trailblazer or bobcat?

[auker]

Im wanting to buy a miller welder generator. Not sure which would be best.
Wanting to start a mobile welding business but don't have a lot of money to put in it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[jbmprods]

i kick myself in the butt for buying the bobcat and not the trailblazer. all i can say is if foresight was as good as hindsight i wouldn't be a kickin.

[old but new]

Consider what processes you

need and the equipment you need to operate. Compare the 2 machines for features and make your choice. It all depends on what you need to do and what
machine will support your needs. Then there is the price...

old but new

[1havnfun]

I vote TB

I did the Trailblazer 302.
I liked the Generator for tools being separate from the welding generator.
The arc using the stick both 60 and 70 rods is better than my XMT350

But before I new that, the TB is AC/DC and the Bobcat isn't.
The TB has a remote recepticle and the BC dosen't

It Works for me

[Gmmandan]

I vote Trailblazer a more capable machine with the 14 pin connector. The bobcats have Ac/Dc + and Dc- as do the trail blazer.

[1havnfun]

Check that

After I posted I had to check the Bobcat. It has AC/DC as well.

[auker]

Thanks was kinda leaning towards tb anyway. Now I feel better about it.
Have another question though. I have the choice of getting a 23 hp kohler fuel injection or with carb not sure which route to take there? Fuel in. Is couple hundred more than carb.

[Ranch Hand]

Auker -- Again the type of use will dictate what is best for you. Regarding the fuel injection, the advertising states that it is more efficient, but not as adjustable as the carburated models. You can also run a comparison on the Miller website and see exactly what the differences are. As I recall, the main difference in the Trail Blazer and Bobcat (other than the obvious amperage differences) is that the Trail Blazer has a dedicated generator separate from the welder. If you are not often running tools from the generator at the same time you are welding, then this feature may not be necessary and the Bobcat may well meet your needs (if the Bobcat has enough welding amperage for the your welding jobs.) This would certainly be a more economical approach. I went through this analysis and decided the Bobcat was suitable to accomplish the welding jobs on the ranch and a more economical investment. Just my $.02.

[Paul Seaman]

The bobcat has the seperate genset as well its more the TB is a more full featured machine in tig and such.

[wroughtnharv]

Auker -- Again the type of use will dictate what is best for you. Regarding the fuel injection, the advertising states that it is more efficient, but not as adjustable as the carburated models. You can also run a comparison on the Miller website and see exactly what the differences are. As I recall, the main difference in the Trail Blazer and Bobcat (other than the obvious amperage differences) is that the Trail Blazer has a dedicated generator separate from the welder. If you are not often running tools from the generator at the same time you are welding, then this feature may not be necessary and the Bobcat may well meet your needs (if the Bobcat has enough welding amperage for the your welding jobs.) This would certainly be a more economical approach. I went through this analysis and decided the Bobcat was suitable to accomplish the welding jobs on the ranch and a more economical investment. Just my $.02.

I use 5P+ for just about all I do. Occasionally I'll use someone else's welder that isn't a Trailblazer. For me the Trailblazer arc is a whole different animal. It's more plastic and smoother. I've been told the reason for this is welding generator is three phase.

For me it's almost like my Trailblazer's arc is like a smooth running motor and the other's arc is comparable with one with a broken muffler and running rich.

If I replace my Trailblazer it will be with a Trailblazer, if for no other reason than the arc makes me smile.

[Miller John]

Auker,
I agree with the guys that have replied. Really, the Bobcat is a very good machine and the Bobcat 250 in the most popular welder/generator. However, for your needs I also recommend a Trailblazer as it's designed for the professional and comes with features that you'll find very beneficial the more you use it.

As far as spending the extra money for EFI - if you're basing in purely on fuel consumption payback, it depends on how often you use it. The more it's used for welding or generating power, the more the fuel savings are - up to 27% less. If it sits and idles all day, fuel savings are only about 12%. In either case, if gas goes up to $4 or $5 a gallon, payback on the extra money spent for EFI may be a fairly short time period. Other advantages are listed on the Trailblazers product page on the web site.

If you have any specific questions, toss them out.