They have always been a pain for me. I have tried cheap and expensive hose reels and both ended up leaking. The expensive metal one just took longer to start. So the past two years i just leave it lying about but i don't like that either. There are all kinds of products out there. What really works and is convenient to use? I like the fire hose type one that is supposed to recoil after use, but the size is limited. I need at least 100 feet.
What's your experience?
What do you do with your hose??
this is not my exact one... but it's close... I know it's not cheap but I got tired of the hand cranks that don't work well.... but we had ours for 3 years now... just had to change the washers last year... works great and I have a 100 foot hose in it
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=160163-37627-RS-12581&lpage=none
Is 100' the limit? Never had leaks? Thanks, Allison.
I sometimes wind mine up, others times not.
You know I finally saw an electric one, which is surprising it took so long. The ones I use for work run off 12V or a car battery and will wind up 300' of hose in 30 seconds.
Good thread, Victor. I've been frustrated fro years with the hose dilemma. Out back I have a hand crank hose reel which is a pain in the butt. Out front I have one of those terracotta holders which looks nice, but I do all the work. As much as I like the convenience of the hose reels, they don't look attractive to keep out front.
An affordable electric one would be great. That's a fast pace, Al. Yes, I agree, Lynn. The hand crank ones really are a pain for a number of reasons.
They are handy when the power goes out, though! And infinitely better than dragging and coiling by hand! I'm all for leaving it where ever it happens to lay, but I have neighbors who are anal about anything out of place!
The heck with the neighbors, Lynn! If they paid the taxes for your property, then they would have the right to complain. Otherwise, "It's your thing . . . do what you wanna do!" ♪♫♪
I'm getting hosed with my property taxes!
Well my father in law lost one of his fingers while refueling airplanes. The hose caught his finger and squished it and he had to yank back! (sans thumb!) so just the thought of having to fight a machine for a body part keeps me from going electric... like the guy at the office that lost his tie to a paper shredder or the other one who lost his neck when his car broke down on the highway after work and he took a look under the hood, (another tie). I don't wear ties in the garden but I like to keep my fingers on hand in case I need them.
I have a 100' hose too & a couple of 50's. I have a 4' x 4' area next to the water valves sectioned off with 2 x 4 beams. I just put away the hose in a circle and turn off the water. I've tried those crank jobs but I found that they leak too, plastic to metal tread connection is asking for a stripped thread, etc etc. I just do it the old fashion way... anyway - its good excersise so I don't get fat as well as old... ☺
I have 2 of these - bought them at the local Grange (farm cooperative) for a very good price. They are manual wind, but hold LOTS of hose. I use 250' on each one.
I have hose holders on the fence in the orchard & out on the shed, so if I need to run in two places at once, it works well. Not the most attractive, but quite functional.
Al - sounds like you have an Uber machine for your hose...
It's for spraying trees - I don't think you want to water at 400psi ;)
Victor - I've tried a couple different reel hose containers and gave up. I use 4x4 painted white buried 2 feet with a large hanger and hand hang them on that. It is faster throwing on 3+ feet of hose at a time by hand than reel them in. I also screw one of those tops sold at home depot. I do not have a irragation system and this works good for me. And I have 150 ft on both the back and front with timers. Well not in the front I am replacing one that died and the new Melnor on I bought does not work with my water pressure (well water).
No problem with those reels, Kate?
Bill - you just twirl it around the hooks?
I just let mine trail along the ground and move it a little every day so it don't kill the grass.
Good method, Tom! The distributed approach.
I bought one of those battery operated wind up deals at Franks several years ago. Works great. I just recharge once in the spring. The hose itself....who konws, I've had both for years.
What's the limit on the hose size, Weeze?
Victor, and everyone, I have such frustration with everything having to do with watering in the garden: hoses, hose reels (we went through 2 in 2 years) faucets, spraying wands, connectors, the works. Everything is so cheaply made; everything leaks, everything breaks. Even the Ace Hardware connectors...which are the best I've found so far...are inferior. And those expensive Gardena connectors and sprinklers and such: plastic trash. I just laid down a brand-new 100 foot soaker hose from Fiskars today and when I went to turn it on, the end connected to the faucet just leaked in a steady 3' stream. Yesterday I painstakingly laid down 50' of brand new Ace Hardware sprinkler hose between my rows, turned it on...and only one...one!!...hole spouted water, and of course, that one hole went off like a geyser. The quality of the watering stuff is TERRIBLE.
I agree entirely, Daisy. I hate all things having to do with watering. I buy expensive hoses and expensive sprayers and they all leak. It's very aggravating. Even when the fittings are brass, some other part leaks.
Not sure, it's at least 50 but could be more. I just set up a planter watering system yesterday for the potted plants on the patio. Works great, but there is the leak at the faucet. It's not really bad, just enough to aggravate.
They don't get it. The garden hand tools have all gone high end, but they still make the watering materials as cheaply as possible. People would pay top dollar for good, professional grade stuff, too.
You are so right Daisy. I have to replace everything every year or two. Things that worked up through last fall are leaking like crazy. It isn't just you, I think most of us are in the same boat.
Leaky boat...
Row, row, row your (leaky) boat!
I agree it's terrible, I have 4 irrigation systems set up now but I still need to use hoses for certain things and the stuff for hoses is garbage. Now the washers are getting cheaply made too! I prefer rain whenever possible, but it doesn't always come when I need it and it doesn't get into the 'tight spots'! ☺
oh I am so glad you mention this Victor... I am so frustrated also... the only thing I am thinking of doing this year is letting it out and not being upset... Zuzu has several hoses all over her garden and they are not very long so it's much easier to put away... that's my idea this year... can't stand dragging this things anymore!
Victor I bet you can get a bigger hose on the thing... mine doesn't have the housing around it.. it's just a reel with the water pressure roll up thingie..... but there is plenty of clearance with my 100 foot on it... don't have the box anymore... but after the rain stops i will look if it says anything on the outside of it like the brand name and maybe size limit... the only time it leaked is when a new washer was needed and I didn't mind so much it's in one of my beds next to the front stairs... double duty
Victor - no problems with the reels: all metal & very sturdy, except having to reattach my arm after reeling in 500' of hose. But I fixed that with a metal quick release for my shoulder/arm socket. And my arm doesn't leak!
I just bought this one yesterday.......it says it won't kink, we shall see!
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=6131-1596-8640-75&lpage=none
Thanks Kate. Can't imagine reeling in 500 feet. You must be strong! Thanks, Allison. Celeste, please let us know. I've bought 'non-kink' ones that kinked before long.
Paul keeps saying "we" need to get a hose reel. I bought one of those metal 4 way adapters for my water spout outside...I have 1-50' hose on the portch, the water spout is about 5' away from the front porch, and keep it in a pot on the porch. I have a 25' hose running from the 4 way to the bottom of the deck steps. There I have a "Y" connector. I have 1-50' hose I use for everything on the back deck, and just keep it coiled up under the steps, and the other half of the "Y" connector has a 100' hose that I keep partially burried underground that goes out into the veggie bed. Lots of hoses, but, unless someone else is going to spring for the reels, that's the way it's going to be. lol.
That's what I started doing, Thom, since my garden is slowly expanding each year. Unless someone loves me enough to spring for a fancy irrigation system, connectors is the way to go!
Victor you can see it in the upper left hand corner of this picture. I use one of those long plant hanging arms screwed to the 4x4. Each loop is about 3-4' of hose. Even if all the hose is out it does not take long to hang it up. I think it is easier the hand cranking a reel. Anyway it works for me.
I see it Bill. I would think it is much easier. Nice bed in the foreground, by the way. Nice armillary!
These seem to be getting good reviews on Amazon, and this one holds 150 feet of hose. http://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Reel-150-Foot-Parallel-GH164-PL/dp/B000CN90HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1210357978&sr=1-1
Thanks, RB!
Careful of thos "no kink". I believe what they mean is it will not kink at the faucet due to the metal spring around the first 5" of the hose. It does NOT mean that the hose will not kink when you are pulling it around the lawn. Believe me, I have one and it kinks in all the wrong places, but never kinks around that little metal brace at the faucet connector.