DIY PVC Water Hose Caddy
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Time to read 5 min
If you want to keep an orderly and well-watered garden, you need a water hose caddy. These great pieces of equipment allow you to wheel your water hose around and are ideal for gardens that go around a house. Sometimes hose racks attached to the house are restricting. In these instances, a DIY PVC water hose caddy with wheels is immensely helpful!
You can easily make a caddy for your garden hose out of PVC pipe and fittings! This DIY water hose storage device uses a few inexpensive materials to effectively carry your garden hose anywhere you need it to go. This guide, posted originally here, will help you make your very own!
Materials and Tools:
Most of the parts required for this project are PVC, meaning they are inexpensive and are available on our online store! The rest of the parts, required for the wheel assembly, can be found at your neighborhood hardware store! Listed below are the materials you will need:
- 3/4" Sch. 40 PVC Pipe 5ft. Section - 3
- 3/4" Sch. 40 90-Degree Elbow - 6
- 3/4" Sch. 40 Tee Fitting - 6
- 3/4" Sch. 40 45-Degree Elbow - 1
- 3/4" Sch. 40 Cap Fitting - 3
- 1/2" Steel Rod 22" Length - 1
- Washers - 4
- Snap Caps - 2
- PVC Cement
- PVC Pipe Cutting Tool
- Measuring Tape
- Power Drill
- Hammer / Mallet
Step 1: Cut PVC Pipe
This project requires many of separate pieces of PVC pipe. Be sure to use a tape measure to get the exact lengths correct. A ratcheting PVC pipe cutter will make cutting the pipe quick and easy, so be sure to have one on hand! The cuts you will need are as follows:
- 20" - 2
- 15-1/4" - 1
- 14-1/2" - 1
- 11" - 2
- 9-1/2" - 2
- 7" - 4
- 6" - 2
- 4" - 1
- 3-1/2" - 2
- 2" - 2
Step 2: Dry Fit Frame of DIY PVC Water Hose Caddy
The most important part of this DIY water hose caddy is the PVC frame. The frame will hold the hose and make it easy to wrap. The picture to the right explains how you will need to cut and connect the piping and fittings.
Start with the base. The feet are constructed by connecting an elbow to a cap with a 2" piece of PVC pipe. Attach an 11" section to the other end of the elbow and another elbow to the other end of that 11" section to finish the legs of the caddy.
Next, your DIY PVC water hose storage equipment needs a body. The body is the vertical section with the handle at the top. Each side starts with a 3-1/2" piece which attaches to a tee fitting. A 20" section goes in the opposite side of the tee. At the other end of the pipe section, place another tee, connected to a 6" pipe piece and a 90-degree elbow.
Connect the sides of the body with three supports. One is a simple 15-1/4" pipe piece. The other two consist of two 7" sections connected with a tee. Place all three of these supports in fittings on the side as shown in the image.
The last part of the frame is the water hose rack. This is what you will wrap your hose around. Insert the 14-1/2" section into the bottom tee and place the 45-degree elbow on the other end of that pipe. Put the 9-1/2" section in the other end of the 45-degree elbow with a tee fitting on the other end. In the opposite side of that tee, place a 4" piece and a cap. In the perpendicular connection, place the last piece of piping (9-1/2") and connect it to the top tee fitting.
Step 3: Glue Frame
In order to actually use this equipment as a caddy, you will need to glue the frame together. PVC fits snugly together without glue, but it will quickly come apart when being pulled or dragged. PVC cement is easy to apply and sets quickly. Not every joint needs PVC cement, so glue at your discretion.
Step 4: Add Wheels
The last thing this water hose caddy needs is mobility! Adding wheels is straightforward and requires only a few parts. First, you need to drill 1/2" holes in the elbows at the bottom of the frame.
Place the metal rod (22" length) through the holes you drilled. On the part of the rod that sticks out on each side, place a washer, a wheel, and another washer in that order. Finally, hammer a snap cap to each end of the rod to lock the wheels into place.
Your DIY PVC water hose caddy is now ready to go! Purchase all your PVC materials and tools from us for the lowest prices anywhere. Images are taken from the original post at PVCWorkshop.com. View more DIY guides and instructional articles on our resource center!
Mobile Storage Solution: Built using standard 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe, fittings, and a steel axle with wheels to create a portable alternative to fixed house-mounted hose reels.
Simple Assembly Process: Involves measuring and cutting pipe sections, dry-fitting the frame and hose rack, and securing structural joints with PVC cement.
Hardware Wheel Integration: Requires drilling 1/2" holes through the bottom PVC elbows to mount a 22-inch steel rod, secured with washers, wheels, and snap caps.
FAQs
Do I need to glue every joint on the PVC hose caddy?
No, but gluing key load-bearing structural joints with PVC cement is highly recommended. While dry-fitted PVC holds together tightly, pulling the cart or unwinding a heavy hose can cause unglued connections to pop apart over time.
Can I use Schedule 80 or Furniture Grade PVC instead of Schedule 40?
Yes. Standard 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC is used because it is lightweight, inexpensive, and structurally strong enough for a hose. However, Furniture Grade PVC can be used if you prefer a glossier, UV-resistant finish without barcode markings, or Schedule 80 if you want extra durability and don't mind the added weight.
How do the wheels attach to the PVC frame?
The wheel assembly is mounted by drilling 1/2" holes through the bottom PVC 90-degree elbows. A 22" steel rod is inserted through the holes to act as an axle, and wheels are secured on each side using washers and hammer-on snap caps.
Mark Ligon
Mark Ligon is the marketing manager at PVC Fittings Online, a supplier of commercial PVC and CPVC pipe, fittings and valves. Ligon enjoys educating businesses on the parts of piping systems so managers can make informed decisions. He can be reached at webmaster@commercial-industrial-supply.com.
