Appliance Dolly

The Harper one I bought Probably close to 15 years ago from Lowes is still still holding up pretty well. The only complaint I have about it is that the strap lock doesn't always work well. They still sell them and it is good for occasional usage.

When I moved a few years back, I invested in a steel Wesco with the kick out wheels and it is great for moving, the ratcheting straps make a huge difference and the kick out wheels really help when you need to move something over a long distance. My only complaint here is that I should have bought the aluminum or magnesium version of it as it is heavy and if you are going up a flight of stairs with it, the extra weight becomes noticeable.

I'd say if you are going to be occasionally moving games with the cart, buy one of the cheaper ones like what you found or the one from Lowes but if you have a larger collection and find yourself frequently moving the games around, it is well worth the money to buy one of the expensive versions.
 
Whatever you do, do NOT get the normal blue dolly with the pneumatic tires from Harbor Freight. It's weighted for 600lbs/700lbs. (Depending on the run in which it was made from the Manufacturer). The one I had bought said 700lbs but there were other identical ones that said 600lbs. In reality it will crap out well before reaching anywhere near that capacity. See this thread: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=257650

Unless my Xybots is over 700lbs this dolly fell far short. The axle bent on it and my machine plummeted. I had to pitch a fit just to get a replacement because I couldn't find my receipt. The best part was when I went to pick out a new one with the employee we literally went through like 20 to find one that didn't have a bent axle or wheeble wobble wheels.
 
As stated before, stay away from the Harbor Freight appliance dolly. If you have the coin, Northern Tool has one with the extra wheels so that you drop it back to a 45 degree angle and it sits on 4 wheels. That way you are not balancing it the whole time. I have borrowed them at shows and they are amazingly easy to haul games with. I keep asking for one for Christmas....

ken
 
As stated before, stay away from the Harbor Freight appliance dolly. If you have the coin, Northern Tool has one with the extra wheels so that you drop it back to a 45 degree angle and it sits on 4 wheels. That way you are not balancing it the whole time. I have borrowed them at shows and they are amazingly easy to haul games with. I keep asking for one for Christmas....

ken

The guy I bought my space invaders had this kind of dolly, I need one of thems in the worst way lol
 
I just add wheels to my cabs and have no need for dollies unless I have a trailer full of games. I just rent it with the trailer.
 
Definitely don't buy the Harbor Freight one! I made the mistake of "cheaping out", and it has been nothing but a lump of crap. The straps broke the very first move and the stair climbers do nothing but make going up stairs more difficult.

"You get what you pay for" couldn't apply more.
 
Okay guys, here is the one that I'm going to pull the trigger on tomorrow am unless anyone objects. Thanks for all the input. I hope this one will last me a lifetime.

Northern Industrial Appliance Truck — 700-Lb. Capacity, Aluminum, Model# 143899

Only $219.99

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381403_200381403

I have checked craigslist and nothing in the area is coming up and I'd hate to wait any longer as I want to move some games around.
 
Partly depends on what you end up doing with it. Aluminium is nice and light if you have to haul it all over the place, but for me, the kick back wheels are the nuts! I have this one (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381546_200381546) and it is a wee bit heavy, but is aswesome. The kick back legs help by taking the weight and also I use them to stand on and lean back to tip some of the bigger/heavier cabs.

Just my $.02.

Of course, an aluminium one with kick back wheels would be ultimate, but those be some pricey stuff!

cheers
/Tim
 
Are those kickback legs strong enough to hold up the game without any other support? Can I lean a game back on those and walk away? If so, that would be a very attractive feature.
 
kick back legs

Are those kickback legs strong enough to hold up the game without any other support? Can I lean a game back on those and walk away? If so, that would be a very attractive feature.

My dolly has the kick back legs on it, best investment for your back it can hold practically any game up without a problem. I've moved my star wars cockpit and my kosmik krooz'r with it and those are big and heavy cabs.

20121203_203813.jpg
 
I don't know who made the dolly I have but it is the shizznit! It has the kickback wheels but it is different from every other dolly with kickback wheels I've seen.

The large wheels are the ones that pivot back and then the small ones stay at the base in the front. This is a FAR superior design because you can then balance the game perfectly on two wheels on the back as you roll it...especially over rough terrain. It also makes it easier to go over a step or a threshold too because you can tilt back onto the back wheels easier.

Everyone else that has used it falls in love with it. I've had it for like 25 years now :)
 
Are those kickback legs strong enough to hold up the game without any other support? Can I lean a game back on those and walk away? If so, that would be a very attractive feature.

yes, they can hold most any game on a 45 degree angle. They might not be 100% in perfect balance, but close enough where if your on a flat surface you leave it on the angle with no problem. a game like nba jam 4 player will be on the brink of tipping when you grab it from the back. But grab it from the side and the bablance would be good.

I am trying to think of the heaviest cabs I have moved with that type of dolly and I think it was a 2 25" screen title fight I got out of the berkley arcade. I had to move it about 1000 yards to my truck and it rolled pretty well.

Not sure if the northen tool dolly is as strong as my 1980s escort 4 wheel dolly, but I have put all the weight of a cab on the rear 2 wheels when going over steps/thresholds. Put the rear wheels over the threshold and pull back and lift the front wheels off the ground and pull the game into the building. It works great!

can't give a higher recommendation to get the 4 wheel dolly with solid wheels. Its worth the added weight. I would go with this one.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381546_200381546
 
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Are those kickback legs strong enough to hold up the game without any other support? Can I lean a game back on those and walk away? If so, that would be a very attractive feature.

The answer is yes... (exactly what mrbill2084 said). I've used it on atari cabs, drivers, even a showcase 34" cab with no problem. best $200 I ever spent!
cheers
/Tim
 
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