The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. This compensation comes from two main sources. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles; these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.
Performing any mechanical work would be so much easier if it only involved popping the hood to the engine bay. Sadly, however, many jobs require accessing the vehicle from underneath. That’s why professional shops, and even a few home mechanics, have conventional car lifts. But not everyone has the budget or the space for one of those, and that’s why floor jacks and ramps exist. Crawling around on the ground and underneath a car however, can be a very discomforting and dirty experience. Thankfully, mechanic’s creepers help alleviate some of these drawbacks. Outdoor Umbrella Base
What are mechanic’s creepers? Well, simply, they’re floor benches with padding and casters to help you lay flat and move in, out and around the underside of a slightly lifted vehicle. They come in all shapes and sizes, but their premise is universal. Though some of the fancier ones can convert between a sitting stool and a lay-flat crawler (often called “foldable Z creepers”) and some will even have extra features such as built-in cups or magnets for holding nuts, bolts and tools.
The choices for mechanic’s creepers and crawlers is vast and diverse, so we’ve created a very short list of some of the best ones you can buy. Looking For Car Accessories? Match your car to your style with varied car accessories like seat covers, floor mats and more. Get competitive pricing from top brands here. Advertisement THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary. Explore Options On Amazon
Match your car to your style with varied car accessories like seat covers, floor mats and more. Get competitive pricing from top brands here.
Pro-Lift C-9100 Black 40-inch Foldable Z Creeper
Pro-Lift’s C-9100 40-inch foldable Z creeper is one of the best we’ve seen on the market. It can support up to 450 pounds and offers multiple reclining positions plus the Z-style bench seat. The C-9100’s stout alloy steel frame is mounted on burly 360-degree casters and offers thick pads for comfort wrapped in oil-resistant polyurethane that’s oil resistant, which should help prevent the padding and lining from breaking down over time. It also offers its users a straightforward transformation process. It’s simply one of the best straightforward, no-nonsense, convertible creepers on the market.
Pro-Lift C-2036D Black 40-inch Foldable Z Creeper
If Pro-Lift’s C-2036D looks familiar, that’s because it is one of the top-selling automotive creepers on the market. It can often be found in many major automotive parts retailers and department stores as an off-the-shelf item and for good reason. It is a very solid Z-folding mechanic’s creeper and covers all the basics perfectly. Its padding may not be as comfortable or thick as its more expensive sibling above, but it gets the job done and converting it into a stool is equally as easy.
The C-2036D has even found a spot in my own tool set. Forbes Garage actually uses the items we recommend, though after long-term use I’ve noticed that the caster hardware is a bit on the cheap side and not easy to lock into place. The casters also like to come loose and sometimes fall off from repetitive rolling motions and if you’re not careful enough, the screw threads in the caster mounting hardware are easy to strip.
In the world of lay-flat plastic creepers, it doesn’t get any better than the Creepex Fastback PRO. Not only does it feature a sturdy HPDE construction that’s 41 inches long and rated up to 400 pounds, it features heavy-duty casters with all-terrain wheels, adjustable ground clearance, included magnetic LED work lights integrated into the headrest, integrated holders for tools, nuts, and bolts, and it even comes with its own wall hanger for quick storage.
Bear in mind however that this is a fixed creeper, meaning it can’t be converted into an upright stool. And the cost for this sort of high-grade construction and convenience doesn’t come cheap, at $269. If you want a more affordable options, we also tip our hats to BESTOOL’s 40” or BIG RED’s TRP6240.
If you’re looking for a solid upright stool-style creeper, than DeWalt’s 41562 adjustable shop stool is one of the best options. In addition to a judiciously padded 360-swiveling seat, it has an adjustable pneumatic seat and an integrated storage shelf beneath to lay tools or parts. It also comes with 360-degree casters for its four-point steel frame base. Topping it off is a weight rating of 300 pounds.
Note that this product isn’t for getting under vehicles, but is good for working on chassis or axle components where a lay-flat creeper is too low and a conventional chair is too cumbersome. We also have a full list of shop stools to recommend, and there’s a fixed-position DeWalt unit on that list. They’re quality pieces.
Traxion 3-100 Foldable Topside Creeper
Need a topside creeper because you spend a lot of time working on high-riding trucks and SUVs? Then Traxion’s 3-100 should definitely be on your radar. Unlike conventional creepers, which are meant for moving around on the underside of a vehicle, such creepers aren’t exactly needed as the extra ground clearance of some SUVs and trucks allow for easy underbody access.
What is challenging with these high-rise vehicles is accessing the engine, which is can be difficult, even for those who aren’t vertically challenged. This creeper makes life that much easier for such vehicles. Rated to up to 400 pounds with plenty of adjustability, a wide and sturdy four-point base with casters, and a padded deck, this topside creeper is a must-have for truck and SUV DIY and professional mechanics.
Mechanic’s creepers are designed to roll under a car, allow you to work comfortably under the vehicle, and provide considerably more comfort than a concrete floor or a pebble-filled driveway. Some are basic plastic or fiberglass units with tiny wheels, but others have superior cushions, larger wheels for rolling over small objects like power cords and even adjustable backs that can open up more comfortable working positions, depending on the job.
The primary considerations when buying a creeper are comfort and maneuverability, but we evaluate all of these devices on the same weighted metrics:
If you are a professional or even a frequent DIY-at-home mechanic, a creeper is an incredibly helpful tool. It’s not a strict necessity, but it undoubtedly makes working on cars a lot easier and helps prevent injuries when sliding around on abrasive solid ground surfaces. Mobility and comfort can help you perform your repair jobs a lot more productively and efficiently.
The only real downside to a mechanic’s creeper is their cumbersome size and weight, which could make storage a challenge if your garage is tight on space. Additionally, some of the higher-end and better-quality creepers can cost several hundred dollars. But if you do a lot of home wrenching or work at a professional facility, a creeper is worth every penny as it’ll make your life a lot easier.
Lay-flat creepers are the most common types of creepers with convertible ones, or “folding Z” creepers that convert into an upright stool, are now equally as common. With the proliferation of trucks and SUVs over the past several decades, high-rise creepers have become much more popular to match the increase in servicing demands for these high-riding vehicles.
Unfortunately, working under a jacked-up or lifted vehicle always comes with its inherent risks, which is why it’s incredibly important to secure a vehicle before you begin. Any lifted vehicle should be placed on level ground with its parking brake engaged before being lifted, and supported by sturdy jack stands, ramps, and/or floor jacks, with any wheels on the ground chocked. A creeper doesn’t necessarily offer any major safety benefits. But being able to move around easier and lie more comfortably under a car will make tackling the job a lot less stressful which typically results in a safer experience.
Since there are different types, it all depends on what you plan to work on and how you plan to use your creeper. Most lay-flat and convertible folding creepers can work with any mechanical job. For more specialized jobs, such as working on SUVs and trucks, the high-rise topside creepers are far more purpose-built and practical than the conventional creepers.
Plastic Tool Box Container Foam Since picking up my first set of MicroMachine toy cars as a toddler, I knew I had a passion for automobiles embedded in my soul. After graduating from Rutgers University in journalism, I’ve devoted my career to becoming a professional photographer and emerging voice in the car industry with columns at Automobile Magazine, MotorTrend, Hagerty, DigitalTrends.com/Cars, GearPatrol, and beyond.