Differences in Reelcraft hose reels.....

[EmptyWallet]

So I started looking at getting an airhose reel the other day, and of course I've always heard about Reelcraft.

I know there is lots of love here for the HF hose reel as well for what it is.

HF hose reel is...$80?

My question comes down to the differences in Reelcraft reels.

Seems the two I'm looking at, the Premium and Heavy-Duty have QUITE the large price difference.

Typical RC 3/8 50ft reel I wanted was in the neighborhood of $240 or so...for the Premium line. I could swallow that, but then it steps up to the Heavy-Duty line which is more like $500 or so.


Sooo, any ideas? I'm completely down with getting a HF $80 reel, but the Premium RC reel at about $240 or so is not out of my price range.

But...would it be THAT much better than the HF reel?

Is it like the budget line of RC reels and it's COO is somewhere else? Drop in quality?

Would you have to basically get the $500 Heavy-Duty reel to reach the RC quality we've all heard about?

Premium:
http://www.zorotools.com/g/Premium Industrial Reels/00057929/None

Heavy-Duty:
http://www.zorotools.com/g/Heavy-Duty Industrial Reels/00057924/None

 

[rlitman]

Look at the difference in size.

 

[tdkkart]

Near as I can figure all hose reels are made by the same place, the place where stuff that doesn't work comes from. We've got a bunch or ReelCrafts at work, they don't work any better than the cheap ones from Harbor Freight or anywhere else. They sure as hell don't work $2-400 better.

 

[pattenp]

Comparing the HF and Reelcraft hose reels is like comparing apples to oranges. The Reelcraft is made from way better quality materials. The spring mechanism in the Reelcraft is far superior. But the HF hose reel for the DIY're will get the job done for a lot less money. It's kinda like a Lexus can get you to the store but so can a Kia.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Compare apples to apples (or close):
HF 50 ft 3/8" hose 1/4 NPT fittings 250 PSI $78
RC Premium 50 ft 3/8" Hose 1/4 NPT fittings 300 PSI $204

RC Premium 50 ft 1/2" hose 1/2" Fittings 300 PSI $324
RC HD 50 ft 1/2" hose 1/2" Fittings 2000 PSI $464

The RC HD also has a higher temperature rating if that is important to you.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Let's say I was going to change the hose to a Flexzilla 3/8 or 1/2 anyway.....should I just get the HF one and replace the hose and be done with it?

 

[C96]

HF hose reel is...$80?

HF reels are on sale now!

 

[BRIANBB]

Some of the less expensive reels are plastic where the Reelcraft ones are steel.

 

[steel 35]

HF reels are on sale now!

Thanks for that I may just use it

 

[pattenp]

I've got two of the HF air hose reels and the hoses that came on them lasted about 3 years and started to crack. At that time I bought new Python air hoses and that's now been 5 years ago and the reels are still working fine. The HF reels are steel. I'd get the HF reels and buy new hoses when the original one craps out.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Uhhh, what's the difference between these two:

http://www.harborfreight.com/retractable-hose-reel-with-50-ft-airwater-hose-69265.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/50-ft-...ose-reel-with-3-8-eighth-inch-hose-93897.html

Same price different model numbers?

 

[cagullett1]

Uhhh, what's the difference between these two:

http://www.harborfreight.com/retractable-hose-reel-with-50-ft-airwater-hose-69265.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/50-ft-...ose-reel-with-3-8-eighth-inch-hose-93897.html

Same price different model numbers?

They are the same.

I've been a big fan of my reel from Northern. Northern posts $20 coupons if you spend $100 or more so this can be had for $80. I got mine a few months back on sale for $80. I ordered a pair of Channellock's for $20 to raise the overall price to $100, and basically got the Channellock's free.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_47578_47578

 

[Speed4Life]

I bought a 50 footer from Eaton Compressor a little while ago. Was thinking they were U.S. made cuz of something I heard, and found out upon arrival it was Chinese. It is a really nice strong piece, I just hate buying anything Chinese though when there are high quality American options out there. Oh well, we'll see how it works out.

 

[EmptyWallet]

They are the same.

I've been a big fan of my reel from Northern. Northern posts $20 coupons if you spend $100 or more so this can be had for $80. I got mine a few months back on sale for $80. I ordered a pair of Channellock's for $20 to raise the overall price to $100, and basically got the Channellock's free.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_47578_47578

Isn't this basically the same as the HF reel?

 

[Todd.Brock]

I think all the Chinese reels are about the same. I had a reel craft. It was a 25 ft reel. I bought it on CL and it worked fine. It was only a 1/4" hose. I sold it and bought a Husky Tools branded version of the HF reel. 50ft of 3/8" line. It works fine. I don't see the difference in a RC and HF reel in a home garage. On a service truck, or in a shop? Sure. RC all the way. I spent 30 bucks on mine and it's been great for about 5 years. The hose isn't even dry rotting yet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shopnut]

Reelcraft makes an "economy" line of reels called ReelTek. They have plastic drums and actually I prefer them for their reduced price and because anything painted steel in my shop starts rusting in a few years. Some of mine have been up in the shop for 7 years now and still look and function like new.

I also have two of them mounted outside in the elements as water hose reels and they are holding up just fine after several years.

 

[Silver Heels]

Reelcraft makes an "economy" line of reels called ReelTek. They have plastic drums and actually I prefer them for their reduced price and because anything painted steel in my shop starts rusting in a few years. Some of mine have been up in the shop for 7 years now and still look and function like new.

I also have two of them mounted outside in the elements as water hose reels and they are holding up just fine after several years.

Shopnut- I've been contemplating using a hose reel for water in the garage- did you have a noticeable drop in volume or pressure using air hose which of course is smaller than garden hose?

 

[shopnut]

Shopnut- I've been contemplating using a hose reel for water in the garage- did you have a noticeable drop in volume or pressure using air hose which of course is smaller than garden hose?

I actually have standard 50' 3/4" garden hoses rolled up on both of them (Lowes or HD sells brass adapters to allow the connection from pipe (NPT) to garden hose thread) and stored the air hoses away as spares. I'm sure there is a very slight pressure drop through the swivel joint inside the reel, but pressure and volume have not noticeably dropped at the hose output.

I would imagine you would notice some drop if you keep the smaller diameter air hose on there.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Picked up the HF one with the coupon. Anyone ever put a flexzilla hose on it?

 

[MN4x4]

Picked up the HF one with the coupon. Anyone ever put a flexzilla hose on it?

No, but I am planning to! Let us know how it works out if you do it?

 

[metal4130]

I was lucky enough to find a brand new Reelcraft 3/8" 50' for only $100. Made right in Columbia City, IN

 

[Sharpest]

Got a Goodyear 3/8 x 50' from Woot for $110 awhile back. Kicks ***. Wouldn't shell out for a Reelcraft but I'll definitely give the HF unit a try.

 

[compressornew]

I see the bearings difference in both.
Max pressure or Max temperature capacity is efficient for both.

 

[gtermini]

Garbage Freight reel is great for the money, but the hose is a total turd. Even with a new, better hose, you are in less bucks than a RC, if you are concerned about cost.

Greyson

 

[Tunajoe]

I bought a brand new, never used RC off Ebay for $125.
It was a 3/8 hose, 35 ft long.

RC is incredible quality. Worth the extra money IMO

 

[sanddan]

I would look at Coxreel instead of Reelcraft. I have both and the Coxreel is much better. The Coxreel is almost 20 yrs old and still on the original hose. Air pressure is always on that reel (90 psi) due to the plumbing. I has a much better retract system than Reelcraft.

 

[JCQuick]

During my time in the petroleum biz I sold many brands of hose reels. Had a lot of customers with reelcraft and they would replace them with these
http://www.samsoncorporation.com/products/reelmaster/index.html

Now if you want the best money can buy then these are the ones to go with

https://www.hannay.com/

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Picked up the HF one with the coupon. Anyone ever put a flexzilla hose on it?

I'd use the one on it for now. It's a pretty decent hose.

 

[Joe69]

In 2007, I put a HF 25' reel on my service truck. I replaced the hose with a good hose right away. My employer will buy the hose, but not the reel. It's out in the weather 365 days a year. I replaced it a year ago, because I upgraded to 2 50' HF units. One with a 3/8 hose, and the other with a 1/2" hose for my 3/4 and 1" impacts. The original 25' one still works fine. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well they have held up.

I also have a 50' one in my barn, it's about 7 years old. It still has the original hose with no cracks, but it's pretty stiff. I just haven't taken the time to upgrade the hose.

I still have the 25' one that I took off my service truck. One of these days, I'll mount it in my garage.

Joe

 

[coljar]

I got my first Reelcraft around 1980. It still works great 34 years later. I did have to finally replace the hose last year......what a POS.......just kidding!!!! I bought a couple more of them from Zoro last year. Wouldn't have anything else.

 

[justin1795]

we buy lots of reelcraft reels at work and install them for the production people. our people can be ruff on stuff but in a industrial environment they don't last more than a year. we had one the other day the dog was mushroomed and wouldn't stop. I could understand if they were cheapos but they are like 300 a piece.