Water Hose Reel

[lonestarky]

Alright, so maybe I'm the only lunatic in america who thinks like this, but I would imagine IF there were other lunatics that thought similarly, I would find them here.

I hate the selection of hose reels for water hoses. The cheap plastic ones you get at Lowes/HD twist and bend when you're coiling the hose, the plastic wheels don't roll, they're not heavy duty enough to be used without frustration, they don't have bearings for the main spindle so turning it may be "ok" only for the first season. As you can see, I've got lots of totally rational reasons for hating them.

I've been thinking about this and delaying any decisions for a long time. I didn't want to get even one of the expensive ones from HD/Lowes because I knew I would be dissatisfied.

I've found these two at northern tool. Anyone else have any creative suggestions I haven't thought of? How about any experience with the linked two? I'll fab my own if I have to, but I refuse to be dissatisfied!

On the flip side, am I nuts for wanting to spend this much just to not be infuriated 2-3 times a week all summer?

 

[Rossco]

Yeah Iam a "Hose reel" lunatic as well

I bought one of these a while back on offers at crappy tire.

GARDENA

Just love it and the colours match me house.

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Last one you'll ever buy

http://www.eleyhosereels.com

 

[muidaq]

I got a water powered self-winder from Costco this season. It's still new, and it's plastic, but it's doing a dandy job with no fuss.

 

[wdrumheller]

I ordered two of these, and the only problem with them is that I don't have 5 of them.

They are robust and metal, and do a nice job. Of course they leak a little bit at the connection for the rotation, but that's ok by me.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00080FGME/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[hifi_hokie]

The first one listed looks identical - down to the basket - of one that I had used years ago. It worked decently for the first year, but as you alluded to, the ravages of being outdoors where you, gasp, use the hoses took its toll. After about 3 years, it was on life support.

The second one looks like you'd have to bolt it to the Rock of Gibraltar to have enough stability with a long hose.

Something like this seems like a perfect candidate for a fab project...something crazy like greasable bearings, a spinning 55-gallon drum, electric motor operated from a remote so you don't have to sit there and crank all day, etc

 

[maynard9089]

Last one you'll ever buy

http://www.eleyhosereels.com

We own a nursery and after owning several types we will only buy these from here on out. Hands down our favorite. Most other garden centers around us use them also.

 

[1blink]

Last one you'll ever buy

http://www.eleyhosereels.com

I have one. Pricey but rock solid

 

[Rossco]

Rapid reels are nice but the OP is thinking 'Crazy' for spendin $110 on a reel never mind 300+ large.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Cannot recommend a reel because I have never met one yet that didn't leak or come apart prematurely. Since I started buying the shrinkable/inflatable "pocket hoses", all of my old heavy garden hoses that kinked and twisted and I had to wrestle with, that also took up too much space in my garage, have been getting tossed. jmo

 

[shopnut]

Spring rewind reels work well for water hoses. You might consider one of those. I use Reelcraft brand economy ReelTek models.

Here is one I installed on our back porch that has been working great for 4 years now.

And here is one I installed out by our pool equipment because the wife loved the first one so much.

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Rapid reels are nice but the OP is thinking 'Crazy' for spendin $110 on a reel never mind 300+ large.

The Rapid reel wall mount model is $139 and that Northern tool is crappy knockoff for $119. No brainer in my opinion.

 

[Rossco]

The Rapid reel wall mount model is $139 and that Northern tool is crappy knockoff for $119. No brainer in my opinion.

Oh ok. I generically call the eley reels 'Rapid reels'

The 'Eley' reels are like 300+ large right?

Ah if we are talking Rolls Royce reels then IDE buy a GRACO.

 

[Dustball]

I've got my eye on this Liberty cart- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009S9U8G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Oh ok. I generically call the eley reels 'Rapid reels'

The 'Eley' reels are like 300+ large right?

Ah if we are talking Rolls Royce reels then IDE buy a GRACO.

Your right they are the same. Price I quoted is right off the website for the basic wall model. The highest capacity 4 wheel cart model is about $270 US.

 

[Rossco]

Your right they are the same. Price I quoted is right off the website for the basic wall model. The highest capacity 4 wheel cart model is about $270 US.

Yeah your right about the prices, the wall mount is $139 on a site I just looked at. Good price for a decent reel. Doesn't say if it comes with a hose?

 

[brownbagg]

mine is a white spoke truck rim bolted to the chain link fence

 

[lonestarky]

Wow-I'm truly impressed at the level of lunatic also here to aid my poor judgement as I contemplate spending $200+ on a hose reel. To be clear, I probably would spend $300+ on the thing if I knew it would be the last one I would ever buy.

The Eley stuff looks the same as the roughneck versions in northern tool. I would imagine they're different, but its a bit off putting nonetheless. I like the look of the cart. Thats probably #1 on my list. It will require some severe inspection once I get it to see if its worth it. paint/powder-coat quality and material selection are very important here.

I find myself suprisingly interested in the cart from gardena, not the auto winder. I just think the auto winder is asking for my wife to not pay attention and drag the spray handle through the flowers turning the handle into a giant fish hook for tulips and evergreens. I'm a hose reel snob, but I feel like I can roll it up myself. Thanks for introducing me to the brand Rossco.


WDrumheller-you may have a winner there, in stainless steel for $309.00. I suppose if I want quality, it isn't going to be cheap. Theres #2.

Hifi_hokie-I've drawn plans, had discussions, i think I've even dreamed about it. I'm sure I could really come up with something, but I would want the whole thing powder coated. Its going to get wet. At that point, buying something becomes so much more cost effective. There were definitely sealed bearings involved, though.

It seems like my initial concerns about the Eley may be unfounded based on the short, but very definite opinions here. Ah, ****. They have hoses and covers too. I suppose I need a matched set.

I suppose I should have mentioned that I am not crazy about auto winders at first for the reason that I stated above. My wife kills enough of our plants without the additional torture method of snagging them with the spray handle.

 

[INSP380]

I wish they would make them all sit closer to the ground so I can lay on my belly to crank the fricken things....They're all junk! $30 to $300 JUNK! I fab'd my own stand outside out of angle iron and made the one in my garage out of an old Fenton mag. Both manual , one washer and no leaks. Oh yeah, I can stand tall an curl them back up without laying on the wet ground!

Steve

 

[lonestarky]

I wish they would make them all sit closer to the ground so I can lay on my belly to crank the fricken things....They're all junk! $30 to $300 JUNK! I fab'd my own stand outside out of angle iron and made the one in my garage out of an old Fenton mag. Both manual , one washer and no leaks. Oh yeah, I can stand tall an curl them back up without laying on the wet ground!

Steve

 

[Rossco]

The Eley stuff has a rugged 'Industrial' feel. Me likey but it don't match my house.

I like the Gardena stuff. The Germans surprisingly have an eye for watering products.

I was gonna buy the cart. But I would need a hose as well. The 114ft auto reel can be lifted off the mount. This means I can haul it to the rear garden and install onto another mount if required.

It's up to you man. I was searching for Hozelock stuff here but cannot find it. That's all IDE buy when I lived in the UK. Gardena is the only product close out here.

@ the wife dragging the hose through the flowers. I don't have flowers as the equal wasps, the wife just hates them. It's grass and trees for us (No apple trees thou as they attract bears)

 

[cashishift]

ReelCraft

 

[ncaddy87]

Please share more details - do you have pics?

 

[fivespdcat]

I would love to get a nice hose real that is not industrial looking. I have nowhere to hide a industrial look on my brick house. I don't think you're a lunatic for wanting a good reel, because everything out there is garbage and don't even start looking at decorative ones. Those are even worse. If anyone has a line on some good quality decorative reels I would be really interested in those.

 

[mtnwalton]

I've had good experience with a couple reels I've gotten at Lowes or HD; don't remember the brand but they were about $80 - $90 each. They are usually in stock at the beginning of the seasonb. They bolt to the wall, blending well with most any architectural style. They are decorative cast aluminum. I've used them on the past two houses, one in front and one in back.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I've had good experience with a couple reels I've gotten at Lowes or HD; don't remember the brand but they were about $80 - $90 each. They are usually in stock at the beginning of the seasonb. They bolt to the wall, blending well with most any architectural style. They are decorative cast aluminum. I've used them on the past two houses, one in front and one in back.

I have two of the same ones from Lowe's. Bronze powder coated aluminum, right? They seem to work pretty good to me, too. I replaced the one on the back of the house last year. It didn't develop a problem, a bear mangled it.


Tommy

 

[coljar]

Spring rewind reels work well for water hoses. You might consider one of those. I use Reelcraft brand economy ReelTek models.

Here is one I installed on our back porch that has been working great for 4 years now.


And here is one I installed out by our pool equipment because the wife loved the first one so much.

Shopnut, do you have the model #? I'm having trouble finding that one. Thanks.

 

[bmwpower]

Pricey, but you can get them on sale or used occasionally.
Coxreels SH-N 4x0
Coxreels SH-N 5x0

 

[rlitman]

I have two of the same ones from Lowe's. Bronze powder coated aluminum, right? They seem to work pretty good to me, too. I replaced the one on the back of the house last year. It didn't develop a problem, a bear mangled it.


Tommy

I have two of the same and have been happy with them. The ones I got have a 7 year warranty. My wife actually managed to snap a handle (how she did that, I still don't understand), and they shipped one right out to me.

I leave mine pressurized all summer long, and they don't leak a drop.

Just be sure to either take them inside, or blow them out before the freezing weather hits, or no matter how much you spend on them, they will fail.

 

[Fishplate]

They are robust and metal, and do a nice job. Of course they leak a little bit at the connection for the rotation, but that's ok by me.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00080FGME/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought one of those for work, and tested it there. When it passed, I bought one for the house. Thinking of buying another...they worked great for us.

 

[rshadd]

The original made in the USA hose reels that RapidReel made before Ely bought them were so much nicer then the current chinese version.

When I bought mine in 2003, they were available in seven powdercoat colors.


The reels were removable from the mount, allowing you to move the reel inside during winter.


They even made a kit to convert the reel to air....


That said, the newer Ely versions are still one the nicest reels on the market. I've never had one leak.

 

[sgrammel]

Last one you'll ever buy

http://www.eleyhosereels.com

Agreed...not cheap though...

 

[shopnut]

Shopnut, do you have the model #? I'm having trouble finding that one. Thanks.

Look for Reelcraft's RT series. I think both of mine were model RT650-OLP, one with standard mount and one was a side mount.

HERE IS A MFR LINK

You can find them new for under $200. Take the air hose off that comes with it and use it with your compressor. Lowe's or HD has adapters to switch from NPT to garden hose fittings. I put 50' NeverKink hoses on them and they work perfectly.

A link to my build thread where I talk about it
And another

 

[dwm]

I've had a Rapid Reel (now Eley) for a long time and it still looks and works like new. Despite the fact that it's sat outside through many Michigan winters (it's actually never been indoors) and I never drain the water out of it. I'd buy again without question. To me, every hose reel is ugly, but the one that continues to work with no broken parts is the least ugly.

 

[bob_the_builder]

I have two rapid reel hose reels and they have held up very well. The one I have had for 4 years and the other for 2 years. No issues so far. I just wish they came in better colour.

Bob

 

[coljar]

Look for Reelcraft's RT series. I think both of mine were model RT650-OLP, one with standard mount and one was a side mount.

HERE IS A MFR LINK

You can find them new for under $200. Take the air hose off that comes with it and use it with your compressor. Lowe's or HD has adapters to switch from NPT to garden hose fittings. I put 50' NeverKink hoses on them and they work perfectly.

A link to my build thread where I talk about it
And another

Thanks for the help. By the way, I always enjoy following your shop thread. Somehow I missed the water hose reel part.

 

[johnny]

I have a RapidReel mounted outdise for the past 6 tears not 1 drop. Bullit proof.

 

[Viz]

Another vote for RapidReel/Eley. I'm another fanatic, and this has been one of my best garage/yard/tool purchases, ever. No regrets from me.

Viz

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have the larger Northern one on wheels. It is a decent reel, but the angle of the brass hose connection was all wrong and I ended up adding a Male-Female brass angle fitting to make the hose (on the drum) hook up to it. Only other complaint is that the pigtail hose that connects to the faucet is the stiffest thing I've ever seen. Keep thinking I need to cut about 5 ft from one of my black Goodyear hoses and add replacement ends to get a good hose pigtail. I put it out in the summer, take it inside in the winter. So far it works OK.

Charles

 

[mark18mwm]

ducksface, that looks like a hose reel out of a fuel truck. that would definitely be heavy duty enough to last for ever. those things when a fuel (or gas) truck might be unrolled and rolled up a couple dozen times a day. should last a loooooong time at home.