Wanting to buy new Vacuum: Royal 18" vs 14" or recommendations

[vortigan]

Hello,

I want to purchase a new vacuum for my carpets at home. I narrowed my decision to either the royal commercial 18"(CR5158Z) or 14"(CR5128Z). I chose Royal specifically because I want my vacuum cleaner to last since it's all metal. I'm tired of my father buying the Hoover bag-less bypass vacuums that last only about a year or 2, and they don't even do a good job. I want something that does the job and that will last

I like the 18' because it's a wide path and i get to cover more area, but I've noticed that the brush-roll doesn't have stiffeners like 14". Also, I've been reading a few comments about how "the royal 18 inch is the only wide-track that works", which makes me wonder if wide-tracks struggle in general.

I was wondering if the community could give me a bit of insight on what is the best decision. Any other recommendations are welcome and very much appreciated.

My carpets are over 30 years old, nothing special. I just want them clean of dust, dirt and hairs. I have 2 dogs.[this post was last edited: 10/11/2017-01:28]

 

[tolivac]

I have a couple of those Royal wide sweep 18" vacuums-and just that the only wide track vacuums that really work.I figure why they don't have the brush stiffners is because the 18" brush may put too much of a load on the belt and motor.You must have very large areas to vacuum.For most homes the 14" models are better.The 18" Royals don't get around furniture and such because of the wide nozzles-they do best in very large areas of flooring with little or no furniture.

 

[sptyks]

Francisco,


 


I agree with Tolivac. The Royal 18" wide nozzle is not well suited for home use as it is difficult to maneuver around furniture. It is much better suited for commercial environments where there are large open areas of carpet to vacuum. The 14" wide nozzle is easy to maneuver around furniture and is generally much better suited for home use. 


 


I also believe the Royal 14" machine will have better cleaning performance because the airflow is concentrated on a smaller area and the brushroll has stiffeners which act like beater bars. Both of these things should make it a more effective carpet cleaner.


 


 

 

[vortigan]

Thank you, I really appreciate the input. I'm gonna go with the 14". Is there anything that I should buy along with the vacuum aside from the bags? or upgrade? like a better belt or something? I've been reading that some people buy koblenz belts for their royal, I could be wrong though.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

vortigan

Francisco,

I agree with Stan (sptyks) and Rex (tolivac) too that the standard 14" wide version is better suited for the home as the 18" super-wide version is just too big for most areas of homes... plus, the 50' long cord is also a big drag to carry around and wrap up when the job is finished. Among currently-available machines, I'd choose the CR5128Z because it has the Adjust-O-Rite and the Rite-Hite (a screw-type, unlimited height adjuster) or just buy the UR38200 Pro Series household type.

~Ben

 

[tolivac]

I LIKE the 50 ft commercial cords-I WANT them!!!!They are more convenient because you aren't plugging and replugging the vacuum because of a SHORT cord-I HATE those!!!Plug my commercial corded Royal into ONE outlet and I can vacuum my WHOLE place from that one outlet.Don't mind winding the long cord.And its a heavier guage cord so it will last longer!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

tolivac

Rex,

I understand its conveniences, but it's on those machines with the stationary top cord hook that are more difficult to even un-wind! I know, both my two domestic Royal metal uprights also have this older style of top cord hook.

~Ben

 

[tolivac]

I suppose I am lucky with mine-they have the swivel upper cord hook.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

tolivac

Rex,

Indeed, as yours was made after at least 2011. Domestic Royals did have the feature since January 1988, but the 3-wire commercial ones did not until December 2010 according to the serial number.

On 2010 and older commercial-duty machines, it is possible to change the top half of the handle assembly to one with the swiveling cord hook, though...

~Ben[this post was last edited: 10/15/2017-14:49]

 

[sptyks]

Ben,


 


My 8300 was made in 2008 and it does have the swivel top cord hook with a 40ft. cord.


 


 


 


 

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

sptyks

Stan,

Right... but while the domestic Royal metal uprights had a swiveling top cord hook after around January 1988 (yours included, of course), the commercial ones (3-wire cord) did not until December 2010.

~Ben

 

[sptyks]

Ben,


 


Thank you for clarifying the top swivel cord hook issue. I was mistakenly assuming that feature came out at the same time on both the household and commercial product lines.


 


~Stan


 


 

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

sptyks

Stan,

No problem... I wanted everybody else here to be made aware of that as well!

~Ben

 

[vortigan]

So, I bought the cr5128z and it's beautiful, but I'm concerned because I can't twist the bag in. It's ridiculously hard


-----EDIT-----

Nevermind, I was able to make it fit. It was the o-ring.

I appreciate the help, thank you so very much!

Here she is in all her glory![this post was last edited: 10/23/2017-21:02]

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

vortigan

Francisco,

Glad to see you finally made your choice (and to see the model number on yours that means this has the Adjust-O-Rite and Rite-Hite)... and I am also glad you were able to resolve the disposable bag problem by yourself!

~Ben

 

[tolivac]

I converted one of mine to use Kirby F-bags.Love it!