[combat1]

Been doing full wfp this week instead of wfp tops and trad bottoms.
Now rich! Wow how much faster is that.
Got a van coming in march and need to convert from backpack to hose and reel.
What do you reckon is a decent set up?
Thanks.

[dave f]

get a power up reel . if you are using hot water get some thermo bore hose

[dazmond]

get a power up reel . if you are using hot water get some thermo bore hose

ignore this advice.you dont need a power up reel and you DONT need thermobore hose(gardiners standard microbore is suitable for hot water now they ve changed suppliers)

a redashe or pure freedom fixed reel is what you want and 100m microbore.

very light,manageable hose and the redashe reels are quality and very easy and smooth to reel in.job done.

[Shane sharples]

Like Dazmond said, pure freedom reel , 100m hose with a couple of these clips so you can take your hose in and out the van when it suits -

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/151486438752?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=33844&meid=cc51cb25464e4a5a8f600501f7aae26b&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=301821095249&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_mwBanner=1

[Spruce]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8mm-Minibore-Hose-100m-Wheeled-Metal-Reel-fittings-WFP-Window-Cleaning-/351410216185?hash=item51d1ae5cf9:g:hZcAAOxynwlTedtr

These have done us well over the years.

The reason why I recommend a wheeled hose reel is that I often (2 or 3 times a day) take the whole hose reel to the furthest point around the back and walk the hose reel back to the van, laying down hose as I go. It makes it much quicker when  trying to negotiate obstacles/walls in the customers garden.

Of course you could still use your backpack for those odd times.

[combat1]

Thanks very much everyone - on order.
Must have cost me thousands bowing to family pressure to keep the estate going over the last seven years.
I manage about £150 a day wfp and trad but can see how much more I will earn with   plenty of water.
So thanks for all your help.

[Dave Willis]

If your using cold water then a £40 reel will do - no point throwing money away.
http://gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/all-products/pump-hose/hose-reels/lightweight-metal-reels/lightweight-metal-freestanding-microbore-hose-reel.html

[AuRavelling79]

Yep those clabers are cheap and cheerful. Had mine for three years. Just by a spare spindle and some O rings and replace as necessary.

[tonycarr]

cancel your order, get a claber instead, they are excellent quality really smooth and a lot cheaper

tony

[dazmond]

theres some really crap advice on this thread IMO.(sorry lads!)

claber reels are ok BUT buying a decent reel makes a massive difference when reeling in.my redashe reel is so much quicker,smoother and easier to reel in than the claber and will probably last 10 years+.

sorry spruce but your advice on lots of things is usually very good but on this thread not so good!6mm microbore and leaving the reel FIXED in the van at all times is far easier on the body than your suggestion.there is a huge difference between minibore and microbore.i guarantee you if you tried microbore you d never go back to minibore.

[matthewprice]

My claber reel lasted a month .supplier did replace .I often pull out  200 feet of hose just found it not strong enough

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

wheel works 460 are the ones to go for , bolt them straight thought the floor of the van , only fools life hose reels in and out of the van at every job

[robbo333]

If you fancy doing something a bit different, run 50 metres of microbore and then attach 50 metres of Aquadaptor red pole hose. I can reel in using two fingers. But that's just me, it's not to everyone's taste!

[Don Kee]

theres some really crap advice on this thread IMO.(sorry lads!)

claber reels are ok BUT buying a decent reel makes a massive difference when reeling in.my redashe reel is so much quicker,smoother and easier to reel in than the claber and will probably last 10 years+.

sorry spruce but your advice on lots of things is usually very good but on this thread not so good!6mm microbore and leaving the reel FIXED in the van at all times is far easier on the body than your suggestion.there is a huge difference between minibore and microbore.i guarantee you if you tried microbore you d never go back to minibore.

I've tried both (in fact one hose reel has 6ml & the other 8ml) and there aint that much difference in reeling either in or out, especially if the reel is fixed in the van

Not enough to say that 6ml is so much lighter and no one should touch 8ml

If you're finding it that much harder you may need to get on the weights?

(You still using an aqua-adaptor on an extreme pole?)

 

[dd]

theres some really crap advice on this thread IMO.(sorry lads!)

claber reels are ok BUT buying a decent reel makes a massive difference when reeling in.my redashe reel is so much quicker,smoother and easier to reel in than the claber and will probably last 10 years+.

sorry spruce but your advice on lots of things is usually very good but on this thread not so good!6mm microbore and leaving the reel FIXED in the van at all times is far easier on the body than your suggestion.there is a huge difference between minibore and microbore.i guarantee you if you tried microbore you d never go back to minibore.

Spot on about hose reels. Why some persist with using and recommending cheap reels makes no sense. A better quality van mounted reel is much nicer to use, produces less strain on the body and is quicker to reel in.

Yes it is more expensive but should last much longer. My Hannay reel is 10 years old and very easy to use. Not had to replace any parts on it so far.

[dazmond]

theres some really crap advice on this thread IMO.(sorry lads!)

claber reels are ok BUT buying a decent reel makes a massive difference when reeling in.my redashe reel is so much quicker,smoother and easier to reel in than the claber and will probably last 10 years+.

sorry spruce but your advice on lots of things is usually very good but on this thread not so good!6mm microbore and leaving the reel FIXED in the van at all times is far easier on the body than your suggestion.there is a huge difference between minibore and microbore.i guarantee you if you tried microbore you d never go back to minibore.

I've tried both (in fact one hose reel has 6ml & the other 8ml) and there aint that much difference in reeling either in or out, especially if the reel is fixed in the van

Not enough to say that 6ml is so much lighter and no one should touch 8ml

If you're finding it that much harder you may need to get on the weights?

(You still using an aqua-adaptor on an extreme pole?)

 

don kee if your dragging 100m of hose about every day using microbore makes a massive difference over the course of a day ,week,month compared to minibore.

its more manageable too.no need to make your working day harder is there?

[Dave Willis]

Cant say I notice much difference either. Most of it's on the ground or on the reel.

[P @ F]

There is a massive difference in mini/micro , why anybody would prefer using mini over micro is beyond me , maybe they like getting tired out sooner who knows ?

Rich

[P @ F]

As for reels , get the best you can afford , i have been running the clover leaf steels for the last 8 years , i have the fixed and wheeled versions , all i have had to replace is 1 manifold at £13 that was due to frost damage , i have converted the one in use to running on bearings but not imperative.
Fix it in the van and raise it is all i will say , took me 8 years to see this was the way forward , couple of pics for you , previous and current van .

Rich 

[AuRavelling79]

My cheap and cheerful clabers are fixed in the van.

@ robbo333

That idea about 50 metres of pole hose + 50 of microbore - interesting. Any wear and tear issues?