New Life Games Tech Forums

I did a quick search for a thread about the best way to move slots and didn't have much luck.  I would imagine there has to be one so if someone can give a link that would be great, but otherwise, how do you move and lift your slots.  I've seen there is a slot hand truck with a hydraulic lift but I suspect those aren't cheap.  I saw the one below at harbor freight for $160 and thought it would work.  Any ideas or suggestions otherwise?

http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-lift-table-94822.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-lift-table-94822.html) 

That is what I've been using for 1 1/2 yr. It comes to 9 in. off floor. I use a hand dolly to put slot on the cart.
Ford

There's a few people here who have bought and use the harbor freight lift and seem to like them.  I use a two wheel dolly to get them around, then have my neighbor help me lift them up on the stand.  If I get impatient I'll remove some weight from the slot (mpu tray, hopper, coin tray, top glass, bill validator, cash can, etc) and lift it up myself.  I try not to do that too often though.

I have a bad back & I do it myself. It is real nice for working on machine. You can put it to whatever height you want.
DO NOT put rubber mat on lift, it will be hard to slide machine to table.

I use that but when I need to move a slot for a party, I dis assemble it completely, door and all and it is easy for 1 person to load and move, about 1/2 hr for dis assembly and 1/2 to re assemble.

I've never removed a S2K door, but it doesn't look like a lot of fun to me.  I guess I'll find out before long when I remove one to paint the ugly color cabinet I have on my Big Times Pay. 

3 connections: the door I/O card, plus 2 other wires that go inside, not complex.

Thanks Reho.  I guess it looks tougher than it is then. 

I've used a ATV/Motorcycle hydraulic lift. But only because I already had it.

Good to hear the Harbor Freight lift will do the job and thanks for the tip about not using the mat.  I used my pinball dolly to lift one (because that was all I had) and while it worked it was less than ideal for sure. 

I've had the same cart from Harbor Freight for over a yr now, and it works flawlessly... i like to use mine to work on my machines. I can adjust it to a comfortable working height...

I use the harbor freight lift and just tip the machine back to get it from the floor to the lift. They usually put those on sale once or twice a year for about $100

I use a dolly to move, then sucker a friend into helping me lift  :96-

And there is ALWAYS a 20% off one item coupon available either on-line or in magazines.

I also have the HF model and I wouldn't trade for it.  I have worked out a method that lets me lever it up on the platform from a 2 wheel dolly, slide it into place and I'm good to go.  :89-
The wife wouldn't even consider helping me move one of my machines  :60-  :60-   And they are great to lift up higher to work on.  The old bad back aint what it use to be,it's worse!  :8-

I even use mine to move my Blacksmiths anvils, which are a good bit heavier than a Slot  :200-

I have the same one from HF and it works great.  $159 might be a bit high as you can always get them on sale . There is a 20% off coupon in most Sunday paper ads.  I got mine for $98 ( day after Thanksgiving sale ).   

I picked up a lift table from Harbor Freight today (with a 20% off coupon) and have to agree with everyone that it really does work well. 

Thanks for the good advice! 

Yea, using mine as a stand right now until I get another stand...

I have some questions that related to this; how do you move them from where you purchased them? 

What I mean is, if you don't have a pick up or a trailer, how do you get them home?  I have a small SUV (Toyota Rav4) which is the most likely candidate for moving a slot machine but it is not tall enough to put a slot machine in standing up.  I'm thinking of an IGT S2000; can you safely lay them on their back?  How about on their (non-pull handle) side? I'm assuming that they are built pretty solid given the weight.

How difficult is it to load one (or two!) into and out of a vehicle?  It seems like quite a challenge given the weight.  Thanks!

Ask Bunker,
He has a picture of like 3 machines in a Subaru.

It looked something like this

I have a full size suv (escalade) and can easily transport a normal size slot machine.  My suv was able to hold my bally alpha machine with the cash wheel and that machine is a whopping 6'5" on the ground.  The actual loading it into the truck usually requires 2 people if you dont want to throw your back out.

If the machine is to tall to fit in the back with the seat down you can remove the top box, usually with a Phillips head screwdriver, and slide them in side by side. I put a Monte Carlo in the back seat of my Ridgeline to get it home from Morespeeds house in TX. It was an 850 mile trip across 4 illegal states and I didn't want it seen, lol. I've put them in the back seat to come home from Kirk's house in Vegas when the bed was full too, split them all down and stacked together for low profile in the wind. Another 850 mile trip :89- Now I ship. A good tip also is that if it will fit into your Rav 4 in one piece you can lay it back against the vehicle, preferably on a blanket, then just lift and slide, that's how I get them into my pickup when I'm just hauling one or two at a time

FYI - you can fit four IGT S2000 machines in the back of a Dodge Grand Caravan.

 :wa :wa

Dan #2

Dpalmi,
I see you have that slot laying on its' side.  Did you have to take the speaker off? I'm thinking with the machine laid on its' side, I could get two between the wheel wells of my Rav4.

The HF lift would seem to make it relatively painless once out of the vehicle but how difficult is it moving 250 pounds in and out of a vehicle?

Hi,

Obviously handle side up.  What I did was take some bubble wrap and roll it so it was thicker than the speaker was tall and then put that under the side of the machine and tapped it in place.  That way the machine is actually resting on the bubble wrap, not the speaker.  I suppose you could use any kind of soft material like foam or blankets.  Again, it's just so the weight isn't on the speaker itself and more on the side of the machine.  Those speakers are only plastic and they scratch up easy - so care should be taken.  You can always remove the speakers as well - take the top glass out and then each speaker is four screws and a quick disconnect cable.  My van is low enough that I can get machines in and out by myself by first tilting them in and then lifting from the bottom.  It helps to lay them on a blanket of some kind so they slide easy once in the vehicle.

Dan #2

Yep, if you remove the speaker they travel well on their side. Be careful to remove the hopper and any coins also. Moving 250 pounds depends on the person. I don't have an issue with it as far as loading and unloading or from a stand to the floor, but deadlifting to a stand or actually carrying it becomes more difficult. If you read my earlier post the tip and slide for transport works well

Leverage and lubrication...(not to sound nasty), but now that I have your attention! Anything, a blanket, cardboard, or anything to facilitate sliding....that's all that is needed. Watched tons of people try and manhandle machines, when actually, the machines weight will do most of the work if you just let the leverage do it for you..

Our 15-yr old daughter can load a machine in the back of a pickup...just saying....it's technique more than muscle...