As practical as a garden hose may be, it is just as bulky: once the neatly rolled-up watering aid has been used, it is almost impossible to restore it to its original condition. For this reason, many hobby gardeners simply leave the hose on the ground, where it not only becomes a tripping hazard, but can also be damaged more quickly. To make it easier for you to roll up and down, it can make sense to purchase a mobile hose trolley or a permanently installed hose box. We will introduce you to various models from different manufacturers and show you what you should look out for when buying.
With a garden hose reel, watering small to medium-sized areas should be much easier. Apart from the fact that the hose is no longer in the way, it can be stowed away safely and in a space-saving manner on the associated trolley or in the box – without kinking or breaking. However, before you decide on a suitable model, you should ask yourself (and answer) the following questions:
According to the manufacturer, the mobile hose reel from Gardena has a low center of gravity so that it cannot tip over so quickly. Depending on the size of the area to be watered, you can choose between 10 and 50 meters of hose length. Alternatively, there is also a garden hose reel for wall mounting or with a ground spike for fixing in the ground if there is no wall near the water connection.
The Hazet Garden Hose Reel is wall mounted. You will find a drilling template on the packaging for correct assembly. An automated guide winds up the 15 meter hose quickly, cleanly and with braking (to minimize the risk of accidents) when you no longer need it. The housing is made of special plastic and has a swiveling metal bracket for individual installation.
Amazon’s own brand also has a hose reel for wall mounting in its portfolio. It comes with a 30 meter hose. In contrast to the higher-priced models, this variant is cheaper, but it does not have an automatic roll-up function. In other words, the hose has to be rolled up by hand with a crank. Or you can take the hose box for wall mounting with automatic roll-up.
The premium hose box CR 7.220 Automatic with integrated hose brake from Kärcher comes with a 20 meter long hose and a sprayer with a cone and point jet. It is also suitable for wall mounting and has a swivel range from zero to 180 degrees, which you can adjust individually using a practical bracket fixation. Alternatively, Kärcher also offers a mobile hose trolley (incl. 20 m hose).
At Lidl you will also find a hose reel with a practical wall bracket: It is suitable for a hose that is no longer a maximum of 20 meters long – but this is not included and must be ordered separately. Again, there is no automatic roll-up function, but a fold-out hand crank. According to the manufacturer, the Parkside Click System is suitable for all common hose systems.
A wall-mounted hose reel offers many advantages, but it also has a few disadvantages. The same applies to mobile hose boxes or hose trolleys. To make your decision easier, we will give you the most important facts that speak for or against a model:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Mobile Variant
Variant for wall mounting
Saving tip: With this voucher from Otto you get a 30 percent discount in the current summer sale.
One more important note at the end: Although garden hose reels are immune to moisture and UV rays, they can be damaged at particularly low temperatures. For this reason, it is advisable to store the car or box in the basement or garage over the winter.
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