As you might know, pinball machines are heavy! Vintage machines are not too bad, maybe weighing less than 200 pounds but more modern machines can weight up to 250 to 300 pounds.
Transporting them and moving them around can be a real hassle. Modern machines often won’t even fit in a lot of modern SUVs because the backs slope to cut down on wind resistance for better gas mileage.
Standard appliance hand trucks can be used to move around a pinball machine with its legs off. Fold-down the head and plastic wrap it. Stand it on its end opposite the coin door. You’ll see some plastic “feet” showing that that end was designed to touch the floor. High-end stair climbing dollies or hand trucks can be purchased if you move a lot of machines.
If you are simply moving a pinball machine around a room or other flat area, you can use a special pinball machine life or modify a hydraulic life from a car auto parts store.
One of the most inexpensive ways to move a pinball machine around a house, basement, bar, arcade or garage is to purchase a set of four dolly wheels. Lift up a corner of the machine and slip one of these casters under the leg and then repeat. Once all are on you can simply push the machine around at ease.