Welding system with support base

A sled for a wire feeder, the wire feeder including a wire supply support configured to supply welding wire and a drive assembly configured to feed wire to a welding gun from the wire supply support, the sled comprising:

• a support plate defining a lower surface and configured to mount the wire supply support and the wire drive assembly to the support plate, the support plate being pivotable from a horizontal operational position to an angled travel position;
• and
• at least one reduced friction element extending from a second end of the support plate so that the support plate is in contact with a support surface when the support plate is in an operational position, and the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the support plate is out of contact with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position,
• wherein the support plate is pivotable from the operational position to plural travel positions including a first angled position in which the reduced friction element and the lower surface of the support plate are in engagement with the support surface, and a second angled position in which the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the lower surface of the support plate is out of engagement with the support surface.

A wire feeder, comprising:

• a wire supply support configured to supply welding wire;
• a wire drive assembly configured to feed wire to a welding gun from the wire supply support;
• a support plate defining a lower surface, the wire supply support and the wire drive assembly mounted to the support plate, the support plate being pivotable from an operational position to a travel position;
• and
• at least one reduced friction element coupled to the support plate, so that the support plate is in contact with a support surface when the support plate is in the operational position, and the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the support plate is out of contact with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position,
• wherein the support plate is pivotable from the operational position to plural travel positions including a first angled position in which the reduced friction element and the lower surface of the support plate are in engagement with the support surface, and a second angled position in which the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the lower surface of the support plate is out of engagement with the support surface.