GeoVac Rubber Abrasive Vacuum Hose

GeoVac is United Flexible's quality economy rubber abrasive vacuum hose for hydro excavation — a medium-to-high specification vacuum hose delivering reliable performance for standard hydrovac boom and extension hose applications

GeoVac Rubber Abrasive Vacuum Hose is a mandrel-built suction and delivery hose designed for the abrasive slurry conditions of hydro excavation work — soil, sand, gravel, clay, rock spoil, concrete spoil etc which is encountered in everyday vacuum excavation works.
Available in 3" to 8" ID (76mm–203mm), GeoVac is suited to both boom hose and extension hose applications. Its lighter weight and greater flexibility compared to premium vacuum hoses make it the practical choice where manual handling is required, particularly in extension hose use.

GeoVac sits below United Flexible's BOOMER in the product range. It is not a premium abrasion resistant boom hose — but it is equivalent in spec and capability to most other hydrovac boom hose products offered by our competitors in NZ (who often present these as premium quality heavy duty products). Where budget is a factor and full vacuum performance is not required, the GeoVac is the right product. Where maximum service life, full vacuum rating, and severe operating conditions are the requirement, BOOMER is the best option.

Features

• Red para rubber tube provides good abrasion resistance against the wet and dry slurries of hydro excavation — sand, gravel, clay, rock spoil, and similar abrasive materials.
• Antistatic copper wire continuously dissipates static electricity build-up — a safety requirement when handling dry bulk materials and spoil at high velocity through the hose bore.
• Embedded steel helix wire maintains hose bore shape under vacuum and provides kink resistance in both boom and extension hose configurations.
• Black corrugated rubber cover resists weathering, ozone, UV, and surface abrasion in tough site conditions.
• Lighter and more flexible than the BOOMER — easier to handle as an extension hose and reduces operator fatigue in extended use.
  
• 3:1 safety factor — burst pressure rated at three times the working pressure.
• Mandrel-built construction ensures consistent bore dimensions and wall thickness throughout the hose length.

Construction

• Tube — Smooth red para rubber, resistant to abrasion.
• Reinforcement — High tensile textile plies with embedded steel helix wire and antistatic copper wire.
• Cover — Black rubber, corrugated fabric impression finish, weather and abrasion resistant.

Applications

• Hydro excavation (hydrovac) boom hose — primary suction hose on vacuum excavator trucks for standard commercial applications.
• Hydro excavation extension hose — well suited to this role owing to its lighter weight and flexibility relative to heavier duty vacuum hoses.
• Non-destructive excavation (potholing) around buried services and utilities.
• Bulk dry material transfer and abrasive slurry handling in civil and construction environments.
• Drill cutting suction on mobile drilling rigs (best where extracted material is small, or for machines with lower usage) — the BOOMER is the preferred specification for demanding rock drill rig tailings work).

Is GeoVac right for my application?

Choose GeoVac when: you need a reliable vacuum hose for standard commercial hydrovac work; your equipment operates below full vacuum; extension hose handle-ability is a priority; or budget is a genuine factor in the decision.

Choose BOOMER instead when: your equipment operates at or near full vacuum; you need maximum service life in severe abrasion conditions; or the cost of hose failure and associated downtime makes the initial 40-60% price difference a straightforward decision.

A note on cheaper alternatives: The NZ market includes vacuum hoses offered by other companies at similar price points to the GeoVac that are marketed as equivalent in performance to premium products such as BOOMER (mostly because these companies do not stock a true premium abrasive vacuum hose). In United Flexible's experience, these claims do not hold up either according to the hose specs, or under actual working conditions. The GeoVac does not claim to be a premium heavy duty hose — but it is properly specified and backed by United Flexible's technical knowledge.
If you are unsure which product is right for your application, contact us and we will advise you based on your specific use case, or otherwise simply compare product specifications such as vacuum ratings and hose wall thickness (if wall thickness is not provided use: (OD-ID) ÷ 2).

General Specifications

• Service temperature range: -30°C to +70°C
• Vacuum rating: 0.9 bar (76mm–102mm) / 0.8 bar (127mm–203mm)
• Maximum working pressure: 6 bar (87 psi)
  
• Safety factor: 3:1
  

Other sizes available on request. Technical data subject to change without notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between GeoVac and BOOMER?
The BOOMER is United Flexible's premium vacuum hose — full vacuum rated, 10 bar working pressure, wider temperature range, and a thicker internal tube for longer service life in severe conditions. The GeoVac is a quality economy alternative at a more accessible price point — rated to 0.9 or 0.8 bar vacuum (not full vacuum), 6 bar working pressure, and a narrower temperature range. The initial price of BOOMER is usually somewhere in the range of 40-60% more than the GeoVac in equivalent sizes. Both are properly specified products — which one is right depends on your application and equipment.

What is the difference between a boom hose and an extension hose on a hydrovac unit?
The boom hose is the primary hose attached to the truck's boom arm, carrying suction from the machine to the dig point. An extension hose connects to the end of the boom hose to extend to areas beyond where the boom hose alone can reach. The GeoVac suits both roles — and its lighter weight and flexibility make it particularly practical for extension hose use where heavier hoses become cumbersome for operators to handle.

Can the GeoVac handle wet slurry as well as dry material?
Yes. The GeoVac's red para rubber tube handles both wet and dry abrasive materials — including the water-saturated soil, sand, and gravel slurries typical of hydro excavation.

Is the GeoVac rated for full vacuum?
No. The GeoVac is rated to 0.9 bar vacuum (76mm–102mm sizes) and 0.8 bar vacuum (127mm–203mm sizes), not full atmospheric vacuum (1 bar). For most standard commercial hydrovac applications this is sufficient. If your equipment operates at or near full vacuum, then BOOMER is the correct boom hose for you.

What size vacuum hose do I need for my hydrovac unit?
The right bore depends on the inlet size of your hydrovac unit, required flow rate, and hose run length. the most common size for boom hoses in New Zealand is 6", but these can range from 4" up to 8". Extension hoses typically range from 3" up to 6".

What fittings are compatible with the GeoVac?
The GeoVac is compatible with any industrial hose fittings which fit to the hose using an internal hose tail matched to the hose bore size. Contact United Flexible with your bore size and connection requirements and we will recommend the appropriate fitting.