UPDATED JUNE 20th - JUST BROKE DOWN AND BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE EXPANDABLE HOSES

chief38

chief38

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I have a fairly large back yard and need to get the hose in many different places. After getting fed up with replacing hoses every few years I bought a Goodyear 3/4" black contractor rubber hose that I custom ordered because I wanted one continuous 100 foot length. The quality, water pressure and durability is superb! The problem is the damned thing weighs a TON!!! I HATE dragging it around the yard! I broke down last week and ordered one of those 100 foot Nylon hoses that expands and contracts. The whole 100 feet weighs probably 3 pounds if that much and is a pleasure to take anywhere in the yard. The downside is the water pressure and water flow is about 40% less than what I had with the Goodyear. I'm going to keep it anyway (for normal every day stuff), however whenever I do power washing in the yard the Goodyear hose will have to be used as I am afraid the new collapsable one will starve the pressure washer for water.

Just wanted to give you guys the heads up if you are thinking of buying one. Just want you to know the facts. Not necessarily a bad item, but not a full force hose.

UPDATE


OK, well I used the new expandable hose all day today to clean up from last nights messy storm. I was on the roof cleaning out the gutters, cleaning around the pool and patio and was thrilled with the ultra light weight and non kinking feature.

So when I went to wind it up and store it I noticed a BIG BUBBLE coming out of the Nylon sheath! :eek: After only ONE USE it is about to burst and so tomorrow it's going back. GARBAGE!!

I intend to take the advise of 3030remchester and look into a 1" firehose instead. Well guys it REALLY IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE - DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THESE THINGS!! :mad::(
 
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I have had several of those expandable hoses for use cleaning my motorhome (light weight, fits into storage areas, etc). They have both started leaking after a year or so of use. I have regular hoses for the water system and they last for years and years with no problems.
 
I was a member of the local fire department for many years. Living in remote areas we had a number of wildland fires. Sometimes man made, many times from lightning strikes. Our job was to hold it to a small area till forest service crews could arrive. Every time we had it out by the time the people in the pickle suits arrived. Our stations were loaned what we called brush trucks which were small 1 ton trucks with small pumps and hand tools. Since space on these trucks was at a premium, we used smaller 1 1/2" and smaller hoses. These were made of a thin jacket of nylon that was tear resistant, as were had to drag them through the forest. When rolled up a 50' 3/4" hose was only 6" in diameter and 1" wide. I bought one for my personal use in my work truck. It takes up virtually no room in the tool box and is durable and easy to re-roll when done. I bought mine from a forestry supply online store. If the shrinking hoses do not pan out you might try one of these forestry hoses.
 
I picked up one of the wonder magic hoses at Walmart a couple years ago at the beginning of summer. They said I could return it within 90 days if it broke. It ripped at the collar after two months. They gave me a new one. Same failure at the end of summer. I asked for a refund and they did. The gal at the return desk said they all break.

Like Chief says, they're super convenient in size and weight but lose a lot of pressure for using with a lawn sprinkler. That the hose shrinks and expands so much can be a hassle. I always keep a valve on the sprinkler end of a hose so I can easily turn off the sprinkler, move it, then turn it back on. But when the valve is turned off at the sprinkler end the hose expands like crazy with increased pressure in the hose. Then when ya place the sprinkler in a new position and turn the valve back on the hose shrinks and yanks the sprinkler out of position :rolleyes:
 
I can't explain your pressure loss since we have four and they deliver same pressure as the hard-rubber hoses.
We really like them BUT:
They don't last long for us. Of the original four, three have split wide open and had to be tossed. These were used around our yard.
We have since bought one of the new ones that are supposed to be tougher, so we'll see.
The fourth original was/is for our RV when in RV parks or when filling the fresh water tank at home, and it is now nearly 3 years old and seems to be in perfect condition.

I don't know whether the new ones are really tougher, but I suggest limiting your purchase to them.
 
Additional suggestion:
We put shut-off valves on the end so we can leave pressure on while changing nozzles or sprinklers, etc.
We do like the way they shrink for easier storage.
 
Harkrader said:
I can't explain your pressure loss since we have four and they deliver same pressure as the hard-rubber hoses.
We really like them BUT:
They don't last long for us. Of the original four, three have split wide open and had to be tossed. These were used around our yard.
We have since bought one of the new ones that are supposed to be tougher, so we'll see.
The fourth original was/is for our RV when in RV parks or when filling the fresh water tank at home, and it is now nearly 3 years old and seems to be in perfect condition.

I don't know whether the new ones are really tougher, but I suggest limiting your purchase to them.
Click to expand...
Pressure drop is always great through corrugations than smooth surfaces.
 
expandable hoses have a very bad rep on the garden sites.
better to drag a heavy one.
 
Onomea said:
Chief, I say your wife gets you an in-ground, installed, sprinkler system for your birthday!
Click to expand...

I have one- but thanks for thinking of me - :D:D

The hose is for spraying the bushes and fruit trees with Dormant Oil, Power Washing the Patio and around the pool, for cleaning out the Gutters, cleaning the DE out of the pool filter, blah blah blah..... :)
 
Well I've got this thing and so I guess I'll see how long it lasts.

3030remchester had a great suggestion! He told me about those flat fire style hoses. If and when this expandable one bites the dust, I will DEFINITELY look into them!
 
30-30remchester said:
I was a member of the local fire department for many years. Living in remote areas we had a number of wildland fires. Sometimes man made, many times from lightning strikes. Our job was to hold it to a small area till forest service crews could arrive. Every time we had it out by the time the people in the pickle suits arrived. Our stations were loaned what we called brush trucks which were small 1 ton trucks with small pumps and hand tools. Since space on these trucks was at a premium, we used smaller 1 1/2" and smaller hoses. These were made of a thin jacket of nylon that was tear resistant, as were had to drag them through the forest. When rolled up a 50' 3/4" hose was only 6" in diameter and 1" wide. I bought one for my personal use in my work truck. It takes up virtually no room in the tool box and is durable and easy to re-roll when done. I bought mine from a forestry supply online store. If the shrinking hoses do not pan out you might try one of these forestry hoses.
Click to expand...

EXCELLENT IDEA!!!! Going to look into a 3/4" x 100 feet if & when the expandable one gives out. Thanks!! :D
 
This belongs in the "But wait there's more" category. :-) You know the commercial that says they will send you 2 for the price of one.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
We had those heavy black hoses for years - could not stand them - heavy and marked anything they touched.

We eventually replaced them all with polyurethane hoses - kind of pricy but you will probably never have to buy another - 10 year warranty - check them out:

Garden Hose Reels, Garden Hoses & Watering Tools – Eley Hose Reels

PS - We have 3 of their hose reels also - best quality you will find.

Lou
 
Make sure if you use those expandable hoses, you get one with brass connections. They will last much longer. We've had one for a couple of years. Great for watering the garden but not much else.
 
I have had two expandable hoses that worked great for about a year each until they developed bulges that blew up and popped,I'm a glutton for punishment because I see a new one being advertised and I'm going to buy it.
 
We bought two of the expandables, they both died within a few months.
 
We had one of the green, garden-variety 5/8" hoses. Worked fine, till one day, it started spraying all over the place from multiple areas of the hose. The Male Heir and a friend were playing Snake in The Grass, and "killed" it several dozen times with somebody's knife. It wouldn't have surprised me a bit to find they had used one of mine!:cool:

Same kids that took the new SUV 4 wheeling. They washed it very well, but when I raised the hood, WEEDS hanging all over! :eek: I can laugh about it now. :D

We have the small-diameter coiled hoses that have lasted for years. The Forestry hoses sound like a good thing, when we need to buy more.
 
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Everyone I have talked to seems to have the same experience with the expandable hoses. They get a use or two out of them and then the break.

I see now there is a commercial for the "improved" version. Which is a nice way of saying that the original version was a POJ.
 
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