I can slide anywhere I need to on cardboard.
 
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M635_Guy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
A good thread for creeper feedback.

I admit to being in the 'old scrap of carpet or piece of cardboard' for much of my life.

I had an old wood name-brand creeper, don't recall the exact name, but the wood delaminated and instead of finding some plywood to replace it, I pitched it.

A few years ago, I was headed to an electrical/electronics supply house for some wire and molex nylon electrical connectors for a project. I was in a Miami industrial district, about to pull into the parking lot, and as I passed an independent Porsche repair shop, they were bringing out stuff to the curb. What was being put out for the scrappers, made me park. First dibs!

I had a worker who was bringing things to the curb help me to load a HFT media blasting cabinet, a HFT creeper, a 20 ton bottle jack, and that was it, for me. All the pieces worked, some replacement needed, like gloves for the media blaster. I replaced the glass and got a better gun and a new box of blasting media, and since it was a benchtop model, I built a floor roller frame for it using BORA casters and 2X4's. I also added a filter, and made a stainless steel fine screen to fit inside the cabinet, and to protect the glass from etching. It works great.

The HFT creeper was ok, but after using it awhile, the middle wheel part of the plastic platform cracked. I added a piece of metal sheet, and through-bolted the caster, no issues since, and the opposite caster area has not yet cracked. I'm over 200 lbs and the creeper has worked well for my bulk. No catching t-shirts or long hair, I keep my hair short these days.

1729181402996.png

I added some oil to the bottle jack, and it works OK now.

1729181356433.png
That's a pretty great solution. As I mentioned earlier in this thread (in 2021 - lol) I had the same problem. I wound up donating the creeper to a buddy who just needed a short-term solution (and had a completely-flat garage/driveway) and got the Icon creeper when it was on sale.

I've been extremely happy with it - far beefier than the Pittsburgh, better wheels and has handy metal plates for magnetic lights.
 

Firebrick43

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Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
14,024
Location
West central Indiana
That's a pretty great solution. As I mentioned earlier in this thread (in 2021 - lol) I had the same problem. I wound up donating the creeper to a buddy who just needed a short-term solution (and had a completely-flat garage/driveway) and got the Icon creeper when it was on sale.

I've been extremely happy with it - far beefier than the Pittsburgh, better wheels and has handy metal plates for magnetic lights.
Which one, there are three different icon creepers?
 

M635_Guy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
Which one, there are three different icon creepers?
Apologies. The "plastic"/composite one.

tkgRtg.png
The magnetic plates I'm referring to are on either side of the headrest. Their description says they're for magnetic parts trays but they're far better for lights IMHO - I just drop fasteners in the trays (which are also magnetic).
 
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Firebrick43

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Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
14,024
Location
West central Indiana
Apologies. The "plastic"/composite one.

tkgRtg.png
The magnetic plates I'm referring to are on either side of the headrest. Their description says they're for magnetic parts trays but they're far better for lights IMHO - I just drop fasteners in the trays (which are also magnetic).
I was seriously considering that one as my Pittsburg one was comfortable and low to the ground. Those have 4 bolts instead of 2 attaching the wheels that hopefully solves the Pittsburgh’s fatal flaw. .
 

M635_Guy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
I was seriously considering that one as my Pittsburg one was comfortable and low to the ground. Those have 4 bolts instead of 2 attaching the wheels that hopefully solves the Pittsburgh’s fatal flaw. .
The Icon one is vastly beefier than the Pittsburgh, and I've found the integrated padding pretty great, especially under the shoulder area.

This is my terrible video comparing them.

[EDIT - I just noticed the Pittsburgh one is currently on sale for $20 in their parking lot sale, which is pretty great. It's not a great creeper, but it's a great price for what it is.]
 
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Lassen Forge

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Joined
Apr 26, 2014
Messages
15,128
Location
The romantic hills of central Umbria, Italy,
I had an old 2nd hand woodie (IIRC maybe a Lisle, but don't quote me on that), it was a freakng hair trap. No way. Pitched it, got a (again, used) Snappie (WAY better but still nasty casters), but the damned thing wouldn't fit my buggered up back... Scored a "dropped center" creeper ("spider" casters) which would have been comfortable but for the broken "bed", put the casters on the old S/O, Which gave me enough play room to, what would you call it, Ergonomic-ize the bed (again, using parts off the busted creeper's bed) and worked very well until I sold it before moving.
 

Firebrick43

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
14,024
Location
West central Indiana
[EDIT - I just noticed the Pittsburgh one is currently on sale for $20 in their parking lot sale, which is pretty great. It's not a great creeper, but it's a great price for what it is.]
I am going to disagree with you there. That is why I broughtt up this thread. Mine was lightly used on very smooth floor and had the cavities foam filled and nuts loctited and still failed. I have to finish up the car in the shop and last night I was so ^#+*} pissed using it with 5 wheels is was tempted to drive down to the HF and throw it through the front window.

If you paid me to take one I wouldn’t at this point.
 

M635_Guy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
I am going to disagree with you there. That is why I broughtt up this thread. Mine was lightly used on very smooth floor and had the cavities foam filled and nuts loctited and still failed. I have to finish up the car in the shop and last night I was so ^#+*} pissed using it with 5 wheels is was tempted to drive down to the HF and throw it through the front window.

If you paid me to take one I wouldn’t at this point.
lol - I get it. For $40 I was a little pissed. For $20 I'd see it as relatively disposable. I got a lot of use out of mine before the wheel finally snapped off, and to be fair it did it after I repeatedly ran it over the lip of the garage pad while my non-trivial *** was on it while putting my Mini in "the Service Position" (which sounds like a euphemism but isn't) doing the front control arms.

I just moved, so that garage is now a memory, but the Icon replacement handled it without any issues at all. Very rugged design/build.
 
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