shop floor

Depends what kind of concrete your floor is made of. If it is high strength concrete, you'll be fine. Oak boards would never hurt though. have fun!

I would use the boards especially if you are having to shove it in or turn it on the floor at all. Straight in and back out under power will most likely still leave marks in the floor, so it depends how nice the floor is to start with.

I’d use the wood as well, or if you had some short pieces of old crasher conveyor belting would work also…we used it for crossing the Hi-ways years a ago and work well.
The thing is, the slightest nick in a fine finished floor will give your creeper trouble in getting around. I have seen some floors where you needed “Four Wheel Drive” on your creeper. 😞

I've used ordinary plywood sheets to cushion the impact of the grousers on the bare concrete. Doesn't have to be thick. GWH

I'd use the boards even if you don't care so much about the floor, it seems like the machines don't sweat so much if they have wood or rubber separating them from the concrete.
Jim

Yeah, just use some boards. I used some 1/2 oak that we had cut, and it was extra/scraps. The grousers broke it here and there, but the floor is still OK..... also, if you need to cross an area where there is some sort of 'lip' - I'd set an extra board on each side of the lip, so the grousers won't hit that as well, or it'll chip off.

Rodney

I use 2x8 or 2x10 and my d4 hardly dents it. Alot easier to replace than any floor. Even park on wood when in my dirt floored sheds. Keeps them cleaner.

Matt

At work we got truck tire retread stock to run on in the shop, rolls up when you don't need it.
Jim

I just use old tires. The bigger machines I use Truck or Pickup tires. The smaller machines I use car or garden tractor tires. They cost nothing and will give to the shape of the floor and tracks. Can use the same tires over and over.