Abstract: A hose reel includes a frame, a spool supported on the frame for rotation relative to the frame, a motor supported on the frame to provide motive power to the spool, a level wind device supported on the frame to guide a hose during winding and unwinding; the level wind device being selectively linked to the rotation of the spool and including a disengagement clutch for selectively decoupling the operation of the level wind device from the rotation of the spool. The hose reel may be selectively operated to provide a power-out assist during unwinding that provides a power level to the motor less than a threshold power necessary to drive the spool in the unwinding direction.