Portable Garden Hose Reel Wagons

Yes.  The entire plumbing of the hose reel consists of just two components, 1) the inlet hose, and 2) the brass-aluminum-stainless steel swivel. The inlet hose is made of 100% virgin polyurethane approved for food contact and does not contain lead, phthalates or BPA (bisphenol A).  The fittings are made from lead-free brass, as is the brass in the swivel.

All Eley garden hose reels are prepackaged with a 6-1/2 ft. x 5/8" ID polyurethane inlet hose, (also called a feeder, jumper or supply hose).  We are not able to substitute it for a different size or length of hose.  If you'd prefer an inlet hose that is shorter, longer or larger (i.e. 3/4" ID), then you'll need to acquire it separately. Here are a few options available to you:  

• We offer two longer assemblies of 5/8" polyurethane hose on this website, a 12 ft. x 5/8" ID hose, and a 25 ft. x 5/8" ID hose
• You can make your own inlet hose from an old hose you already have in your possession.
• You can purchase a different length and/or size of hose (including 3/4" ID) from a different source or retailer. Eley does not offer 3/4" ID hose at this time. 

The end of the inlet hose that attaches to the hose reel will simply need to be equipped with a standard, male 3/4" GHT fitting, (Garden Hose Thread).  Standard 3/4" NPT (National Pipe Thread), will not work.  

All hose reels now come equipped with our newest goose-neck brass & stainless-steel swivel design.  This new design eliminates the need for the internal kink-free spring that was used on earlier models to prevent kinks while forming the loop in the garden hose...which is now created by the goose-neck design. Any water restriction that may have been created by the internal spring is also eliminated, allowing for better water flow.  If you currently own the previous design and would like to upgrade your hose reel to the new design, simply purchase our Goose-Neck Adapter and thread it directly onto your current swivel.  You can then remove the kink-free spring from your garden hose. 

Without question, this is the most asked question regarding this model.  The primary differences involve balance, mobility and price. The Quad-Wheel Kit, which converts the 2-wheel cart into a 4-wheel wagon will add $70 to the price tag.  What does that $70 buy you?  First, it will buy you a bit more 'non-tip' stability. The two additional tires out front adds another 7-1/2" to the width of the front part of the frame and makes it slightly more stable than the 2-wheel model.  Also remember that another significant factor with regards to the hose reel's tippiness has to do with how tight you set the tension on the adjustable cam-lever brake.  Second, the Quad-Wheel Kit allows to you maneuver the unit with a simple push/pull action (like a grocery cart), rather than the tip & push/pull action of the 2-wheel cart.  The 2-wheel model will require you to balance the unit while either pushing or pulling it to the desired location.  There really is no balancing involved with the 4-wheel model.  However, unlike a grocery cart, the 4-wheel model does not have front wheels that turn.  So you'll still have to either lift the two rear wheels, or the two front wheels, in order to change direction with the 4-wheel model. The two extra tires on the front of the 4-wheel wagon does add about 8 more pounds that you'll have to lift-by-tipping, in order to change direction.  We do have a number of customers who state that they believe the 2-wheel cart offers better turn-on-a-dime maneuvering than the 4-wheel wagon.  One last point to consider is that you don't have to make the decision right now. The Quad-Wheel Kit is an optional upgrade that can always be purchased at a later date and used to easily upgrade an already assembled 2-wheel cart.  One advantage to buying both now, is that you would be saving about $7 from the total shipping costs of having to ship you the Quad-Wheel Kit at a later date

Yes. The entire internal plumbing of all Eley garden hose reels consists of two components, 1) the inlet hose and 2) the brass swivel. The standard inlet hose that is supplied with each reel is 5/8" ID. However, our patented brass swivel is a full-flow 3/4" swivel. So to convert the reel to 3/4" flow, simply replace the 5/8" inlet hose with a 3/4" inlet hose of your choosing.  At this time, Eley does not offer 3/4" inlet hoses.

Although the maximum hose capacity of the 'standard-capacity' hose reel is 150 feet of 5/8" ID hose, it must be reeled back in very carefully and neatly to get the entire 150 feet of length onto the reel.  If you need 150 feet or more of hose, we highly recommend that you upgrade the hose reel with the Extra-Capacity Kit.  Likewise, the maximum length of 5/8" ID hose that can be stored on an Extra-Capacity hose reel is 225 feet. Again, that maximum length will need to wrapped onto the reel very slowly and neatly if you want it all to fit.  Comfortable lengths on the large-capacity reel would be our 200 or 225 feet of hose.

Our portable wheeled hose reels are not easily tipped over. While the addition of the optional Quad-Wheel Kit does add a bit more stability, the primary factor in the reel tipping over is how tight you set the adjustable cam-lever brake.  More information on the cam-lever brake can be viewed in the first 90 seconds of our User-Friendly Features video.  Also, depending on which configuration you chose, these reels weigh 35 pounds or more and has a 2 foot wide by 2 foot deep base. The center of gravity of the unit is designed to keep the cart upright.