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

Don’t get too down and dirty. Even your work spot should have its own wheels.

byJeric Jaleco| UPDATED Sep 13, 2022 12:29 PM
The Garage
Best Mechanic’s Creepers: For Scootin’ Under The Belly of Your Mechanical Beasts
Reach those troublesome spots underneath your car with these top mechanic’s creeper. Deposit Photos

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BYJeric Jaleco/ LAST UPDATED ON September 13, 2022

Getting down and dirty is part of a wrench’s lifestyle, but a great mechanic’s creeper will keep you off the grimy floor and closer to your task. Mechanics creepers — also referred to as dollies or shop creepers — are invaluable goodies for any garage, no matter how small the jobs. Smooth rollers help you scoot in and out, while its elevated backrest keeps you clean. Or, well, as clean as you’re going to get working under your project, or in my case, a RADwood-era Nissan with a nasty habit of sweating oil. It’s a dense market, so how do you spot the right one?


Enter The Drive’s guide to the best mechanics creepers on sale today. From budget-minded plastic trays on wheels to elaborate bundle sets and folding dollies, we’ve got a product for you. So scroll on through, happy shopping, and take a gander at your next mechanics creeper.

Best Overall
BIG RED AR7565B Torin Rolling Shop Creeper

BIG RED AR7565B Torin Rolling Shop Creeper

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Summary
A unique variant of a previous favorite, the “Big Red” creeper offers superb construction and usability with a two-piece design for added versatility.
Pros
  • Shorter dimensions and ability to fold make it wonderfully compact
  • Splits in two or can be stacked into a chair
  • Commendable strength and robustness despite split design
  • Versatile for a variety of jobs and vehicles
Cons
  • Just okay load capacity
  • Perhaps a tad short for larger individuals
  • Minor build quality hiccups with casters
Best Value

Pittsburgh Automotive Low-Profile Creeper

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Summary
Pittsburgh lets gearheads scoot on a budget with a bare-basics creeper that greatly undercuts many competitors without sacrificing quality.
Pros
  • Humongous price gap between similar yet pricier competitors
  • Commendable overall quality for the price
  • Padded headrest is a nice touch
  • Integrated bolt trays
Cons
  • No padding for hard plastic material
  • Uh, difficult to nitpick for such a bargain?
Honorable Mention

Creepex Fastback PRO

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Summary
A peculiar yet worthwhile product that delivers compacting sizing and an ability to roll over anything on the shop floor.
Pros
  • Immense load capacity
  • Built-in work lights
  • Big wheels can roll over junk better
  • Wheel fenders couple as integrated bolt trays
Cons
  • Painful price tag
  • Questionable shape may inhibit large individuals
  • No sideways scooting

Summary List 

Best Overall: BIG RED AR7565B Torin Rolling Shop Creeper

Best Value: Pittsburgh Low-Profile Creeper

Honorable Mention: Creepex Fastback PRO

Best Folding: JEGS 2-In-1 Folding Creeper and Z-Seat

Best Combo Set: JEGS Low-Profile Creeper and Mechanic Seat Set

Best For Low Cars: Pro Lift Plastic Creeper

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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Our Methodology

This buyers guide to the best shop creepers has been primarily curated through extensive research, with methodical dives into manufacturer specs and, most importantly, real-world consumer experiences. We emphasized overall quality and usability while ignoring products with rampant build-quality issues or little-to-no consumer feedback. Amazon functioned as our primary hub of information. However, other major retailers such as JEGS, Harbor Freight, and numerous manufacturer sites also proved to be invaluable sources of specs and customer input. 

As always, readers are welcome to come and learn more about how The Drive curates its buyers guides and product reviews.

Best Mechanic’s Creeper Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall
BIG RED AR7565B Torin Rolling Shop Creeper
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Specs

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

Pros

  • Shorter dimensions and ability to fold make it wonderfully compact
  • Splits in two or can be stacked into a chair
  • Commendable strength and robustness despite split design
  • Versatile for a variety of jobs and vehicles

Cons

  • Just okay load capacity
  • Perhaps a tad short for larger individuals
  • Minor build quality hiccups with casters

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.
Best Value
Pittsburgh Automotive Low-Profile Creeper
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Specs

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

Pros

  • Humongous price gap between similar yet pricier competitors
  • Commendable overall quality for the price
  • Padded headrest is a nice touch
  • Integrated bolt trays

Cons

  • No padding for hard plastic material
  • A few quality concerns regarding caster mounting
  • Uh, difficult to nitpick for such a bargain?

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.
Honorable Mention
Creepex Fastback PRO
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Specs

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

Pros

  • Immense load capacity
  • Built-in work lights
  • Big wheels can roll over junk better
  • Wheel fenders couple as integrated bolt trays

Cons

  • Painful price tag
  • Questionable shape may inhibit large individuals
  • No sideways scooting

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.
Best Folding Creeper
JEGS 2-In-1 Folding Creeper and Z-Seat
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Specs

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

Pros

  • Outstanding choice for tight garages
  • Highly agreeable price
  • Tough construction

Cons

  • Hard, tiny wheels are a little rough over broken flooring
  • No in-between setting for inclined seating
  • Maybe a little short for larger individuals

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.
Best Creeper Combo Set
JEGS Low-Profile Creeper and Mechanic Seat Set
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Specs

  • Dimensions (L x W x H): 39.5 x 18.75 x 4.75 inches
  • Max Load Capacity: 250 pounds
  • Casters: 6

Pros

  • Contoured shape with headrest
  • Magnetic trays included
  • Seat contains extra bolt trays and two tool drawers
  • A superb bargain versus buying the items individually

Cons

  • Lack of padding may be an ergonomic hiccup
  • Magnetic trays aren’t secured when left on creeper

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.
Best For Low Cars
Pro Lift Plastic Creeper
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Specs

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

Pros

  • One of the lightest and most low-profile designs
  • Not-terrible price, especially with sales discounts
  • Strong load capacity
  • Surprising comfort

Cons

  • Pricing can get steep without discounts
  • No frills for its loftier price

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.

Our Verdict

The BIG RED AR7565B Torin is a solid winner for its well-roundedness and appreciable versatility. It has earned itself great reception for its combination of quality and usability in a small, reconfigurable package. If you’re willing to sling some serious dough, the Creepex Fastback PRO will reward remarkable durability, strength, and ability to traverse the bumpiest garage floors. Conversely, the Pittsburgh Low-Profile Creeper is a cheap and cheerful choice for the frugal-minded home mechanic.

Consider Secondhand

When we start shopping for tools and products, we never overlook the secondhand market. In fact, it’s usually the first place I look. Whether you’re scrolling through Amazon’s Renewed section, eBay for car parts or tools, or flipping through the pages of Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, you have hundreds of thousands of used tools, parts, and gear ready to be shipped to your doorstep. Refurbished to like-new status, they’ll be willing to give you many more years of faithful service all while saving you money. 

If those options don’t have what you need, your local salvage yard is great for car parts, while swap meets are a great resource you should tap. Just Google either and head on down.  

Secondhand Tips

To make your secondhand search easier, here are two tips for finding the best deals and making sure your new-to-you stuff wasn’t destroyed by the previous owner. 

  • For optimal performance, the first thing you should look out for is the condition of the casters. Don’t screw yourself by buying a trash heap that hardly rolls straight, if at all. 
  • Larger, heavier-set folks should exercise caution when encountering those home-built wooden creepers, as their load capacities and overall longevity would be quite the gamble.

Things to Consider Before Buying Mechanic’s Creepers

Wheels/Casters

How many wheels or casters do they have, and how big are they? It seems like the simplest detail to wheeled slabs, such as shop creepers, but the finer details can make or break products. More wheels or casters better distribute weight, improving longevity and reducing flex. Larger wheels and casters can traverse over trash and broken flooring with little hindrance. While wheels can be made larger for zipping right over rocks or electrical cords, casters allow for 360-degree rotation so you can easily scoot in any direction. Most creepers will choose rotating casters over basic wheels.

Backrest Padding

This is probably the first thing you’ll notice when taking a gander at any shop creeper online. Half of the products available may be bare plastic in a bid to improve compactness and keep costs down, but this allows manufacturers to get creative.

Many shop creepers are contoured to better fit the body, complete with dips for shoulders. Some backrests may be flanked with niceties like bolt trays or built-in work lights. Padded creepers will often be straight and basic in their design but may use memory foam extensively to improve comfort. Depending on each user’s body, chances are these will be the most comfortable for prolonged stints underneath your fixer-upper. Just mind the metal bars of the frame.

Folding

Is your creeper a static slab, or does it have a degree of flexibility? Unique designs that are increasingly popular allow users to sit at an incline to reach higher points in their undercarriage more comfortably. Some can completely transform into miniature chairs and shop stools when working elsewhere under the car. Adding extra moving parts could arguably compromise build quality, but many folding shop creepers are no less reliable than their fixed counterparts, at least in the hands of the weekend home mechanic.

Mechanic’s Creeper Pricing 

As far as garage goodies go, mechanics creepers are far from the most expensive things you could buy. Expect the most premium, high-quality creepers to hover between $70 to $150, increasing with strength, ergonomics, and sometimes the number of gimmicks. The JEGS Low-Profile creeper typically runs about $80, but the featured bundle deal can be yours for $165. The unique Creepex creeper is a heartache-inducing $245. Our Best Overall-winning BIG RED typically stickers for a reasonable $64 before Amazon sales discounts and our Best Value-winning Pittsburgh rings in a far more palatable $40 from Harbor Freight.

FAQs 

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q: What are the benefits of mechanic’s creepers?

A: Creepers let you easily slide in and out from under your car to quickly access work points without dragging yourself along the floor, dirtying up your clothes. Some designs even incline to reach higher points comfortably or fold into seats for working inside wheel wells, for example.

Q: What if I have a low car?

A: Low-profile creepers, making up a sizable chunk of the market, are highly prevalent. They’re defined by incredibly low ride heights with minimal ground clearance for giving you that extra inch or two to squeeze underneath most modern cars. Some may be padded, but most are contoured plastic.

Q: How do I store a mechanic’s creeper?

A: Best practice would be to stand them up in corners where they won’t be knocked over or inhibit your work environment. Many creepers will have a grab handle, enabling you to hang them on wall-mounted storage hooks, keeping them off the floor and preventing them from being a tripping hazard.

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