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Suggestions for a Garden Hose to use for Vehicle 2-Bucket Washing

L

Lonnie

Active member
I did not know where else to "place" this topic thread, so it is in the "=?Everything Else" Category/Sub-Topic tab

I am asking for suggestions and recommendations for a garden hose that you Autopians are using OR may have been researching for a replacement for your own use.
I had to qualify my question with the term two-bucket wash, as SOME of you may be using your garden hose with a pressure washer for a water line supply, which might have "different" parameters or construction for that purpose.

I currently am using a John Deere-named 3/4" ID hose 50-foot long made by Swan, which, SHOULD have been of good quality, since John Deere is synonymous with that ,as is Swan a a reputable hose manufacturer. I bought this particula hose for three reasons:
1) It is 3/4 ID to supply more water and hence, pressure from a municipal-water supply spigot-hose bib and
2) It has beefy, over-sized brass-colored anodized aluminum hose fittings to make attaching each end to its appropiate water device connections (Hose bib and spray nozzle) ergonomically easier for older hands (mine)
3) It was inexpensive and available over-the-counter at Mill`s Fleet Farm (not many hoses are available in 3/4 ID`s in a 50-foot length)
This hose did not live up to its reputation nor its "performance" The male (spray nozzle) end developed a leak and the hose kinks severely and when it does, it blisters and swells at those points and it has a leak in in where the hose has been abraided away from numerous vehicle washes. It is also an absolute solid "rod" in cold weather below 35°F (Yes, I wash in cold weather here in Wisconsin when it is above freezing when possible). I have replaced the leaving female end with an aftermarket repair fitting and Super-
Glued the leak, which allows me to use this hose for vehicle washes. Yes, I can cut off the two hose end fittings with 6-inches of hose attached and send it back to the manufacturer for a replacement under its 3-year warrant, BUT am too lazy and frugal to do that (YET!).

SO, that is WHY I am asking for suggestions for a replacement garden hose from my fellow Autopians. Yes, I would like to have a 3/4" ID in a 50-foot length, BUT am open to the more common 5/8" ID hose, which may have many more hose-construction and better quality options.
From my research, I am considering a new -style construction hose made by Treknor Apex called Zero-G and one made by Fitt called Hi-Flow, both of these hoses having a soft, collapse-able hose, rather than the traditional round-type vinyl hose construction. If anyone have and use either of these hoses for vehicle washing, I would like to know your thoughts.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
I`ve been intrigued by the polyurethane, come to think of it I bought one for the garden that I never used. But to Lonnie`s question, I have been using rubber hoses for a couple decades. I started with the Craftsman, I think I had one or two that I got replaced for free, maybe just one, that the fitting came off the end. I`m not sure if later with the demise of Sears I had to replace one with something similar from Home Depot, I don`t think I did. The flexibility is good in cold weather, kinking isn`t too bad, easy to roll up, they just get UV damage like the rubber trim on your car, so you can wind up with black hands if you don`t wipe them down periodically. Mine are 50`, not sure if they are 5/8" or 3/4".
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I`ve been intrigued by the polyurethane, come to think of it I bought one for the garden that I never used. But to Lonnie`s question, I have been using rubber hoses for a couple decades. I started with the Craftsman, I think I had one or two that I got replaced for free, maybe just one, that the fitting came off the end. I`m not sure if later with the demise of Sears I had to replace one with something similar from Home Depot, I don`t think I did. The flexibility is good in cold weather, kinking isn`t too bad, easy to roll up, they just get UV damage like the rubber trim on your car, so you can wind up with black hands if you don`t wipe them down periodically. Mine are 50`, not sure if they are 5/8" or 3/4".
Click to expand...
THAT`S exactly why I cleaned my old Swan hose with Meg`s D101 APC and protected it Aerospace 303 protectant and it lasted about 15 years. The hose fitting male end wore leaked from dropping it so many times while washing and I did "fix" that with a quality male hose replacement fitting after 10 years of service and the hose lasted another 5 years until the outside rubber was so UV- cracked-n-checked, I bought the not-so-good John Deere hose mentioned above to replace it.

Looked at the Poly hose link posted by BudgetPlan1: $115 for 5/8 ID x 50 foot long.. YIKES!!! Better last for its guaranteed 10 years or longer.....
 
I love my Zero G, it`s about 5 years old and still doing well. Unfortunately it is not compatible with 2 bucket washes.
 
Lol. That’s because you can use it to pre rinse your car well and not need to waste your time with a two bucket wash.
 
Dan said:
Lol. That’s because you can use it to pre rinse your car well and not need to waste your time with a two bucket wash.
Click to expand...
OK, so the "misunderstanding" is on me.....
No, still have not bought a new/different garden hose yet.
Since we are having our front lawn redone and landscaped, may need to (more like "will") ask landscape contractor what he recommends for a hose for watering/irrigation purposes.
Yes, it sounds stupid, but if it is good for the lawn watering purpose, I will probably use it for 2-bucket washes of vehicles. Still kinda leaning toward the Fitt Hi-Flow hose.
 
I can`t tell you which hose is right for you, but I can tell you which one you don`t want. I went all in on Flexzilla, fell into the marketing hype. Bought air hoses for my compressors and water hoses outside. Worst hoses ever.
 
FWIW....

I use Swan hoses for my foamguns and the pw (since they're never used simultaneously) and black hoses for my rinse water. The black ones are an old (and oft-repaired) GG on one side and one from HF on the other. I really like the HF one, EXCEPT that it has a nasty (to me) odor that reminds me of the BO of somebody who lives on onions. Heh heh, was that graphic enough to put you all off the HF one? Too bad about the smell as it's a great, and lightweight, thing otherwise.
 
Hmmm. I really don't give my hoses much thought. Makes me wonder what I'm missing.

Right now I'm using a FlexH2O hose I picked up at Sam's Club for not much money. It's held up really well for two years now and is very light to move around. The spigots on our house are in the worst possible locations for just about any use anywhere, so having a lighter weight hose to drag long distances has been nice. If it ruptures or breaks, I'll toss it and replace it.

I still have a traditional hose as the "second stage" part of my set-up when I need to go really long distances, but that is rare. For the most part, I've given up on the heavier rubber hoses. I went through several and despite claims of not getting memory and staying soft/pliable, they did neither and they kink up like crazy. My father-in-law had a hose at his house that had to be 30+ years old. Not very heavy, soft, never gets memory, connectors are in great shape and it never kinks. No one remembers now where it came from and despite years of searching I've never found one like it.
 
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