50' Flexzilla on 25' Harbor Freight hose reel .......

[Hammer1963]

Have any of the GJ members replaced the 25' original red rubber hose with a 50' Flexzilla hose? I am curios since the Flexzilla hose does not normally bind or kink plus will collapse to some degree when wound snugly in a roll. I would like to wind as much hose on the reel as possible without cutting a new hose and was thinking this may be possible

 

[woody6904]

Flexzilla makes a 35 foot hose if the 50 dont fit.

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[Hammer1963]

Good to know. I had not checked into what was actually available.

 

[DerekV]

I put a 25' Flexilla on mine and there's definitely room for more hose. Not sure if it'll 50' though.

 

[Ign]

On a manual reel like this? They used to sell this manual with a 30' hose but 50' fits fine
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350864

 

[bsaint]

You'll hate the flexzilla

 

[raddksn]

35' or 50' might fit but my concern would be pulling that much hose off a reel made for 25' and over winding/breaking the spring!

 

[SteveL]

You'll hate the flexzilla

Can you please explain why?

 

[bsaint]

They seem to get snagged on everything because they never lay flat. Doesn't matter if you have a reel, whatever you're using itll get caught on everything. And it wants to spring everywhere. Maybe its what the hose is made of, its very grippy. Ill never buy another one. Ill just get a 1/2" goodyear rubber hose again.

 

[bnem]

They seem to get snagged on everything because they never lay flat. Doesn't matter if you have a reel, whatever you're using itll get caught on everything. And it wants to spring everywhere. Maybe its what the hose is made of, its very grippy. Ill never buy another one. Ill just get a 1/2" goodyear rubber hose again.

Not sure what this guy's complaining about. The Flexzilla hose won't kink and will remain flexible in cold temperatures. I own both a Goodyear and the Flexzilla and I don't see much difference in the way they behave. For either one, if you don't coil it properly or have it on a reel it won't want to lay flat when you pull on it.

 

[Strouty]

Bsaint, I have to disagree, mine don't do that, but I do have levelwind reels. Maybe that makes a difference? Regardless I prefer the hose because it is light, flexible, and so far very strong.

 

[bsaint]

I don't know then. Maybe I have a defect. You want mine? Whenever I get around to replacing it, it's yours.

 

[redwrench60]

I kind of know what bsaint means, the flexzillas can have a mind of their own. They seem to do as they please at least until they're good and broken in. If you're used to the way traditional rubber hose behaves then flexzilla will be different. The other thing with them is the fittings and crimp ferrules in our hose repair kit as well as the crimp dies won't work with flexzilla hose. The hose wall thickness is too thin. When we wear the end out or do something stupit like set the rack down on it and pierce it we have to change the whole hose. Otherwise I like it pretty well.

 

[countryroad82]

I've got my flexzilla on an ATD manual reel. It's been there since I bought it and so far (about 4-5 years maybe more) it's not collapsed or given me any major fits. I will agree it does tend to'grab' more if it catches on something. Other than that, it's been great!

 

[Strouty]

I kind of know what bsaint means, the flexzillas can have a mind of their own. They seem to do as they please at least until they're good and broken in. If you're used to the way traditional rubber hose behaves then flexzilla will be different. The other thing with them is the fittings and crimp ferrules in our hose repair kit as well as the crimp dies won't work with flexzilla hose. The hose wall thickness is too thin. When we wear the end out or do something stupit like set the rack down on it and pierce it we have to change the whole hose. Otherwise I like it pretty well.

Flexzilla air hose fittings

They make ends that are easy to install, cheaper than buying a new hose. I have made several of them. They definitely are different than a regular hose, but I have not really had any issues that come to mind. I usually buy longer hoses and make two, I do the same with the garden hoses. I guess maybe I am a flexzilla fanboy?

 

[jeepboy4life]

Im an mechanic at a granite counter top fabricator. Everything in our shop runs on air and all of our air lines are flexzilla. Have probably over 1000' of it in the shop, and I love the stuff. When is starts to leak I just cut off the end and use hose barbs and pinch clamps. It works very well once you find the right clamps.

 

[Ign]

I see what people are saying....the Flexzilla is so light it's kind of "wispy." Think wearing a paper napkin vs a lead blanket during X-rays; one lays better than the other. That said I like the Flexzilla for the most part.

 

[Strouty]

I guess if I think of it in terms of weight, yes it is less controllable than a heavy rubber hose. I also think having air pressure in it on a reel makes a difference. I do recall my shorter hose I use to air up tires from truck air systems does become a bit of a tangled mess, but I would rather have the flex over the stiffness of other hoses.

 

[redwrench60]

Flexzilla air hose fittings

They make ends that are easy to install, cheaper than buying a new hose. I have made several of them. They definitely are different than a regular hose, but I have not really had any issues that come to mind. I usually buy longer hoses and make two, I do the same with the garden hoses. I guess maybe I am a flexzilla fanboy?

Our shop just began switching over to them last year and we have several in service. I do love the light weight and flexibility. We need to look into repair fittings because we have dozens and dozens of hose reels in service.