Solar Reel with SS steel bearings low cost?

[bbb]

I'm on my second. The first was a plastic Horizon with plastic roller bearings. By the 2nd season it was difficult to use. By the 3rd season it was SO hard to turn that one handle broke off.

This year I replaced it with an all-metal one--but it turned out to be another Horizon. Still, so far, it's been really easy to use--better than the other one EVER was, but with the cover rolled up it bends in the middle--I have a 40' long 16mil cover--very heavy. I believe it was just over $200.

Yeah, I bought that one this year too - I believe it is the Horizon HV-2000. It is a bear to install, but my experience so far has been good - just like CarlD's. Mine bends in the middle when fully rolled up too. The big feature of that model for my purposes is that it is one of the only models that fit OVER my diving board It is all metal and appears to be high quality, and the steel bearings are high quality. I need to use it for more time before giving it a full recommendation, though.

[Aranon]

Thanks for the info. Do the bearings look like you can replace them or do they seem heavy duty enough that they probably won't wear out.

Bearings are not that expensive. Seems like someone would make one with double SS non lubricating bearings on each end. Is the reel about 3 inches in dia?
Aranon