Best Mechanic’s Creepers: For Scootin’ Under The Belly of Your Mechanical Beasts

Specs

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 34.6 x 14.7 x 3.4 inches
• Max Load Capacity: 250 pounds
• Casters: 6

A unique take on a past buyers guide favorite, the BIG RED AR7565B Torin is one of the most acclaimed and well-made shop creepers on sale. Confusion aside, that complex jumble of numbers and letters denotes the ability to split into two, a handy feature if you just need something compact. Users can then stack the two halves into a single seat, ingenious for working on wheels and suspension at home or merely stowing on a shelf. Even among the most unimpressed consumers, strong built quality draws frequent praise. Its low height also makes it low-profile enough for working in especially tight places. On top of all of that versatility, this creeper stickers at an inviting $64. However, ongoing sales at the time of writing have bumped that down to around $55. Most complaints are minor ergonomic hiccups. The padding works for most consumers, but a few have cited it as a tad too thin. The spacing of the frame’s steel bars and the near-35-inch length make the BIG RED Torin a tad tight for some larger individuals, as does the 250-pound load capacity. In one instance, casters were noted to back themselves loose after some time.

Specs

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 40 x 18.25 x 4.5 inches
• Max Load Capacity: 300 pounds
• Casters: 6

If you’re not into gimmicks and frills, the Pittsburgh Automotive Low-Profile Creeper is an excellent choice for the budget-minded. For $40, there are no big wheels, built-in LEDs, or a mattress-worth of memory foam; just a good old slab of plastic and wheels — but you get a cushioned headrest as a treat. The Pittsburgh mechanic’s creeper has been lauded for its value, sacrificing little in quality and functionality despite the low price tag. You still get six sizable and reportedly-silky casters for rolling over debris and broken pavement, and the backrest is contoured for added comfort and a lower profile. A 300-pound capacity doesn’t sound too bad either, edging out a few of the more expensive items in this guide. Integrated into the sides of the backrest are nifty cutouts for storing tools or hardware when working, meaning no more ditching bolts on the floor, just to lose them eventually. It’s hard for critics and average buyers to pick apart such a strong bargain. Perhaps the biggest gripe is a lack of backrest padding for added comfort. Few and far between are rare instances of casters and caster mounting areas cracking under the weight of larger users.

Specs

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 41 x 22 x 9 inches
• Max Load Capacity: 500 pounds
• Casters: 3

Creepex has wares if you have coin. The Creepex Fastback PRO is a special take on typical mechanic’s creepers, with contoured support via fenders that envelop massive wheels for rolling over anything the shop floor has to throw at it. Loose tools and electrical cords should be a nonissue. The compact size makes it easy to stow, and Creepex will include a storage hook as part of a bundle or sold separately. While admittedly goofy looking, the Creepex has drawn a positive reception for a sturdy design that supports great weight. Kudos to the large wheels and immense 500-pound capacity. The fenders keep sleeves or loose shirts from snagging on the wheels, and one consumer was particularly smitten with the ability to adjust ride height for a lower profile, a feature not mentioned in the listing. So it’s not all a massive gimmick, and the Creepex creeper can actually pride itself on strength and functionality. The real question is if you can justify the nosebleed price of $250 to snag one for yourself. On top of that, the wheels are just that: wheels. That means there’s no 360-degree rotation for scooting in whichever direction you may need to go.

Specs

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 36 x 17 x 4.9 inches
• Max Load Capacity: 300 pounds
• Casters: 6

The JEGS 2-In-1 Folding Creeper and Z-Seat will satisfy tight shops — or just tight budgets — that don't compromise between buying a shop seat or a mechanic’s creeper. As it’s so elegantly named, the JEGS Z-Seat can fold from a fairly-standard, six-caster dolly into a compact stool. The padded headrest becomes a seat while the backrest repurposes itself into a floor for resting tools and hardware. And despite adding more moving parts, overall strength and quality are top-notch, even if the length is a little short for some. Even large users, once cozy on the 36-inch length, have had little to no issues over extended periods of time, earning its 300-pound rating. As for drawbacks, a third configuration where the creeper can rest in an incline position would be appreciable, perhaps in an updated model. And the casters drew a few slaps on the wrist for their minuscule size, making them not that suitable for broken garage flooring or brick driveways. One consumer referred others to the BIG RED Torin for its slightly larger wheels being better accustomed to rough floors.

Specs

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 39.5 x 18.75 x 4.75 inches
• Max Load Capacity: 250 pounds
• Casters: 6
Who doesn’t love a good deal? The JEGS Low-Profile Creeper and Mechanic Seat Set has a superb mechanic’s creeper and stool paired together for $165. The creeper itself is your typical low-profile design, with contoured plastic and a single padded headrest. However, the contours appear far deeper and more pronounced than most competitors, allowing gearheads to really sink in and get into tight undercarriages. The backrest is flanked by two cutouts for tools and hardware, except with JEGS, they’re fitted with removable magnetic trays. The real treat is the decked-out stool included with the set. It sports a divided tray for hardware and two pull-out drawers for small tools, making it an excellent caddy for wheeling around the garage. Users sit on a height-adjustable cushion towering over swiveling casters. Overall quality is commendable, as nearly all JEGS garage accessories are, and it’s hard to fault the value and practicality of the set. Users could probably benefit from added backrest padding, as the comfort of the deeply contoured plastic is questionable. The magnetic trays are also not secured when placed on the creeper, leaving a few consumers reportedly bolting or gluing theirs in place.

Specs

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 40 x 20 x 4 inches
• Max Load Capacity: 350 pounds
• Casters: 6

Consider the Pro Lift Plastic Creeper if all you need is something that will fit under that drift missile that’s been sitting on jack stands in your garage for some time. Typical of its breed, the Pro Lift uses heavily concave plastic with a padded headrest, hardware cubbies, and six rotating casters. Its four-inch height, however, is marginally lower than most of its competitors, even if it’s by a half-inch, as that could be the make-it or break-it height you need. The Pro Lift’s construction is also remarkably dense and more rugged than its peers, denoted by its no-nonsense 350-pound load capacity. For such a simple design, it surprised consumers with its silky-smooth casters and a surprising degree of comfort. The question of value then comes into play. As of writing, ongoing Amazon sales have knocked down prices to about $50, but normal pricing is closer to $100. If you want one in orange, it’s five dollars more for some reason. I guess orange dye is a hot commodity. Rivals sit just a smidge higher for less money, and if you don't need a low-profile dolly, more sizable options have more features.