The top side creeper Pro's- Con's ????

It's handy for getting to areas that are just out of reach, but not too far.

Pretty big.

It does fold down but still takes up a lot of space.

Kerrigan,
Would you recommend it or could you just as soon do without it?
I don't mind the space part . I have plenty of room under the layout to store it.
I was just wondering if anyone that had one thought it was worth the $239 bucks.
Thanks
David

I am glad to have it to reach those long away places, although it's getting difficult to lie on my stomach on it for too long bent over with legs on the steps.  Maybe if you're younger it's not such a pain ...

But I do use it.  Better than the Undercreeper the back of which won't stay up without wooden chocks jammed into the track.

If your layout is 7 ft across with access from both sides, you might find the topside creeper fills the bill for you.  I have it, i am over 200 lbs, and it is very solid.  good product, but; 1) it doesn't let you reach as far as you might think. I get way out with my belly on the top pad in skydiving pose and am able to reach stuff on the layout about 4' from the edge, max, and i have long arms.  can do almost that well standing on the floor. and 2) aside from it taking up a lot of room in storage, it takes up a lot of room to use.  The splayed legs, necessary to hold that 200 lbs out there, really stick out - you can't have anything under the layout benchwork.   they also splay out to the sides, you need some wide aisles and room to turn.  but i do like it, it is well made, very adjustable, rock solid.

i am not so impressed with the bottomside creeper from the same source.  started out great, i like the higher level a lot - you're almost a foot off the floor on it.  But it hasn't held up, the casters have made eggshape holes where they mount in the frame, and the caster wheels themselves are pretty much trash after 1 month wiring under the layout.  Great idea, but the construction needs to be beefed up.  but again, the wheels on this one are splayed out also, unlike on an auto creeper, and those outriggers hang up on everything.  it has saved my arms and neck but i find myself cussin at it more every day, the casters don't swivel any more when you change direction... time to take it down to the shop, get some good casters, and rebuild it.  Haven't had any trouble with the back, it is jammed in the up position and that's where it stays.

Big, bulky, but rock solid and it does allow me to reach anywhere on my layout.  The legs are very long and do get in the way trying to get them under the table.  All in all I like it and have to have something that works.  I always feel safe hanging out on it.  Having 4' aisles helps.

Paul Edgar

Seems crazy when you put it together and think it was just $239.....

Thanks kerrigan, Hojack ,Paul and Mr. M

My layout is in the garage. I designed it with mobility in mind That and the boss said I had to make it so she can get her car in there when it snows. So it's on heavy duty castors. I don't store anything under the layout but because of the castors it raised it up higher than I wanted. To get to the center I have to stand on a chair and can just barley reach it if I strain. Be alot of work down the drain if I slipped plus the guilt I'd feel for not sharing what I did here on the forum.

Sorry aint no way I'm gonna say I fell thru my layout no siree I'm gonna lie like a dog.
I'll tell everyone my wife beat me up first

Thanks everyone this looks like it may fit my bill.

David

Indispensable tool for me. Extends my reach without having to stand on a stool while bending over and trying to keep my balance. Body is fully supported and relaxed. I have an early model with two fixed and two swivel castors. Made for difficult maneuvering in tight places. Removed the fixed and added two more swivel castors to much improve it's mobility. Rock solid piece of equipment.

Mine was invaluable while building my layout and doing the detailed scenery work. I have it over at the club now where it's so useful as we work on scenery there.

I agree you do need the space to use it. It holds my 190 lbs. and I feel very secure using it.

Thanks Paul,

To make things worse I have a tunnel at one end and the town is in that simi-circle raised up about 5 inches in addition to the height of the table.
I noticed the other day that one of the down spouts had come unglued from my atlas station on the back side of the closest place I could get to it.
It would be impossible to reach it to glue it back on from a chair or ladder/step stool.
With the T/S creeper I could reach things like that not to mention doing anything to the buildings in the town is tuff or adding signs to the streets.
I guess it's either get the creeper or get out the 026 stihl chain saw for the legs.