Customer Reviews

Suncast SWA100 100-Foot Garden Hose Capacity Wall-Mounted Sidetracker Hose Reel, Taupe

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is a great product. Extremely compact, blends in well; easy to use and durable. It worked perfectly in nearly daily use for almost 10 years without my having to replace a single part. The coupling between the stationary mount and the removable wheel finally broke and I'm very glad the product is still available--still for under $30!

Highly recommended but, as with all hose reels, you must remember to take it inside in below-freezing weather (the reel is clipped to the mount and detaches very easily).

Bought one for the back yard as I was fed up with a messy hose which got kinks in it all the time. Works fine - construction seems solid enough, and I like the fact that you can take the reel off the frame easily for winter storage. Just bought a second one for the front of the house.

Good reel and easy to install. However, 100' feet of hose really pushes the limits on this reel.

I've had my Suncast reel (SWA100) about 10 years (received it as a B-day gift from father-in-law), and though it lasted till this summer (wall mount bracket broke into pieces just last week {06/11}), I had frequent trouble with minor dripping leaks. I could usually get it to behave for a few weeks if I replaced the o-ring (on the spindle where the reel mounts) and gooped it up real thick with some Vaseline petroleum jelly. I'd do this three or four times each summer and then store the reel in the basement for the winter. I think I got the 10-year life out of it because I did store the reel in the winter, but that constant beating of ultra violet rays and freezing weather on the wall mount all winter finally did it in. You know what though, for less than thirty bucks, I'm ordering another. If I get another 10 years, I'll be quite content and happy. I'd have given this product a 4-star rating if I hadn't needed to spend so much time fixing the leaks. : )

This is my second Suncast Sidetracker Hose Reel. My first one stayed mounted on my outside wall, with flawless operation, for over 7 years. Eventually, it was the sun that got to it and the Reel had become a little brittle. The trick for longevity is a "secure" mount, with a properly connected hose to faucet hook-up... The reel will do the rest, for years to come. Buy at least a medium duty 5/8" hose (not a light duty one - they never last). Securely holds 100 ft of hose and reels with ease. You will have to hand assist the hose on reel in, while reeling with the other. Your best buy for non atrusive simplicity.

This replaces the same model that I installed 25 yrs ago. I built a cool angled wall mount that aligned the hose out garage door and left room around for the car. Everything else that I could find was larger and would not fit easily.

One point to be aware of are the two O-rings on the reel axle. The farthest in O-ring was not seated in it's groove and if I had not put it right, it would have leaked all over the place.

What I really wanted was exactly this but made from stainless steel (at 5 times the cost). If I get to be 80, I am sure that I will not feel like replacing this again. Overall, I am happy with it.

Pros:

- Pretty easy to install

- Nice Looking, sturdy plastic

- Holds 2 hoses

Cons:

- None so far

Would be great if it held up, but poor build quality. Have owned two and both broke...flimsy design and was within recommended hose length (normal weight). They hold up for a while but eventually crack and fall apart. Very difficult to keep from leaking also. Not only that the supplied connect hose burst--come on Suncast, build a better product.

Bought this to replace an exact same hose reel that finally gave up after 8 years of Houston heat and sunlight. Have a 100 ft. hose attached and have not problems with weight or leaks. Make sure to use the silicone grease on the rubber O rings.

Okay, it's plastic. I've had three of these, and bought this latest to replace one that had a broken mounting plate. The other two have had no problem beyond disassembling to apply fresh lubricant to the O-rings. There may be more well-built metal reels out there, but at the price for this reel, I'm content to use them until they break beyond repair, and then replace with an identical model (no need to re-drill mounting holes in a brick wall).