Are cabinets difficult to get upstairs??

[eggedd2k]

i'm getting one of these cabinets later this week:http://www.pcarcade.tv/videomaster.php

i plan on having the cabinet upstairs - have any of you got your cabs upstairs and if so, was it a pig to get it up there?

[2PacMan]

I hear alot of people complaining about that, but i don't think it's that hard.  It's a 2 person job, but it's definately do-able.  My friend and i got a Ms Pacman cab upstairs in my house and we didn't have too much of a problem....we even had to go up a few stairs, stand the game upright, turn, and go up more stairs in a tight area and we managed.

They are heavy though, but no more so than moving a stove or a couch or something like that upstairs.  There isn't much to hang on to though, my hands kept slipping.  i used some gloves which helped....i also gripped the leg levelers, which probably wasn't a good idea, but luckily they stayed in.  Unless you're in a tight area, you should be fine...bring a strong friend though.

[Q*Bert_OP]

I had a hard time with getting one up 6 stairs with a 25" monitor inside so, I would recomend taking the monitor out if it's 25'' or larger.

[AlanS17]

You had an easy time because you moved one of the smallest full size upright arcade machines ever made. It's pretty hard.

If you're gonna move a machine up the stairs, take off the back door. It'll give you more to hold onto.

I also second the vote for removing a 25" monitor. I'd remove a 19", too, if it's not too difficult.

[AlanS17]

... or just hire paige. He makes it sound like a snap. He must be an iron man or something.

[Evil Otto]

Rent a hand truck (appliance type with the straps).  Makes moving the cabs up and down stairs 100 times easier.

[AlanS17]

It depends on the stairs. Mine are situated at an angle in my house that makes it really hard to put my appliance dolly into position. Otherwise yeah those things are great. I went ahead and bought mine at Big Lots for $50 and it's money well spent.

[Goz]

This so depends on a couple of factors.

Shape of cab / Shape of the stair way
Weight of cab / Stregnth of people moving the cab.
Understanding wife / spouse / significant other

Shape of the cab / Shape of the stair way this is an obvious limitation. Just remember that depending on shape of the stair way and ultimatly the landing at the top of the stairs and any turns you need to make this could spell disaster.

Wieght of the cab / Stregnth of people moving the cab is yet another obvious issue. Your standard 25" cab (wood) will weight approx 300lbs. You will need to lift it at least a foot to two feet off the ground while walking upstairs. Harder than it sounds often times. Standard stairs are not wide enough for you to stop half way up for a breather.

Understanding wife / spouse / significant other is often over looked, but should be heavily weighed. Chances are good that during the move you will likely tag a wall or two or twelve 

Not to be Mr Negativity, but take it from a person who has moved a couple for friends. I'm not a small man and it has been difficult to say the least on at least one or two instances just in keeping the cab up off the ground.

Good luck

-Goz

[Q*Bert_OP]

My 25'' cab weigs about 520 lbs.

[Ken Layton]

Better buy ($1,000) or rent one of those electric stair climbing dollies.

[Q*Bert_OP]

I also could use a lift gate

[Stingray]

The short answer to your question is "yes".

-S

[ChadTower]

Wieght of the cab / Stregnth of people moving the cab is yet another obvious issue. Your standard 25" cab (wood) will weight approx 300lbs. You will need to lift it at least a foot to two feet off the ground while walking upstairs. Harder than it sounds often times. Standard stairs are not wide enough for you to stop half way up for a breather.

This is really the biggest and most controllable variable.  The strength of the people involved is key.  Strength makes EVERYTHING easier.  I have moved cabs up and down stairs with a person of average strength and it's a nightmare because they keep putting it down, losing grip, they just aren't equipped to handle it.  I used to be a powerlifter, my brother is a lifter, when he's there we move cabs up and down without issues.  Hell, we moved a 900lb piano onto and off of a raised suspension  pickup without that much of a problem.

Hit the gym, man.  It's not only for looks and health, it just makes life so much easier when you can walk up to heavy things and pick them up like their weight isn't relevant.

The other factor here, related to understanding spouse, is the ability to repair the wall damage you do in the process.  Make sure you can fix it so it's nice and undamaged afterward so your wife/spouse doesn't complain about it for the next 5 years.

[AlanS17]

I don't have a spouse but I have a brother with all the typical spousal complaints - one of them being that we can't take anything up the stairs that won't go up easily for fear of damaging something.

[AlanS17]

What machine are we talking about moving here?

When I move the Ms Pacman with my brother we can just tip it on it's side and carry it sideways. It's a snap. I can almost toss the Space Invaders Deluxe around (but I wouldn't, of course).

But that Kangaroo? Oh my back! What were they thinking when they built that thing! And the Super Off-Road? I only move that thing when I absolutely have to. It's a true beast!

[markb]

An empty case is liftable, a full one definitely not (upstairs anyway).

I would recommended at least 3 people, 2 down and 1 up and lie it on its back to take it up as in the event of an accident it will do the least damage to it.

[arcadegamenut]

This is why, unless I get one of the slikstiks, my cabinet will remain downstairs.

[conseit68]

my idea would be to cut a hole in the roof...rent a crane...lift cabinet...set in place. 


just a thought...

[Gootfu]

You had an easy time because you moved one of the smallest full size upright arcade machines ever made. It's pretty hard.

If you're gonna move a machine up the stairs, take off the back door. It'll give you more to hold onto.

I also second the vote for removing a 25" monitor. I'd remove a 19", too, if it's not too difficult.

I agree

I have moved cabinets by removing back panel, control panel, bezel glass and monitor... this cuts down the weight quite a bit.

[DarkKobold]

This is really the biggest and most controllable variable.

[ChadTower]

I also don't have time to hit the gym everyday, and when I do, I'm more cardio than weight lifting.

You don't have to be a gym rat, be there every day, or even be there more than twice a week to build good core strength.  Done efficiently, one can dramatically increase their core strength in two hour long workouts a week.  It's not an EASY workout, but it can be done with that type of minimal time investment.

[paigeoliver]

Take the monitor out and use a friend to help and it will be over before you know it. I have a NASTY stairway with a pair of 90 degree turns that you can't use a dolly on and I have still not had any issues larger than stupid buddies jamming a cabinet into my head because they are moving too fast.

I can actually carry an empty plywood cab (and most populated cocktails) up the steps by myself.

Atari cabinets are the worst (followed closely by Outrun era sega cabs), because they are heavy particle board and they have NO PLACE to grab onto.

[AlanS17]

Atari cabinets are the worst...

Amen! I really hurt myself there. I'm too young to be feeling so old...

And those wheels in the back? Useless!!!

[richms]

I don't have a spouse but I have a brother with all the typical spousal complaints - one of them being that we can't take anything up the stairs that won't go up easily for fear of damaging something.

Something will get damaged, most likly the drywall, but its a piece of cake to repair, its getting matching paint thats the problem, so use it as an excuse to re-decorate the stair area in something that isnt beige (since thats what most houses seem to come with)

[AlanS17]

Ours is a light brown. Rather odd...

[IntruderAlert]

is that cab pre-assembled eggedd2k?

[paigeoliver]

Mine is two-tone brown, with assorted cabinet marks and general scuffs (only about 1/4 of them are from me).

[RayB]

I tried moving a Punch Out up stairs. There were two of us. It wouldn't budge.

We had to take out both monitors and call in two more guys.

[vib_ribbon]

i think mr megalo's the man to ask here... but here's my 2p's worth.

i live in a warehouse conversion apartment, those with a double height ceiling tall enough to have a trampoline...

unfortunately, the developer decided against having a lift in the building, so we've got these stairs that spiral up, 2 flights per floor with a small landing in between. i live on the 2nd floor with a view like that of being on the 4th floor of a typical building.

when i bought my japanese cab, 2 delivery men turned up. when they saw the stairs they said, "no chance" straight up. i had to then run around the grounds of my development looking for the east european - and probably illegal handy workers to help lift the 120kg* cab up the stairs.

*correction. the cyberlead 120kg.

the turns in the stairs are barely just wide enough for the cab to turn for the 4 of us. everyone were completely knackered afterwards.

when mr megalo came to pick it up a few weeks ago, he brought his mate who was built like a brick wall. that occasion he was at the bottom on his own and mr megalo & i helped lower it from the top using the handles.

mr megalo swears that he can carry these cabs down between him and his petite girlfriend. he did somehow manage to get a 50" cab home on another occasion...

anyway... good luck!

[ChadTower]

he did somehow manage to get a 50" cab home on another occasion...

I've done that by myself as well.  Those things are on wheels.

[arcadegamenut]

@vib,

Do you have a large window that it would have fit through? Makes me think of the movie ghost when they were hoisting the large statues up through the window using a rope and pulley system.

[ericball]

My only experience (so far) has been moving my Tempest downstairs into the basement.

[bjk7382]

The heaviest thing I moved up a flight of stairs was a very large fully assembled entertainment center when I helped my friend move. He told me that they moved it down there fully assembled, but after we got it wedged halfway up the stairs, I found out that was a lie (or forgotton fact) His wiffe told me later that he bought it and assembled it in the basement.

He was moving out of the house anyways, so we just crammed it thru, which tore up the walls a little and bent a light fixture.

[arcadegamenut]

Slightly off topic - "How NOT to move something upstairs"

Some co-workers and I were helping another co-worker move into his home one day after work. Imagine our surprise when we were told as we got there that there was only one more load and all we needed to do was unload it. This was going to be a very easy job for a few slices of pizza, a cold beverage and a cookie!

And for the post part, that was true. Until the evil dresser (one of those with the attached mirror on it) came along. My best friend and I totally mistimed this one and ended up having to carry it up a flight of stairs to a landing, turn and then up another flight of stairs and then squeeze our way into the bedroom.

Our first mistake was getting tickled. I don't remember what happened or what was said, but it just isn't a good idea carrying something that big to start laughing. It makes it really hard to handle.

The next issue came along as we began our way up the stairs. I was on the back side with pretty much all the weight on me. Now I'm not much of a big guy, but it was the flag side of the dresser against me and so it really wasn't that bad. But then it happened. My friend wasn't holding his end high enough as he walked backwards up the stairs and got his foot stuck.

From there (once we freed the hostaged foot), we made it to the landing , turned a bit and got up to the floor we were supposed to be on. We set the dresser down for a second to assess which room we needed to put it in and how we were going to get it in there. We identified the room, but took note that it was going to be a terribly tight squeeze to fit it through the door at the angle we needed. We agreed to pay attention.

We got the thing about halfway through when I noticed we were getting very close to the wall.

"Hold on a sec..." I said.
<Friend continues to pull>
"Hold on...wait...sto...<sound of grinding wall plaster>"

I couldn't stop him. He pulled that thing right in there and we left a very nice "move-in-mark".

The owner just laughed and said he had other places to fix, so it wasn't a big deal.

[vib_ribbon]

Do you have a large window that it would have fit through?

yes. we do have extra big sash windows left behind in the conversion. however, the management in this complex are really arsey and i doubt they would allow me hoist the cab up to my floor using the window-washing platform they have on the roof. any broken windows it'd be another rise in the annual service/ maintenance charge.

[eggedd2k]

been to look at it tonight - wouldnt fit in my car (mk4 golf) so my mate's gonna fetch it in his van tomorrow.  it's got wheels and I reckon me and two mates will get it upstairs easy enough. we've not got any weird shaped stairs or anything.

[eggedd2k]

cabinet arrived today. managed to get it upstairs with the help of the delivery guy. it was bloody heavy though. god knows how i'll get it downstairs when we eventually move.

[vib_ribbon]

congrats!

perhaps you'd like to share some photos with us once you're settled down? 

[brained]

man too much scary stairs stories!! when I'm done with my cab is going to my place (a 3rd floor) with really tight stairs!! 

[AlanS17]

Well I bought EyeDoc's PacMan and picked it up this past Friday. We moved it up the stairs with pretty much no issue. My brother banged his foot but that's what he gets for not wearing shoes. 

Of course, like I said before, it's one of the lighter games. The limited space was more of an issue than the weight.

So there you go! A stairs success story!!!