FCMP Outdoor Raincatcher 4000, Flat-Back Rain Water Barrel, 50-Gallon, Gray - Rainwater Collection Storage Container w Side Spigots, Mesh Screen, Garden and Overflow Hose & Linking Kit

A practical 50-gallon rain barrel with thoughtful touches—and a few quirks

The Raincatcher 4000 is a straightforward way to bank rain for the garden without turning your yard into a construction site. I set it up along a flat stretch of siding beneath a downspout, and within one modest storm the barrel was at capacity. On my small garage roof (roughly 200 square feet), a half-inch of rain is about 62 gallons—more than enough to fill a 50-gallon container—so the quick fill wasn’t a surprise, but it’s still satisfying to watch the gauge creep up and know you’re about to water with free, chlorine-free rain.

Setup and placement

The flat-back design is the hero here. It sits snug against the house, doesn’t crowd the walkway, and makes aligning with the downspout easy. There’s a wide opening at the top covered by a metal mesh screen. I had two installation options:

• Drop the downspout straight onto the screen and let the mesh catch debris.
• Use a downspout diverter and run a hose into the barrel through a cut in the mesh.

Both work. The screen is sturdy and resists deforming when the downspout is close, but a diverter gives a cleaner look and better overflow control in heavy storms. I tried the direct-on-screen approach first, then switched to a diverter for a neater setup and to keep roof grit out of the barrel.

Most of the fittings are straightforward: an outlet for drawing water, a side port for overflow, and additional ports to link another barrel. Everything sealed without fuss on first assembly. I recommend placing the barrel on a level base of pavers or a sturdy platform 12–16 inches high. Elevation is not just about convenient access—it dramatically improves gravity-fed flow.

Build quality and materials

The barrel is molded from UV-inhibited, BPA-free polyethylene. After a summer of full sun on a south-facing wall, there’s no chalking or softening. The gray color helps the barrel disappear visually and also limits algae growth by letting very little light inside. The shell has enough thickness to feel rigid when full, and it stayed true without bulging.

The lid’s mesh screen is a strong point: it keeps leaves, twigs, and most insects out, and it’s easy to remove for a quick rinse. I also appreciate that I can see the water level through the top opening with a flashlight—no need for a sight tube.

Capacity and real-world performance

At 50 gallons, this is on the smaller end for rain barrels, but it’s a useful size for tight spaces and for folks just starting with rainwater harvesting. A small-to-moderate storm will often fill it, and the included linking ports make it simple to add a second unit later if you outgrow it.

In terms of pressure, remember: this is gravity-fed. With the barrel elevated on blocks, I could:

• Fill watering cans quickly.
• Run a short hose (25 feet) for spot watering.
• Feed a short length of soaker hose in a single bed with modest flow.

What it won’t do is power a sprinkler or push water uphill. If you need more pressure, a small inline pump is the right add-on.

Overflow and linking

The overflow outlet works, but it benefits from a small tweak. The included hose is functional but arrived flattened and wanted to keep that memory, which made routing awkward and reduced flow. Two fixes helped:

• Warm the hose in hot water to coax it round.
• Swap it for a round 1-inch corrugated sump hose for better capacity.

When storms turned heavy, the upgraded overflow handled the surge and directed water to a gravel bed away from the foundation. The linking kit is simple and effective—you can daisy chain barrels at the same elevation so water levels equalize automatically. If you know you’ll expand, plan the stands so both barrels sit level.

Using the water day-to-day

The outlet at the bottom accepts the included short hose for dispensing. The flow is predictable, and the shutoff is handy for topping watering cans. I found the stow clip on the top less reliable than I’d like—it doesn’t hold the hose firmly if you bump it. A small adhesive hook or a Velcro strap on the side of the barrel is an easy upgrade and keeps the hose off the ground.

One maintenance note: after the first full cycle, I noticed a small drip at the bottom hose connection. It wasn’t dramatic, but tightening the clamp was awkward with the barrel on the ground. Raising the barrel on blocks not only improved pressure, it gave me room to properly snug the clamp. If you see a persistent weep, a slightly wider stainless worm-drive clamp and a bit of silicone-safe lubricant on the barb help the hose seat fully.

Cold weather and durability

The plastic has held up well through sun, wind, and a few knocks from moving wheelbarrows past it. For freezing climates, I recommend draining the barrel and disconnecting the hose before the first hard freeze. The material feels robust enough, but any rigid container can be stressed by expanding ice. The flat back makes it easy to tilt and drain completely.

Keeping the water clean

Between the mesh screen and an upstream gutter filter, the water stayed clear enough for garden use. To keep mosquitoes at bay, the fitted lid and screen are key—but I still drop in a BTI “mosquito dunk” during peak season. If you’re sensitive to biofilm or odor, purge the barrel a couple of times a season and give it a quick rinse. The wide opening makes cleaning with a long-handled brush easy.

What I like

• Flat-back design that actually fits flush and saves space.
• Wide screened opening for easy setup and debris control.
• UV-inhibited, BPA-free plastic that feels sturdy and has stayed stable in full sun.
• Simple, effective linking ports for future expansion.
• Practical 50-gallon capacity for small roofs and patios.

What could be better

• Bottom hose connection can weep unless the clamp is perfectly seated; access is tight without raising the barrel.
• The included overflow hose tends to stay flattened and can kink; a round replacement improves performance.
• The hose stow clip could be more secure; easy to upgrade, but it’s a small annoyance.

Who it’s for

The Raincatcher 4000 is a strong fit if you’re:

• New to rainwater harvesting and want a straightforward, compact setup.
• Working with limited space where a round barrel would jut into a path.
• Planning to start with one barrel but may expand later.
• Looking for a barrel that looks tidy against the house rather than like a repurposed drum.

If you need to run sprinklers or irrigate a large garden, think of this as one building block in a bigger system—add more barrels in series or pair with a small pump.

Tips for a smoother install

• Elevate the barrel for better pressure and easier access to fittings.
• Consider a downspout diverter to reduce debris and manage overflow automatically.
• Replace the overflow hose with a round, larger-diameter hose if you see crimping.
• Keep a spare stainless clamp handy for the bottom outlet.
• Drain and disconnect before hard freezes to extend the barrel’s life.

The bottom line

I like the Raincatcher 4000 for its practical design and easy installation. It fills quickly, dispenses predictably, and looks better against a wall than most round barrels. The materials feel up to years in the sun, and the expandable ports give it room to grow with your needs. The weak spots—the bottom hose clamp access, the flimsy hose clip, and the flattened overflow—are minor and easy to address with basic hardware-store fixes.

Recommendation: I recommend this barrel for homeowners who want a tidy, durable, and expandable 50-gallon solution without complex plumbing. It’s approachable for a first build, scales with a second unit, and with a few small tweaks, it becomes a dependable part of a home water-saving setup.