Guide · High-pressure hoses and reels
Pressure washer hose reel ratings
A reel that carries water must be rated for your machine's pressure and temperature. Reelcraft and Coxreels ratings, and why look-alike reels differ.
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Short answer
A hose reel that carries water through its own swivel and piping is part of the high-pressure chain. It must be rated for your machine's maximum pressure and for the water temperature, and so must the hose wound on it. Some reels that look similar are rated far lower, so read the reel's own rating, never the drum size.
Look-alike reels rated far lower
Reels are built for very different jobs. Reelcraft's 5635 OLPSW5 pre-rinse reel is rated only 125 psi and 180°F, far below pressure-washer output.[1] It comes with a 3/8 in x 35 ft hose. Nothing about its shape tells you it is a low-pressure product; only the rating does.
Pressure-wash reels
- Reelcraft PW81000 OHP: a pressure-wash reel that holds 100 ft of 3/8 in hose, rated to 5,000 PSI and 212°F, sold without hose.[2] Reelcraft lists a 1/2 in NPT(F) inlet and a 3/8 in NPT(F) reel outlet, so pipe-thread fittings join it to the hose.
- Coxreels: its pressure-wash range lists ratings that vary by series, from 3,000 PSI on the 1125 hand-crank and motorized reels to 5,000 PSI on series such as SH, P and T.[3] Some series include hose and some do not. Coxreels lists no maximum temperature, and some stainless specialty series show 300 PSI, so check the exact model.
| Reel | Rated pressure | Rated temperature | Hose included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reelcraft 5635 OLPSW5 (pre-rinse) | 125 psi | 180°F | Yes, 3/8 in x 35 ft |
| Reelcraft PW81000 OHP | 5,000 PSI | 212°F | No; holds 100 ft of 3/8 in |
| Coxreels pressure-wash series | 3,000 to 5,000 PSI by series | Not listed | Varies by series |
The reel does not rate the hose
A hose reel's rating covers the reel. The hose you wind onto it needs its own rating at or above your machine's maximum, and its own temperature rating. Cat Pumps advises that a high-pressure system is only as strong as its weakest component.[4] A 5,000 PSI reel with a 3,100 PSI hose is a 3,100 PSI system.
The fittings between reel and hose count too. A reel with NPT ports and a hose with quick-connect ends need adapters named for both ends, each with a rating that covers the machine.
Length adds loss
Reels encourage long hoses. Cat Pumps notes that hose pressure drop scales with length at a fixed flow, so 100 ft of hose loses twice what 50 ft of the same ID loses.[4] No source we read gives a separate pressure-loss figure for the reel's swivel and piping. See hose diameter and length for the loss table.
Machines with built-in reels
Built-in reels change which parts fit. Kärcher's 2.643-910.0 gun and hose kit is not compatible with Kärcher pressure washers that have hose reels.[5] Kärcher's spray-gun finder says the same of its Bayonet Spray Gun and Hose Kit, while the standalone Bayonet Spray Gun 2.642-889.0 is listed for reel models too.[6] If your machine has a reel, look for parts its maker lists for reel models. More in Kärcher gun and hose kits.
Hoses for a 3/8 in reel
Reelcraft's PW81000 OHP is sold without hose, so the hose is a separate purchase with its own rating.
Picks that fit2 products
Both are 3/8 in x 50 ft with 3/8 in quick-connect plug and socket ends, rated 4,500 PSI. Choose the 41028 for cold water (140°F); choose the 41114 (250°F) only if the reel, the machine and every fitting are also rated for hot water.
More on choosing
Joining one to an NPT reel port needs adapters named for both ends. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
3/8 in quick-connect hose for cold water
SIMPSON Monster Hose 41028 3/8 in x 50 ft 4,500 PSI cold-water pressure washer hose, 3/8 in QC
3/8 in quick-connect hose rated for hot water
SIMPSON Armor Hose 41114 3/8 in x 50 ft 4,500 PSI hot and cold water pressure washer hose, 3/8 in QC
SIMPSON states the 41028's 4,500 PSI and 140°F rating[7] and the 41114's 4,500 PSI and 250°F rating.[8]
Next
Questions
Can I use a garden hose reel for a pressure washer hose?
Not one that carries the water unless it is rated for your machine. Reelcraft's 5635 OLPSW5 pre-rinse reel, for example, is rated only 125 psi and 180°F, far below pressure-washer output.[1]
What PSI should a pressure washer hose reel be rated for?
At least your machine's maximum, like every other part in the chain. Reelcraft rates its PW81000 OHP to 5,000 PSI; Coxreels' pressure-wash series run from 3,000 to 5,000 PSI depending on the series.[2][3]
Does a hose reel reduce pressure?
Hose length does: Cat Pumps notes loss scales with length, so 100 ft loses twice what 50 ft does. No source we read gives a separate loss figure for the reel itself.[4]