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My new toy, errr tool

By
Home Inspector with Clayton Inspection Service, Inc.

I kept seeing these things at trade shows. I would even give it a try on the convention hall floor. Fun, yeah, Kind of pricy, yeah, maybe next time. For last last few years I have seen them and thought they were too much money, and no matter what they said, it wasn't going to work for me.

So last january I was in Orlando at the ASHI convention. Krawlgear had their booth set up, as usual. Since there was a low turn out, I had all the time in the world to talk to the vendors, and look at the stuff. I hemmd and hawed for a couple days, then talked to a friend that has one. He said it was great. So I decided to take the plunge.

Even when I got it home and tried it out on the living room floor, I wasn't 100% convinced it was really going to work for me. Then I had a bunch of slab and basement houses to inspect.

I finally got a crawlspace house to inspect, and it was a doozy. It was low, had pipes on the ground, ducts close to the ground and a bunch of crap all over. So in I went. It took about 15 seconds to realize what a great purchase I had made. It did everything they said it was going to do. I went over a 3" pipe on the ground very easy. I slid under a duct easier than if I was on my belly crawling. I was able to make tight turns. It was a life changing moment.

The best part is my knees and hip joints do not take the beating they used to. My arms are getting a little different workout, but the knees are doing much better.

It's way too cool.

Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Hi Jack~ Don't you just love it when you find something that actually makes your job easier, especially when it makes the physical part easier?   As we age I think we take these physical things more seriously! I couldn't even imagine having to crawl around under a house, let alone think about all of the "critters" that could be under there!! 

Mar 30, 2009 02:13 PM
Tim and Pam Cash
Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN
Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

Jack, having only been in a crawl space a few times over the past couple years, that contraption looks like a life saver!

Mar 30, 2009 02:17 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jack,

Interesting. We have mainly crawl spaces so that might be pretty happy as long as people do not start looking on you as a hotrodder.

Mar 30, 2009 02:18 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

What a great tool. Thanks for sharing.

Mar 30, 2009 02:18 PM
#4
Ron Bridges
ERA Wilder Realty, Inc. - Sumter, SC

Jack, there is a reason I am not an inspector.  Crawling under houses and on roofs.  Other than that it is fine.  Glad to see they have made it a little easier for you all.

Mar 30, 2009 02:49 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

okay -- here is the deal -- I always tell my clients "I don't do crawl spaces! (lol)  I am glad you took the plunge and bought this tool!  It cannot be pleasant having to go into those crawl spaces! 

Mar 30, 2009 02:58 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Ok, I need a better picture...  I HATE my crawlspace.  I don't change my filter often enough because I hate the crawl. 

Mar 30, 2009 03:00 PM
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

What a neat little contraption.  Glad you took the plunge and that it's been worth it!

Mar 30, 2009 03:02 PM
Robert Schwabe
Herron Real Estate - Orange Park, FL
Orange Park Real Estate

Jack - That looks like a neat tool. Anything to make the job easier crawling around in crawl spaces. Now you look back and ask how did you live without it.

Mar 30, 2009 03:18 PM
real estate real estate
Providence, RI

Jack, whenever I find something that I like, I would say to myself: hey, it is a tool. It is at least cheaper than hiring somebody. So I would go and buy the tool. although it may be pricey.

Mar 30, 2009 03:51 PM
Mike Schulz
Affordable Home Inspections - Raleigh, NC
Raleigh NC Inspector

Jack I don't know about your crawl spaces but the older homes around here has more debris to get over then that will allow. I am sure it works well in most. Now that you have had it awhile what do you think of it?

Mar 31, 2009 01:34 AM
Jack Feldmann
Clayton Inspection Service, Inc. - Knoxville, TN

Mike,

I am amazed at how well it does go over all the crap we see in crawlspaces. It does take a little getting used to, on how to shift your weight, etc. but it has made a huge difference, especially in my knees and hips. I have rolled over 3" pipes with little effort. The wheels are pretty good size.

I did get a wheel caught in a phone line that was laying on the ground, but after I got it unhooked from the wheel, the clip on my over-boots caught it too. I also had one area where it was a little too wide for me to slide through, but it was REALLY tight anyway. I hate those spots.

This morning I let a termite inspector use it. He was a little skeptical about it at first, but when he came out of the crawlspace, he wrote down the web site and is going to order one. It think if someone used one, and gave it a fair test, they would buy one. I did talk to a friend of mine, and I don't think it will work for him. He is pretty wide, and has that gut thing going on. It may not be for everyone.

Mar 31, 2009 04:16 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Looks great.  Now if I could just get one motorized.

Mar 31, 2009 05:20 AM
Kevin Welch
American Bulldog Home Inspection Inc. - Rutland, MA

Cool toy,

I have seen them at trade shows as well but was unsure of how effective it would be. Nice to have an unsolicited testimonial from a trusted source.

Thanks, Kevin

Mar 31, 2009 03:48 PM
Dan Callahan
Callahan's Home Inspections - Casper, WY

Jack, No such thing as toys in our business. Everything is a very important tool that we must have to properly conduct our work. ALWAYS think taxes, more importantly think tax write offs!!!! : )

Apr 02, 2009 06:50 AM
Mike Schulz
Affordable Home Inspections - Raleigh, NC
Raleigh NC Inspector

I like to call them toy's myself. Anything that I use out of the ordinary is a toy.

Man Toy's

There are people that play games and there are people that play with tools. Tools are fun to me.

Apr 02, 2009 10:02 AM
Frank Torre
Torre Inspection Service, LLC 888-202-8869 - Hicksville, NY

Hi: Jack, I have gone to the Krawlgear web site before and was thinking of buying one. But after reading your post I am going to buy one thanks Jack.

Apr 03, 2009 11:46 PM
Daniel Rogers
Final Analysis Home Inspections - Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach Home Inspector

Great testimonial, I was skeptical about this but now I will get one. Now I just wish I thought of this belly trolley device.

Feb 10, 2010 07:17 AM