What are you using to work in your lifted engine bay? (1 Viewer)

[80t0ylc]

I like the topside creeper that was mentioned in the 3rd post by the OP. And along those lines a trick that works for me, especially working close to the firewall (or really deep into it) is 2" x 6" boards and a step stool. IIRC about 5' long & they span from my ARB bull bar to the cowl between windshield and firewall. They can be moved and strategically placed where you need them to lay on or support yourself. Cheap and effective.

 

[Marine7]

I use the pallets stacked 2-3 hi. That way I can move around on it. My little step ladder is nice, but not nearly stable enough! Good luck!

 

[LINUS]

Same concept as many above but is longer, deeper and higher

Gorilla Ladders 55 in. x 14 in. x 20 in. Heavy Duty Adjustable-Height Aluminum PRO Slim-Fold Work Platform with 300 lb. Load Capacity-GLWP-55A - The Home Depot

I have 2 of these I use for a bunch of things.

I had the entry level Gorilla w/o the outrigger feet & those make a huge difference.
I got the entry level one around Christmas when they were a doorbuster special @ HD.


I gave my cheaper one to my nephew, found I wanted 2 for “leapfrogging” when painting or even pressure-washing the eaves, etc.

Home Depot is phasing them out, or so I was told - I had to drive into N Seattle to find a HD with 2 in the same store, that was ~6wks ago.

But the nicer ones are worth it. I already don’t care they were ~$75 ea.
Super stable even at full height.

 

[OffRoadScott]

I finally got off my arse yesterday and installed the low-side power steering lines from Wits. While doing so I used a small step ladder we bought a few weeks ago. That really made a difference in getting down to working on the smaller low side power steering line. By the way, 24 years can do wonders to plastic lines. Those power steering lines were hard as rocks and actually cracked when I was taking them out.

 

[Dave 2000]

Having short legs does not help even on stock height vehicles like mine, so I tend to stand on the tool box that I keep in the back, I would prefer a dedicated stool that folded out of the way, not found anything small, practical and still strong enough to support my sylph like figure.

Regards

Dave

 

[TuffMudder]

I ended up going with the gorilla stand from home depot and it is great. Huge platform to standon and to place tools. Lightweight so easy to move around, compact so easy to store.

It is quite high though. I would say if you are over 5'10" or have less than a 4" lift, it may be too high unless your short

It has 4 heights from 20-30". The pic shows its lowest height. Also, the stabilizer legs are no joke. The platform is rock solid and if you'll notice in the pic, thats with one side on driveway, the other on dirt

 

[OwnerCS]

Did anyone purchase a Topside Creeper? I'm getting ready for some major maintenance and can already tell that reaching over the ARB front bumper will make it a little more painful than it should be.

Amazon product ASIN B00QGXSODA

 

[Rusty Marlin]

i have a few extra pallets around the house for things and i just stack them up and mae a big platform to walk around on.

This is exactly what I do, with the addition of a peice of 3/8 plywood on top so I don't roll an ankle between the slats.

 

[flintknapper]

Did anyone purchase a Topside Creeper? I'm getting ready for some major maintenance and can already tell that reaching over the ARB front bumper will make it a little more painful than it should be.

Amazon product ASIN B00QGXSODA

Step Stool and 'Belly Board' worked fine for me when replacing my Head Gasket.

Easy to move/orient, cost little to make, no storage considerations afterward.

 

[jht3]

the topside creeper idea looks great, as it gives a place to support your weight. it is on the pricier side, and then where to store it.

i use a platform from Harbor Freight, like the one pictured on page 1 from Lowes. i can also use it to paint a room, or wash SUV's. 40 In. Lightweight Aluminum Work Platform - https://www.harborfreight.com/painting/ladders-scaffolds/40-in-lightweight-aluminum-work-platform-56203.html

at 6'2" with a 2" lift and 285's i still find it a challenge to work around the heater valve without it. it helped me with the power steering pump job too. the only problem this introduces is where to support my weight when standing on it. i discovered this the hard way when my forearm snapped the plastic nipple off the "gas valve" on the intake manifold. i need to rig up something like @80t0ylc and @flintknapper describe. a safe place to lean AND store tools.

 

[OwnerCS]

Step Stool and 'Belly Board' worked fine for me when replacing my Head Gasket.

Easy to move/orient, cost little to make, no storage considerations afterward.

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I have done it like this some years ago. Good idea with the carpet covering.

Does anyone release the hood struts to get the hood to stand up straighter for more room at the firewall? I use supplemental braces so the hood doesn't fly back into the windshield.

I started finding ways to lift a hood straight-up way back when I had a W123.

I just found this attachment to an engine hoist. I have an engine hoist that is currently not being used. This is giving me ideas.

 

[LINUS]

Did anyone purchase a Topside Creeper? I'm getting ready for some major maintenance and can already tell that reaching over the ARB front bumper will make it a little more painful than it should be.

Amazon product ASIN B00QGXSODA

I saw one in J’s @NLXTACY ’s -thread about the heated wiper blade/arms.

IDK if it’s his, or a community shop’s - was just a pic in thread.

I have Little Giant ladders - a 4’ & 6’ - so I can make scaffolding plus those 2 Gorillla 20”x48” step platforms with adj legs & outrigger feet. But I’m in ~$700 across my junk.

 

[NLXTACY]

I saw one in J’s @NLXTACY ’s -thread about the heated wiper blade/arms.

IDK if it’s his, or a community shop’s - was just a pic in thread.

I have Little Giant ladders - a 4’ & 6’ - so I can make scaffolding plus those 2 Gorillla 20”x48” step platforms with adj legs & outrigger feet. But I’m in ~$700 across my junk.

 

[Wrencher93]

I usually just reach in the engine bay. I find that not being short is most helpful. ..on a serious note, I have put a foot on the frame rail inside the engine bay while trying to work on things at the fire wall. Can only really do that on the passenger side though.

 

[DivByZero]

I often find myself just standing on the manually locking wheel hubs on my part time HZJ80, they make a convenient step. I also fully climb onto my ARB bumper sometimes. I have a small plastic step thingy I sometimes get out for longer jobs, but for something relatively quick I usually can't be arsed getting it.

 

[LINUS]

. I also fully climb onto my ARB bumper sometimes. I have a small plastic step thingy I sometimes get out for longer jobs, but for something relatively quick I usually can't be arsed getting it.

I bytch about the flimsy ARB, but I do like the full hoop for elbow / knee traction esp if I’m going all the way to firewall jobs or plain inspection of the heater valve & that zone.

 

[bhsdriller]

I usually just reach in the engine bay. I find that not being short is most helpful. ..on a serious note, I have put a foot on the frame rail inside the engine bay while trying to work on things at the fire wall. Can only really do that on the passenger side though.

Yep you can basically get inside of the engine bay by standing on the passenger side frame rail. Trail gear front bumper sticks out far but makes a nice place to stand as well.

 

[sunrk]

I've got side steps (pretend 'rock sliders' that are not sliders) on my 80. To access stuff I can't reach easily from the ground I use those, plus a 5-step double-sided step ladder. I don't have a garage or shed with a perfectly flat concrete floor so can't use any 'creepers' or similar. Thinking of investing in Safe-T-Step as the ladder is nice, but it's very dangerous if I have to lean a long way off it when reaching into the engine bay as it tends to slip out from under my feet.

To access the back half of the roof I just hold into my galvanised roof bars and stand on either the left or right side rear tyre. Not exactly 'safe' but hey it works.

 

[LINUS]

I've got side steps (pretend 'rock sliders' that are not sliders) on my 80. To access stuff I can't reach easily from the ground I use those, plus a 5-step double-sided step ladder.

How does this get you into the engine bay?

-Not being an a$$, I just don’t get how this works per OP’s question.

-You shove a scaffold -type thing into the sliders you run?
I’m just not getting it - pic???

 

[DivByZero]

How does this get you into the engine bay?

-Not being an a$$, I just don’t get how this works per OP’s question.

-You shove a scaffold -type thing into the sliders you run?
I’m just not getting it - pic???

Well the scaffolding makes more sense when you understand @sunrk's 80. He took his rig into a shop and asked them to install a lift, but it didn't quite go to plan. You know that scene in Spinal Tap, where the band manager tries to arrange an 18 foot high replica of part of Stonehenge, but he accidentally writes the scale in inches, not feet? Yeah, it was like that, but in reverse.