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.
1 Acura
MDX (2000-2006) - Will fit most games. STTNG fit.
MDX (2007-2013) - 2007+ lowered hatch height, TAF barely fit and left marks in ceiling.
RDX (Unspecified Year) - pins fit great, moved newer Sterns and older Bally's with no problems.
2 Audi
A3 Hatchback (Unspecified year) - fits a pin with the backbox disconnected.
Q7 (Unspecified year) - about 1" too short
Q7 w/ third row seating (2013) - BARELY fits...very tight
3 BMW
525 Wagon (1993) - Fits any older pin without folding head. Folding head units must be removed.
X3 first generation E83 (2003-2010) & second generation F25 (2010-2014) - Fits any standard pin when folded down (not in box)
X5 - Fits most standard sized modern pins. With Gottlieb DMD's you need to loosen the head and slide it down a little.
4 Buick
Enclave (2008-Current) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down, some games like Gottlieb System 3 may need to be put on their sides.
Rendezvous (2001-2007) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
5 Cadillac
SRX (2004-2009) - Will fit most standard and wide body pinball machines. Had to remove backbox on Stargate.
SRX (2010+) - Will not fit
6 Chevrolet
Avalanche (Unspecified year) - Will fit at least two pins (and 5 people).
Chevette (1985) - 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). FYI — yes I got the hatch closed!
City Express (Unspecified year) - Will fit at least one pin comfortably. City Express is rebadged Nissan NV200.
Blazer (1995-2005) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
Equinox (2005+) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down. System 3s will not fit.
HHR (Unspecified year) - Will NOT fit, can put in head first but will hit roof and stick out back so hatch can't close
Lumina (1995-2001) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet on back seat; backbox in trunk.
Suburban (Chevy&GMC) (Unspecified year) - Will fit up to three machines providing one head can be removed(EM, Early SS, or lots of unplugging/unbolting).
Tahoe (Unspecified year) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
Tracker 4 Door (1999-2004) - @ith the rear seat cushions removed will haul all standard and widebody machines. It still leaves room for a passenger, too.
Trailblazer (2002-2009) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down. Note: rear seats do not fold down completely flat giving the cargo area a slanted surface - making it more difficult to load a machine (and you must be careful of the cabinet artwork).
Traverse (2009-2014) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down. Acadia (GMC) will fit Stern in box, Traverse must be unboxed due to hatch shape.
7 Chrysler
PT Cruiser (Unspecified year) - Will fit with rear seats removed.
Concorde (1993-1997) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet on back seat; backbox in trunk.
LHS (1994-1997) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet on back seat; backbox in trunk.
New Yorker (1994-1996) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet on back seat; backbox in trunk.
Town & Country (Unspecified year) - Fits widebody pin easily with one back seat still up. Rest of the back seats need to be folded down. Head must be folded or removed. Can fit 2 machines easily, possibly 3.
8 Dodge
Durango (2011+) - Fits any size pin with room to spare. Will fit two regular size pins if the back boxes are removed.
Grand Caravan (Unspecified year) - Fits widebody pin easily with one back seat still up. Rest of the back seats need to be folded down. Head must be folded or removed. Can fit 2 machines easily, possibly 3.
Intrepid (1993-1997) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet on back seat; backbox in trunk.
Journey (Unspecified year) - Will NOT fit.
Magnum (Unspecified year) - 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.
Sprinter Van (Unspecified year) - Fits all machines.
9 Eagle
Vision (1993-1997) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet on back seat; backbox in trunk.
10 Ford
Bronco (1966-1977) - All with tailgate down; backbox folded down or removed.
Crown Victoria LTD 4dr (1982-1991) - All standard machines with removable backbox; main cabinet in trunk with trunk lid tied down; backbox on back seat.
Edge (Unspecified year) - Will hold a pin with head folded down.
Escape (all) - Will hold a pin with head folded down. 2012 will fit a NIB.
Explorer 4 door (1990+) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
Flex (2014, but probably applies to all years) - Will fit all WMS & Stern machines plus a dolly. Will fit games where the head detaches + dolly. Will not fit a GTB sys 3 without beheading due to extra cabinet height. Can fit WMS, dolly, and a third person if you leave the rear-right seat up. Will fit a boxed stern, but the box will be crinkled. (i.e. it's TIGHT!)
Focus wagon (Unspecified year) - Will hold WPC machine + dolly.
Freestar(Unspecified year) - Will hold at least two (one from back, one from side door (sideways)), possibly three if heads are removed or loosened.
Transit Connect (Unspecified year) - Will fit a couple pins.
11 GMC
Acadia (2009-2014) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down. Acadia will fit Stern in box, Chevy Traverse must be unboxed due to hatch shape.
Envoy (2002-2009) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down. Note: rear seats do not fold down completely flat giving the cargo area a slanted surface - making it more difficult to load a machine (and you must be careful of the cabinet artwork.
Jimmy (1995-2005) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
Suburban(Chevy&GMC)(Unspecified year) - Will fit up to three machines providing one head can be removed(EM, Early SS, or lots of unplugging/unbolting).
Terrain (2005+) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
GMC Yukon (Unspecified year) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
Yukon XL (Unspecified year) - Will fit up to three machines providing one head can be removed(EM, Early SS, or lots of unplugging/unbolting).
12 Honda
CR-V (2003+) - 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. 2014 will hold boxed Stern pinball.
Element (2003-2011) - Will hold any pin.
Fit (2015) - Will hold pin but cargo area slightly shorter than old body style.
Fit (2001-2014) - Will hold most pins from 70s-current. Including widebody WPCs.
Odyssey (1999-2004) - 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.
Odyssey (2004+) - 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.
Pilot (2009) - 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).
Pilot (2010-2012) - 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".
13 Hyundai
Santa Fe (Unspecified year) - Machines fit easily, can also fit NIB machines.
Tuson (2006) - Will fit one pin. Will also fit NIB Stern with pallet still strapped on (hatch still closes)
Veracruz (Unspecified year) - STTNG fit easily in, but the rear seats don't fold flat. Have to do some maneuvering to get it to slide the rest of the way.
14 Jeep
Cherokee: XJ (1997-2001) - Will fit most machines. Pinball 2000 is very tight.
Grand Cherokee (1999-2004) - 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.
Grand Cherokee (2005-2010) - Not enough vertical clearance to fit a pin without moving the head.
Grand Cherokee (2011-2015) - Should fit most game models, but not much vertical clearance. Well I tried and was able to get a BSD in the back of a 2011 grand Cherokee. It was a loaner I got from a local dealer. It's a standard GC version, so I don't know if options change anything. It has about 30 1/4 inch vertical clearance carpet to opening bottom; giving about 1/2 inch clearance with the BSD head. Don't know about other games/manufacturers, but a Williams WPC does fit.
Liberty (2002-2007) - Will fit a pin easily
Wrangler 2 door models: CJ, YJ, TJ, JK (1986+) - Will NOT fit.
Wrangler Unlimited 4 door model(2007+) - With the rear seats down, holds a Guns N' Roses (with the gun handle), so should hold any pin with a longer-than normal plunger.
15 Kia
Sorento (Unspecified year) - The second generation System 80B cabinet (Raven to Victory) will not fit through the rear door's opening, when the game is folded. However, the head hinges can be unbolted, so the head is able to slid down the cabinet body descreasing the overall height. The single ground strap going from the body to the head will have to be removed, as will the 2-pin inline connection used for the 110v feeding the fluorescent lamp. The main harness which is snaked between the driver board and CPU board may have to be removed from some of the straps holding it in place.
The game used to confirm this was a Hollywood Heat. Even though Rock has the same backbox as the other games mentioned, it may acually fit, because the cabinet body is not as tall.
Soul (Unspecified year) - With the rear seats down, the Soul can fit either a Gottlieb System 1 game or a Bally -17 game with the backbox removed.
Sportage 2nd Gen(2005-2010) - Most pins will fit, Gottlieb System 3 are too tight and must be on their sides.
Sportage 3rd Gen(2011+) - Will NOT fit.
16 Land Rover
Range Rover - Non Sport Model (Unspecified year) - Will fit a pinball machine
Range Rover - Sport Model (Unspecified year) - Will NOT fit
17 Lexus
RX 350 (2012) - Will fit WPC pinball machines
18 Mazda
CX-5 (Unspecified year) - Anything but a System 3.
CX-7 (2010) - Tried to move a badcats and it did not fit. Needed about another 2 inches of clearance. So, pins with a backbox that folds down will not fit; but older em/ss where the head comes off should be fine. You also could unbolt the head of the ones that fold and bring it down the playfield a bit; and they might fit.
Mazda5 (2010) - Will fit most modern, folding pins.
Tribute (2002) - Will fit all modern, folding pins.
19 Mitsubishi
Outlander (2009) - 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 N' Roses.
20 Nissan
NV200 (2013-15) - Will fit at least one pin comfortably. Cargo area is 81" deep (with bulkhead partition installed) x 48" wide between wheel wells.
Pathfinder (Unspecified year) - Will fit any standard or wide body with the two back rows of seats folded down.
Rogue (2012) - Folded WPC will not fit. 29" from floor without mat to top of hatch. Must remove head.
Murano (2012) - Folded WPC will not fit. Bumps on ceiling for hatch hinge and seat belt shoulder strap.
Versa (Unspecified year) - Will fit a WPC game, if the head is removed. Body sits in passenger seat with seat tilted all the way back. Driver's side rear door needs to have its pin removed, which limits how far the door opens. Cabinet can be slid into vehcicle through driver's side rear. It's crazy, but I've seen this done first hand!
X-Trail (Unspecified year) - Will fit any standard or wide body with the rear seats folded down.
21 Oldsmobile
Cutlass Supreme (1995) - 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.
22 Pontiac
Aztek (2001-2005) - Will fit most machines.
Matrix (2003-2010) - Will fit machines with head removed (including folding heads); includes WPC, 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. Hatch opening is too rounded by about 2" to fit with folding heads attached.
Vibe (Unspecified year) - Will NOT fit a pinball, hatch is too rounded.
23 Porsche
Cayenne (Unspecified year) - Will NOT fit a pinball, hatch is too rounded.
24 Renaut
Clio (Unspecified year) - Everyone of my pinballs have been transported in my Renault Clio! In the last trip... a Firepower, me, my girlfriend and her Australian shepherd.
25 Saturn
Outlook (2007-2010) - Will fit all standard and wide body pinball machines with back seat folded down.
Vue (Unspecified year) - machines must be placed on their sides, but will fit.
26 Scion
Scion Xb (2003-2006) - Will fit any pin.
Scion Xb (2008+) - Will fit any pin.
Scion XD (unspecified year) - Standard body pin with head removed will fit.
27 Subaru
Forester (2000+) - Back seats folded down - fits WPC, early 80's Bally, modern Stern, Williams Joust. Gottlieb Ssytem 3, late 80's Bally, Safecracker, Banzai Run has to be put in on their side.
GL Wagon (1979-1989) - All standard machines with removable backbox; back seat folded down.
Impreza hatchback (Unspecified year) - Gottlieb EMs (2 player) and Bally SS machines fit.
Outback (Unspecified year) - will NOT fit. Maybe able to get in mostly, but can't close hatch...not a good option for long trips.
Outback Legacy (1994-1998) - will fit most pins. System 3 hand out the back about 6".
Outback Legacy (1998-2003) - will fit most pins with the child restraint anchor removed.
Outback Legacy (2003-2009) - should fit most pins.
28 Toyota
4Runner (2009+) - Will fit most modern machines. NIB will fit.
Corolla Wagon/hatchback (1992) - Will fit most modern machines.
FJ Cruiser (2007+) - Will fit most machines. NIB Stern will not allow hatch to close (about 6") - a bungee cord will help.
Highlander (2007+) - Will fit most modern machines.
Matrix (2003-2013) - Will fit machines with head removed (including folding heads); includes WPC, 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. Hatch opening is too rounded by about 2" to fit with folding heads attached.
Prius V (Unspecified year) - I was pleased to discover that the Prius V could handle a Black Hole and a Paragon. Different trips of course.
Rav4 (Unspecified year) - Must remove rear seats.
Sequoia (2008) - Fits pins no problem.
Sienna (2013) - will hold 2 pins with the middle seats removed. Both loaded from the back but the first pin is turned 90 degrees behind the front seats, second pin was loaded back box first. One pin will fit a 2004 with second row seats in place.
Tacoma Pre-Runner (Unspecified year) - fits great.
Venza (Unspecified year; possibly 2009 or 2010) - 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".
29 Volkswagen
Jetta SportWagon (Unspecified year) - Will hold machine; "a bit too tight for a fold-down newer game though."
Passat Wagon (2005) - 30.5 inches of height. Will fit most machines, even DMD's. Dr Who & TZ fit no problem.
Sharan(Unspecified year) - Will fit 1 machine without problems.
Tiguan (2011) - Was able to fit a T2. It was fairly easy to get in but a bit tricky to remove.
Tiguan (2012) - Will NOT fit newer folded pins (about 1" too short), Early SS and EMs fit fine with the head removed, System 11 has also fit.
Toureg (Unspecified year) - Will hold machine, at least an early 70's version (like Bally Circus)
30 Volvo
240DL Station Wagon (1984) - Almost any pin fits (except Hercules) with the head folded down.