Do you dread using your garden hose because it’s hard to manage? Eliminate the hassle and keep your yard looking neat and attractive by using a hose reel cart!
By reading this guide, you’ll see reviews and comparisons, learn if you really need one and the things you should watch out for. I also answer some frequently asked questions.
No matter which model you choose from this top five best garden hose reel cart with wheels review, you’ll find they all make working with and storing long hoses in your garden much more convenient!
Top 5 Hose Reel Carts With Wheels
Best Overall
Giraffe Tools Industrial Hose Reel Cart
Reasons To Buy
- Braking/tension system keeps hose tightly wound
- Accommodates most garden hose diameters
- Higher reel height reduces back stress when reeling in the hose
- Ultra-durable materials to deter breaks, rust, or leaks
- Large tires for all types of surfaces
Reasons To Avoid
- Expensive and not very attractive
- Needs some assembly
The Giraffe Tools Industrial hose cart is a no-nonsense solution for keeping your garden hoses tidy yet accessible.
The reason this hose reel cart with wheels gets a near-perfect rating from customers is apparent. The tires are larger than most, which makes covering all types of terrain a breeze.
The reel rolls in and out with no stress due to a tension/brake system that keeps the hose speed under control.
I like the heavy-duty, rust-resistant die-cast aluminum material with brass fittings and swivel connections that avoid leaks and hose kinks. The sturdy padded handle provides better grip and comfort when moving the cart.
If looks aren’t a top priority and you have room in your budget, this hose cart makes the list for incredible durability and function. The balanced base and higher height of the hose reel improves comfort while bringing in even the longest hoses without the worry of tip-overs.
Best Design
Liberty Garden Never Flat 2-Wheel Decorative Garden Hose Reel Cart
Reasons To Buy
- Holds up to 200 feet of 5/8-inch hose
- 90-degree brass swivel connector with long inlet hose
- Ergonomic wide-base design with cushion handle
- Durable construction and no-flat tires
- Decorative design makes your yard more attractive
Reasons To Avoid
- Pricey
- Basket tends to fall off
- Need to step on the base with your foot in order to start reeling in the hose
The Liberty Garden 301 hose reel cart combines function and style into one durable piece of garden equipment.
The design of this reel cart
lowers the center of gravity, which makes it much easier to maneuver, pull, and
prevent tip-overs, even when you have the maximum amount of hose on the unit.
The powder-coat finish resists rust and chips for long-lasting durability through every season of the year. I appreciate the handy basket, which can hold gardening gloves, pruners, and hose nozzles or adapters.
I give this Liberty Garden Products hose reel a top spot because the cranking motion is user-friendly and the design adds a touch of class to your landscape. This reel is ideal for homeowners who need to corral very long hoses and be able to move the whole unit with ease around their yard.
Best 2-Wheeled Budget Pick
Suncast Hosemobile Garden Hose Reel Cart
Reasons To Buy
- Stable base keeps cart from tipping
- Integrated footpad secures cart for reel back of up to 175 feet of hose
- Durable and rust-free material
Reasons To Avoid
- Wheels don’t roll as well when the cart is weighted with a longer/heavier hose
- Attachment points can be weak/crack
The Suncast Hosemobile reel cart’s molded plastic construction makes the unit rust-free and lighter to move about your yard.
I like the Easylink system that prevents the frustration of hose connections to the reel leaking.
I also like how the reel can hold enough hose for most household needs, and you can use it immediately since it needs no assembly.
I appreciate the neutral color of the cart, so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb when left in view. The hose drum rolls smoothly, whether you’re reeling your hose in or out, which reduces strain on your back and arms.
For homeowners looking for a hose reel cart for lighter-duty garden needs, the Suncast Hosemobile makes the list because of its ability to withstand the elements while remaining easy to operate. With a bit of care taken while moving the unit or making connections, this very affordable cart should last for years.
Best 4-Wheeled Budget Pick
FDW Heavy Duty Garden Hose Reel Cart
Reasons To Buy
- Durable construction with handy accessory basket
- Four wheels make it stable and easier to move
- Hose reel is easy to crank up or unroll
Reasons To Avoid
- Needs fairly extensive assembly
- Wheels are pneumatic and will require occasional inflation
- Water input connector angle may cause your hose to kink
The FDW Garden Hose Reel Cart stands out for its four sizeable wheels that make transporting your hose as easy as it can get.
The stability of the design means it’s much easier to dispatch and reel in up to 300 feet of hose, which means you can water all your landscaping plants for most average-size properties.
The heavy-duty steel construction features a powder-coat finish so it can withstand rust, even when left uncovered outdoors. The four wheels provide a lot of stability, which I like when I need to traverse large amounts of property.
The FDW garden hose reel cart makes the list due to the four wheels and ample space for even long hoses. If you’re a homeowner looking for a step up from a plastic hose reel cart, this affordable metal version could be the perfect fit.
Best For Those With A Lot Of Hose
AMES Estate 4-Wheel Steel Wagon
Reasons To Buy
- Holds up to 400 feet of 5/8-inch hose
- Durable construction with a no-frills design
- Four wheels make transport easy
- Hose reel smoothly cranks in and out
- Easy to assemble
Reasons To Avoid
- A bit pricey
- Wheels are pneumatic and will require occasional inflation
- Hose extension between spigot and reel poor quality
The Ames Estate hose reel cart rolls easily on four wheels and features the largest hose length capacity at an astonishing 400 feet.
The all-steel design features a sturdy crank handle that is large enough to pull in your hose with minimal effort. The weather-resistant coating should hold up well for years without rusting.
I am a fan of the four-wheel stability while moving the cart around the yard, even over uneven surfaces. The tires are pneumatic, providing excellent traction and a smooth ride.
The cushioned handle is at a comfortable height, which eliminates stooping while in motion.
The Ames hose reel cart makes the top five due to the user-friendly four-wheel design and easy assembly which offset the higher price tag. I love the large amount of hose it can handle, so you won’t need to purchase multiple hose reels to keep your hoses under control.
Do You Really Need A Hose Reel Cart With Wheels?
Trying to coil up a long hose, or unkink one that you are trying to use to water your plants is frustrating!
Accidentally tripping over a hose or killing sections of grass by leaving your hose too long in one spot are other bothersome aspects of improper use.
Using a hose reel cart with wheels not only simplifies moving your hose about your property but allows you to pull out as much as you need while staying kink-free.
When you finish with the hose, crank the reel handle and watch as it quickly winds it up to store it safely until the next use.
Allowing your hose to lay on the ground deteriorates the rubber or outer material much quicker, so you need to replace it sooner.
Storage on a reel off the ground extends the life of the hose and keeps it from getting all dirty.
I can’t stand having to use my hose to clean off my hands from trying to set up my hose. UGH!
When it comes to hose reels, I am a big fan of carts with wheels. Two-wheels are ideal for short distances over relatively smooth terrain, while four-wheel versions cover bumpy or hilly landscapes with much less stress on the body.
What About Stationary Hose Reels?
You can purchase a garden hose reel without wheels, but to keep your hose and reel in its best shape, you should consider shed or garage storage during the offseason.
Wheels enable you to quickly transport your hose to a better location during winter, without having to lug a heavy cabinet-style hose reel by hand or in a wheelbarrow.
Things To Watch Out For
Before you purchase any garden hose reel cart with wheels, you need to consider the things you need to watch out for like these below.
Hose Length Requirements
Before shopping for a hose reel, measure the length of hose you own or plan to buy. Always buy a hose reel with “wiggle room” so you can add more hose if necessary to reach all points of your yard.
Cart Maneuverability
If your property requires you to move the entire hose to reach certain areas, a cart with wheels is a no-brainer.
The more important question is whether your terrain is smooth, rough, or hilly. Two wheels may be adequate for rolling your hose reel cart over flat yards, but for anything else, a four-wheel version may be much easier to manage.
Cranking Ease And Smoothness
Reeling in a hose, especially is it’s very long, shouldn’t tire or hurt your arm or shoulder.
The crank handle should be easy to grip and turn with one hand. The operation should be smooth, even as the drum fills up with the hose.
Test out the crank to see how far you need to bend over to operate it and how much effort it takes to rotate the drum. If your body feels uncomfortable and you plan to use the reel cart often, consider another model.
Fittings And Accessories
Look for a hose reel that comes with the fittings to attach the reel to the water source.
The hose extension should be at least three feet in length. Longer extensions (five feet or more) are easier to manage and connect to the water source without having to set the hose reel cart too close.
A basket on the hose reel cart is another nice touch. I like the ability to keep extra hose nozzles and adapters at the ready, without having to go in search of them.
Related | Turn Garden Hose Into Pressure Washer
Material And Construction
It only stands to reason that metal framing will last longer than plastic on a hose reel cart.
Of course, some plastics are much more durable and crack-resistant than others. Metal can rust or bend if of poor quality. The more pieces that comprise your hose reel cart, the more chance things will come loose or break.
Look for heavy-duty plastic and rust-resistant aluminum, brass, or powder-coat finishes when shopping for a hose reel cart. Look for molded plastic framing or continual metal framing in as few pieces as possible to avoid the chance of issues.
Don’t forget the tires! No-flat tires beat out standard pneumatic tires that can deflate or plastic wheels that are harder to roll and could crack.
Hose Reel Cart FAQs
How Should I Store A Hose Wheel Cart?
Hose reel carts are made to withstand the elements, but it’s always wise to protect the reel and hose by storing them during winter or during long spans of disuse.
When storing your garden hose reel cart, opt for a shed or garage if possible. A solid roof and walls will keep the ice, snow, rain, wind, and UV rays from damaging the materials of your reel cart and the hose itself.
Before storing your hose reel cart, you must detach the connection hose from the water spigot and drain the water. To empty the hose, unspool it completely, then slowly reel it back in, letting any water inside drip out.
Next, wash any dirt and debris off the cart and grease up any fittings, screw heads, or other vulnerable parts.
If you plan to keep the hose reel in its current location on your property, cover your cart with a tarp or other waterproof fabric. Place a piece of wood under the tires to keep them up off the ground and out of possible water or ice accumulation.
Related | How To Use A Hose Reel
Do I Need A Wheel Lock For Slopes Or Hills?
Wheel locks are a nice touch on hose reel carts that will see action on hilly or sloping ground.
Two-wheel hose reel carts have less tendency to roll due to the front feet that stand on the ground, but fully expect four-wheel versions to take off if they don’t have wheel locks.
Many garden hose carts offer a brake or tension feature on the reel portion to control how fast the hose releases or how taut the hose will coil onto the drum.
Finding a hose reel cart with integrated brakes on the wheels may be a bit more tricky.
For carts with no brakes, you can chock the wheels with a piece of wood. You can also turn the cart so the wheels are perpendicular to the slope.
This angle should prevent too much wheel movement, but doing so could increase the potential for the cart to tip over depending on the direction, weight, and height of the hose reel drum.
Should I Buy An Extended Warranty?
Not sure if you should purchase an extended warranty on your hose reel cart with wheels? The decision depends on a few factors like:
- Initial cart cost
- Construction quality
- Usage
- Warranty coverage
COST
The more you pay for your reel cart, the smarter it is to protect your investment by purchasing an extended warranty. Parts can fail, even on high-quality equipment, so being able to replace or repair your reel cart at no additional cost will be worth it.
CONSTRUCTION
Do the materials and design of the cart appear questionable, even if the price tag is high? If so, buy the extended warranty if it doesn’t add much to the cost.
USAGE
An avid gardener that utilizes their hose reel cart daily will put more wear and tear on the fittings and framing than a person who only pulls out the hose once every couple of weeks.
COVERAGE
Don’t pay for an extended warranty unless you understand the coverage.
Will it only pay for a repair, not replacement? Will you have to pay shipping costs if you need to send it off for repair? How long does the coverage last?
Many times an extended warranty offers impractical coverage, so read the fine print before purchase.
