Not Your Father’s Creeper: A Look at Modern Mechanic’s Creepers

Mechanic’s creepers have been around forever. In the old days, creepers had some sort of wooden framework, a wood base (usually plywood) and a (barely) padded headrest. They almost always had steel wheels, usually with a sharp edge on one side. Those sharp edges were notorious for damaging or severing extension cords and drop light wiring. They were also a painful reminder to keep your digits and other body parts clear of the wheels.

Comparing Front of Wood Creeper and WSS-1010484 Workshop Solutions Heavy Duty Creeper — Here’s my modern Workshop Solutions Heavy-Duty Creeper next to a well-used, 45-year-old wood “antique.” I can assure you the modern creeper is much more comfortable and useful. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

Comparing Back of Wood Creeper and WSS-1010484 Workshop Solutions Heavy Duty Creeper — On the bottom side, there’s a lot of difference between the two. As noted in the text, the steel wheels on vintage creepers such as this one were bad news for extension cords, light cables, and your fingers. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

Comparing Height of Wood Garage Creeper with WSS-1010484 Workshop Solutions Heavy Duty Creeper — Modern creepers are actually lower in profile (deck to floor) when compared to vintage examples (with the thick cushion compressed). Photo bomb by shop dog Teddy. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

As low-tech and uncomfortable as they were, those old creepers got the job done. But the ones available today are light-years better. Some are constructed with a molded plastic frame or chassis that are often shaped to match the average human body. Others have a fabricated steel frame. Some have cut outs for arms and shoulders which provide for more room when swinging wrenches. There are creepers available with adjustable seats with headrests and adjustable back rests that allow you to operate from a sitting or semi-reclined position. You can get creepers that convert to a low profile stool or designed to fold up in order to save shop space.

WSS-1010484 Workshop Solutions Heavy Duty Creeper — Let’s take a closer look at the Workshop Solutions creeper. It’s built with a one inch tubular steel frame. It uses four three inch industrial style casters and has a maximum weight rating of 500 pounds. Both the headrest and the backrest are adjustable. The backrest can be adjusted to lay flat or one of five other positions. The headrest can be adjusted independently of the backrest. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

SUM-G1081 Summit Racing™ Steel Frame Creeper — This Summit Racing™ Steel Frame Creeper has an adjustable backrest, 2.5 inch diameter wheels, and a 350 pound weight rating. It measures 17 inches wide by 42 inches long by 4 inches high. (Image/Summit Racing)

This is a Lisle Low-Profile Plastic Creeper. It’s a body-fitting design with short urethane wheels. It has a floor to seat clearance of a mere 7/8 of an inch. Weight capacity is 300 pounds. (Image/Summit Racing)

There’s even a device in the creeper “category” called a high top or topside creeper. They allow you to work on the top side of the engine compartment while laying on your stomach. Essentially, these topside creepers save you from the often uncomfortable, sometimes down right painful process of leaning or laying in and over the engine compartment.