Hills Hoist

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT! About three years ago we had to replace our Hills hoist clothesline. We've since realised it was over 20 years old but finally beginning to fail. The first problem found with the new hoist was pretty immediate - they had redesigned the socket that goes in the ground. I'm sure someone would say it was better but… Read more

it meant the mechanism which locks it into the socket was incomparable with the old socket. Worst of all, they did not sell the older style locking ring - I would have to cut out and dig up the old socket, which was not an option. I eventually found a company overseas that sold the correct ones.

Fast forward to this weekend. After finishing the washing/drying, we discovered that the button on the centre housing would not depress at all and we could not fold the unit up. Unlike our previous model, which has a simple button and catch to lock the arms in place, this hoist has a "sleek", over engineered, over complicated piece of garbage button in a complicated centre housing, that conceals the locking mechanism.

According to what I've read online, this new design is "notorious" for locking up.

WHY?!? Why, when the old mechanism worked so well, for so long, did they consider it necessary to "improve" it? The new head piece might look prettier but, with multiple screws and springs, this is not at all easy to fix, particularly given the size of the hoist and the fact it is in a hole in the back garden!

There are times when an existing design has reached its pinnacle and cannot actually be improved. Our previous hoist was one such example of this - simple, effective and easy to fix. Sadly, some bright spark(!) came along and decided it wasn't pretty enough, so wrecked a great design for the sake of making it look pretty. Hang your head in shame, idiot.

So now I have the fun job of trying to disassemble the hoist in the middle of the back garden, at almost 2m above the ground, unable to be folded, while trying to avoid losing screws and springs, and even if I can fix it, what is to say it won't get stuck again.

Methinks it might be time to look beyond Hills.

Brought this product in NZ. Had some questions about installation. After leaving 3 messages, discovered they had closed the NZ office. Requested a installation video from Australia customer care. Was advised they had removed it as I had purchased a deleted model. Asked questions on the extra holes and crimping to which customer care wanted me to… Read more

send THEM photos. Instructions are junk as is their customer department. Won't ever purchase a Hills again

I recently contacted Hills regarding my clothesline. One arm had rusted through. We were still in the 10 year warranty period and Hills were fantastic. The response was very fast. I was asked to supply a photo and my warranty paperwork and was delighted when I was told a replacement was on its way. It arrived quickly and my new line was up and… Read more ·  1

working the next week. Big thank you to Hills for their responsive and excellent customer service. Highly recommend!

I am writing this review to tell customers the service I had from Trish in the Spare Parts section. It was 110 percent perfect, Trish was polite and very helpful. All my future business will be with Hills and Bunnings. Regards Noel Thompson.✅✅ Show details

Great customer technical support – Fantastic customer service from Jess. Was advised of the right part and guided how to replace strut insert for clothesline. Show reply

I purchased this Hills clothesline 38m after doing my research and seeing it rated highly. I installed it exactly as per the instructions, but straight away I noticed a serious flaw – there is so much play in the line that it moves excessively. For a product costing $399, this is unacceptable. You’d expect a premium product to have a sturdy,… Read more

well-thought-out design, but this feels flimsy and poorly engineered. Even with a small load, the line shifts and sways, making it frustrating to use.

I bought Hills expecting quality and reliability. Instead, I’m left with an overpriced, underperforming clothesline that doesn’t live up to its reputation. Very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

https://youtube.com/shorts/zvGXZQ6CSyg?si=gqZdb44UOF-sR8Ub

Do not buy. Buy something else

faulty hills heritage 7 rotary hoist with rubbish warranty – do not buy a hills hoist, it's an inferior troublesome product made in china that will most likely fail. the warranty is a joke, they'll make you jump through hoops and you still won't end up with a satisfactory outcome. they expect you to pull it apart, a large, heavy hills hoist, perform fault diagnosis and repair it yourself, including welding,… Read more

part replacement and re-assembly. they will only send you the part and you're on your own. what if someone is elderly and frail and is unable to do all that? they just leave you without a clothesline after you paid a small fortune for it and a few hundred extra dollars to have it installed.

Don’t waste your money on a Hills Hoist – Absolute garbage. 3 weeks old and the locking mechanism has failed on Mum’s rotary clothesline and now we have to jump through hopes to get a new lock catch and then try and install it on a $399 product. Clearly made in China crap and trading on what was once a good Aussie brand name. Show details

Worth every $$ – Bought an 8-line rotary from Stratco to replace an existing 6-line that came with the property we had purchased. Best thing we every bought. The old rotary had not been looked after and was a mess, so off to our local Kadina SA dealer. Easy for a one-man shoulder transit to the car. It's long, about 2 meters or more so take a small trailer. … Read more ·  1

Easy to install, with quick hardening concrete. About the hardest thing was breaking up the old concrete base as it had been over-installed. This one is a beauty. Very well designed. Smooth action. If I was a gunslinger I'd describe it as a greased lightning jewelled handled Colt.

Warranty is worthless – Have had a hills clothesline installed for 5 years at my new house. Came outside one morning a few weeks ago to see the clotheslines completely collapsed on one side. Broken part at the top. Contacted Hills as that clotheslines model are near $700 and it's nowhere near its 10 year warranty. They said to send pictures which I did. They claim it's… Read more

not covered under warranty, as its obviously been misused and had someone swinging on it, which is absolute rubbish! Just our small family it's ludicrous claim, and is completely untrue. In other words, this company cannot be trusted and the warranty is not worth the paper its written on. Wouldn't reccomend.

After Care Service – Polite and fast after service Customer Care to resolve a product issue. Sometimes things go wrong and its the response that matters, thank you Show details ·  1

Customer service is tops – The rental I just moved into has a Hills washline. It needed some parts replaced and Nic from customer service was amazing at getting back to me on a request and resolving the issue. Thanks Nic

Quality is complete rubbish – Just had an original galvanised hill hoist installed apparenty heavy duty.... None of this is true they are not even close to what they used to be quality is poor and not worth anywhwre near whay we paid they are trading off a brand that was quality I will not buy again

No good, absolute rubbish – Just replaced our old hills rotary clothesline with a new one which is absolute garbage, the thickness of the main frames are a lot thinner, instead of having brackets to put your lines through you only have holes in the frame and it is way to high of the ground, my wife can’t reach them she has to stand on a foot stool , you pay a lot of money… Read more

for and there only rubbish , no wonder they give you a freebie it’s made better than the clothesline, we will never buy anything else from hills , hills were always a great brand not anymore

Poor quality – I had my previous Hills rotary line for 25 years, and only ever needed to replace the lines once. The quality of this line made in Australia was exceptional. However it collapsed recently so I needed I new one. I again chose Hills rotary 55, because of the quality - sadly it is not the same quality. I get annoyed every time I use it - it is too… Read more

high even at the lowest point, the winding handle is much to low for comfort - remember older people do washing too. The lines are way too close together, so the clothes don’t dry if you use every line, especially during the winter, it is crazy. I just use every second line - this is extremely annoying as I can’t put all the washing out on the one day. I would think again about purchasing another Hills clothes line - no longer made in Australia.

Not happy with new hills clothesline – Recently replaced my old hills clothesline which was very happy with but broke, as I am shorter in height the clothesline is far too high, however if we cut the bottom off the pole the handle to wind up and down almost touches the floor. Didn’t haven’t this problem with my last one… very upset after spending money to buy a new hills Show details

Not happy – Purchased a duo foldaline Unpacked it to find 2x LH arms How annoying Emailed photos to customer service Still waiting for a response Not impressed at all and very inconvenienced Unhappy customer

Sadly disappointed – I bought the heritage model from bunnings for over $500 thinking I was buying quality, because we have broken two of the cheaper daytek ones in 5 years… it’s been sitting in the box for 5 months, I almost took it back a few times because I felt guilty spending that much on a clothesline… but I convinced myself it was worth it. We unboxed it and… Read more

started putting it together. The metal is thin, and the quality is sub par. The wire is very mailable and just overall not what I was expecting. I don’t see it lasting too long. We have a big family and it will be filled daily. The YouTube video showed a bloke using pliers to smack the plastic end caps on… should’ve been the final red flag.

We were desperate so I ended up installing it. Time will tell.

I should add… I wish I’d seen all these other reviews before buying it!

Rusted faster than a tin can! – Bought a new Hills branded rotary clothes line 3 years ago and it is now about to collapse due to rust. Went back to the store and spoke to the manager and he said it’s out of warranty! Remember the days when an Aust made Hills would last 50 years +? Not anymore! Piece of rubbish. Classic case of trading off a reputation, which is quickly going down the toilet. To the Board of Hills, you should be ashamed! Show details

Old Hills – I rent and have an old solid metal Hills hoist out back, it's fantastic, made probably in the 60's- 70's. it turns around but I can no longer wind the mechanism up. I used WD40 on it but to no avail. Can it be safely taken apart and repaired so that it continue to do it's wonderful job? If not, are parts available, I know it's a long shot ,but you don't make them like you used to.Thank you. Show 2 replies

The standard of Hills has gone – For all those people who buy Hills Rotary clotheslines thinking there as good as the old ones, think again. The 7 line rotary is not constructed anywhere near the same. The lines are only half the spacing apart than the older ones. The paintwork is very soft and scratches easily. Be carefull in choosing your rotary clothesline. Hills take no responsibly for your choices. They are made in China so need I say any more.

M45 45metre line medium rotary – After two prior problem models i am stuck with the socket so here we go again. The past problems are just terribly cheap parts that break. Like the purple clip. Mine cant fold. The M45 is different. Metal crank. Better parts like a release button...strange that the old socket and new differ so i cut the locking sleeve off the old... And the oin… Read more

is wider so the grinder trimmed a few mil off.

Its ok. Line doesnt sag like the other two..

Here is the catch.M45s are a bunnings unit....and strangely it seems they said they want one that wont break.

This model is ok and i even recommend it. Yes the ols socket can be adapted if you wanted to ask. But you need a grinder to cut the pin and cut off your old locking sleeve

Hills Hoist heritage definitely not like the old ones – Bought a 7 line hills hoist heritage clothes line (not cheap) found the main pole to be very thin poor quality steel and the line wire wasn't even twisted properly to make a solid piece of line. Placed the main pole deeper than required with cement and it still sways when leant on. We used to swing on our old one when we were kids, this one would collapse.

Hills Single Folding Frame Clothesline Wall Mounted on Masonary Wall – Would liked to have seen more detail in the manual at Point 4 in regards to installing dynabolts into masonary wall. Bolts cannot be set flush & must sit out from wall up to 15-20mm to allow for the thickness of the mounting brackets. Great product.

Not worth the bother – 2 years ago bought a Hiils Everyday foldout Washing line. After 2 years of normal usage it fell about. Hills not helping, don't want to know. Obviously poorly constructed. As for 10 year warranty, they don't want to know. Load of rubbish.

Awesome – Great to remove for mowing lightweight. Easy set up like the cap to put on when removing line to mow Show details ·  1

Terrible design – The handle is way too low and the lowest level is way too high. This model is not safe for elderly people to use. Show details