SWIMLINE HYDROTOOLS 55000 Commercial Truss Base Solar Reel System For Inground Pools | Heavy Duty | Non-Corrosive | With Straps & Hardware | Stable Foundation | Easy Cranking | TUBE KIT NOT INCLUDED

Rolls up great. Of course you need to buy the bars separately, they do not come with it, but even with the added cost, this is still a very nice roller and very good price for what you get.

It works but there is a lot of slop in the bearings

I researched this purchase and read the reviews about mis-leading advertising (they are all accurate) but figured I was now enlightened about what was included so it was safe to purchase. I ordered the Swimline Hydrotools solar reel 12" fixed system (same as the 15" fixed when you add the casters that don't come with it - are you still with me?) and I ordered a caster set separately. I decided not to order a pole kit because I was replacing my current solar reel and there's nothing wrong with the pole. I was taking a chance on the hope that the new reel was compatible... I think you know where this is going...Of course, it was slightly different so I went back on line to order the pole kit. It was practically impossible to even find the pole kits listed anywhere (including the mfg. web site which looks like the owner's kid designed it and it is useless) even though the reel system is worthtless without the pole. I've been searching for 2 days and now I have my own horror story to add...the 16' heavy duty reel i need is out of stock at Amazon and it appears they have an exclusive on this product. BTW, when I searched for the part number it directs you to the 20' version but if you are not looking carefully you wouldn't know. So now I have a new crank set but the solar cover is still sitting in my garage, not on my pool. This should not be this difficult...

As other reviews have stated, there are no wheels, but there was a strap kit included in the box. This strap kit has I think 10 or 12 straps that connect to the cross-pool pole using plastic tabs and self drilling screws. The straps connect to the solar cover using plastic pieces held together with a plastic screw. The straps themselves are about 3/4 inch wide and 2 feet long. I didn't know a strap kit was included so I also ordered a separate strap kit. The one I ordered had plastic pieces that don't require screws, so I used it instead of the kit that came with the reel. The reel was easy to assemble and included an allen wrench to tighten the bushing that holds the axles in place. Each end has a short axle that goes through the top of the triangle support. One axle is longer and actually forms the handle you turn to wind up the solar cover. The bushing goes on the side that faces away from the pool and the end pieces slide onto the axle on the side that the cross-pool pole connects to. In this way the bushings and the end pieces hold the axle in the supports. The end pieces are made for a 3 inch cross-pool pole kit and just slide into the ends and are held in place using the provided screws. I ordered the 4 inch pole kit and received new larger end pieces to fit the 4 inch pole ends in pole kit.Over all the supports seem well made and have holes in the bottom where I think you could mount some casters (as shown in the picture). I also noticed the black end caps are removable and is probably how the caster kit is mounted to the supports.I would buy it again.

First of all, this product is described as 15 inch fixed height. That may be true WITH the casters which it is pictured with. However, the casters are not included with this product and so not only is the image misleading but it also doesn't state in the description that the casters must be purchased separately. Without them, the product is 12 inches high (as it states on the actual box). You can buy the heavy duty casters but that is another $40 so you may as well buy the height adjustable 56001 product (which I'm doing and returning this one.)

EDIT - photo is now fixed to properly represent the product. I formerly gave it 2 stars because of the misleading photo. Now I'll give it five stars because it does work really well once you pair it with a proper pole.Like others, I did not realize that this item does not come with a pole - it is strictly the triangular end pieces of the reel. You have to order a pole separately. Also it does not come with the casters pictured. It does however come with a strap kit.Compatible pole kit part numbers are: 51120 3" tube kit for up to 12' wide pools, 51160 3" tube kit for up to 16' wide pools, 51200 3" tube kit for up to 20' wide pools, 51164 4" tube kit for up to 16' wide pools, 51204 4" tube kit for up to 20' wide pools, and 51205 5" tube kit for up to 20' wide pools.As Amazon doesn't carry most of the options above I had to order the pole kit elsewhere for an additional $140... What a pain!Instructions are fairly poor, but I was able to figure it out.Once you buy a pole and figure out how to assemble it, it is a nice pool cover reel. But the item description and the accompanying photograph are deceiving.

I used to have one of these plastic reels, because I wanted to save some money. Guess what - the plastic ones lasted one season and after sun / heat beating on it they just started cracking and fell apart. Finally decided to get a good quality reel for my solar cover and got these puppies. So far it's been two seasons and these are still like new. They are very well made and looks like they will last forever.

This product was missing parts. We had spent 2-3 hours putting it together so just used what we had. It works but is rubbing metal against metal without the rubber washers which were not included as listed. Directions were not well written. Usually very satisfied with Amazon products but this was a disappointment.