Learn me: creepers.

In reply to jere:

I'd love to see pictures of this contraption!

I have a cheap craftsman creeper. I mainly only use it for changing oil, because I have to go under and out of the car a couple times really quick.

I second the thing about torque. If you're working on suspension components, you'll ditch the creeper pretty fast. First of all, if you apply more than a bit of torque you'll move yourself and the creeper. Secondly, that ~3-4" of additional height that you're in the air on a creeper sometimes means you can't "fit" into the position you need to get into.

TL;DR: Pick one up for $5 at a yard sale, otherwise don't bother.

I work on a ratty concrete driveway. I've found that almost any creeper is improved through the use of large pieces of cardboard.

Currently using a cheap HF steel frame creeper. Don't waste time/money on the plastic ones from HF. I'm on my second steel version. The casters will come loose, and there's no way to grab the caster side to tighten them once they do... I found that out with the first one. The second one, I just tack welded all the casters to the frame to keep them from coming loose. Going strong for over a year.

My alternative when not on concrete is the HF moving blankets. Cheap, washable and tossable when they get too grungy. I even keep one in my truck and Bronco for unexpected problems and tire changes. I've used them several times when helping other folks out on the side of the road. Really nice not to have to get in the dirt.

My younger brother bought me one of those Z Creepers years back. I've had to loctite the caster wheels into place (seems pretty standard for creepers) but otherwise it has held up surprisingly well! And i do use it as a shop stool a good portion of the time as well. I thought it was a gimmick, but it's pretty good.Z creeper

I've had a couple of the plastic HF creepers. The plastic eventually fails around the caster wheels. I like the wheels and the shape of it, and once had the thought of filling one with structural foam. But that's ridiculous when you could just buy a better one.

In reply to dculberson: Not much to see, I think I was out of acetylene so ended up using a box of self tapping screws for gutters

But the roller blade wheels are amazing. They could be an upgrade to just about any creeper. I had to put the c clamp under the creeper to keep it from rolling out from under the lights.

Iv taken a few naps on my harbor fright creeper... But it doesn't roll well over stuff laying on the floor, roller blade wheels would have been great. Then some kind of brake because I would always have to jump off it to do heavy work like breaking bolts loose ect.

A good friend bought me the red plastic harbor freight creeper. The casters roll well but they don't always pivot so I'm usually dragging a wheel and kicking my feet like Jackie Chan trying to maneuver. If my creeper friend isn't around the creeper stays in the corner and I use a couple commercial entry mats/carpet.

Correct me if I've missed it but someone here recommended HF anti fatigue mats a while back and I second that. On the street use too.