How to move a cocktail table?

parkway

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As I look for an old cocktail to use for a project, it got me thinkg how to move one of these things. With the uprights I've bought, I just tipped them into my SUV or van, rested them on the rear of the car, picked up the bottom, and then slid them in. Unloading them was just the opposite; used a handtruck to get them to and from said vehicle. However, with a cocktail, like a nintendo one for instance, how the hell do you lift it into a vehicle? I'm doubting you can lift it by the tabletop as the top flips up to reveal the guts. Am I just skirting the obvious here; bascially get 3 or 4 guys to bend down, grab it by the very bottom, and lift it? This may be a stupid question, but I'd rather have this answered BEFORE I'm sitting there with me and the seller trying to figure out how to get my new purchase home. How heavy are these things, especially with a 13"/19" monitor in them?
 
They are deceptively heavy. I have four of them. The tops latch down so it shouldn't flip up. On most I've found that under the control panels is a safe place to grab to lift them into your vehicle. Every cabinet will be a bit different though. Its a two person job to move one.
 
I've moved four cocktails before. As it was already said, they are heavier than one would think. But they don't need four people to move them. Two should be fine. Going up and down stairs is tricky though. One stair at a time and rest. Taking the monitor out helps. Lifting them into a vehicle is really not that bad. Just get underneath the bottom (wood part) of the machine on each side, stabilize and lift. Don't go underneath the legs, or you'll crush your fingers*.

*(Thanks, Captain Obvious) :)
 
With my one I've found it easiest to pull the monitor, put the cab in the back of the truck, and then put the monitor back in. Reverse to get it out of the truck.

Doing it this way I've had no problem moving a cabinet on my own.

With two people it's a lot easier, of course, and you shouldn't have to remove the monitor.
 
When alone I have used my dolly as a ramp to slide the machine up and into my truck. Luckily the dolly handle bends perfectly around the trailer hitch (I am loading a Suburban) so one person moves aren't that difficult. In fact, depending on who is "helping" me one person moves are sometimes easier...
 
Cocktails vary tremendously in terms of how awkward they are to move.

A Warlords CT is really easy to move around with the legs fully up in "cocktail" position. But a Q*Bert cocktail? Different story.
 
I bend down at the knees a bit putting the top of the cocktail at the top of my thighs. I grab the sides of the top away from myself and lift while leaning backwards. This puts the cocktail at 90 degrees with the feet sticking straight out. I then set the feet into the back of my truck, and push the top up until it is standing in the truck. I moved a midway cocktail up my stairs one step at a time by myself using this method, but putting the far side of the feet up one step at a time. This way, you don't have to pull the monitor out or anything.

As others mentioned... It won't come open if you latch the top down.
 
To get my Missile Command CT home in our PT Cruiser, I removed the legs and just put the entire body into the back section with the seats folded down. I was worried that keeping the legs on for transport would make it top-heavy and increase its center of gravity too much for any tight turns.

It worked out very well.
 
Nintendo cocktails aren't too bad to move, as long as the top is locked down. I've moved it by picking it from the lid (actually it takes 2...I'm not strong enough ;) ) My DK only weighs about 130 pounds (according to the manual). I haul it in the backseat of my car, after taking the feet off. It can sit on the bottom of the cab, as it's all metal. Those pin lifters that the pin guys use work pretty good to move it too.
 
Ok, that doesn't sound too bad. I'll most definitely have another person helping me. I know they don't seem to be too popular, probably because they take up a bunch of room with a person playing on each end, but I've always wanted one; used to play Choplifter on one in a now defunct Italian restaurant near me. Thanks for the help guys.
 
I purchased a red tent this last weekend. I put the side (Non control panel side) close to my truck tail gate and the seller and I used the tail gate as leverage and lifted it up and slid it in on that side. It was pretty easy that way, because the metal slid on the plastic bed liner. Easy enough that I probably could've done it that way myself, but didn't care to try. :) I'm sure it wouldn't be as easy in a different vehicle. I strapped it down and off I went.
 
Get another person or grab the top and flip it up into the truck he'll on the back but most of my friends run when they know I picked up another game. Go figure damn free help
 
It seems easiest to have 2 people for load/unload. I've delt with loading/unloading 4 cocktails.

Pac-Man - somewhat heavy -easy with 2
Space Fever - pretty light probably could do by myself if it wasn't such an awkard shape
Red tent - heavy - 2 people no problem
Qix - &%$# me!!!! - this thing is a tank. 2 people struggled a bit getting it in/out of my pickup.

-Barry
 
Midways are easy to move with a small hand truck/dolly. I usually have a second person help and lift under the control panels.
 
See, it's a good thing I asked about this. I would have bet that lifting by the control panels would have been a no-go, but apparently that's not the case. That makes life a lot easier (if I wind up with a Midway cocktail).
 
You can do it with just yourself if need be (obviously more people help). Just be sure your back is ready for the workout. Thankfully if you do get tired you can just drop it a few inches no harm.
 
Are you guys all movers by trade or something? I can't move those machines all by myself, especially up and down stairs. Mr. Muscles I am not. :(
 
Are you guys all movers by trade or something? I can't move those machines all by myself, especially up and down stairs. Mr. Muscles I am not. :(

My house is 1 story, so the only stairs I have to deal with is 4 at the front door or 2 at the back door. For uprights I tilt the game, strapped to the dolly, against the stairs, pick up the end, and push it until it's on the porch, then lift the dolly back up.

For the cocktails, as mentioned, I remove the monitor and the carry the cab up the steps. I'm only ~155 - 160, so I'm not a big guy.
 
Are you guys all movers by trade or something? I can't move those machines all by myself, especially up and down stairs. Mr. Muscles I am not. :(

Not a mover... I'm just a big guy (6'3") and can muscle the games around when I need too.
 
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