I have the larger TRA001 3.25hp model and really love it. It's in the table. Too large for me to use it hand held. I have a couple of Triton tools and find they are very good. Rugged and I do like their safety interlock, although it is occasionally annoying, but when your temper is short, that's when you really need the interlocks.

All that being said, for a router in that power range, I did and would go for a Bosch 1617. All kinds of accessories, easier to manage hand held than the Triton. Quality and customer service that's over the top as well. The EVSPK kid contains both fixed and plunge base. LOTS of accessories too.

The MRC Bosch looks to be very similar, but the price I saw is about $50 higher than the 1617, and I couldn't see very much difference. The 1617 goes regularly in the $220 range including both fixed and plunge bases, the EVSPK kit.

Hope this is helpful.

 

G'day Ed, welcome to the forum.

I am a Triton fan from way back.

This is only a 'mid'sized router, what work are you planning to carry out with the router?

 

Thank you James for your quick response. I will use it for edge trimming, mortice/temon - mothing heavy both in the table and hand held.

 

Welcome to the forum Ed.

 

I have the TRA001 3.25hp in my router table and the Bosch MRC23EVSK as um one of my handhelds,...its a sickness I am not working on it. The Bosch has some great features. The "D" handles with the trigger in the handle makes it very easy to use, and the LED is fabulous. I don't understand why all routers don't have a light. The one downside to the Bosch, for me, is that it does not come with any dust collection. You can buy a kit from Bosch that is an extra $60.00 (I think). For that reason I tend to use other handheld routers that already have great DC.

 

I love Triton tools -
I have the Triton MOF001C 2-1/4-HP router mounted to the router table with a Rockler aluminum pro plate C

 

Triton with Triton table. I have been using mine for 15 years and only replaced brushes once.

 

I have a Triton TRA001 under my table and it really is great but as I've said in the past, in my opinion it was designed for table use where it excels but for hand held use it's very clumsy.

 

I use the Bosch 1617 kit and enjoy it for most tasks. In my full size table I have a 3.25HP King router that I paid $99 new over 10 years ago and it does the job for large bits and thick material. At $99 I figure when it's done I'll probably get a Triton to replace it. I also have a small plastic router table that I keep for one purpose, rounding over, I have my trusted old Black & Decker plunge router that must be 20 years old but it still does the job.

 

Welcome
I had the Bosch 23 and and the 1617. Like them both. The switch in the handle on the 23 gave me better control since i did not have to lift my hand from the router to turn it off and on. I did have occasional issues with dust getting into the 23's switch and shutting the machine down. That only showed up when I used the unit in a table.

I have not owned a Triton but as you can see from the other posters it is a popular unit. The Bosch 23 can not be used with any third party table lifts because of the switch in the handle. The 1617 can.

You will have to check with the Triton users but I don't believe you can use those with any third party lifts either. That said, a lot of posters say the height adjustment built into the Triton base works well saving you the cost of a third party lift.

Using the Bosch 23 's height adjustment as a lift in a table was not a pleasant experience for me.

 

Looks like both Bosch and Triton get high marks.

 

Ed, I had two identical, 2 1/4hp soft start routers with one in the table and one for hand held. I used them similar to your usage and 2 1/4hp was plenty for the table and with them being plunge and soft start were nice being used handheld. I originally got the 2nd router for a dovetail jig so I wouldn't have to stop and change bits but that ended up in the table when not using th dovetail jig.

Have the TRA001 3.25hp model now in the table.............. LOVE IT! Wouldn't even try to use it handhald.