Dragging a hose around the yard or worksite can be cumbersome and at times strenuous. Having a garden hose cart or hose trolley can make your life a lot easier and get rid of dragging hoses. While all of the hose reel carts are mobile, you will want to make sure that the wheels will work for your terrain. I like the Suncast Hosemobile garden hose reel cart because it has large plastic wheels that make it easy to pull around the yard, and if needed is pretty lightweight in case you have to pick it up.
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These are our choices for best hose cart reels and portable hose trolleys:
- Suncast Garden Hose Reel Cart with Wheels (click here to view)
- Eley Portable Garden Hose Cart with Wheels (click here to view)
- Liberty Garden 4-Wheel Never Flat Tires Hose Cart Reel (click here to view)
- Ames Aluminum Portable Hose Cart Reel (click here to view)
- Liberty Garden Never Flat Decorative Metal Garden Hose Cart (click here to view)
- Suncast Commercial Steel 200 ft. Pro Hose Reel w/ No-Flat Tires (click here to view)
- Yard Butler Metal 2-Wheel Garden Hose Trolley (click here to view)
- Suncast 200 ft. Decorative 2-Wheel Garden Hose Cart (click here to view)
- Ashman Portable Garden Hose Reel Cart (click here to view)
- Giraffe Garden Portable Garden Hose Cart (click here to view)
- Liberty Garden Industrial 4-Wheel Garden Hose Cart Reel (click here to view)
- Ironton Garden Hose Reel Trolley (click here to view)
There are many different types and brands of garden hose trolleys on the market, so it is very important to understand whether you want a mobile hose reel that has 2 wheels or 4 wheels. Typically, hose reels that have 4 wheels are heavier duty and are going to take up more space. While 2 wheel options are likely to be smaller but don’t work as well on even terrain.
Along with understanding how many wheels you want, you will also want to know what the wheels are made out of. Some hose reel carts come with never-flat tires and typically feature a rubber design that makes it reasonably easy to transport your hose around the yard or work site. But some of these garden hose trolleys have wheels that are made from plastic, which work great in yards or smooth surfaces but aren’t as great in rough terrain.
These hose trolleys really come in handy for those who need something that can be easily maneuvered place-to-place around a bigger yard or a work site. In this article let’s discuss some of the best options on the market to make sure you get what you need. I will also discuss some things to consider when buying a portable garden hose reel.
Table of Contents
Best Garden Hose Cart Reels and Trolleys
Suncast Garden Hose Reel Cart with Wheels
I really like this Suncast garden hose reel cart with wheels because how convenient it is to use. The unit comes completely assembled and it has two large plastic wheels that make moving it around the yard easy. The hose reel also has a very large crank handle for winding the hose back up after using it. Here is what this hose cart reel looks like:
This is the current price of this Suncast hose cart with wheels available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this reel:
- Benefits – This garden hose reel cart comes with two large wheels that make it easy to move around the yard. It also has a large crank handle so winding it up is a breeze. This hand winding reel cart also comes with a leader hose as well. It has some additional features such as hose hooks to hold your hose after winding it up and a footer that you step on when winding it up to hold it in place.
- Material – This is a plastic garden hose trolley, which makes it relatively lightweight and durable. The resin construction makes it resist corrosion and and rusting.
- Storage Capacity – This garden hose trolley can store up to 175 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose. A standard garden hose has a 5/8″ diameter, but if you are using a larger diameter hose (for example, 3/4″), be sure to take that into account when determining your storage capacity needs. You’ll also want to make sure this reel has the strength to handle the PSI of your hose if using a larger diameter hose.
- Assembly – A huge benefit about this Suncast Garden hose cart reel is it comes fully assembled. You just take it out of the box, unfold the handle, and it is ready for use. As mentioned, this portable garden hose reel does come with a leader hose (used to attach water source to the reel), but it doesn’t come with a garden hose.
Click here to buy this Suncast hose cart with wheels available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This garden hose trolley is great for yards of all size.
Liberty Garden 4-Wheel Never Flat Tires Hose Reel Cart
This is a metal hose cart reel by Liberty Garden that is made with powder-coated 13-gauge steel and features never flat tires that make it easy to use on any terrain, especially rough areas. In my experience, garden hose carts like this can make sense for both residential or commercial use. Here’s what this Liberty Garden steel hose cart with wheels looks like:
This is the current price of this Liberty Garden garden hose cart available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this cart:
- Benefits – This cart has never-flat tires that can maneuver around your yard or a job site. In general, you won’t have to worry about the terrain damaging the tires. This cart has a storage basket for essentials like a bottle of water, work gloves, garden tools, and nozzles as well. The large wheels combined with the low center of gravity help prevent tipping, which is great on rough surfaces.
- Material – Yes, this is a portable steel garden hose cart. It is made using 13-gauge steel construction and has a powder-coated finish to help prevent rust and corrosion. It has a brass swivel fitting that is shaped at a 90-degree angle to help prevent damage.
- Storage Capacity – This cart can store up to 250 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose, so it is great for big yards or job sites. A standard garden hose has a 5/8″ diameter, but if you are using a larger diameter hose (for example, 3/4″), be sure to take that into account when determining your storage capacity needs. One thing I like about this garden hose trolley is it also includes a 5 foot inlet lead-in hose.
- Assembly – Unfortunately, yes, due to the size of this cart, there will assembly required. It would be safe to assume assembly process will take approximately an hour to lay it all out, get it organized, assembled, and ready for use.
Click here to buy this Liberty Garden metal garden hose cart available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, this hose cart can make sense for both residential and commercial purposes.
Ames Aluminum Portable Hose Cart Reel
I like this AMES aluminum portable hose cart reel because it is made of metal but still is very lightweight. It combines the durability of aluminum frame but also being easy to use. It has 2 wheels that make moving it around a yard simple and easy. Here’s what this AMES aluminum portable hose cart reel looks like:
This is the current price of this AMES aluminum hose cart with wheels available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this reel:
- Benefits – This AMES NeverLeak hose reel is lightweight and comes with minimal assembly. The Neverleak technology keeps the unit in good working condition even in colder climates. The simple design makes it easy to move around the yard and is easy to wind back up.
- Material – This hose trolley is made with anodized aluminum that will stand up to harsh weather. The connectors are made of aluminum as well, which helps prevent cross threading.
- Storage Capacity – This portable garden hose reel holds up to 200 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose, which is enough to cover most city yards. 5/8″ is the most common diameter of a garden hose. This unit is great for residential yards, but there are probably better options if you are needing it for commercial use.
- Assembly – Again, this hose trolley comes almost fully assembled. All you have to do is attach the handle, crank and inlet tube and you are ready to use it. This should take about 15 minutes or less.
Click here to buy this AMES Neverleak portable hose reel available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, this is a great option for those wanting a metal hose cart with wheels that is lightweight and durable.
Other Garden Hose Trolleys and Portable Hose Reels to Consider
- Eley Portable Garden Hose Reel Cart – Eley is a Nebraska-based brand and is known for making premium hose reels. This portable hose reel is made with diecast heavy-duty aluminum and features never-flat tires. The carriage sits up higher than most reels but is also designed to resist tipping when moving it over your yard or tough terrain. It has the storage capacity to handle a 150-foot 5/8″ diameter garden hose. Click here to visit the Eley store at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Liberty Garden Never Flat Decorative Metal Garden Hose Reel Cart – Looking for a decorative portable garden hose cart? This Liberty Garden steel hose reel has extra design details to make it look more appealing than a standard hose reel and it comes with never flat tires. It stores up to 200 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose and has a storage tray on the handlebar. Click here to view this Liberty Garden steel hose reel at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Suncast Commercial Steel 200 ft. Pro Hose Reel w/ No-Flat Tires – This Suncast commercial garden hose trolley has a 200-foot capacity for a 5/8″ diameter hose and features slide track that guides the hose when winding it up to keep it from twisting or kinking. This reel comes with flat-free tires and a frame made from powder-coated steel that is weather resistant. It also has bottom pads that keep it stationary when transporting it in a vehicle. Click here to view this Suncast steel hose reel. This is a great option for those needing a heavy duty hose cart with wheels for commercial use.
9 Things to Consider When Buying Garden Hose Carts and Trolleys
Storage Capacity
When buying a hose trolley probably the first thing you need to consider is how long of a hose do you need to store? For most city yards, 50 ft hoses should get the job done. For larger yards you will want a 100 foot hose or longer. You should measure or walk off your yard or area ahead of time.
A hose reel cart allows you to move the hose from spigot to spigot around the outside of your house, meaning you don’t necessarily need a long hose. With that said, you need to keep in mind where your spigots are and what the furthest distance you will need from every spigot.
For most all hose reels, storage capacity is based off a 5/8″ diameter garden hose. This is the size of a standard garden hose. For larger diameter hoses, you can’t fit as much length on these hose trolleys. With smaller diameter hoses you will be able to get more storage though.
PSI
Always make sure the portable hose reel can handle the PSI for your setup. For most standard 5/8″ diameter garden hoses, this will not be something you need to worry about. But if you plan to use a larger diameter hose for increased flow rate, make sure the hose reel is sturdy enough to handle it. Most all units should list the PSI limits.
Assembly
All things considered, assembly is generally not that bad for these garden hose carts, but it can obviously vary. Some of the units come completely installed or need very little assembly. Some units though can take up to an hour or longer to assemble.
Large hose trolleys tend to have more assembly required because they are too large to ship assembled. This assembly process will be quite standard and involve mainly screws, bolts, and washers. Again, from my experience, even the large hose reel carts are not that difficult to put together.
Inlet Hose
The inlet hose (also called the “lead-in hose”) is the hose that connects from your spigot to the hose reel and allows you to supply water the hose your have stored inside your reel. You will need to consider what length of inlet hose you need.
While hose reel carts can be moved close to the spigot, just make sure there won’t be something blocking you from getting the cart as close as you need it. For example, in my backyard my AC unit is close to my spigot and some garden hose trolleys would only be able to get to about 8 feet away.
Maneuverability
Obviously, the benefit of using these portable garden hose trolleys when compared to a free standing hose holder or a garden hose storage pot is maneuverability. But when buying portable hose reel, make sure you consider the build of the reel and how easy it will be to maneuver. Some cart styles are built almost like a dolly hand truck and you can easy maneuver even with added weight.
Also, if you are buying a hose reel cart reel probably best to confirm the unit either has never flat tires or large plastic wheels. Having tires that go flat can be very annoying. If the cart you are buying has plastic wheels, the bigger the wheels the better.
Weight
When you are using a mobile hose reel cart, you just want to pay attention to how much the unit weighs. Likely, if you are wanting a hose cart reel for around your house or yard, you wouldn’t need a heavy duty cart that usually weighs more. Also, if you are every going to be lifting it into a truck to take it somewhere, weight could be a big factor for you.
Also, when looking into the weight of the garden hose cart, keep in mind that most 5/8″ 50 foot hose will weigh somewhere between 9 and 17 pounds. You can check out our article on hose much 50 ft hoses weigh as well for more information.
Rust Resistance
If you are buying a portable steel hose reel, you will definitely want to ensure that the reel has been treated to prevent weather damage. Most metal garden hose reels use a powder-coated finish to protect the metal, but it is always best to double check.
Also, even if you are buying a plastic reel, make sure they are weather resistant. Many plastic garden hose trolleys will be treated with a finish that makes them hold up in the sun and resist fading.
Retracting Method
While you may be looking for a hand crank hose cart, there are automatic hose reels available to purchase as well. Most of these units are wall-mounted, so they might not make sense for you needs, but they do make things a bit easier instead of hand-cranking a garden hose trolley. To read more, visit our article about the best automatic garden hose reels.
Height
This is something that is easy to overlook, but can be critical for ease-of-use. For garden hose reel carts and garden hose trolleys, the height can determine how easy it is to use. Taller units are usually easier to move around, but some may be easier to tip over.
This is actually one benefit that wall mounted hose reels have over garden hose trolleys, is you can install the wall-mounted reel at your preferred height.
Some hose reel carts sit low to the ground, and that means bending over awkwardly to lift them or crank the hose back into place. If you want or need to take stress off your back, buying a unit that sits a bit higher might be best.