[Andrew46]

I'm having my van kitted out soon and woud like to know if it is best for the hose reel to be bolted down or left free standing so it can be picked-up and moved outside.   I have a doblo and twin side doors so access in and out the van is good.  Whatever position of the reel, what reel would you recommend.  I don't want to get the cheapest but looking to pay up tohos £100

What is the best hose to get?  I was going to go for the 8MM mini bore as have heard that 6MM micro can cause pressue problems as too narrow.  Finally would you recommend 50m x 2 rather than continious 100m length.

Thnaks for you help

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I would recomend 100m of 8mm hose. A hozelok reel (aluminium & plastic) & have it free standing- which will allow you to park in one place & still position the reel in any direction to suit. Also, doesn't matter if it drips.

[Andrew46]

Thanks.  Any other opinions??

[steven ainger]

i use 100m of microbore and the metal reel that all the supplers sell, ive had this for 2 1/2 years and never had a single problem.
 i have the hose reel free standing as well, because i find it easier to line it up with the direction that im working.

[Andrew46]

thanks steve.  I think i'll go for free standing then unless anyone can give me a good reason not to.

cheers

[TonyD]

I've got the same van - Doblo with twin SLD - what set up are you having fitted ?  may be suitable for my van too as I'm about to go wfp myself.

[Andrew46]

I already have the water filtration system set-up in my shed so only need the tank, pump etc.  I am probably getting it fitted out by Waterfed-pole-system at Grantham or it may be purefreedom.

Just looking for tank caged, pump, battery etc but I will need to ask on here for more advise on best option. Van will be fitted by end of year so still need to do research on a few issues.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

If your getting it fitted by Denni at water-fed pole systems then I'm sure he puts in really good fixed reels (over £200 a reel).  Mine have been brilliant.  I'd only have them outside if you felt that security was an issue.  I would also make sure you get a decent high flow high pressure pump and controller and go for the 6mm bore.  I have used 1/2 inch 8mm and 6mm and the 6mm is sooooooo much easier even to the 8mm.

Simon.

[LWC]

I personally like lift out reels, pull in any direction. 100m is nice can be a bit of a bind reeling in sometimes but when you only got 50 and think i wish i had a bit more!

I also prefer 6mm microbore and never hada problem with it. 

[Andrew46]

If your getting it fitted by Denni at water-fed pole systems then I'm sure he puts in really good fixed reels (over £200 a reel). 

Simon.

I was going to go with Water fed pole or Pure freedom.  Have you had work done by Water fed pole and if so can you recommend them.  I know pure freedom are good but Grantham is near to me so would like to go there buit ONLy if they do a good job.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Be aware that 6mm hose will put more strain on your pump & drain your battery faster.

[clean]

Be aware that 6mm hose will put more strain on your pump & drain your battery faster.

No it wont,i have always had 6mm microbore and never any problems
PK

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Be aware that 6mm hose will put more strain on your pump & drain your battery faster.

No it wont,i have always had 6mm microbore and never any problems
PK

Yes it will, how would you know if you've always had 6mm hose?

I've had both & with 6mm the pump settings have to be much higher to force through such a small bore thus more amps are pulled from the battery! Switched to 8mm, varistream only set at 1 now, pump only just ticking over, no flow, air or power problems since!

You can easily use your van battery via 12v socket all day with varistream + 8mm hose. No need for leisure batterys, chargers etc!

[clean]

Be aware that 6mm hose will put more strain on your pump & drain your battery faster.

No it wont,i have always had 6mm microbore and never any problems
PK

Yes it will, how would you know if you've always had 6mm hose?

I've had both & with 6mm the pump settings have to be much higher to force through such a small bore thus more amps are pulled from the battery! Switched to 8mm, varistream only set at 1 now, pump only just ticking over, no flow, air or power problems since!

You can easily use your van battery via 12v socket all day with varistream + 8mm hose. No need for leisure batterys, chargers etc!

Because i don`t have any concerns about my hose,pump and battery set up so no "be aware" concerns here 
PK

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

If your getting it fitted by Denni at water-fed pole systems then I'm sure he puts in really good fixed reels (over £200 a reel). 

Simon.

I was going to go with Water fed pole or Pure freedom.  Have you had work done by Water fed pole and if so can you recommend them.  I know pure freedom are good but Grantham is near to me so would like to go there buit ONLy if they do a good job.

Water-fed pole systems do use good stuff and I've had no major issues with the system in the nearly 3 years I've had it.  However I think that pure freedom would probably be cheaper.  Who ever you get to do your system, do your research and have the put in what you want not the system they want to sell you, example , 3 years ago at Grantham they had their own flow rate controllers that worked off the pressure switch in the pump, I asked for varistreams instead and they obliged.

If you get the right controller and pump 100mts of microbore is the way to go.  Who wants to carry another reel 50 meters to make up the extra.  I have 2 100 meter reels and they are both regularly pull all the way out in opposite directions.

Simon.

[neil100]

I have 2 x fixed reels, I have been wfp for 4 years now and the fixed reels are metal and I still use my original reels. Fixed for me and the reasons are many. For starters the reels will never fall over when I am Pulling the hose out,I can get up a very good tempo when reeling in. A lot faster then reeling in a loose reel.the reels are heavy so I never will pull a muscle in my back or arms lifting them in and out.

Because they are fixed They will never cause any damage in the van if I have to brake really sharp,you do an emergency stop you better pray if you dont have a bulk head, They will not cause any damage to any of my other equipment if I brake sharp or have to swerve to avoid a collision.

I run a van that does not leak,My van floor stays dry all day unless I'm working in the rain.Fixed reels help in this regard. I use 6mm M/bore, its lighter then 8mm and when you reel in a lot of times in a day it makes a difference. I have 2 x 60psi pumps,both have lasted for 4 years and I work nearly every day so the pumps work ok with m/bore,they are flowjet pumps and I dont use an electronic controller has the flow rate is spot on.
 Hope this helps.

Neil

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I have 2 x fixed reels, I have been wfp for 4 years now and the fixed reels are metal and I still use my original reels. Fixed for me and the reasons are many. For starters the reels will never fall over when I am Pulling the hose out,I can get up a very good tempo when reeling in. A lot faster then reeling in a loose reel.the reels are heavy so I never will pull a muscle in my back or arms lifting them in and out.

Because they are fixed They will never cause any damage in the van if I have to brake really sharp,you do an emergency stop you better pray if you dont have a bulk head, They will not cause any damage to any of my other equipment if I brake sharp or have to swerve to avoid a collision.

I run a van that does not leak,My van floor stays dry all day unless I'm working in the rain.Fixed reels help in this regard. I use 6mm M/bore, its lighter then 8mm and when you reel in a lot of times in a day it makes a difference. I have 2 x 60psi pumps,both have lasted for 4 years and I work nearly every day so the pumps work ok with m/bore,they are flowjet pumps and I dont use an electronic controller has the flow rate is spot on.
 Hope this helps.

Neil

With no flow controll, what happens when you go from ground work to 60ft? & vice versa?

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I have 2 x fixed reels, I have been wfp for 4 years now and the fixed reels are metal and I still use my original reels. Fixed for me and the reasons are many. For starters the reels will never fall over when I am Pulling the hose out,I can get up a very good tempo when reeling in. A lot faster then reeling in a loose reel.the reels are heavy so I never will pull a muscle in my back or arms lifting them in and out.

Because they are fixed They will never cause any damage in the van if I have to brake really sharp,you do an emergency stop you better pray if you dont have a bulk head, They will not cause any damage to any of my other equipment if I brake sharp or have to swerve to avoid a collision.

I run a van that does not leak,My van floor stays dry all day unless I'm working in the rain.Fixed reels help in this regard. I use 6mm M/bore, its lighter then 8mm and when you reel in a lot of times in a day it makes a difference. I have 2 x 60psi pumps,both have lasted for 4 years and I work nearly every day so the pumps work ok with m/bore,they are flowjet pumps and I dont use an electronic controller has the flow rate is spot on.
 Hope this helps.

Neil

With no flow controll, what happens when you go from ground work to 60ft? & vice versa?

A flow controller controls the flow and the pressure.  The higher the pressure the more height you can work at.  You can have a high flow rate with a low pressure and visa versa and a high flow high pressure.  Most pumps have their own pressure switch which means they can work without a flow controller, other wise the pump would run continually even with the hose closed off.

Simon.

[Andrew46]

I have 2 x fixed reels, I have been wfp for 4 years now and the fixed reels are metal and I still use my original reels. Fixed for me and the reasons are many. For starters the reels will never fall over when I am Pulling the hose out,I can get up a very good tempo when reeling in. A lot faster then reeling in a loose reel.the reels are heavy so I never will pull a muscle in my back or arms lifting them in and out.

Thanks Neil, but what about the down side of lack of positioning of reel for the job or security.  I presumeyou have to leave the door open slightly when you are not near the van?

[NBwcs]

Ive mounted my hosereel on a piece of mdf approx 18" square which gives you the best of both worlds. It hardly moves at all when reeling out or traveling, but can easily be lifted out when needed. Yes it will need replacing eventually with the dampness etc but ive had the same piece on for over a year and its still going strong.