Surprise Surprise Surprise!!! Topside Creeper

just checked one out those awesome

Dang! UPS truck just went right on by my house and didn't stop.

Manna-live!

Not quite the same as having a Publisher's Clearinghouse car/crowd/balloons/photogs/etc. waiting in your driveway for your homecoming!  Better than a Process Server, though!

I'm very interested in how people find the topside creeper for basement layout use, storing it, maneuvering it, etc.  'Reach-ability' issues?  Old-phart flexibility issues?  You know...life in the real world (not advertisement photos).   

As I understand it, topside creepers were created as a assist to mechanics working on large trucks...Kenworths, Peterbilts, Macks, et al.   In the 20+ years I worked at the LHS, I only recall one chap who expressed an interest in the topside creeper for working on his layout.  He snagged a used one locally on Craig's List from a dis-enchanted mechanic.  Learned a couple years later he left the hobby, so we never had a chance to find out if the device was help or hindrance to working on the layout.

Frankly, at my age I'm more in need of bottomside creepers that are easy to mount, comfortable to work (upwards) from, but also helpful in 'dis-mounting' (and I'm not talking about a BattleBot flipper device that'll launch 250# 12' into the air, either!)   Maybe something like a 'Low-Rider' La-Z-Boy...Powered, steerable, cup/can holder, massaging vibrator, up-lights, tools holster, cell-phone holder, work/nap-inducing music system,...you know, all the basics.   

We bought a 'Teeter' a few months ago...chiropractor recommended it.   I thought about its application to bottom-side working on the layout, but decided it didn't have enough reach...among other concerns on behalf of the cardiologist.

My basement/layout has two major obstacles that I consider topside-creeper-discouraging.  First, there's so much stored junk treasures underneath the layout everywhere, I'm not sure there'd be a convenient way of positioning the creeper's all-important stabilizing roller base.  I'd have to do a major stuffle-shuffle to accommodate.  Secondly, I'm sure I'd need to have the creeper at its maximum working height (68") to clear the layout and all of its scenic/structural details...maybe.  But, our basement wasn't built with the extra block, or two, over standard height.  Floor-to-drop ceiling clearance is about 88".  That leaves 20" of space for this old whale to maneuver into.  I dunno...it's not that I'm typically claustrophobic.  OTOH, it might be a comfy position to take nap in...if it had some arm-rests...and something to hold the cup...or stein.

Come to think of it, I wonder whether proctologists have discovered the topside creeper yet?

Then there's the all-important issue of storing the creeper when not in use.  Or, perhaps someone who creates those Transformer characters...you know, the Gundam guys?...can come up with that bottomside creeper I crave...that awesomely converts to a topside creeper...and equally converts (for storage) to a portable wine cooler.

But, I digress.

Let us know how it goes.

Really.

When I designed my layout years ago  I did so with the idea of using a Topside Creeper. I can maneuver it around the whole layout with not much effort. Some spots I have to maneuver in between table legs 4X4’s but with no issues.

I store it under the table with my regular creeper that I sit on when necessary to maneuver under the table to do work on it.

Here are some pictures of it. It takes less than 5 minutes to get out and set up. I am 76 years old and have no issues setting it up but I guess to some it could be a difficult.

I hated the topside creeper and re-sold it to an auto mechanic. The creeper was heavy, not maneuverable very easily when you have lots of table legs, can't get into tight spaces, and--most important of all--gave me only marginal additional reach than just using a simple step stool. I also found it uncomfortable to be bending almost horizontal on the red pad. If you have vertigo issues bending over, well....

But I can understand how it could be advantageous for a multilevel layout as @Captain John shows. I don't doubt some will find it useful but it just wasn't for me.

Congratulations and good luck. I purchased one of the Top Side Creepers from Micro-Mark many years ago, after assembly, it looked great, very sturdy, and handy. The tragic flaw was, the bottom would not negotiate my isles. My isles were too narrow so it didn’t work for me. I sold to a local modeler and that was that. They are very well made and I wish I could have used it. Happy Railroading Everyone

I have one and used it quite a bit in certain areas.  It does have a wide base and when I needed it in one section, I had to collapse it to get it there.  I have some floor to ceiling mountains and without the creeper I would not have been able to plant the trees at the top or slope going down the other side that was visible to anyone.   

So now I am pretty much done with it and have dismantled it to store it in my workshop.  Probably will end up selling it when I know for sure I no longer need it.

What is the width of the lower legs at the widest point.

I'm working on a layout and may want to make some adjustments in the leg spacing just in case I want to go with one of these in the future.

The one I have is 32”. Go on line and check though because mine is an older version and the new ones might have different dimensions.

here is one of many available.

I have the same one as Captain John and it is 32 1/2 " wide

@Yendor, L-Girder construction will result in a lot fewer legs to deal with.