Anyone have a welder in their rig for trail repairs?

Wondering about battery powered unit like Hobart's Trek 180 or a solid mounted unit like Premier Power units. Any preferences? Advice? I would prefer SMAW ability, but I like the portability of the Hobart unit (GMAW.) What says the hive mind?

 

a couple batteries is all you need. I'm not sure where you think you're going to get 20 amps at 120V to do any significant welding with a COTS machine. A dual battery setup will double over as any welding you'll need on the trail at minimal cost.

https://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/OnBoardWelder/index.shtml

https://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/DualBatteries.shtml#Welding

 

Thanks for the link. Not looking for significant welding (I would make a flatbed and bring a generator unit along), just thinking about an emergency repair to get out. Double battery is interesting...

 

I'd do the generator and a 110v welder, plus you'll have power for any emergency.

 

The premier power welder setup with the upgraded alt is pretty badass, it got used pretty extensively on one episode of fab rats on YouTube when his main welder failed. I’d be tempted to get that if I thought I’d ever need it.

https://youtu.be/U-yuRPQsU4o

 

I carry jumper cables, goggles, Vice grips and some welding rod. Steal a battery out of a buddy’s rig and you’re in business for very little money.

 

These guys know.

I went a little further and made a field weld kit that fits in a 16" Stanley box. 10' ground with battery terminal and ground clamp. 10' stinger with battery terminal and welding electrode holder. Two 18" jumpers with battery terminals. Some cheap welding goggles and some 1/8" 6011 rod. It's been used many times.

 

Nice-sounds like the right direction!

 

https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/ready-welder-ii-tech-article-by-billavista-pirate4x4x-com.2702681/

 

I looked at those before I decided to build an ARC kit for the trail. I decided to build my own kit for 2 reasons. I'm far from a pro welder so others can feel free to disagree and since it's TW I'm sure they will. lol

First was cost. The Ready Welder II was about $600 at the time. I was able to build 2 ARC kits for $120 bucks. I made one for myself and one for a buddy I wheel with. For 1/5th of the price of a RW II.

The second reason was ARC is just better at burning dirty material. MIG is great when you have the time and access to clean all the pieces very well. On the trail that's often not the case. Sometimes you need to just burn things in place and those things can be hard to clean well to bare metal.

 

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I have used both and carry rod and jumper cables. You are going to use flux core in any mig gun on the trail so clean isn’t as big of a deal. And most of the mig gun kits are always live electrode so it’s essentially arc welding but with a finner rod. You still need to scratch to get arc with either setup so even with rod you need some level of cleanish metal.

 

Good point. Whenever I think MIG I think shielding gas. lol

 

Me too... that helps clear the air some. Still, I am much better with stick.

 

In my rig I carry a can of brake kleen and a small wire brush. Yes the off gas can fawk you up so be aware and try to lessen your chances of breathing it in. I have welded a few steering boxes to frames and when they break their mounts they usually puke atf all over and wiping it off usually isnt enough. I also have welded a few axle housings/link mounts/spring perches and gear oil also sucks to weld through so brake kleen again.

I dont wheel with any tacos so I dont know what you guys will be welding, so maybe you wont be dealing with oily surfaces.

 

Too bad your not local, I have a RW at the shop you could try out. They are fine for what they are. I have seen a couple friends SAS their rigs with one. And if I remember correctly they make a model that will plug into a buzz box. Ergos are bad as the gun is thicker than a typical gun, but a rod in a jumper cable clamp isnt the best ergos either.

 

RuffStuff has a cheap one. I havent tried it though. I have seen them in person and its seems fine.
https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/bunweld.html