To repair vehicles without prejudice to health, the best mechanics creeper is necessary to have among other garage tools. It’s about, basically, the board on the wheels. It comes with different designs, ergonomics that depends on the model. The unit is developed to give access to the underside of any type of car in order to examine it for revealing damages and breakdowns. All these tools are the low profile models that allow for getting access to the base despite its distance from the ground.
The following description of various units allows choosing the best mechanics creeper to make work on it as convenient and easy as possible. Sometimes, a driver or a mechanic has to spend hours in the dust to fix a car and rolling on the wheels back and forth facilitates the task considerably. This tool increases productivity and helps avoid pain in the neck and back, a bulging disk and other skeletal problems.
The list of top creepers below describes various modifications and constructions with wheels of different sizes to let everybody choose the appropriate model.
Mechanic Creeper Reviews
Torin Big Red Rolling Garage/Shop Creeper
The under car roller keeps the body off the floor not to lay in a pool of oil and grease. It lifts a mechanic high enough to replace, for example, a faucet under the sink cabinet ledge (however, in this particular case, it’s necessary to reverse the pad and wheels). Formally, it has 250 pounds of maximum capacity, but in reality, it can bear the load up to 300 pounds. The unit is stable and durable as it’s made of 0.5-inch square tubing.
The Torin Big Red comes with casters made of hard plastic that goes well even on a floor with metal shavings, but no one should use the creeper on such rough terrain as a crawl space with rocks. Besides, it doesn’t roll easily on gravel or dirt. Actually, no model can do this since blacktop and cement are the only hard surface that the creepers will move on.
The unit allows holding backside 2.5 inches above the floor and the head will be slightly higher thanks to the pillow. The headrest adjustable, but its design needs some improvements as it falls with the slightest bump sometimes. It comes with a round steel rod to “lock” into steel notches that were formed from bent steel. It forms rounded edges and the rod secures well only on the highest notch. The other notches fail to hold the headrest securely.
Pros
- It comes completely assembled and ready to use.
- The optimal length supports the body without making a mechanic feel any stress. It helps with weight displacement to let anybody sit fairly close to the bottom edge and it doesn’t lift up at the opposite side.
Cons
- If keeping tightening the caster mount bolts, the board comes loose from the frame and needs fasteners that are more substantial.
- It does not fold in half.
Pro-Lift C-2036D Grey 36″ Z-Creeper Seat
If seeking the best creeper, consider this model with a seat height of 14.5 inches. Its profile is low but still fits a raised Jeep. However, it will depend on how big tires and lift are. The unit is a good tool for such auto detailing as polishing cars. It’s also suitable for waxing the bottom of the boats. This model works well for hand scrubbing the floor to avoid getting down on the knees.
This model doesn’t feature a lock as such, but it uses an attached spring-loaded pin about 0.5 inches in diameter on one side to keep it in the stool position. It’s also possible to pull on the pin and release that position and lay it all flat.
It’s a waterproof product that’s why one can wipe off the oil with water. The high-quality rollers have ball bearing swivels that’s why the unit rolls very well on an asphalt driveway. It’s great on low shag carpeting but doesn’t roll on the grass while sitting on it as the softness of the dirt and grass would hinder the progress significantly.
It’s necessary to assemble the unit before using it but it’s not hard and takes about 15 minutes. It’s easy to use and move around on the wheels and it weighs just 15.8 pounds.
Pros
- It can be used as a stool.
- Bolts secure casters and those casters can be changed for larger ones if needed.
- The unit has a metal frame that is convenient for attaching magnets to it.
Cons
- The head doesn’t tilt up and lock. It lays down flat or it’s possible to turn into a seat and the locks secure it in place. So, there is only one fixed position when the seat is locked.
- None of the six wheels has a locking mechanism.
Lisle 94102 Blue Plastic Creeper
This model is among the greatest floor creepers that can bear the weight of 300 pounds without feeling loose. It’s wide that allows getting into many different positions. It is very low to prevent additional lifting of the vehicle for the creeper. The construction is sturdy because the wheels aren’t wobbling and the plastic isn’t cracking.
The unit is available in numerous colors: red, yellow, blue, black, and orange. It is lightweight and very has convenient grab handles.
It goes over small expansion joints’ cracks but, actually, it’s designed for shop floor use. The roller comes with the small wheels with a 2-inch diameter. However, they swivel freely and are smooth enough to go on concrete, wood, and tile floors. Besides, it’s easy to find and install larger wheels if desired. The unit also does its job on concrete or hard surfaces, but it doesn’t work well on dirt and gravel.
Pros
- It’s equally helpful in the garage for working under vehicle or equipment and for moving heavy items.
- The neck well-positioned cushion is in the box.
Cons
- The wheels have to be attached before start using it.
- The body is made of molded/blown plastic that might affect its durability.
Magic Creeper 51631 Black Patented Zero Ground Creeper
This heavy duty creeper is remarkable for its versatility. It is able to withstand any load and it features zero ground clearance to allow getting under many vehicles without needing a jack. It’s extremely easy to slide around on and twist. This creeper passes through almost all surfaces, from gravel to the shop floor.
This crawler is made of a high-strength puncture-resistant material (polyurethane-coated nylon) that doesn’t damage or scratch floor finishes. It’s a lightweight product – just 3 pounds.
The unit has no wheels at all and it’s maintenance-free. Besides, it’s a water and oil resistant model. Bear in mind that the unit is a machine washable, but it’s better to just wipe the oil off with a rag to extend the useful life. Note that it’s slippery, so, it’s not recommended to walk or stand on it as one fall while the slightest movement.
Pros
- This product can slip and slide wherever it’s needed that’s why it’s perfect for such types of work as cut outs in the cement, for example, where the traditional creepers are impossible to use.
- It’s easy to store if rolling it right up. One can easily toss it in the trunk or on a shelf.
Cons
- The crawler slides around the center of a fabric. So, its bottom might get dirty and oily.
- If you swiveling body on it, it skews and becomes rumpled up like a blanket. It’s necessary to get up and reposition the creeper.
Pro-LifT C-9100 Black 450 Pounds 40″ Foldable Z Creeper
This model can hold up to 450 pounds. The creeper folds into a rolling upright seat, but the headrest doesn’t elevate in the creeper mode. It only raises up to become the seat in chair mode. As a creeper or a seat, it works very well, but only fully flat or fully up to sit on.
The bed is 6.7 inches above the ground surface. It’s about 5.5 inches from the ground to the top of the metal edge but the foam and the headrest add the rest. That’s why it’s can hardly be called a low-profile creeper.
The unit comes with rubber wheels. There are six casters of two different types of it. The two of them that are by the headrest have short shafts that only go through a thin bracket and a nut that goes on the other side. The other four casters are designed to be attached with the sex nuts. The threaded part of the bolt on the caster doesn’t make it all the way through the frame and it’s not supposed to. The 6th nut comes in from the other side and meets it inside the frame.
When folded into the stool position it takes 18 inches from floor to top of the seat. Besides, it’s easy to convert from the chair to the creeper. The unit has a safety-locking pin that slides into the support arm for the seat. When the pin is in its place the seat has never moved from its upright position while using it.
Pros
- The crawler can roll in the dirt – in hard soil pebbles/rocks but not in the sand. It works flawlessly on a smooth concrete floor.
Cons
- The wheels don’t lock.
Bone Rough Rider 7031 Mechanic’s Creeper
This automotive creepers review can’t avoid the Bone Rough Rider 7031 since this model can withstand 400 pounds and it is designed without a headrest. However, the entire construction makes it comfortable for the head and neck if using a cushion to support your head. The plastic used to build this creeper looks durable. The unit has very strong and large wheels that are good for rougher garage floors and other surfaces but they make it a bit difficult to maneuver. Besides, a simple wheel lock would be a great addition.
The crawler runs smoothly. It can be used in the dirt, but it stops sometimes on large gravel or small rocks and mud. Generally, any surface that isn’t flat will make rolling over it a bit difficult. This creeper handles decent sized cracks in the pavement fine with some effort.
It might look bulk and sit tall, but it allows getting under very low clearance and doing all the necessary work. So, the extra ground clearance is a huge plus.
Pros
- It’s easy to assemble and the casters are easy to install. The wheels used lock washers to be attached to the creeper.
- It works on the lawn that is very uncommon.
Cons
- No side trays for tools.
- It’s too short – just 25.5 inches.
Professional 44″ Either End Adjustable Creeper (MTL2UP)
This model can be adjusted while a mechanic is on the creeper. However, it depends on how narrow the space is underneath. For example, if using it for working under aircraft, it’s possible to tilt up or down under them. So, the more narrow the space is, the harder it might get. Besides, one should be careful since it’s safe to get away with raising the backrest, but it’s possible to get hurt if trying to lower it sitting on it.
The wheels move well but they’re small. It can navigate around the floor that is made out of bricks but if the bricks and joints are too rough, the wheels start getting stuck.
One can set it to four positions for the backrest portion, and three positions for the seat portion. The back does not go straight up. It only goes up. At that position, the distance from the floor to the top of the backrest takes 30 inches.
Pros
- It comes fully assembled and ready to use.
- It’s well made with quality paint, padding, and covering.
- The cushions are soft and comfortable.
Cons
- The lever that releases the back for incline positions is too tight.
Buyer’s Guide
What is the Optimal Height of a Mechanic’s Creeper?
When thinking of the under car creeper, any professional mechanic or just a car owner will agree that the low-profiled models are the most functional. The feature helps escape jacking up the car to high and provides more space to work. The suitable distance between the creeper and the ground is from 1 to 4 inches. Some models come with cushions and can be converted to a stool that adds not only comfort but also height. If this parameter is crucial, one should sacrifice those bonus features. The most advanced products come with an adjustable height.
How to Use an Automotive Creeper?
Before choosing the best automotive creeper, one should know how to use it. The algorithm is straightforward if following the instructions below:
- Jack up the car to the right height (the height depends on the creeper’s profile).
- Use two stands to support the vehicle.
- Take a crawler and lie/sit on it.
- Let the legs move freely – push yourself underneath the car or get out of it.
- When the job is done or if a break is required, don’t forget to take the creeper off and store it in a suitable place to prevent damages.
Some models are ready to use at once they’re unpacked and the other ones require assembling. It usually takes a little time and effort.
How to Choose the Automotive Creeper?
This auto creeper review would be incomplete without tips on how to get a high-quality model. First, think of the design that can be traditional, contoured, or folding. The first ones are flat. They’re not very comfortable but features the lowest profile. The second type comes with some curves to support the neck or back. The latter models can be transformed into the stool to provide a seating position if it’s necessary. What other characteristics should be considered?
- Clearance determines the whole creeper’s effectiveness.
- Extra padding ensures comfort while working for a long time.
- High-quality casters are located around the frame to provide the correct distribution of weight. Well-made casters make it possible to roll over uneven surfaces.
- Good weight capacity and length should be tailored to individual needs.
- A built-in handle makes it easy to hang the creeper on a wall when it’s not in use.
- An easy-to-clean surface allows saving time on removing oil spots and other mud.
The manufacturer usually points out the majority of features in the product’s characteristics, but it’s crucial to test them, if possible.
My name is Brandon, and I’ve been interested in cars since I was a kid. I got a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology and worked in a private car workshop. I have two cars that have been completely upgraded with my own hands. So I successfully put all my knowledge into practice.
Last update on 2023-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API