APEX Compact Reel System (CRS) 20 ft Air Hose Reel

A conventional hose reel is big, heavy and simply has nowhere to live in an off-road vehicle.

The CRS answers that differently: a reel that fits under a seat or against a cage and still pays out over six metres of hose.

Key benefits

• it fits where a conventional reel will not - under a seat or against a cage
• the hose can be cut and repaired in the field with an ordinary knife. The manufacturer calls the reel rebuildable but forbids taking it apart yourself — with damage you contact APEX for parts
• flow matched to APEX high flow valves, with very low restriction when fed from an on-board air system
• materials built for permanent outdoor duty: 6061-T6 aluminium, Viton seals, glass-filled nylon 66
• an aluminium knob, lubricated and sealed, with no play

Technical data

• Manufacturer part number: X02-06-001
• Hose length: 20 feet, that is 6.1 metres
• Reel guide: glass-filled nylon 66 polyamide (DuPont), UV and chemical resistant
• Body: hard anodised 6061-T6 aluminium, wear and fade resistant
• Seals: Viton - high temperature, chemical resistant
• Hose: nitrile rubber with a nylon braid - abrasion resistant, flexible at low temperature, high burst pressure at 200F
• Knob: aluminium, lubricated and sealed, no play
• Repair: the hose can be cut and repaired in the field with a knife
• Reel connections: inlet 1/4" NPT male, outlet 1/4" NPT female, hose inside diameter 0.375"
• Maximum working pressure: 150 PSI
• Mounting options: Jeep JL and JKU on the cage, Gladiator under the seat, universal version
• Longer version: 35 feet (10.7 m) - part X02-06-002
• Status: patent pending

Who it is for

For off-road and camper owners with an on-board air system who want the hose always to hand and always coiled, not loose in the boot. It also suits a mobile workshop or a trailer.

Installation and notes

The design is compact and universal; the manufacturer offers mounting options for the Jeep JL and JKU on the roll cage, the Gladiator under the seat, and a universal version. Mounting brackets and inflation chucks are not included. The manufacturer explicitly forbids disassembly - taking the reel apart will damage it and void the warranty.

Figures from the manufacturer spec sheet

Two figures from the spec sheet decide the purchase.

Maximum working pressure: 150 PSI. That is a limit for the reel, not a suggestion. A typical shop compressor can deliver more, so it matters if you are connecting the reel to a workshop line.

Connections: inlet 1/4 NPT male, outlet 1/4 NPT female, hose inside diameter 0.375 inch. Body dimensions: 6.512 x 4.957 inches, diameter 4.993 inches.

Installation and use, per the instructions

NPT threads have to be sealed with Teflon tape or pipe dope — the manufacturer makes that a condition of a leak-free system.

With the universal bracket: four M6x1.0 screws 16 mm long at 5 ft-lbs and two M6x1.0 nyloc nuts, supplied with the bracket. The reel can be mounted knob up or knob down. Mounting to the roll cage in a JL/JLU requires cutting a section of the factory trim panel with a razor blade and drilling two 9 mm (5/16 inch) holes, with the M8x1.25 screws 25 mm long going to 10 ft-lbs. The bolt hole span for the vertical mount is 3.94 inches, or 100 mm.

Where not to mount it. The manufacturer warns that mounting in a truck bed or outdoors without protection from ice and snow can cause reeling problems. The reel may be power washed, but the air chuck has to be protected from dirt and water while you do. The finish resists salt and most chemicals — except strong acids such as mag wheel cleaner.

Frequently asked questions

Is a mounting bracket included?

No. Brackets - universal and model-specific for Jeeps - are sold separately.

Can the hose be repaired after a chafe?

Yes. The manufacturer states the hose can be cut and repaired in the field with a knife, and that the reel is designed to be serviced.

Can I take the reel apart to clean it?

No. The manufacturer forbids disassembly - it will damage the reel and void the warranty.

How does it differ from the 35 ft version?

Not only in hose length. The hose is 6.1 m against 10.7 m, but the manufacturer spec sheet also shows a different body dimension: 2.900 inches on the 20 ft version and 4.400 inches on the 35 ft, about 38 mm more. In a tight mounting spot that difference decides.

Why it is worth it

• the hose always coiled and to hand, with no reel taking up half the boot
• materials and construction built to be repaired, not replaced

We match the bracket and chucks to the specific vehicle - tell us what you drive.