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Best replacement for Rigid shop Vac hose

rtvinc

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May 4, 2008
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98
trying to find a GOOD replacement for the awful rigid hose that came with the Vacuum.
the Vac is excellent! the hose is ****! the fitting size is 2.25" and the hose is a bit larger.
has anyone found a more flexible replacement? Thanks!
 
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rtvinc

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May 4, 2008
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i saw that but its a smaller hose..the original must be 2.5ish. do you have this one?
 

four.cycle

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Oct 19, 2015
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Tacoma, Washington
I use the old hoses from my old (and long gone) Craftsman shop-vacs. They work great.
The Ridgid hose: screwball fittings on the end don't fit the other hoses.
 

exmaxima1

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Jun 25, 2011
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Midwest
I have the smaller version for automotive detailing and it's a great hose. They come with adapters to fit your Ridgid vac.
 

cgrutt

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Mar 4, 2016
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8,200
I have that orange hose on my Rigid shop vac it's a solid hose. I think I actually have two of them connected together with a piece of pvc. Don't remember if I had to buy adapter or if it came with hose but they sell that hose specifically for the Rigid vacs so adapter should be easy to find if needed.
 
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rtvinc

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thank you. perhaps ill give it a try. at least with home depot i can return it if needed.
maybe just use it for the last section where it needs to be flexible. if i can join it to the original
(bad) hose. :)
 

16again

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Fav Onefour

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MN cold and hot
I have a few of the H D 1-7/8 hose kits. They work fairly good. You do lose a little volume and the ends like to work loose. They are still better than the stockers for about 90% of the stuff I'm doing. For the other 10% I throw on the original stiff ******.

The hose kit that @MileHighRover suggested is interesting. The price is about the same as the smaller H D hose kit. I wonder how the ends work with the short collared clip inlets H D uses on their vacs?
 

jskicet

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Apr 26, 2020
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Western NC Mtns
A few years ago when I used to track my cars I needed some flexible brake cooling hose for the front brakes (I installed backing plates that had provisions for hoses to run to the front of the car. I found some rv sewer tank flex hose that was the perfect fit and it held up well and it was cheap. I don't remember the exact size but it was either 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 if I remember correctly. That might be an option. I think I found it at Home Depot...maybe, if not there maybe an RV center. Something similar to this...
 

jfleisher

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Dec 13, 2010
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Marysville, Ohio
I’ve always wondered, why are shop (and regular vacs, for that matter) vacuum hoses corrugated? To give stuff a better chance to get caught in the hose?
 

Fav Onefour

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I’ve always wondered, why are shop (and regular vacs, for that matter) vacuum hoses corrugated? To give stuff a better chance to get caught in the hose?
It's a cheaper method to make hose that can do bendaroonies without goings thicker double wall the entire length. I do agree that the insides should at the very least be smooth wall. But, smooth wall would be more expensive.
 

Solpainter

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Oct 27, 2011
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156
I bought the Rigid hose mentioned above years ago because of the 10 ft length. I am very pleased with it and would buy it again.
 

bobg03

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Aug 29, 2020
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conway sc
i saw that but its a smaller hose..the original must be 2.5ish. do you have this one?
I do, it makes a good Ridgid Vac into a great Ridgid Vac. When I purchased mine I believe it was a car wash kit that had extra attachments that were unique. The hose alone makes a big difference.
 

mike93lx

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Dec 9, 2013
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Location
Richmond, VA
I have the 10' Ridgid hose and love it. Also have a 25' dustless technologies on a reel and it's of equal quality.

The Ridgid is perfect for day to day and I consider it a must buy to replace the junk that comes with most vacs today
 

CraigStu

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May 22, 2014
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Blacksburg, Va
I clicked the HD link above and notice they also offer a 7ft version. The hose is black but same diameter so I hope it is same flexibility. I will find out in the next few days. I don't want 10ft because it will be constantly on the floor. OP thanks for this thread. My vac is probably 10yrs old and the hose has been a constant pain in the ****.
 

mike93lx

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I clicked the HD link above and notice they also offer a 7ft version. The hose is black but same diameter so I hope it is same flexibility. I will find out in the next few days. I don't want 10ft because it will be constantly on the floor. OP thanks for this thread. My vac is probably 10yrs old and the hose has been a constant pain in the ****.
The 7 footer is not the same at all. It's a basic corrugated plastic hose.

The 10 footer can easily be cut down. The ends unscrew
 
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hefnerconstructionlc

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Nov 1, 2016
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Kansas
As said above the orange hose kit from HD is the one to buy. The fittings screw on and off for different size shop vacs. The hose is flexible and durable. I have three of them for my construction company and all of them are at least 10 years old and they've worked excellent. The best part is you can pick one up at HD try it on your shop vac see if you like it and if not return it. I think you'll be happy with that.
 
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rtvinc

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i guess its time to visit the Depot! thanks for all the suggestions and opinions! :)
 
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rtvinc

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just when i thought we had exhausted the possible contenders..... you submit Kleen Rite!
they appear to be quite less expensive! Thank you!
 

DHCrocks

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May 2, 2008
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Hawaii
just when i thought we had exhausted the possible contenders..... you submit Kleen Rite!
they appear to be quite less expensive! Thank you!
I got the vac pro ones, so many more color options! they also carry the cuffs for end fittings. Make sure you get the swivel ones, those can rotate so it makes using it so much easier.
 

olytdi

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Dec 3, 2011
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Olympia, Washington
just when i thought we had exhausted the possible contenders..... you submit Kleen Rite!
they appear to be quite less expensive! Thank you!
When I looked at that link, it topped out at 2 inch hose. What did I miss? Looking for 2-1/2 hose for Ridgid vac as well.
 

jimy

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Mar 25, 2015
Messages
157
Another possible option would be to visit a vacuum cleaner store. They can make up whatever size you want. I’m not sure if they have every size “connector” for the various diameter shop vac hose.

I had a home style hose made up years ago. Depending on the situation, it was often a pleasure to use when I didn’t need a large diameter hose. Takes up less space and easier to roll up.
 

karoc

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Dec 19, 2017
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Hemphill Tx
I have hose that I purchase from car wash supplier. You know those vacuum hoses when cleaning out you vehicle. Mine is about 10 yrs old and has gone through few shop vacs
IMG_7973.png
 
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rtvinc

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Messages
98
Just to update everyone..I finally made a decision and it just arrived. it is a 2.5" hose with 2.25" swivel fittings that fit my Ridgid
vac. It is made by Oneida Air Systems ( https://www.oneida-air.com/flex-hose/vacuum-hose/2-5-inch-25-foot-wire-reinforced-vacuum-hose )
Very flexible and should work well. it was more expensive than some others but i think its worth it especially since it has the correct fittings. Thanks for all the help with all your suggestions!
PS. it has a smooth interior!
 

Hubmonkey

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OK
Just to update everyone..I finally made a decision and it just arrived. it is a 2.5" hose with 2.25" swivel fittings that fit my Ridgid
vac. It is made by Oneida Air Systems ( https://www.oneida-air.com/flex-hose/vacuum-hose/2-5-inch-25-foot-wire-reinforced-vacuum-hose )
Very flexible and should work well. it was more expensive than some others but i think its worth it especially since it has the correct fittings. Thanks for all the help with all your suggestions!
PS. it has a smooth interior!
I have a length of that hose that came with my CycloneVac from Oneida.. when it get cold it gets very stiff.. I personally am not impressed with their hose.
 

Mike65

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Horse Pasture, Va.

DGersic

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Mar 12, 2017
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DeKalb, IL
I’m working on skim coating my living room in preparation for paint. That involves a lot of sanding. My shop vac came with the standard 6’ semi flexible plastic hose. Rather than drag the vac around the room, I bought this 20’ CenTec:

IMG_4696.png

I’m liking it so much that I may buy a second one.

You could cut it down if you want less than 20’, but it’s so nice to only move the hose around, not dragging the vac with it.
 

reader2580

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Dec 31, 2014
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14,516
Location
Minneapolis, MN
I use the old hoses from my old (and long gone) Craftsman shop-vacs. They work great.
The Ridgid hose: screwball fittings on the end don't fit the other hoses.
You may not realize that Emerson made both the older Craftsman shop vacuums and the Ridgid shop vacuums. Back in the 2000s at least, the Ridgid and Craftsman shop vacuums were almost identical with the exception of the color.
 

39Tudor

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May 21, 2008
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646
Location
Kansas
Just wanted to provide an update to this thread.

I purchased a 25 foot 2 inch diameter vacuum hose from KLEEN-rite Corp.

I ordered red hose so it would be visible when in use. I got the 25 foot hose, a fixed end cuff and a swivel end cuff for just under $80 with shipping. I received everything in less than 3 days from two of their distribution centers.

Got the hose all assembled and tested it today. It worked like a charm. Hose is definitely much heavier that the originally supplied hose. It should last a long time.

Thanks to @DHCrocks for providing the link above to KLEEN-Rite.
 
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