Hose Reel vs Center Pivot
We sell both OCMIS hose reels and Lindsay Zimmatic pivots, so we don't have a horse in this race. Here's how they compare, and when each one wins.
| Hose reel | Center pivot | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Lower. No towers, no pivot pad, no buried wire. | Higher, but spread over more acres on large fields. |
| Labor | Someone moves it every pull, once or twice a day. | Very little. Start it from your phone with FieldNET. |
| Pumping pressure | High. Typically 100–160 PSI at the reel. | Lower. Less pumping energy per acre-inch. |
| Field shape | Any shape: long, narrow, triangles, bottoms. | Best on square or round fields without obstacles. |
| Leased or rented ground | Tow it away when the lease ends. | A permanent install. Towable pivots help. |
| Moving between fields | Designed for it. | Only with a towable pivot. |
| Wind and uniformity | One big gun is more affected by wind. | Many sprinklers close to the crop, so more even. |
| Application rate | Big droplets and a high instant rate. Watch tight soils. | Lower, gentler rates with the right package. |
| Fertigation and remote control | Possible, but limited. | Built for it: chemigation, VRI and remote monitoring. |
Pick a hose reel when…
- The field is odd-shaped, narrow, or broken up by trees, creeks or roads
- The ground is leased, or you're not sure you'll farm it long-term
- You want to water several small fields with one machine
- You need to pick up pivot corners or edges
- You're irrigating hay, pasture, vegetables or turf on small acres
Pick a pivot when…
- The field is large, open and owned or on a long lease
- Labor is tight and you want to run it from your phone
- Energy cost per acre-inch matters
- You want chemigation, variable-rate or the most even application
Or both
Plenty of farms run a pivot on the main field and a reel on the corners, the bottoms and the rented ground down the road. We'll walk your farm and lay out what makes sense.
Not sure which? Ask us.
Tell us about the field. We'll recommend a reel, a pivot, or both.
Rather talk it through?
Call: (270) 883-5924- OCMIS hose reel dealer in Murray, KY
- Delivery and setup across the Mid-South
- Parts and service for every brand of reel
- Also a Lindsay Zimmatic pivot dealer, so you get a straight answer on reel vs pivot