Like a lot of people, I had acquired a weight bench that wasn't being used, so it was time to dispose of it. I had the idea to use the pad for a topside creeper for my F150, and it works pretty well. It's not adjustable, like a professional model, but it's sized to be supported by the radiator support and the cowl. I made it using 1" and 1.5" square tubing, and padded it with foam pipe insulation. Both my son and my daughter have similar F150's, and Dad gets to work on theirs too, so it will get plenty of use.

 

Thanks for the tip. That's a great idea!

 

That is a great idea. Beats using the old 2x8 I've been using. Thanks for sharing.

 

How cool, also among those who acqured a weight bench that now serves as a cloths rake and collects dust. Great idea, appreciate the 'heads up'!!.

 

i like it, the topside creepers are like $250, this is much better for the price!!

 

That, good sir, is genius. It will save my trashed back.

I must find a weight bench to slay.

 

Thanks for your comments. I had to use mine again yesterday to torque the exhaust manifold studs on my daughter's '91. I don't know how I could have done it without this.

One thing I'd do differently is raise the end that rests on the radiator support a little. Mine tends to catch on the hood latch.

 

GREAT tip!!!

I've got a really bad back, and that tip will save me from a lot of pain!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Reps earned and given!

 

Excellent idea!!! I have just been tossing in a packing pad and lying across the engine.

And because of that,,, I have had to replace my alternator wires, because I broke them from lying on them,,, and the radiator due to breaking off the Degas bottle nipple!!!

An expensive lesson both of them!!!

 

Unloved and unwanted exercise equipment makes great raw material for many projects, this being an excellent idea right here.

Square tubing is very easy to miter and weld because round tubing requires "fishmouthing" and square tubing doesn't. Often gym equipment has a thick enough wall thickness to be structurally useful. Especially those "single column" machines - weight sliders, bowflex, etc.

And people throw them out all the time.

You can build headache racks, go-karts, ladder braces (with soft feet to go around windows), reinforce bumpers, better window AC mounts, "iron" yard gates, CNC machinery, tonneu cover frames, light bars, etc.

 

that is still better than damaging one of "the other" nipples.

 

Thanks to the internet, we know damaging "them" is quite popular.

 

I purposely spared you guys the story of replacing my turbo exhaust clamp and what happened to "The Girls" when I was tangled up in the alternator wires for a reason!!

Can't let ALL of my secrets out!! Geez!!

 

Great Idea.. I would try and make a stand from the ground up and rest the front have on you truck so it would not cover so much of the engine bay.
Time to go to some Garage sells.

and lesson learned. lol

 

That's not a bad suggestion. I chose to keep it simple because my welding skills are very limited.

I found that I could access all the engine bay just fine by moving the creeper right or left as needed.