I have seen @Racer and other peoples glowing posts about flexzilla garden hose. I was at a training and another contractor told me that the flexzilla collapses on the reel forcing him to unroll all 200’ to use. Said he won’t use it again. On here I read about it being amazing, but no one mentioned it collapsing on the reel. I don’t see the sense in unrolling 200+ feet for a 50-75’ reach if what he said is true.
Other opinions/experiences?
I’m waiting until after the new year to buy all my stuff, you know tax reasons. Trying to buy used reels, but finding no luck other than junk. Found lots of used whole rigs for sale, people exiting the business, but want top dollar for used gear. Apparently most won’t part out their rigs, want to sell it whole.
I have a gh ball valve at the spigot end of my hose. I close that, as well as the large ball valve at the tank end, before reeling in my hose. That keeps the hose pressurized and prevents hose collapse. Make sure and bleed off a little though, as the pressure will build up as you wind up the hose.
Over time it for sure collapses and slows down flow if you don’t unreel it. Started having the issue recently. however I love the hose itself so its minor at this point.
Yeah, I didn’t know better and got the 3/4" hose and it is completely flat on my reel. Once it’s hooked up and feeding my Hudson it opens right up again like a fire hose.
I keep a 50’ and 25’ ‘Zero-G’ style on the door so I don’t have to unreel the Green Monster every time.
I would never buy it again and I don’t recommend it. Mine collapses on the reel and restricts flow. It’s a waste if I have to pull off 200 plus feet and only need 75’. I had a cheaper 3/4" hose from Home Depot that was great until the male end got run over. @squidskc cam lock idea is great on any hose. No more fighting to get a garden hose on a spigot anymore.
I’m not a flexzilla fan but I bypassed my reel 100% for maximum flow. Cam locks straight to two Hudson valves. I like the black continental hose from Home Depot. Never kinks, not stiff in cold weather, and it’s $30 for 50’
The flrxzilla seen in the pic is just a 10’ hose that I use to wash my hands or fill up buckets.
I have 200’ of Flexzilla on the reel (been on there 2 yrs now) and seldom have an issue with supply keeping up. I have an electric reel and I don’t wrap the hose tight, usually use 80-100’. I do have the 5/8"s.
I like the camlock and hose section idea. I was searching for a supply hose reel when i read that post. Just gonna get a regular hose reel, 100’ hose sections, and plug it straight into the tank. Whenever i actually build a rig of course. Right now im just saving and planning.
My first 100’ at reel is 3/4" and it does flatten some, but the volume is still the same, the shape is just different long as not squeezed together. But the main thing you have to watch for is it crimping at the reel, even with a street 45. I just slid about a foot long piece of tigerflex over the 1st foot and that keeps it from having any problems. The other 150’ on the reel is 5/8 and no problem at all with it flattening.
I’ve had the Apex black 5/8" 200’ hot/cold hose for going on 2 years now and wash trucks all year week after week in nasty gravel parking lots with 80,000 lbs rigs driving over it on occasion, Haven’t even changed the ends yet, I do recommend capping the spigot end before winding it up unless you got a hard freeze coming in.
Thank you all for the information, I waited for a bunch of replies to see what the collective response was.
From what I have gleaned, some people have had the hose collapse, some haven’t, while others are using a workaround to prevent it from occurring. Some people use flexzilla and some don’t and the people who don’t use rubber hoses I’m guessing. Some people are saying that 5/8>3/4. A lot of people like the camlocks.
More notes for the notebook, thanks again. I’m now 63% sure I will buy all the right stuff to make mistakes with (for clarity purposes 63% is a SWAG)
I may be wrong but I think that continental makes the Craftsman black rubber hose. It’s around $35 for 50 ft. So its likely the same hose. I have no need to ever change supply hose. It’s strong, supple and obedient. It’s perfect.
(for clarity purposes 63% is a SWAG)
