Air hose reels: HF 50' or Flexzilla 50'?

[mct75]

I'm beating myself up here. I finally decided on getting a 3/8" 50' air hose on a reel. My budget is $75-100 so no Cox or Reelcraft. Sorry. I've narrowed it down to HF or Flexzilla.

I really like the Flexzilla hose, but the reel is one of the enclosed plastic ones. I'm worried about it breaking or otherwise not holding up. Reviews seem positive though.

HF has their 50' hose+reel which sounds like a pretty crappy hose but on a very decent metal reel from what I have read. The hose is definitely replaceable whereas I'm not sure about the Flexzilla. Still, if I have to spend $30 buying a new hose it's not much of a bargain anymore.

My usage will be in a two car garage with light usage. Maybe 1-2 weekends a month running an impact, blow gun, and tire inflator. I'll mount it on the wall or ceiling where it should be out of the way. I think the FZ should hold up to this usage but am still hesitant.

I can get the HF reel for $65 out the door, or the Flexzilla for $72 shipped. $7 more for the FZ is what I am leaning towards. Does GJ have any feedback on the two? Thanks!

 

[healing]

Flexilla is my vote. Hose is better

 

[WhiffySpark]

I have the flexzilla. Going on a few years now with no issue

 

[Buckgnarly]

Flexzilla....x1000 if you live in cold climates! Flexzilla has survived my auto, plasma, welding, etc. for the past 4-5 years no problem. It does get dirty if that matters to you though, but works superb.

 

[CarsonConcepts]

I have the HF reel with a Good Year hose on it. Got the hose on clearance at Tractor Supply, at the time it was the best price combination. The HF reel is great, but the original hose *****, and left marks on things (like dragging it across a door sill outside). The outside feels like it's made of crayons (Wife's description, haha). Now my FIL has an older version, I think 5-6 years, and the hose on his feels a lot better.

If getting the HF, plan on changing the hose. For a $7 difference the Flexzilla would be a better choice.

 

[Mike W.]

I've had the HF model for about 18 months now. Reel works great and have had no problem with the hose.i really like the steel construction. I mounted it by myself and surprised me how heavy it was.

 

[Tim C]

I bought the HF reel and got a year or a little better use out of the crappy HF hose. I replaced the hose with a blue generic flexzilla knockoff from tractor supply. Been using that setup for four or five years now with no problems. HF reel is good quality. Hose is fairly easy to swap later on.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[mct75]

Thanks for the feedback! It sounds like HF + a nice hose is an unbeatable combo, but for $7 over the HF as it is, the FZ probably still wins out.

Does anyone know of actual failures with the Flexzilla reel? Yeah it's plastic but for the most part it seems durable. I think if I can keep the hose from slamming into it on retraction it should last.

 

[skruft]

I have a plastic HF reel that seems all right so far. I have reinforced the end of the hose with heatshrink to see if that will protect it from early failure.

 

[mct75]

I currently have a 20' PVC hose (it was free with my compressor) and hate the ends. With any side-loading the crimps start to hiss. I was thinking about some of the heatshrink tubing that has glue in in (used for battery cables) but wasting money on a cheapo hose is pointless.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I have that plastic Flexzilla hose reel combo. No failures after almost two years and it still reels in nice even though I never cleaned it after the first week or so of use. The only thing to keep in mind is that it may not reel in all the way if it is still under pressure. Relieve the pressure and it reels in every time.

 

[gungatim]

I have both the HF (9 yrs. old) and a flexzilla, 25 or 30' I think).

the flexzilla is small, light, easy to mount, and has a whip included. but I don't care for the hose as much, and it is definitely Cheaply made, case and rollers seem light duty. only had it a year so not much use but will be surprised if it lasts a very long time.

the HF is heavier, sturdier, but more difficult to mount, I used hard plumbed connection (copper pipe0 to my lines, no whip included. but it is stout, has a nicer hose, rubber bumper, ratchet mechanism, and hasn't failed in the 8 or 9 years I've used it as my main line.

only downside to the HF was the fittings are not the standard 1/4 npt, I think it's 3/8, so you either adapt the hose with fittings, or I cut the end off mine and just used a clamp and correct size male end for the quick connect.

my 2 cents...
edit: added a pic, top is mine mounted, is that the hose everyone complains about? or did they change it over the years? I was of the opinion it is a pretty nice hose, plenty flexible and easy to clean.

 

[mct75]

I went with the Flexzilla, I found another discount and was able to get it for $68.20 with free two-day shipping. Can't beat that.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I have the 100' 3/8" Flexzilla hose on the manual reel. It was around $100, and aside from a small leak at a fitting, it's been awesome. I avoided the plastic retractable reels because when I worked in a shop they were more hassle than they were worth. The manual one takes a few more seconds to roll up, but I'm not working against the clock. And there's really not much to ever go wrong on it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well, I'm too late if you already ordered one. But for future reference, Flexzilla does make an open faced steel reel like the HF you linked.

I have both, enclosed plastic and open steel. Neither one has given me any issues.

 

[mct75]

I would have greatly preferred the steel Flexzilla, but the cheapest I can find it is $130+ so that was right out.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I would have greatly preferred the steel Flexzilla, but the cheapest I can find it is $130+ so that was right out.

Fortunately, I had a couple of gift cards for TSC when I bought mine.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...ort-air-hose-reel-3-8-in-x-50-ft?cm_vc=-10005

 

[wyo george]

I have a HF reel with a flexzilla hose on it and some nice USA fittings, works just fine.

 

[k-os]

I have the Flexzilla that I bought from Menards during a Black Friday sale and I am not a big fan of it. Mine does not retract well into the reel and the ratcheting/locking mechanism is quirky. I would choose the HF over it (after upgrading the hose).

 

[BearDeXPS]

I would go with the hose of your choosing connected to the reel of your choosing.

 

[FigureItOut]

I have a HF reel with a flexzilla hose on it and some nice USA fittings, works just fine.

My setup exactly. OP already ordered the FZ but my recommendation would have been to get the HF reel, use it until the hose shows signs of failing, then get the FZ hose. I got two years out of my HF hose. It didn't fail but sure looked like it would soon. My FZ is way better, it's lighter, more flexible and somehow stays cleaner.

 

[mct75]

Maybe I will regret it. I just hate the crappy crimped hose ends without any strain relief. I definitely feel better about the FZ hose even if the reel might not be as nice. Plus it has a two-year warranty.

 

[Cope]

My setup exactly. OP already ordered the FZ but my recommendation would have been to get the HF reel, use it until the hose shows signs of failing, then get the FZ hose. I got two years out of my HF hose. It didn't fail but sure looked like it would soon. My FZ is way better, it's lighter, more flexible and somehow stays cleaner.

Son-in-law had the exact same experience.

 

[sanddan]

I vote to spend a little more for quality. My Cox reel is over 20 years old and still has the original hose installed which is in great shape. It has always had full pressure on it (set at 100 using regulator) and has worked flawlessly through the years. Well worth the extra cost if you can swing it.

 

[mct75]

I'm sure the Cox is a great reel, but I can't really justify spending $300 for a hose reel that I'm going to connect to a 5 gallon 125 PSI compressor. If I was a tire change shop or something I would be all over it, but I only plan on using this reel maybe 1-2 times a month.

 

[uncletater]

I have been using a HF for 3 years with no issues. I will admit when i wind it back up I always wipe the hose off as it is winding. I hate to see dirty air hoses. Just me being ****.

 

[thool]

So are reels better to mount on the ceiling or on the wall?

 

[GarageGuy89]

my 2 cents...
edit: added a pic, top is mine mounted, is that the hose everyone complains about? or did they change it over the years? I was of the opinion it is a pretty nice hose, plenty flexible and easy to clean.

I was under the impression the hoses were nice too! I have the HF hose reel as well, going on 2 years with some pretty good abuse to both the reel and hose. I've always liked the rubber HF hoses, they're cheap and haven't gotten a bad one yet.

There fittings are trash though. They end up in the trash first thing and I put nicer ones on from my stock pile.

 

[04chase]

i have both , i have 3 flexzilla reels. two of the 1/4"x50' and one 1/2" x 50' they are pretty nice for plastic but the hose is awesome mine are hung 14' so the reels have little chance of harm. I have the hf in my attached garage and also works fine but the hose itself is junk. its used strictly for tires and small favors. the flexzilla are for real shop use.

 

[justanengineer]

I'm sure the Cox is a great reel, but I can't really justify spending $300 for a hose reel that I'm going to connect to a 5 gallon 125 PSI compressor. If I was a tire change shop or something I would be all over it, but I only plan on using this reel maybe 1-2 times a month.

Buy used, hose reels are common and cheap in the summer at fleas, auctions, even on craigs. I've got a combination of Reelcraft, Cox, and Graco all bought for <$50.

 

[Ign]

I have the 100' 3/8" Flexzilla hose on the manual reel. It was around $100, and aside from a small leak at a fitting, it's been awesome. I avoided the plastic retractable reels because when I worked in a shop they were more hassle than they were worth. The manual one takes a few more seconds to roll up, but I'm not working against the clock. And there's really not much to ever go wrong on it.

This. When I was in school the 2 retractable import reels broke in a few weeks. We would literally have to tug the hose out and tie it to a lathe.

If you must mount the reel where you can't wind it, fine, go retractable. If you can get to it, go manual. The only thing that ever fails on the manuals is 2 o-rings in the swivel. They're easily accessed w snap ring pliers and a common size, easy to replace. I've replaced mine twice in ~13 years.

 

[mct75]

I am unfortunately pretty lazy and prefer the auto rewind. The FZ reel arrived yesterday and seems to be reasonable in quality. I want to try to mount it today.

My plan is to run a $5, 25' pvc air hose from the tank of the compressor, to a $6 filter and regulator on the wall, which then goes to the reel. The regulator on the compressor is more for nail guns and inflating pool toys than real stuff so the flow is terrible.

Yes, I know I really should run 1" black iron pipe on a downward slope with drips legs and inline oilers and maybe even a refrigerated air dryer. But I'm cheap and again, this is a 5 gallon compressor with a carry handle in a tiny 2 car garage.

 

[thickhead]

...If you must mount the reel where you can't wind it, fine, go retractable. If you can get to it, go manual...

^
This is really great advice!

I figured in reality I'd use mine infrequently (use a lot of battery tools) and really just wanted the freaking hose stored neatly and not in a knot when I needed it. Got a Tekton 50' manual and Goodyear rubber hose. Beautiful. There when I need it and small, compact out of the way everyday...and it just works.

 

[sberry]

I have HF hoses that are 25 yrs old. 1 has never had a repair, a couple had ends cut off and shortened a food and one outside 20 years. I have a couple Legacy retractor Wal-Mart jobs, not good in cold but work pretty good. I really dont mind hard hose for general work.
I don't mind manual.

 

[mct75]

Here's the legacy reel installed with my modded 5 gallon compressor:

 

[GarageGuy89]

Here's the legacy reel installed with my modded 5 gallon compressor:

I'd like to see more pics of that inter-cooler you got going on.

 

[James-W]

I have the Harbor Freight air hose reel and it is about 12 years old. No issues with it at all, well, the hose is a little stiff when cold but other than that it works just fine.

 

[Koolmoose]

I have the HF reel with the stock hose, ceiling mounted, for 3+ years with no problems. The garage is unheated and no issues with either. IIRC my wife got it for me as an XMAS present for $49 with a coupon.

 

[Markfothebeast]

I got the 50' 3/8" Flexzilla as well as the HF 3/8" rubber hose. The Flexzilla is awesome. I'd buy it over the HF. $25 or $30 at Menards. Not sure if it is still on sale.

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[mct75]

I'd like to see more pics of that inter-cooler you got going on.

Sure! It is a transmission oil cooler that I got for about $15 at the parts store. Lines going to and from it are 3/8" transmission oil cooler hose, and a $6 HF air filter (auto-draining) is pumbed to the output. Three 120mm fans are on the top of the cooler, and switch on when the compressor starts. Discharge from the cooler is about 2 degrees warmer than ambient, and the tank drain is dry at the end of the day.

Total cost was about $30.

The weakest link by far is the inlet hose, as compressor discharge can get to be 300 degrees F. I would have liked to get a stainless braided hose but it is too expensive.