[ta6point6]

I like to use a old sleeping bag to throw under cars while working on them. My garage is not big enough for a lift. Well working on GMC Jimmy fuel pump it leaked gas all over the sleeping bag. I am trying to decide what to get next another sleeping bag or maybe a creeper. I have not used a creeper before but thought it might make it easier on my 50 year old body to get out from under the car. Anybody found anything better then a wheeled creeper or a thick blanket to lay down on the cold concrete?
I should just take it to a mechanic and let them change fuel pump but once they quote a price to repair,. The cheap miser in me comes out and I can not pay someone else to change out a 100 dollar part when I can do myself.

[Stuart]

A big cardboard box flattened out. It's smooth enough to slide in and out, and when it gets dirty/oily I can toss it and find another big box that can be flattened out.

[PunchT37]

Originally Posted by Stuart

A big cardboard box flattened out. It's smooth enough to slide in and out, and when it gets dirty/oily I can toss it and find another big box that can be flattened out.

Yep. That`s what I use most times.

I do have a fancy Mac Tools creeper with the adjustable head rest. But, sometimes it lifts you too close to the bottom of the car with low jack stands.

[b-man]

Originally Posted by Stuart

A big cardboard box flattened out. It's smooth enough to slide in and out, and when it gets dirty/oily I can toss it and find another big box that can be flattened out.

This.

[sdbob]

I've used old rug, foam insulation, cardboard from new screen doors and I have 1/2" thick cardboard from hd delivery carton. I dont own a creeper. Working on grass ,dirt,stone just got use to cardboard.

[Verdoro 68]

Cardboard for me too.

[KS circutguy]

Originally Posted by Stuart

A big cardboard box flattened out. It's smooth enough to slide in and out, and when it gets dirty/oily I can toss it and find another big box that can be flattened out.

Exactly ;
These work great.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home...2020/313943164

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Stuart

A big cardboard box flattened out. It's smooth enough to slide in and out, and when it gets dirty/oily I can toss it and find another big box that can be flattened out.

This, if I have one.
If I don't have one, I have an old canvas drop cloth, about 12' x 12', that I use. When it gets grungy enough, I spray it with soapy water and hose it down. Hang it out to dry.
I have a creeper... and use it sometimes.

[65CatCoupe]

I got it as a gift so I use a "magic creeper". Its kinda like a sleeping bag but it tracks with you. Eventually it transfers all of the garage floor dirt to your clothes but it does make it easier to get under and out.

[Joe's Garage]

Cardboard works, but we found something that lasts longer.

We have a stack of about ten discarded 4'x8' coroplast (it's like corrogated plastic cardboard) political signs. They work well to keep you off the concrete, provide some insulation from the cold and keep the dirt off your clothes. You can also clean them off before or after a repair.

For something where we will be in and out a lot, a six-wheeled plastic creeper. Creepers are nice so long as you aren't doing a repair that requires torquing bolt or nuts - we've found that the creeper just turns YOU instead, so we don't use them too often. As mentioned, they can place you too close to the bottom of the car.

If we'll be there for a while, cleaning or troubleshooting or need to tighten things back up, the coroplast signs are a better deal. We also use a folded up bath towel as a headrest if we are there for long.

A quick in-and-out, like an oil change, we use a couple big dark-colored 'bath sheets' from COSTCO that have worn enough to retire them from household duty. You can lay them out quickly, get in there to loosen the drain plug and then get back out while things drain.

The bath sheets also work well when folded into a thicker cushion under our 'vintage' knees for brakes or tar removal or whatever.

Good luck!

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

Cardboard works, but we found something that lasts longer.

We have a stack of about ten discarded 4'x8' coroplast (it's like corrogated plastic cardboard) political signs. They work well to keep you off the concrete, provide some insulation from the cold and keep the dirt off your clothes. You can also clean them off before or after a repair.

That's a pretty good idea. They would be smoother than a piece of cardboard, plus they would resist water if the floor (or ground) is wet. I'll have to watch for one of those, although most neighborhood signs are smaller than that.

[Elarson]

Go behind Lowe's BEFORE they open in the morning and they're usually unboxing refrigerators. If you wait til the store is open, the cardboard is already in the compactor.

FWIW,
Eric

[bill ryder]

X?? for cardboard. Used it for 50+ years. Nothing better than getting the car up 24 inches and sliding under on the cool concrete and just looking around. Not much work going on. Just cleaning and looking. I have taken a nap more than once. Still livin' in the 60s.

"Bill"!

[TAKerry]

It amazes me that you guys are all doing mechanical work under a car and hardly anyone uses a creeper. I remember as a kid the local service stations (yes they did mechanical work, and you couldnt buy a plate of nachos there) all had a sturdy wooden creeper for bottom work when there were cars on the lifts. I always thought they were the coolest things around and couldnt wait until I grew up (havent yet) to get one of my own.
Anyway, fast forward and about 25 yrs ago I bought a heavy plastic one from someplace. Has a hard rubber pad for a head rest. The wheels are under it so it has a bit of a height disadvantage. About the only way I can get my overweight 57 yo body on or off is to roll to the side and the creeper always flips and becomes a danger in itself. I hate to have to use it. A couple months ago, cleaning out a house I found a practically brand big red creeper with something like 6 nylon wheels, they are offset so the creeper itself is only an inch above the concrete. Adjustable head rest. That thing is like a Cadillac compared to my old POS.

[rustedgoat]

Cardboard, takes up no space, easy to slide on, and free.

[OCMDGTO]

Creeper if I have it high enough which is rare or a $25 track mat from Summit that is great on a cold floor

[Sirrotica]

I used to work on construction equipment, 99 times out of 100 on dirt. Two things I used to pickup at construction sites to lay on, were rolled rubber roofing, and foam insulation board.

Both worked well in lieu of a creeper on jobsites. The foam board was great for laying on the cold ground to keep you from laying directly on the ground in the winter. There is a little give to it also for cushioning. In the summer the rolled roofing was fine to keep you from lying on the dirt, and I just hosed it off and kept it in the truck.

On concrete I prefer a creeper with a metal frame, the plastic blow molded ones are practically worthless in my experiences.

I've always wanted to try one of those rigid plastic dog bone creepers, but I want to try one out before spending $150 on something that I don't know if it will work for me.

[DaleO]

Funny you should ask. : ). (I finally have some time finishing up new TH400 instal).

[boltbuster]

Originally Posted by DaleO

Funny you should ask. : ). (I finally have some time finishing up new TH400 instal).

Looks like my work station! Cardboard all the way...

[Tom Vaught]

I have used all 3 of the ideas mentioned above. Cardboard, Blanket, Creeper.

What ever you do, make sure that you have some GOOD fabricated wheel stands for the
front and rear of the vehicle you are working on. B-Man has posted pictures of his "wooden Jack Stands" in the past. I use his design for the Wood Stands for the 4 tires and Commercial Steel Jack Stands as 'back-up stands under the frame.

Bit I am working on a concrete floor too, Not a dirt surface. The wood stand will work on dirt IF you put a flat wood bottom on the stands to add much more surface area to support the vehicle.

Tom V.