anyone ever used a Champion 145 welder/generator?

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Im thinking of buying one of these. I just sold my Lincoln GXT250 because it was too heavy for my little truck.  This one only weighs 235, but Im wondering if it will hold up.  It will be used mostly for power at work, but I have to weld stuff every now and then. Not alot of welding, but when I do its 1/4-1/2" material.
Reply:I would go a bit bigger if your doing 1/2 steel welding so if I were you i'd get the Multiquip 180 amp welder, its a nice machine i use one a lot and its never given me problems and can burn a 5/32 rod.  The problem with the Champion 145 is its really to low amp for 1/2 material.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:what about a miller wildcat?farmer2Hobart Champion EliteMiller S-32p 12Lincoln sp175tLincoln 225 ac tombstoneHarris oxy/aceteleneMakita grinders/chopsawHypertherm Powermax 45
Reply:Their great machines those Wildcats but not as easy to move as a smaller 180 amp machine but they would do better on thicker steels.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:The 145 is not big enough, lincoln makes a nice portable 180 amp welder but it cost more than a Hobart 10,000 elite welder in my area. If I were you I would be looking at something 200 amps or bigger. Just my 2 cents from my experience.
Reply:The problem with a machine like the Hobart 10,000 is it weights about the same as a Lincoln ranger so i'm not sure if his little truck could haul it. If you need a big machine and your truck cant haul it could you get a trailer and pull it?Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:I would rather have a welder on a trailer big enough to weld what ever I want than have a welder to small and can't weld what I need to weld. The Hobart 10,000 weighs just under 500 pounds if my memory is correct, most little trucks can handle 500 pounds the problem will be getting it in and out of the truck. A trailer might be a better option.That's just me tho.Last edited by kctgb; 04-13-2014 at 10:19 AM.
Reply:Weight is why I suggested the wildcat.  Right over 300 pounds and 200 amps at 60% duty cycle.Hobart Champion EliteMiller S-32p 12Lincoln sp175tLincoln 225 ac tombstoneHarris oxy/aceteleneMakita grinders/chopsawHypertherm Powermax 45
Reply:The champion 145 is poor at best had one for a year and was nothing but trouble. Won't strike an arc easily the engine is the determining factor on the amperage. If the RPM is to high or to low it won't weld well. The 120 v out is not consistent varies with load. Don't waste your money on this.dwdw
Reply:Miller Bluestar 185.  The generator side is great, 5500 continuous, as it will start my 2.5 HP compressor, which I was told I needed 10K watts for.  It stick welds just fine IMO.  Not that I've ran alot of machines, but I can whip 6010 just fine, unlike with my old thermal arc 181.  The auto idle down feature is nice, as I hate listening to a screaming engine all day.  I needed an on site generator the most, and 3 guys can move this on and off the truck( 315 lbs without fuel or the wheel kit)  If I needed a welder more I would have gotten that Wildcat though.  It's not that much bigger, and only a few hundred more.  You could always get a wheel kit and truck crane if you had to move it yourself.
Reply:Thanks guys! I was about to buy a used Hobart Champion 145 and I've read enough to just spend a little more to get the right machine.Cheers!