What vehicle do you transport games with?

In the 90's used my 1988 mazda pick up pictureshown, now I use my 94 mazda pick up when moving games mostly cocktail tables
 

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Hey All, I'm looking to upgrade vehicles sometime soon, curious to see what folks here use to pick up and transport arcade games.

Obviously a pickup is the easy answer, but I would like to know what SUVs (Wagons?) can fit the average upright cabinet. Specifically interested to know if the 3rd gen 4runner can do so.

I drive a first gen Toyota Tacoma, and will likely get another Tacoma but something newer and with a few more creature comforts, but I would live to see other options.
I wouldn't call it an upgrade, but my game
hauler for ages has been a Honda Odyssey. Can fit 2 pins easily, or one video. Can also load and unload solo with little drama because it's so low. No rain drama. It's good!
 
Ford Econoline, slider door.
Is it sometimes good to perpetuate a stereotype?

My company had one and I started driving it while my everyday was being fixed.
I prefer it to anything other than a convertible.
It shocking how incognito you are in a huge white creeper van.
 

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I've been in the hobby 20+ years now, and I have never transported a game in a vehicle that I own (I've only owned cars). I either borrow a friend/relative's truck/van/SUV, or I rent one.

What a bum!
 
Ford Econoline, slider door.
Is it sometimes good to perpetuate a stereotype?

That depends... Are you saying that it doesn't run? :LOL:

Dave definitely has the funnest bum.
 
2 game pickup in my Sierra HD again last weekend. Outrun and Track and Field this time. It's tight, but it works. Someone I bought a game from showed me a trick that has made loading/unloading much easier… use a 3' long piece of 1-1/2" (or similar) PVC pipe as a "roller" under the game. I lay it a few inches in from the edge of the tailgate, so when we tip the game in and start the "lift and push" process, the game just rolls along the pipe until it's most of the way in the bed. From there, it's easy to slide the rest of the way.

Unloading is easier this way too, I will wiggle the game until the bottom of the game is over the transition and resting on the lowered tailgate, then lift the cabinet enough to let the pipe roll under the bottom edge. From there, I can easily roll it out to the tipping point and set it down on the ground.

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I've been using a 10 foot utility trailer plus a sheet of plywood to help roll games onto the trailer. Since you don't have to roll up very high (like a box truck and ramp) or lift the game (like a truck bed), it has been fairly easy. Probably a liftgate on a truck would be easier but a lot more costly than a utility trailer:IMG_0707.jpeg
 
2 game pickup in my Sierra HD again last weekend. Outrun and Track and Field this time. It's tight, but it works. Someone I bought a game from showed me a trick that has made loading/unloading much easier… use a 3' long piece of 1-1/2" (or similar) PVC pipe as a "roller" under the game. I lay it a few inches in from the edge of the tailgate, so when we tip the game in and start the "lift and push" process, the game just rolls along the pipe until it's most of the way in the bed. From there, it's easy to slide the rest of the way.

Unloading is easier this way too, I will wiggle the game until the bottom of the game is over the transition and resting on the lowered tailgate, then lift the cabinet enough to let the pipe roll under the bottom edge. From there, I can easily roll it out to the tipping point and set it down on the ground.

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You must have a platform to get them up over the wheel wells?

D
 
You must have a platform to get them up over the wheel wells?

D
Nope. I realize the picture I posted sure makes it look like the games must be over top of the wheel wells, but they aren't. I have 52" between the inner edges of the wheel wells, which will (just barely) fit two typical 19" cabinets. My bed is also 6.5' long (as it's the HD 3500 flavor of truck), so the only game I haven't been able to close the tailgate when hauling was my SF2 Big Blue. I have a massive like 4-ton rated ratchet strap that I used to keep that one from going anywhere with the tailgate down on the drive home.
 
I've been using a 10 foot utility trailer plus a sheet of plywood to help roll games onto the trailer. Since you don't have to roll up very high (like a box truck and ramp) or lift the game (like a truck bed), it has been fairly easy. Probably a liftgate on a truck would be easier but a lot more costly than a utility trailer:View attachment 832778
I've thought about getting a small trailer like that. Every time I think about it, I say to myself "but how many more games am I really going to buy??"

Then 3 or 4 games later, I think to myself "maybe I should get a trailer"…
 
Nope. I realize the picture I posted sure makes it look like the games must be over top of the wheel wells, but they aren't. I have 52" between the inner edges of the wheel wells, which will (just barely) fit two typical 19" cabinets. My bed is also 6.5' long (as it's the HD 3500 flavor of truck), so the only game I haven't been able to close the tailgate when hauling was my SF2 Big Blue. I have a massive like 4-ton rated ratchet strap that I used to keep that one from going anywhere with the tailgate down on the drive home.
I built a platform in this load(I packed stuff under it to economize space) to get things above the weel weels so I could put the SF Rush crosswise in the bed. I was supposed to pick up a second one enroute from Cali to Idaho, but the seller wouldn't help me load it because of the extra height. It wasn't that bad loading the first one with it tipped up on the front of the cab... all the weight is down low at that point. I did pickup my Tempest CT on that trip, however.
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Now I have a 3500HD also, but mine has an 8' wide by 9' long flatbed. I could probably load 4 games crosswise on their backs... but the deck is awful high for this old boy to attempt alone!
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Cheers,
Dylan
 
I built a platform in this load(I packed stuff under it to economize space) to get things above the weel weels so I could put the SF Rush crosswise in the bed. I was supposed to pick up a second one enroute from Cali to Idaho, but the seller wouldn't help me load it because of the extra height. It wasn't that bad loading the first one with it tipped up on the front of the cab... all the weight is down low at that point. I did pickup my Tempest CT on that trip, however.
View attachment 832804
Now I have a 3500HD also, but mine has an 8' wide by 9' long flatbed. I could probably load 4 games crosswise on their backs... but the deck is awful high for this old boy to attempt alone!
View attachment 832807

Cheers,
Dylan
Definitely need a liftgate (or a crane?!) for that flatbed!
 
Definitely need a liftgate (or a crane?!) for that flatbed!
But I have this lift gate with a big box attached ...
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14' box truck w/ 1300# lift gate...

D
It currently has a Zaxxon UR(cool the hate guys) and a Defender UR awaiting the trip home at the end of the month. I've also got a bunch of woodworking equipment up in there... if I still have some capacity left I'll be loading up a Tempest and Robotron URs and an early 70s pin for the trip also.

D
 
Dodge Ram 1500, extended bed, liftgate. Can easily move 6 typical size uprights, 2 x 2 x 2. Just gotta make sure I put the two thinnest ones in the middle to fit between the wheel wells, and the heaviest two in first to help with weight distribution. If I've also got a couple of really light machines, they can ride on the gate for a total of 8. I've done that with 8 liners or small change machines.

As for SUVs, my ex-wife's 2015 Dodge Durango had a surprising amount of space. When my previous truck was in the shop, it came in handy. The largest machine I was able to fit in there and still close the door was a Virtua Fighter. I had literally no space on any side, and I had to really want it...but I got it in there.
 

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Dodge Ram 1500, extended bed, liftgate. Can easily move 6 typical size uprights, 2 x 2 x 2. Just gotta make sure I put the two thinnest ones in the middle to fit between the wheel wells, and the heaviest two in first to help with weight distribution. If I've also got a couple of really light machines, they can ride on the gate for a total of 8. I've done that with 8 liners or small change machines.

As for SUVs, my ex-wife's 2015 Dodge Durango had a surprising amount of space. When my previous truck was in the shop, it came in handy. The largest machine I was able to fit in there and still close the door was a Virtua Fighter. I had literally no space on any side, and I had to really want it...but I got it in there.

Whoa... You want the heaviest loads right over the axle, right? Not right next to the cab, because if you do that, you are applying a huge moment force onto the frame. Basic statics.

Guess what happens if you try to carry too much weight not over the axle for a vehicle that is not designed for that...

(Picture shows overloaded condition behind the rear axle, but a frame structural failure can happen if you overload forward of the rear axle, too)

Screenshot at 2025-07-12 15-42-49.png
 
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Whoa... You want the heaviest loads right over the axle, right? Not right next to the cab, because if you do that, you are applying a huge moment force onto the frame. Basic statics.

Guess what happens if you try to carry too much weight not over the axle for a vehicle that is not designed for that...

(Picture shows overloaded condition behind the rear axle, but a frame structural failure can happen if you overload forward of the rear axle, too)

View attachment 832874
I get your point, but i don't think the heaviest game that can fit in a truck bed would be enough force to cause any problems, regardless of placement.

I place them in based on how i can tetris them in there.
 
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