Help, need advice on getting a unit home!

blasphemer

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I am new to this and apparently have just arranged to buy my first upright game. (sorry, but I don't know the jargon yet). It is a sega afterburner and about 2.5 hours drive from the house, so I need to secure it and protect it for the ride home in a chevy s-10, and any other advice would be great. It loooks to be in pretty good condition, so I don't want to damage it. I can't believe I actually got this as my first. Really though, i have to go get it in the morning, please help! BTW I really appreciate the positive tone of this site, it is what made me think that I could chance buying a unit!
 
transport

go to uhaul or walmart and get plastic moving wrap. Wrap machine in plastic to protect. If you worried about elements put tarp around game after wrapping and wrap again with plastic. to haul get some good straps at walmart make sure game doesnt move around and is secure
 
Rent an appliance dolly, not just a regular one, an appliance one. And bring a friend, or 3.
 
First off wellcome too the site. Hopefully you got this all nailed down before posting this! Driving that long too find out someone else is getting the game out from under you!

Second thing is the game a Sitdown or a standup machine?

I would lay stuff down on the cab of the truck and lay the game on it's back if it's a standup. Make sure everything is tight and nothing is loose inside the machine. Makes sure the game does'nt move around in the cab.
 
thanks for the quick help, more questions

yes, it is a standup unit, when you say lay it down, you mean on its back in the bed of the truck?. I've never been inside on eof these, waht should i look for to make sure its ok to lay down? can i pivot it back on its base, or is it not strong enough to ahndle that. I would still pad the bed well, and wrap it, but I like this idea of laying it down as it is more stable. any other pointers, anyone. I will post pics when/if i get it and it is home safe.
 
A dolly is a must.Strong friends to help is also very important.As far as keeping it safe in your vehicle...A tarp is great in case it rains.Bungee cords are nice to have to keep them from moving around,although rope will rope too.I've even used nylon string and it held quite nicely.

And yeah,lay it down! Monitor side up! One time I loaded a Double Dragon in my truck and didn't lay it down.On the way home I turned into a Jack in the Box for some food and a bathroom break and it almost fell out of the bed.Very nerve wracking! Don't take chances! Lay the game down!

Where are you from Blas?
 
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Just make sure the monitor is bolted in and all the parts are held down. I personally never move a machine flat like that but many here do. Also, when you have the back off, be sure to be very careful around the monitor. Even unplugged that beast packs a punch, even a lethal one.
 
Welcome to KLOV its a great place, with some great ppl.

I agree with everything said already but a few more things, that I have done to help ya.

Yes, a dolly (Mine has rubber wheels I like it better then hard wheels.)
Straps, I went to big lots and bought bright orange cheap ratchet straps. work great in the criss cross pattern.
I have two cheap blue tarps I also put over games before I strap them works great and I also plastic wrap them if I so desire (personal pref.)
I also have a spider web that sometimes I throw over everything for the long rides so the tarp doesn't come off or slide off.
I had a stand up version of that game and I always moved it as I do most my others laying down on there backs (yes about making sure everything is tight inside.)

Just be careful and learn as you go making sure you check all so not to mess up the game to bad. Good luck and have fun with it thats what the hobby is all about.
 
yes, it is a standup unit, when you say lay it down, you mean on its back in the bed of the truck?. I've never been inside on eof these, waht should i look for to make sure its ok to lay down? can i pivot it back on its base, or is it not strong enough to ahndle that. I would still pad the bed well, and wrap it, but I like this idea of laying it down as it is more stable. any other pointers, anyone. I will post pics when/if i get it and it is home safe.

yes if you can get a friend too help you thats the best plan. Laying the game on its back in the cab. Make sure too take the cash box out and make sure nothing is loose inside the machine like monitor or anything .

Make sure you tie and rope the machine tightly inside the cab you don'nt want it going anywhere.
 
I agree with the above suggestions.
A few more that may be beneficial just from my experience.
Double wrap as was metioned above. Nothing worse than finding out your side art has been rubbed off from the plastic flopping around on your trip. Double wrapping minimizes this. And the snugger you can tie down your covering, the better to minimize the flapping around.
ALSO, BEFORE POWERING UP YOUR GAME once you get it home, open up the back door and check to make sure all boards, cable connections, monitor are still atached and nothing is "flopping" around inside.
Depending on how the previous owner treated, restored it, depends on how many loose screws or coins, etc can lodge themselves in places they shouldn't be.
Happy Collecting and welcome to the forum.
 
IMPORTANT!!! Double and triple check for anything flopping around as previously mentioned. I had a BurgerTime shipped over a year ago and the seller tossed in some leg-levers but didn't secure them inside. Needless to say, I'm still trying to get the board repaired and it's really added to the expense of the game. Horrible purchase on my part due to seller not securing lose items on the inside!!!

So again, double and triple check for anything lose that will flop around.

Oh, and welcome to the an awesome hobby. It's more expensive and addictive than any drug on the street. LOL

.
 
Dont buy cheap straps. Spend the money on some good heavy duty ones. Trust me. :rolleyes:

By the way does any one need recycled wood. :p
 
Quadruple check for anything loose before you lay it down. Also if it's just going straight into the bed, you can get a moving blanket at home depot or similar, put it down before tipping the machine back and it will be easier to slide into the bed. That plus everything else suggested and you should have it home safe.
 
Looks like nobody mentioned the most important thing...Make sure everything inside is secured first!

JK.

Welcome to the club, AB is a fun game and quite east to move. A generic dolly, moving blanket and a rope is more than enough...Unless its raining!
 
stick the power cord inside the back of the machine if your gonna lay it on its back i would also put something in between the top of the machine and the front side of your truck bed when laying it on its back i use an old atv tire or a piece of carpet just so i dont fuck up my bed or my machine. Usually after bringing a new game into the house i let it sit for awhile till it reaches room temp before i power it up.(power switch is on the right side of afterburner) enjoy its a great game to own.
 
Here's what I like to do.

1)Make sure everything is secure inside.

2)Place power cord inside of cab.

3)Wrap machine in plastic.

4)Place large piece of cardboard in bed of truck. Make sure cardboard is long enough so that it hangs over the lowered tailgate.

5)Tilt machine back until it's resting on the cardboard.

6)Have a buddy help you lift up the bottom of the machine and slide into truck bed.

7)Once machine is in the back of the cab secure it with straps.



Cardboard is great. It helps protect the machine and makes it much easier to slide into the truck.
 
AB is a fun game and quite east to move. A generic dolly, moving blanket and a rope is more than enough...Unless its raining!

What he said. I move these around all the time by myself with just a regular dolly. Not that hard. Loading in the truck by yourself is easy if you do it right. Set it a couple feet behind your truck with the back of the game facing the bed. Lean it back so it's resting against the tail gate. Move around to the base and lift it up and slide it in. I don't even strap mine down as long as I can get the gate closed. Some games have built in wheels and will try to "get away" when you walk around so you gotta be careful with those.

Now if you buy more than one and have to stand them up in the truck then that's a whole 'nother deal.
 
Cardboard WTF!!!! I have never thought of that and damn-it I have moved many a game myself into my truck and just like the other day that PP was hard as hell not to mention how bottom heavy they are. That is a great suggestion I'll have to try it next time. I have moved pretty much every game laying down by sliding it in the bed of the truck now on my move I might have to stand a couple up and I have no clue how to strap that....
 
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