Best appliance dolly for arcade games?

SoulflySolid

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Anyone have any specific recommendations for appliance dollies? I am planning on purchasing one, but I wanted to know if there are any particular ones that stand out above the rest.
 
Convertible dolly from Home Depot

I got a COSCO convertible 3-in-1 dolly from Home Depot for $150. Probably paid too much for it but it's aluminum, with a 1,000-lb capacity as a 4-wheeler and 800-lb as a 2-wheeler. Plus it will allow you to tilt it back and rest on another pair of wheels at an angle. Worth it's weight in gold to me during my big game move the other weekend, and again when trying to haul 400lbs of water softener salt around the back of the house!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=dolly&storeId=10051
 
Those are trolleys, not dollys. This is a dolly:

189322_lg.jpg
 
I also have the COSCO dolly for over a year and I've been happy with it. My one complaint isn't really the things fault... By the time I go to use it, the tires are usually low on air from sitting. I just have to remember to air it up before I go to pick up a game.

Some people also say the air filled tires (on any dolly) are too bouncy and can cause you to lose control of the thing. Never had an issue with that.

Hewitson: Our English is different from your English. Luckily, this wasn't a tread on thongs. ;)
 
Hewitson: Our English is different from your English. Luckily, this wasn't a tread on thongs. ;)

Funny you say that... I used to work at a large multinational company, and we had some bigwigs over from the US who we took out to lunch. While we were walking back (through a shopping centre so that one of them could withdraw money) they saw a sign advertising cheap "double plugger thongs" - needless to say after their eyes fell out of their head, and a couple of embarrassed questions and answers later, lots of photos were taken :).
 
It really depends on how often you plan on moving games. If you're like me, and only move them occasionally, then a cheaper hand truck will suffice.

Like this:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200377813_200377813

143751_lg.jpg


Less than $40 at Northern Tool.

If you're going to be rolling through your yard to a basement walkout, or over uneven terrain (gravel, etc) I'd HIGHLY recommend pneumatic wheels. Yes, they can be bouncy, but get a friend to help if you need it. Those hard rubber wheels will never roll properly on grass or gravel, and you'll hate your life.

I've had a few mishaps getting a bit daring while wheeling cabs around. I lost my Dig Dug cab this winter when I hit a patch of ice while rolling down the hill to my walk out :)

DigDug.jpg
 
DigDug.jpg
[/QUOTE]

Good to know. I can't imagine the string of expletives that came after this picture was taken.
 
I got a COSCO convertible 3-in-1 dolly from Home Depot for $150. Probably paid too much for it but it's aluminum, with a 1,000-lb capacity as a 4-wheeler and 800-lb as a 2-wheeler. Plus it will allow you to tilt it back and rest on another pair of wheels at an angle. Worth it's weight in gold to me during my big game move the other weekend, and again when trying to haul 400lbs of water softener salt around the back of the house!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=dolly&storeId=10051

Not bad, but way too short. Nothing like trying to move a Golden Tee cab with a 4-ft dolly.

I have this one..
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381546_200381546
It is awesome ... the kickout wheels are the nuts!
only (slightly) negative is its not the lightest thing in the world.. that aluminum one would be much lighter tho.

cheers
/Tim

Better, but the lip is too small. can be a bit of a problem when moving something with a hollow base, but the strap is good.

I also have the COSCO dolly for over a year and I've been happy with it. My one complaint isn't really the things fault... By the time I go to use it, the tires are usually low on air from sitting. I just have to remember to air it up before I go to pick up a game.

Some people also say the air filled tires (on any dolly) are too bouncy and can cause you to lose control of the thing. Never had an issue with that.

My only problem with air tires is when moving REALLY HEAVY cabs, they bow out and can be quite hard to move. That's why I typically replace them solid wheels.

It really depends on how often you plan on moving games. If you're like me, and only move them occasionally, then a cheaper hand truck will suffice.

Like this:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200377813_200377813

143751_lg.jpg


Less than $40 at Northern Tool.

If you're going to be rolling through your yard to a basement walkout, or over uneven terrain (gravel, etc) I'd HIGHLY recommend pneumatic wheels. Yes, they can be bouncy, but get a friend to help if you need it. Those hard rubber wheels will never roll properly on grass or gravel, and you'll hate your life.

Now this is more like it, although I may go for the all-terrain tires like this:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...44?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

or possibly even this one that may be useful when having to move cocktails:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...50?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

I've had a few mishaps getting a bit daring while wheeling cabs around. I lost my Dig Dug cab this winter when I hit a patch of ice while rolling down the hill to my walk out :)

DigDug.jpg

This is why you should always strap cabs to the dolly and have an extra set of hands - even if it's just the wife - to keep it steady while bouncing over uneven terrain...
 
Some things I've learned over the years.
1) Lighter is better, go with welded tubular steel or aluminum - magnesium is even better
2) Tall is a must - do not by one shorter than 66", 72" is even better
3) Auto rewind straps - you'll thank me!
4) Molded-on wheels, not pneumatic - larger is better
5) Stair skids or those belted stair climbers
6) Games aren't that heavy so you don't need 1200lb capacity, go 500 lb or 750lb
7) Those kick out wheels sounded cool but I found myself not using them much, plus they added weight
8) Avoid those "Transformer" like carts that go from upright to flat, they're junk

Don't be a cheapskate. Don't haul a $1200 game with a $75 hand cart that always has one flat tire. Spend a little and get a good one. Hope this helps

Anyone have any specific recommendations for appliance dollies? I am planning on purchasing one, but I wanted to know if there are any particular ones that stand out above the rest.
 
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Some things I've learned over the years.

5) Stair skids or those belted stair climbers

This is the advice I needed before I tried to move an EM Pin up the stairs with one of those large wheeled pneumatic tire hand trucks. I nearly killed myself. I am currently searching for a new aluminum unit with the stair climbers.
 
WOW> Crazy photo

It really depends on how often you plan on moving games. If you're like me, and only move them occasionally, then a cheaper hand truck will suffice.

Like this:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200377813_200377813

143751_lg.jpg


Less than $40 at Northern Tool.

If you're going to be rolling through your yard to a basement walkout, or over uneven terrain (gravel, etc) I'd HIGHLY recommend pneumatic wheels. Yes, they can be bouncy, but get a friend to help if you need it. Those hard rubber wheels will never roll properly on grass or gravel, and you'll hate your life.

I've had a few mishaps getting a bit daring while wheeling cabs around. I lost my Dig Dug cab this winter when I hit a patch of ice while rolling down the hill to my walk out :)

DigDug.jpg
 
I bought one of these for about $100 some ten years ago at Home Depot.
http://tinyurl.com/d6acyah

It's held up well, and I've given it a lot of use. However, the over-center strap tensioner setup is more hassle than it's worth. I usually end up throwing a regular ratchet strap around the whole game and dolly if needed. The "stair climber" tracks are a must. The hard rubber wheels are what you want on anything other than soft ground.

If I were to buy a new one and felt like splurging, I'd get this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381403_200381403
 
I own one or two of all the hand trucks in this thread. I have used them on all types of coin operated and arcade related equipment. From my experience I prefer the Magliner Hand trucks by far to any other models or designs:

http://www.magliner.com/product

I do recommend getting the airless/solid wheels. You can also purchase every single part for the Magliners separate. So when something breaks or bends you do not have to get a whole new hand truck. You can also build a custom hand truck with only the features you need.

Here is a cheaper version of the same model I use all the time.

http://www.handtrucksrus.com/crashdetail.aspx?id=348&cx=rwm

The lay down cart mode is great for cocktail machines. Especially the heavy ones like Space Duel!
 
i DREAM of the day i get my hands on one of these




(they show this one moving an arcade game hehe)






As you can tell.. yeah.. i want one.. BAD.. I have a old 60s powr-kraft stair dolly with tracks on it but the tracks are about ready to snap on me one of these days and NOBODY has parts available for it, or at least i havent found them yet.
 
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I got a COSCO convertible 3-in-1 dolly from Home Depot for $150. Probably paid too much for it but it's aluminum, with a 1,000-lb capacity as a 4-wheeler and 800-lb as a 2-wheeler. Plus it will allow you to tilt it back and rest on another pair of wheels at an angle. Worth it's weight in gold to me during my big game move the other weekend, and again when trying to haul 400lbs of water softener salt around the back of the house!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=dolly&storeId=10051

ive been using one of these for a while to move games and cranes
for my route, until 2 weeks ago when the back wheels collapsed under
the weight of an area 51 game i had on it. the game fell off the dolly and on to me
hurt my back badly and both my arms were purple for a week, narowly missed
having both my legs crushed by the game, needless to say the game was toast

i would not recommend this dolly, spend $300 and get a proper "vending dolly"
without plastic parts
 
i DREAM of the day i get my hands on one of these




(they show this one moving an arcade game hehe)






As you can tell.. yeah.. i want one.. BAD.. I have a old 60s powr-kraft stair dolly with tracks on it but the tracks are about ready to snap on me one of these days and NOBODY has parts available for it, or at least i havent found them yet.

the lectrotruck style ones seem cool, guy who moves drink machines for me
said they are just as dangerous as a regular dolly tho. he worked for pepsi
and had one where the battery ran dead halfway up a big stairwell, he had
to balance the vending machine for an hour (as workers pushed past him on the stairs) while his partner went out and bought a new battery.
 
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