Flexzilla hose reels?

[popper]

Anybody have any experience with the flexilla hose reels sold at Menards? I purchesed two to use in my shop and thought before I installed them I'd ask.

Thanks
popper
John Lynch

 

[JimVonBaden]

There was a thread on them a while back. The general consensus is that they are ****. The one I had lasted 3 weeks.

Jim

 

[chadman]

I have had cheap hose reels in the past. I will tell you this, IMO there is only one hose reel to have and that is a Reelcraft. They are not cheap but in the long run I would have been dollars ahead seeing I ended up buying one after tossing two cheap ones in the trash. If I were you I would return them.

 

[Bull]

It's too bad if the reels are ****, because everyone seems to love their hoses.

So, a Reelcraft with a Flexzilla hose installed, is that the ideal?

 

[xyster101]

I bought this goodyear one off Amazon after reading all the reviews. I have been using it about twice a week for 2 years, so not a lot of use. It works great! The hose is soft and flexable even in the winter and it has a strong spring. Thing is heavy, like 60lbs and takes a bit to mount it (I put mine on the ceiling).

At $150, worth it.

http://amzn.com/B002LQ7WKM

 

[pepi]

Had to look that up they are plastic, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that is a **** product. Not making the call without hose reel knowledge mine is steel just manual. That product looks like an extension cord reel.

 

[mygarageone]

Bought one a yr ago and it still works , barely , half the time it will only reel in half the hose.
I also will be buying a quality unit .

 

[chadman]

It's too bad if the reels are ****, because everyone seems to love their hoses.

So, a Reelcraft with a Flexzilla hose installed, is that the ideal?

The Reelcraft comes with a good hose.

 

[oilslick]

I have one installed in area seldom used and so far with light use it has made it 1yr no issues but I am sure heavy use would kill it quick.

 

[vonhef]

I bought this goodyear one off Amazon after reading all the reviews. I have been using it about twice a week for 2 years, so not a lot of use. It works great! The hose is soft and flexable even in the winter and it has a strong spring. Thing is heavy, like 60lbs and takes a bit to mount it (I put mine on the ceiling).

At $150, worth it.

http://amzn.com/B002LQ7WKM

I also bought this Goodyear reel 2 years ago.... it has been great. Mine had a red hose instead of the yellow one though.

 

[Matt M PA]

As a counter point...I have two "Retracta" air hose reels. One is likely 20 years old and I recently had to replace the hose. They are plastic but have given me no issues.

 

[sberry]

I havnt tried to replace a hose in the Walmart unit, its cheap but come with long hose and a nice mounting hanger, the hose is junk but the unit seems to work fairly well. Not for freezing temps.

The reelcraft is good especially for hi cycle, it should be a one shot deal for a homeowner or part timer. An advantage of owning your own is you can change it.

I use air several times a day. Not all in the same place. I have a couple convenience things but the work is done from 3 fixed whips and 3 reels. Hanging up hoses ****, no way around it, it really takes discipline. Even a cheap manual is good, not all made the same though. The Rapid Reel has been good, there are clones and I like the taper of the drum. A 50 ft hose on the 100 ft reel is speedy and you don't need to be fussy about level wind.

 

[sberry]

That thing for 150$ looks great and a got to have and well worth the cost to get it up out of the way in the ceiling. The second pic shows the drop, its out of the way but as soon as you pull it off a hanger it serves the bench and surrounding area without being on the floor. I have jhad it where I reach back for a hose which worked ok but this is much better. I rigged it down the arm and back with stock 50 ft. It hangs from an arm you can see in the first pic which was early on.

I have 2 drops on the hoist that feed it and area and don't need reels there either, they hang from the ceiling with a stock 25 ft piece of hose. No one can walk off with a hose and its fixed the way we want it used. The rest of the floor space is served by 2 reels which feed a couple aprons out door too and can actually feed most work area with 2 hoses if needed.

 

[sanddan]

I have both a Reelcraft and a Cox Reel and I like the Cox Reel better. The Cox is 18 years old and still on the original hose. Very well made piece.