SWIMLINE HYDROTOOLS 50050 Premium Solar Reel System For Above Ground Swimming Pools | Durable | Non-Corrosive | Socket Mountable | With Straps & Hardware | Easy Cranking | TUBE KIT NOT INCLUDED

Read directions, put all strips together before placed

Bought this product a year ago and finally got the gumption to put it in. Mounted their hardware to a 4 x 4 post which I put down into the ground 3 feet used their pole kit as well which came with all the clips and Velcro tape. By adding a noodle that I zip tied onto the end of the Solar cover and now it’s very easy to get the cover on and off. I’ll most likely remove most of the plastic pieces except for the main mount tubes for the fall and winter. Great product for my above ground 12’ pool!

After much discussion on how to use these, we finally figured it out and they worked fine for our real

Happy with the purchase. Exact replacement for my 25 year old cracked ones

The title says Reel System, yet it is only the handle ends. A reel "system" should include everything- mounts, straps and attachments for the solar cover, the bar to attach the cover to, hardware, etc. I have returned the item, as it was not what I intended for my mother's gift. My father informed me that it states in the package or contents that he needs to buy the pole kit and the diameters are different for each size pool, so he could end up with poles that don't fit the handle/ends and the poles are an additional $200 - $300. Very disappointing.

This is our 2nd purchase. Start with first purchase and product was great. Last almost 5 years. This new purchase was to replace the expected warn out product. Bought it and installed with ease this winter. Didn't really notice until a month later when the sun started coming out of that our product was discolored, faint green. Contacted support and they responded quickly but just said an unlucky artifact of manufacturing. Our 30 day Amazon window surpassed but we are outta luck. Given a manufacturer defect was clear figured it would be a clear and simple replacement. Have to buy a new one if we want what we expected to receive. Lesson learned is they have no QA in the process so just inspect immediately upon delivery as they send defective products. Bummer and unlucky, otherwise could be a solid product.

It took some time, but I installed this reel system with their recommended pole. I mounted the actual reel system on two 4' x 4' five foot high pressure treated wooden posts, as I have an INTEX ultraframe pool, and cannot mount to an edge. These posts are at the end of the pool, 2 feet away, where I can still reach the solar blanket to pull it over the pool. I drilled holes in the base of the reel mechanism and then screwed these reels to a wood platform that then goes on top of the 4 x 4 post. Turn handles are screwed to the collar that holds the actual pole, so that nothing moves, then the pole is screwed to that collar. So there is definitely no wobbling or shifting. It took careful measuring to get the length of the poles correct. You need to drill holes in the poles to keep in place together, and for the end keeper plates and straps for the solar blanket-measuring for these also. I did not use their end predrilled plates to hold down the reels. I may put rubber bushings on my reels' bottoms where I drilled and screwed- so that they do not crack on the wood platform I made for each. These reels move beautifully! No struggle whatsoever rolling out the solar blanket onto the pool, or rolling it back up onto the pole again. After taking the time to configure my own pool situation, I am very happy with this product!

Owned 1 week. Also purchased the hydrotool pole (54000).Received defective product at first (plastic was molded out of shape not allowing reel to roll). Amazon was great replacing with 1 day shipping.Replacement worked perfect. The instructions aren't great, but installed within 2 hours. I have a 21' round pool so installed right down the center. Rolling the cover up is incredibly easy (about 20 seconds). I love how the reel swivels right and left and open at the top so you can lift the pole up to remove it completely. Cranks on both ends will be useful if someone else wanted to help, but it's easy to roll by myself. Any debris on top of the cover goes in the water when you roll it up, but that's with any solar reel on a round pool. It's too early to speak to the durability of the resin/plastic, but it seems strong; doesn't bend as I crank the cover on/off.Putting the cover back on is not so easy. With the pole in the middle, the cover should unroll on both sides. Instead, the cover sticks to the other side and both sides roll out to just the right. I use my skimmer pole to separate, but it's easier to be in the pool when you start unrolling it. Once you get it started, it's goes pretty smooth. It takes me about 3-5 mins to get the cover back on by myself.I've noticed my cholrine is lasting longer compared to when I didn't use my solar cover.Overall, worth the money and I'm now using my solar cover all the time (I used to not ever want to mess with it). This will definitely give me more swimming time in the season.