Without some kind of wheels or cylindrical bar stock, wouldn't the machines get scrapped when winching? What about all the vibration , wouldn't that damage high precision machine tools?
Huhhh? The bottom of the feet or the base of the machine contact the truck bed.
And model it out, at the start of the winching process the load will only be contacting at two points at either end of the machine, one on the truck, the other on the ground. Can't even use rollers on that situation, just no where to put them.
The coefficent of friction between a steel deck and a cast iron machine base is pretty small, even less so when you add some lubricant into the equation. And most of these old machines are pretty greasy to begin with. Maybe skates, but bar stock rollers I doubt it, at least now with the machines I've moved.
And as far as damaging the machines when they get winched on a rollback? I think your overthinking this a little. Most of the machines I save are days from scrap, and considering the stresses the rolling elements would see in use, some gentle wincing probably won't hurt them.
John Oder moved the P&W 3B jig bore on a rollback, dosent seem to have hurt any spindle brearings.
I'm taking about the bigger semi tractor tambien rollbacks, which generally haul heavy equipment not cars, so I have no idea the fuel mileage when they would be next to empty.
The smaller single axle car hauler deals would probably get better MPG, closer to what a pickup would get.