I have always been facinated by onboard welders for rigs.
In Davids magazine he had a two part series on on board welders.

The 2nd issue had a few in there including the Mobi Arc welder.
http://www.perfectswitch.com/

There is a short vid there from Xtreme 4x4 TVs show on the above page.

I would like to install one, but you also have to change out your alternator.
Heck, I do not even know how to weld, but I am sure in a group of wheelers when off road there would be someone who knows.

My motto is always be preparared when outdoors, so this would be very cool.
That is one reason I beleive in having a winch on a vehicle.
You never know when it might save the day, and it did the first time I took a trip with it off road several years ago with the '91 4Runner.

Anyone have an onboard welder installed on their rig?

 

Nope, but I do know how to weld. I don't usually carry my welding helmet around with me though, so you better carry one of those too.

 

ive welded several times with two batteries and homebrew jumper cables made from 2 ga welding cable

i carry cutting goggles with a #10 lens, welding rod, and gloves with me

rather than an onboard welder, i would get a portable battery powered system.

 

The good news is Mr. Gobi's wife is getting an FJ soon.
He will figure out which alternator can be used with it, and do some testing.

With the dual battery setup, that is a lot more you have to carry though, and your weld time is limited from what I read in the Toyota mag.

 

I've got a Readywelder I carry in my truck. It's a wire feed type welder and not a stick welder. I've used it a couple times on the trail and it seems to work fine. Nice to have if you need it.

 

Since I have two batteries, I carry some custom cables to hook them up, and assortment of rod and a set of goggles. It's not as convenient as the onboard systems, but it's usable in a pinch.

 

I love my readywelder, ive used it many times. It is a very handy item to have when you need it. It welds very well, especially for what it is. Very portable, very easy to use, and like i said welds very well. I still use it in the garage when i want to weld something thicker than 5/16" in a single pass, as it will single pass 1/2" plate without any trouble.

Ive used a couple other onboard welders, including the good ole jumper cable type, and i will take a readywelder over any other unit i have used, no questions asked.

 

There have been several instances of spontaneous fires (as in vehicle parked and then a fire starts) started by these, causing, in at least one case, a very serious fire in the vehicle.

Get a ReadyWelder or GoWeld.
They're much better in everyone's opinion (out here anyway).
They're both a wire feed gun and, unlike most of the stick type (Mobi Arc, etc.) you don't have to redo the weld when you get home





Fred

 

I run the Primier Power Welder:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...er/index.shtml

And also carry cables for hooking up dual batteries for welding:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri....shtml#Welding

Love welding with the PPW, it has a high frequency component in the DC arc and that makes the arc strike easy and penetrate well. I also use the cutting goggles w/ #10 lens and carry a small shipping hammer, wire brush and heavy gloves. Have used it a few times on the trail:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CA-168/Dusy-2003/21.html