how is the Harbor Freight Air-hose reel?

vash · vash's Garage

i'm tired of dragging out my airline simply to have to roll it up manually.

recent cold temps sent all my TPMS flashing. it was a bummer unrolling the hose, then completely unrolling it so i can get it to lay flat (as possible ) to roll it up again neatly.

it's either this or buy one of the coiled hoses..

i think i need a hose reel. quick google, shocked me pricewise. whoa!!

thinking HF might be the ticket.

any real world (reel world?) reviews?

Norm K · 01-03-2019, 01:57 PM

I've had an HF retractable reel for over ten years - no issues.

_

sammyg2 · 02:14 PM

I have the 3/8" x 50' version and it works great, but is only about a year old and I don't keep it pressured up all the time.

IIRC I got it on sale for around $48.
Start the car! Start the car!
WHHOOOOOOOO!

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Get the bigger one when on sale. I believe it's 50' like Sammy's.

15 years with the one in the pic. Nice piece of hardware.

Only hassles are when a noob just wants to fill up their tires and they let the hose fly from a distance. Then it gets wrapped outside the drum and you have a half hour down time on a ladder.

Eric at Pelican Parts · 01-03-2019, 02:26 PM

50' one is awesome. My friend has 3 in the shop and they've been used without issue for the past five years.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Only hassles are when a noob just wants to fill up their tires and they let the hose fly from a distance. Then it gets wrapped outside the drum and you have a half hour down time on a ladder.

Note Sammy's has the guide snoot sticking out far less but it's the same unit. Maybe a design flaw and they tightened it up on the newer models to minimize hose flop?

peppy · 01-03-2019, 02:35 PM

I also have one and want another, no issues.

sammyg2 · 01-03-2019, 02:45 PM

I remember the first time I checked em out, the 25 footer was around $50 and the 50 footer was around $65.

I calcumalated the discount on the sale ad, and almost pulled the trigger on the 25 footer.

About a week or two later i got the latest sale ad and the 50 footer was under $50, so I jumped on it. Glad I got the super-duper size.

Item of note: it weighs 32 lbs according to the website, and installing it by myself while working off a ladder was kind of a PITA.
I could have spooled out the hose to lighten the load, didn't think about that little gem until after. DOH!

Crowbob · 01-03-2019, 04:03 PM

The ratcheting recoil mechanism on mine works fine sometimes. I hafta grapple with it to lock it in position else it keeps wanting to roll itself back up and damn near drag me the tire I’m trying to fill and the vehicle attached to it.

Or, I need to get up on the ladder and figure out what’s wrong after 15 years of fighting with it.

sammyg2 · 01-03-2019, 04:12 PM

LOL, I'm betting a little lubrication would go a long ways

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

I have a Goodyear hose reel, 50'. I wish I had bought a 100'.

herr_oberst · 01-03-2019, 05:43 PM

I've got the HF fitty-footer. Works great, one of the harbor's better tools. Just be careful when you pull it all the way out to leave it clicked on the last pawl, otherwise you have to kind of wrestle it back to reel-a-bility. Not a huge PIA, hardly a deal breaker, but easy to avoid by just being careful and slow when the spool is almost empty.

(And I also have two fitty-foot extension hoses for when I need air anywhere.)

GWN7 · 01-03-2019, 05:53 PM

I've had the HF 25' for about 15 years. Sometimes the pawl catch doesn't work so I keep a pair of knock off vice grips on it and clamp them on the hose (lightly) to keep it extended out.

Flat Six · Flat Six's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I have the 3/8" x 50' version and it works great, but is only about a year old and I don't keep it pressured up all the time.

^^This. I'm going on year 15 w/mine . . . .

rfuerst911sc · 01-04-2019, 02:28 AM

Unless you are mounting the air hose reel out of arms reach I like the simpler/cheaper hand operated hose reels . I have three of them and you never have an issue with them not catching or sticking , just roll them out and hand reel them in when done . When possible use the KISS principle

T77911S · 01-04-2019, 03:54 AM

i have one and it works fine. had it for a long time now.

rfuerst911sc · 01-04-2019, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

We all learned a long time ago
Have a Ball vale at compressor outlet -if a hose lets lose it will beat the hell out of everything in a heartbeat.
Of course, remember to close the valve when leaving the shop!

I have a ball valve at the compressor outlet , at both hose reels and at the lift . I have two hose reels one for each " bay " and the safety locks on my 2 post are air actuated . I open/close each as needed .

Jims5543 · 01-04-2019, 04:25 AM

Forums are awesome. They alert you to items you had no idea you needed until you see them.

I have been farting with 2 coil hoses in tandem for years and I am OK with them.

I think I need this item.

rfuerst911sc · 01-04-2019, 04:41 AM

The easier you make it the more you will actually use the air tools . If it's a pain in the a$$ to find/uncoil the hose you're probably not going to use it . If you have to hunt to find the tools you will probably not use them . A well organized garage space is fun to work in ........... a cluttered mess not so much . A well organized space is also safer to work in .

Lyle O · Lyle O's Garage

I have had the 50ft version for 6-7 years or so. Reel works great. I agree with SammyG2, though: mounting this by myself was a BEECH (I mounted on the ceiling of my garage; 10.5').
Big warning, though: the hose it came with was junk. After a year or two it kept cracking/splitting (and leaking), especially at the business ends. Ended up replacing it with a Goodyear hose I bought elsewhere; been great ever since. Maybe the hose they offer now is better...