The Best Creepers for Your Garage
If you've ever done major work on your vehicle from home, you know that garage creepers are an auto shop staple that quickly become a necessity as the hours go by. Creepers are long cushions mounted to a wheeled metal frame, and they're used to help you perform underbody maintenance. With padding concentrated around the neck, you can easily lean back, relax your back muscles, and focus on the project at hand. Whether you prefer heavy-duty designs that cater to professional mechanics or versatile devices that can be easily stowed away, the creepers we've selected as our favorites have something for everyone.
Pro-Lift C-2036D Z-Creeper
Masterful Motor Maneuvers
Car maintenance is an exhausting occupation that can cause stress on the joints, especially when you’re under the chassis. If your focus is on undercarriage service and preventing a sore back, Pro-Lift’s Z-Creeper will make body and auto maintenance more painless than ever. Large creepers can be unwieldy, overweight, and difficult to maneuver under compacts. The C-2036D is approximately 3′ x 1′ in size, large enough to pad the head all the way to the lower back while still compact enough to slide and store with ease. When you need a versatile garage appliance that makes auto body repair more enjoyable and efficient all at once, Pro-Lift slides to the top of the leaderboards.
Pros:
- Converts into a seat
- Thick caster wheels allow smooth movement
- 300-pound capacity in a fifteen-pound unit
Cons:
- The wrench included for assembly is poorly made
Pro-Lift C-6040 Mechanic Plastic Creeper
Tough as Nails
Spending prolonged periods underneath a vehicle will have some negative implications for your back and shoulders, full stop. Creepers that truly conform to your unique figure are hard to come by, but the C-6040 from Pro-Lift is crafted in designed to situate your back in a more natural position. The C-6040 is indented near the board’s upper back section, providing extra space for the arms to maneuver and the shoulder blades to relax. As far as additional amenities are concerned, this creeper’s got them; two deep troughs for extra parts and a 350 lb weight limit make the C-6040 brawny and ready for constant use.
Pros:
- Reinforced headrest
- Incredibly low clearance
- Excellent value for the price
Cons:
- Small tools or hardware will quickly block the wheels
Lisle 97102 Plastic Creeper
Comfort on Wheels
Lisle’s plastic creeper is constructed with long term lumbar health in mind. This curved creeper’s shape is indented for upper and lower back support and is long enough to give the legs some relief, too. With three anchor points and a relatively low weight, the 97102 is easy to pick up and carry from station to station as well. These PU wheels may be on the smaller side, but fortunately, this creeper can be disassembled effortlessly, making wheel replacement a breeze. In addition to the robust construction, this creeper features a diverse color palette from which to choose, varying from classic black and blue to hot pink or neon orange and green.
Pros:
- Resistant to automotive fluid buildup
- Just over ten pounds and three feet long
- Assembled in minutes
Cons:
- The wheels are poorly fabricated
Magic Creeper 51631 Zero Ground Clearance Creeper
Roll Out the Carpet
Anyone who’s used a creeper has had that moment where a tiny obstacle — whether it’s a stray bolt or a pebble — has brought their momentum to a screeching halt. Addressing the problems of too much weight and wheels being too tiny have always seemed elusive — until now. Magic Creeper has decided to do away with wheels completely to create a creeper that eliminates friction a whole new way. If you’re familiar with weighted blankets, the concept is similar; this one uses tiny ball bearings to grip asphalt and slide over itself with reinforced linings. While the ball bearings are metal, they won’t crack designer-room wood floors and are unbelievably light given the sheet’s size. With five feet to slip and slide about, the Magic Creeper is a mechanic’s best friend when storage space is limited.
Pros:
- Slides on rugged terrain seamlessly
- Unmatched height clearance and weight
- Puncture-resistant fabric
Cons:
- Little to no padding for your back or head
Traxion 3-100 Foldable Topside Creeper
A Higher Perspective
When repairs take you to the top of your engine block, you don’t want to arch your neck or bend over with a wrench in hand for what could be hours. Traxion’s 3-100 foldable topside creeper is not your average accessory. Particularly useful for large consumer or utility vehicles and trucks, this one features three textured steps that won’t lose their grip with grease or moisture. The device is secured by two genuine casters beneath the steps and a cross beam locking the feet together. The climbing section’s steepness may be adjusted in increments of three from 48 to 64 inches. The upper layer of padding is just right for long mashups with your core, while the overall structure will support just about any frame with bulky components in hand.
Pros:
- The unit folds up for condensed storage
- Superior customer service
- The vinyl padding is a breeze to clean
Cons:
- A hefty device with no storage pockets
Frequently Asked Questions
What repairs most often require a creeper to fix?
There are countless reasons one would find themselves underneath their vehicle on a creeper. Creepers afford you access to knowledge more than anything because of the components they enable you to explore. While an oil change is the most common reason to use a creeper, checking out rust buildup or the status of your transmission could land you on a creeper too.
How do you perform an oil change with a creeper?
First, you’ll want to place your car on wheel ramps and/or use a car jack to get some breathing room. Next, slide under your vehicle and remove the drain plug from the crankcase. Once all the oil has been extracted, replace the filter located nearby, spring up topside and top your engine off. Be sure to store and dispose of your spent oil safely, as it is an environmental hazard.
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