Vehicles for Moving Pinball Machines
Often on the rec.games.pinball newsgroup, there are discussions over which vehicles will or will not hold a pinball machine (Here's a link to the question as asked on RGP).
Below is a listing of vehicles, as well as specifics regarding said vehicles.
Word of caution: Gottlieb System 3 games with head folded for transport are taller than any other manufacturer / platform.
2009 Mitsubishi Outlander - Has been used to move Williams Black Knight, Gottlieb 300, Williams Pin*Bot, Williams Flash, Gottlieb World Fair; will likely not hold a game with a non-standard plunger, such as a Terminator 2, Shadow, or Guns & Roses
1999-2004 Grand Cherokee - Can easily fit two wedgies, or one wedgie and one multi player EM game. Typically one wedgie head goes on the passenger seat. The larger of the two heads goes immediately behind the passenger seat. Two 2x4 platforms need to be constructed and used to raise the games above the wheel wells. This model series will also hold 1 DMD style game, with the head on. There is not a lot of vertical clearance, but enough. There is plenty of length and width, the choke point is with the height.
2003 Honda CR-V - Can fit one pinball machine easily; fold down back seat and using cardboard to slide game at angle into the car; coin door should be facing toward the front of the vehicle.
Honda Fit; year not specified - Will hold games of unspecified vintage
1999-2004 Honda Odyssey - Can fit one pinball machine in the back with the middle seats installed. Can fit two if the middle seats are removed and the machine is slid in through the sliding doors. Front seats may have to be moved forward some to allow the second machine to be slid in.
2004+ Honda Odyssey - Two EMs with heads off fit in the back with the middle seats still in and heads behind the front seats (but it's tight). For pins with heads folded, only one fits.
2009 Honda Pilot - Can easily fit one pinball machine or possibly two; back two rows of seating need to be folded down; will also fit two standard width games if the heads are removable; has also been used to move one older game with the head removed and one game with the head still on (both standard width games: The Simpsons Pinball Party and Eight Ball).
2010 Honda Pilot - Can fit two standard sized machines with folding heads without removing the heads. One machine is loaded through the rear, then turned sideways over the folded down rear seats. Head remains attached and folded down - it will be a tight fit with the headliner (ie - touching it), but works nonetheless without damage. The other game can be placed in the rear with the front of the cabinet facing the side of the sideways facing game sitting on the folded rear seats. Recommend putting some sturdy thick padding between the games just in case. Games moved this way : Williams 1995 "No Fear!" and Sega 1999 "Harley Davidson".
Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon; year not specified - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down
Chevy/GMC Suburban/GMC Yukon XL; year not specified - Will fit up to three machines providing one head can be removed(EM, Early SS, or lots of unplugging/unbolting).
Nissan Pathfinder; year not specified - Will fit any standard or wide body with the two back rows of seats folded down
PT Cruiser; year not specified - Will fit with rear seats removed
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagon; year not specified - Will hold machine; "a bit too tight for a fold-down newer game though"
Ford Focus wagon; year not specified - Will hold WPC machine + dolly
2003 - 2006 Scion Xb - Will fit any pin
2008+ Scion Xb - Will fit any pin
Toyota Matrix - Will fit machines with head removed; includes WPC89, System 11, Bally SS, and Bally wide body (specifically Paragon); load body shooter first, then slide in head next to it; place moving blanket between them and a ratchet strap over top
Toyota Venza; year not specified (possibly 2009 or 2010 model) - Back seat folded down. Tried to shoehorn a WMS Cyclone (System 11). Had to remove nuts from head side of hinge, and slide head forward approx. 3-4 inches on top of cabinet. Ground braid from cab to head had to be removed from stud in head. Very, very, very tight fit! Note: tallest measurement with head folded on Cyclone was 30".
1985 Chevy Chevette - fit a Bally Playboy. Back seat folded down - loaded body through hatch, legs next to it, head on passenger seat (have to use right hand to hold head and shift-lol). FYI - yes I got the hatch closed!
1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme - Was *just* able to handle the body of a 1978 Bally 'Lost World' accross the back seats (doors closed properly, but with very little free room); with the head removed and laid on its back in the trunk. Other GM W-Body cars of this era and even newer ones *may* be able to accomodate an equivalently sized game similarly.
2000 Subaru Forester - Back seats folded down - fits WPC, early 80's Bally, modern Stern, Williams Joust. Late 80's Bally, Safecracker, Banzai Run has to be put in on their side.
1993 BMW 525 Wagon - Fits any older pin without folding head. Folding head units must be removed.
1984 Volvo 240DL Station Wagon - Almost any pin fits (except Hercules) with the head folded down.
Dodge Magnum - Fits Williams system 3-7 standard width machines with head removed and back seats folded down. Head must be put in flat, then tipped vertical at the gap where the back seats folded. Very tight fit for head box. Definitely will NOT fit WPC machines, or widebodies.