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Ease of basket setup/tear-down
Uprights are rigid and not collapsible. They are usually stored upside-down in the basket.
Uprights are connected to the basket with quick-to-connect lynch pins, and the lynch pins stay connected to the basket so there is nothing to lose. Older Balloon Works use a pin with a hold in the end. A key-ring-like circle is attached to the hole. This assembly takes a good deal longer than the snap-on operation of the lynch pins. Owners of the older systems can buy the lynch pins for $30, and they are probably worth that in time saved.
The burner is attached to the uprights using three springs. These springs are easy to attach during set up and allow gimbaled action of the burner. The fuel line is attached to one of the uprights in a suede sleeve, and the sleeve is attached to the upright using Velcro. It is important to check the installation to make sure line is not velcro'd such that it puts pressure on the burner and causes it to lean.
Most Balloon Works gondolas have three sides. The system is inflated with the corner of the basket that has the fuel line facing up. The Kevlar cables are attached to ropes that come up the sides of the basket. It is important to remember that the handle lays against the uprights, instead of the cables against the uprights.
Overall, system set up is easy and quick. This is nice for new pilots and competition pilots. Below are pictures of fairly new TBW basket with a Mirage style burner.
Safety features/faults of basket
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Safety features/faults of envelope
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Quality of basket construction
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Quality of envelope construction
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Burner pros and cons
Opinion: The T3-017 is a very reliable, lightweight burner. Be careful if you flying a 65 or smaller, if you do 2 or 3 second long blast (like to pull out of a descent) the burner could go out on you. The Mirage is too much heat for anything smaller that a 90. The radiant heat is almost unbearable, I have a brand new mirage setting in my den that has never been used because I do not like the amount of heat it puts out or the flame backwash in to the burner can. It is also extremely heavy.
Opinion: I use a 65k with a T3-017 and haven't had the T3 go out with a 2-3 second burn. I do know people using Mirage's with balloons smaller than 90. Yes, they put out a ton of radiant heat!
Fuel system pros and cons
Opinion: TBW fuel manifold systemduring refueling requires the fuel to travel through the entire fuel system. This makes for longer bleeding of fuel lines after refueling.
Vent system pros and cons
Opinion: The vent line on A TBW requires so much force to pull out that my 120 lb. wife can't pull it out by herself. We installed a pulley system into the balloon and we both got tired of getting tangled in the ropes every time we landed.
Opinion: I'm 135 lbs and have no problem pulling the top out.
Basket weight
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Pros and cons for use in competition
Opinion: I dislike flying a TBW in competition because the parachute vent is so hard to pull that by the time you finally start descending you have over vented and have to burn to compensate and probably over burn.
Pros and cons for use in ride operations
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Warranty information
Opinion: The folks at TBW take an attitude of our equipment never breaks so it must be your fault if it does break, so were not going to fix it whenever you call with a warranty problem.
Maintenance
Opinion: Baskets are modular which allow for easy floor removal, etc.