Karcher K2 - beware

[Halo]

This afternoon I picked up a K2 from homebase. Amazing value at £49 BUT .......
Took it home fixed it together and gave the drive a little wash. After only 5 minutes SWMBO came out for a look. She said "should the hose be so raggy ? " The black plastic cover on the high pressure hose was shredded in several places. The drive had done it - but it is not an aggressive surface - tarmac with smooth pea gravel mixed in. IMHO the material on the hose cover is far too soft.
Took it straight back for a refund and got one.
I owned the thing for less than 2 hours.
Moral of the story is to be extra extra careful of the hose if you have a Karcher.
Looked at the Bosch version but it was 3 times the price.
Anyone else had the same thing happen ?

 

[bigwow]

Drive cleaned for nowt then, result:encouragement:

 

[Arida]

Having owned a number of Pressure washers over the years, would seriously suggest you consider Nilfisk....

 

[Tammany]

I have the karcher version where the hose wraps round a drum but this is green high pressure hose and not the normal black hose. Never heard it as being an issue though. Karcher is more or less the best you can get in home pressure washers so it's a bit odd.

 

[DownWest]

I have the karcher version where the hose wraps round a drum but this is green high pressure hose and not the normal black hose. Never heard it as being an issue though. Karcher is more or less the best you can get in home pressure washers so it's a bit odd.

Here in France, Karcher is the generic name for pressure washers. Bit like Hoover in the UK. Their quality seems good.

 

[MengWalton]

Never had a problem with my K2 had it for a couple of years and its had some serious abuse the high pressure hose is as solid as it was on day one.
It prob was just a one off they do happen I would recommend karcher anyday that said if you dont want to go back to karcher then a nilfisk is just as good some think even better

 

[Vanilla]

Having owned a number of Pressure washers over the years, would seriously suggest you consider Nilfisk....

+ 1 but much more expensive but like you, i think worth it

 

[ghostlymoron]

I have a K4 in my garage which was left by my brother in law when he went to work in Abu Dhabi some years ago. I am allowed to use it in return for storage. It has been faultless so far and has cleaned my bottom most satisfactorily (I've also used it on the boat). My drive where the boats overwinter is gravel and I've not experienced any abrasive wear. Perhaps it's just the smaller models that have this problem.

 

[colind3782]

I have two K2 Karchers and one copy in different locations for different jobs and never experienced the OP's problem. Suggest it's a faulty hose and take it back.

 

[KevB]

I had a k2 for many years and never noticed a problem with the hose.

 

[Vara]

Umm, surprised at that, my K2 has been well abused over the last three years and the hose shows no signs of shredding...just checked