Working on your own vehicle brings a sense of pride and accomplishment, especially when you fixed a problem or installed that upgrade you always wanted. But, auto mechanic work can be quite stressful especially when you are lying for hours on your back. As such, you need a dependable car creeper or roller seats to firmly support your back. To find out which one you should buy, you should put certain standards such as the durability of its frame, the comfort of its seating or lying position, the cushioning it provides and its value for money. We went around, tested several products and finally decided to put this list of the best mechanics creeper.
The Best Mechanics Creeper
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1. Pro-Lift C 2036D Grey Z Creeper Seat- Affordable Car Creeper
Pro-Lift C 2036D Grey Z Creeper Seat- Affordable Car Creeper
When we first lanced at the “Z Creeper Seat” the first thing we noticed was how it can fold into a flat creeper or a seat-styled roller. This 36-inch, 300-pound creeper has 6 swivel casters that make it more maneuverable. Its comfortable base is layered with thick padded cushions.
The unit’s retractable pin locks in your desired seating or lying position. The unit’s ergonomic design allows it to have full mobility under tight areas. You also won’t have to worry about getting dirt or scratches from the floor as this unit has a ground clearance of 2.5 inches.
PROS
- Great value for money; much cheaper than its rivals.
- Multiple seating or lying positions
CONS
- Not as durable as its competitors
This transforming roller can be folded in a “Z” shape, which is quite useful for different mechanics works. The six swivel caster design also makes it more mobile. However, we were left wanting in terms of its reliability. If you want an affordable creeper, this one is a great starter kit.
2. Torin TRP6240 Plastic Creeper- Versatile Car Creeper
Torin TRP6240 Plastic Creeper- Versatile Car Creeper
When your car has a very low clearance, it’s hard to find a creeper that allows you to get down that low. One such exception is the Torin TRP6240, a 40-inch plastic creeper with a remarkable ground clearance of 1 ¼ inch. The rollers rugged ergonomic allows it to be mobile even in tight spots without sacrificing comfort.
The creeper weighs only 7.5 pounds and has six compact 3-inch ball bearing casters that refine its movement. According to its manufacturer, it has a maximum weight capacity of 280 pounds. The plastic material is also resistant to dirt, oil, and grease which make cleaning fast and easy.
Torin also has other products that will work great with this plastic creeper such as the TR6300 car creeper seat which has a design that allows you to store your tools under the seat while working.
PROS
- Very low ground clearance perfect for lowered cars
- Highly mobile which allows you to change position quickly
CONS
- Low maximum weight capacity
- Corners are susceptible to cracking
3. Traxion 1100 ProGear Wide Creeper- The Most Durable Roller Seats
Traxion 1100 ProGear Wide Creeper- The Most Durable Roller Seats
Another creeper that has a very low ground clearance is the Traxion 110 Progear. Its padded contoured deck can carry up to a whopping load of 401 pounds is set at 2-inches above ground. You also get a lying surface of 43 inches x 23 inches.
This roller has large 5-inch casters and the drop deck has no pinch points. As such the casters simply roll over obstacles that often stop most creepers in their tracks. This feature provides 360-degree mobility to the roller without sacrificing on its durability.
The device’s ergonomic design provides increased productivity and less fatigue to the user. This makes it perfect for mechanics that are constantly on messy garages.
PROS
- Very durable and can carry a huge amount of weight
- Highly mobile and can maneuver through obstacles (e.g. sheet metal scrap)
CONS
- Very bulky and often hard to maneuver, especially on a straight line
CONCLUSION
The Traxion 1100 ProGear Wide Creeper provides optimum comfort to anyone who laid their backs on it. Its huge catch weight is also appealing especially to those who have a bigger body build. One key issue, however, is how hard it is to maneuver.
4. Performance Tool W85005 Adjustable Headrest- Comfortable Roller Seats
Performance Tool W85005 Adjustable Headrest- Comfortable Roller Seats
Aside from the back, another body part that is susceptible to pain when working with automobiles is the neck. That is why you need to get your head in the right position. You also need a good head position to see clearly the workings of the underbelly of the car.
The Performance Tool W85005 addresses this issue by adding an adjustable cushioned headrest which you can adjust into three positions. The fully padded deck is also 40-inch long and 17-inch wide, which provides maximum comfort.
The heavy-duty tubular steel frame is very sturdy and can withstand a maximum load of up to 400 pounds. The roller also has six 2 ½ swivel casters that rest on the side of the frame and gives it a 360-degree movement.
PROS
- The very comfortable headrest that perfectly aligns to your field of vision
- Has a high catch weight without sacrificing mobility
CONS
- Wheels are susceptible to damage during prolonged use
The Performance Tool W85005 is a recommended product not only for professional mechanics but also for simple car owners. It has a fully padded deck plus an adjustable headrest that will give you comfort during your work. This creeper’s swivel casters also improve its mobility allowing you to finish your repair even on tight schedules.
5. RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper- Multi-functional Car Creeper
RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper- Multi-functional Car Creeper
In this list, the RACATAC 01RAC3 is the only non-lying creeper. It’s specifically meant for kneeling and sitting positions. This 8 ½ pound roller has a sturdy aluminum frame and adjustable seats that allow you to move by rolling instead of jumping and crawling on your knees.
This unusual design also allows the user to shift their leverage to different positions even while moving and spinning. The knee pads were also added with thick foams for better comfort when you are doing those tedious kneeling jobs.
The product also features a tool tray and four 3-inch polyurethane casters. Aside from auto mechanic work you can also use them on other tedious jobs such as tile installation and grout cleaning. The product is guaranteed to save you from the shoulder, back and knee pains.
PROS
- Offers very comfortable seating or kneeling position
- Have multiple uses other than auto mechanic work
CONS
- More expensive than most of its competitors
The RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper is perfect for people who are suffering from knee, back and shoulder pains. It’s also very mobile and will surely improve your productivity whether you are a professional or simply a car owner who wants to fix his car. No longer will you find excuses to finish that auto work.
6. GoPlus Plastic Creeper Lightweight Portable- The Most Efficient Car Creeper
GoPlus Plastic Creeper Lightweight Portable- The Most Efficient Car Creeper
Aside from being sturdy and providing the best comfort to the user, portability is another feature that you need in a roller. And when it comes to being lightweight and portable, the GoPlus Plastic Creeper is on top.
This 32-inch long and 21-inch inch wide roller weighs only 8.36 pounds. But don’t be fooled, despite its meager size it can still carry a load of up to 300 pounds. Its plastic material is made from high-density polyethylene which makes it tough.
When you buy this product, you will also get a hex wrench. You can use this tool to switch it between a 4-wheeler to a 6-wheeler repair creeper. Basically, the 6-wheeler is good for sliding in straight lines, while the 4-wheeler has better overall mobility.
PROS
- A nifty adjustable headrest
- Transforms into a 4-wheeler or 6-wheeler
CONS
- Only comes in color Red
- Lower catch weight than its competitors
The GoPlus Plastic Creeper Lightweight Portable is a dependable creeper. It’s also one of the most affordable products on the list. You can also store it almost anywhere, which is good especially if you have a small garage or shop. This is highly recommended for people who have just started repairing their cars in the leisure of their own homes.
7. ATD 81051 Plastic Molded Creeper- Roller Seats for Lowered Vehicles
ATD 81051 Plastic Molded Creeper- Roller Seats for Lowered Vehicles
Another plastic molded creeper in the list is the ATD 81051. It’s almost similar to Torin TRP6240, albeit some added features. This product only weighs 3 pounds and has a deck of 41-inches by 19.4 inches. It’s rated to carry a maximum load of 300 pounds.
This roller’s blow-molded design allows unrestricted arm movement while minimizing its ground clearance to 1-inch. It is the perfect tool when repairing lowered car models like sports cars.
The ATD 81051 also has 3-inch industrial strength PVC wheels that can navigate through multiple terrains and obstacles. They are also resistant to oil, grease and other chemicals. This creeper also has molded-in tool trays for safekeeping of your repair instruments.
PROS
- Very portable and can be stored anywhere in your garage
- Has a very low ground clearance perfect for lowered cars
CONS
- Needs some assembly work before it can be used
The ATD 81051 is a very versatile creeper that can help you in a variety of ways. Because its design completely frees up your arms, you can comfortably work under the car at any place you want. Best of all, it can wither through common garage obstacles thanks to its sturdy wheels.
8. Omega 91452 Black Profile Z-Creeper- The Most Balanced Car Creeper
Omega 91452 Black Profile Z-Creeper- The Most Balanced Car Creeper
If this list was a weight lifting contest, the Omega 91452 Low Profile Z-Creeper will easily dominate the competition. It is rated to carry a maximum load of 450 pounds.
This 27-pound roller has a very comfortable 40-inch by 26-inch fully upholstered deck with powder coat finish. This item also easily transforms into three different modes (Flat creeper, L backrest sitting and Z-Stool mode). Using this tool, you can move around without rolling around the floor to get your tools.
PROS
- Very heavy duty roller that can carry the heaviest of loads
- Has three unique positions that offer the best comfort
CONS
- Low-quality packaging from the manufacturer
The Omega 91452 Black Profile Z-Creeper is a nifty tool that provides the features you want for your roller. All of its unique positions offer outstanding comfort to people of all sizes. It’s by far the roller the best bang for your buck in this list.
Conclusion for The Best Mechanics Creeper
Fixing vehicles can be a challenging task, especially when the damage on its transmission or underbelly side. Mechanics or even car owners trying to fix their ride are often working in an uncomfortable position. Luckily, we have car creepers that make us work faster and save us from different pains that go along with lying or sitting for hours.
When searching for the car creeper that will deliver the results we expect, there are some standards that we must first set. Among the qualities, you should look for in a good roller seat are the durability of the frame, maximum load it can carry, quality of the wheels, the comfort of the deck, the amount of padding it has and most importantly value for money.
There are tons of other car creepers in the market, but we feel that these eight are on top of their game because they possess a majority if not all of the qualities mentioned.
So, the next time you are to fix your car, always make sure that you have a roller seat. For it will surely save you from a lot of pain and make your work faster and more efficiently.