Washer & Dryer option worth it?

We have the space for a side by side, but DW wanted the extra space for stuff, heavy coats, etc. So, we opted for the Splendide combo ventless. We didn't want to put a hole into the side. We always spend at least two nights in a park so that we have a whole day to bum around. We just put a load in the morning and when we return it is finished. No matter what you chose it'll be OK.

It's an interesting topic in that there are lovers and haters; not much in between. We've been full timing now over 3 1/2 years and the thought of doing laundry in our RV is repulsive.. We hear the horror stories about laundromats, but our experience all over the USA has been good. Laundromat every 10 - 14 days and laundry is washed, dried, folded in 2 hrs.. We keep the laundry supplies in the truck box, so it's always ready. Laundry on board would be never ending. I know those who like it deal with it, but we prefer the freedom in between those 2 hr laundry days of no machine noise, loading & unloading many times every week... Not for us; but, go for it if domestic life is your thing.

Does anyone use their washer and drier when boondocking? It seems they consume a lot of resources making them impractical for someone spending most of their time off-grid. I would think that a pair like this would be more conservative of resources for off-grid rving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1hD-KYfmIY

Has anyone here used something like the wonder wash and a spin drier?

Chip

ttempleton wrote:
Best option u can get!! Who wants to spend hours in laundromat?

Plus the extra time cleaning filthy dirty machines before our clothes go in. My DW ran some machines through a complete cycle begore putting in our dirty clothes. Like I said before I would use those filthy machines I'd just wear my dirty clothes for 5 monthes. If you don't mind the filth I say use them. For me I love our stacked units. Maybe I am just a wacko cleano type person. Plus all the extra time. Ughhh!

Best option u can get!! Who wants to spend hours in laundromat?

I full time and ordered the Splendide separates (110v, vented) in my rig.

They are great. Sure, with 110v it takes an hour to dry a load but who cares ???? I put a load in the washer and then go out and do whatever I want. When I come back I put the load in the dryer and go out and do what I want. And the closets are right next to the dryer so no carrying anything anywhere.

My 5er is my home. I had a washer and dryer in my sticks and bricks home so why should I want anything less now ???

Why waste part of your life in a laundramat - campground or in town ? With built ins there is zero downtime !

Tim

Many new RV's offer washer/dryer prep as a standard feature or add-on option. I'm of the opinion that they are worth having - with a caveat.

MOST of the combination units have a what they call a "ventless dryer". It's based on a "condensing dryer" system. They heat up the air in the inner drum and the water comes off the clothes in that drum as steam. This passes through holes in the inner drum to the inside of the outer drum. The washer/dryer then runs cold water over the outside of the outer drum and the steam condenses on the inner surface. It's then drained. For this process you are using cold water during the drying process. Most folks you talk to will tell you that the clothes never get completely dry with condensing dryers. Some of them work better than others, but that's the consensus I generally get from folks using them.

There is a combination unit from Splendide that has a vented dryer, and there is one from Pinnacle that has a convertible system - it will do both vented and ventless. I strongly recommend a vented system.

I'm trying to keep a running list of the options available at http://www.momentumgunner.com/rvappliances.html

We will be looking at the Pinnacle washer and vented dryer in the next couple of months.

As for why they are worth having - take a look at most laundromats. Sit and watch for a while. When you see a lady bring in a very nasty dog bed that has fleas coming off of it, it makes you re-think the whole thing.

Does that happen everywhere? I'm convinced it does. I've seen that scenario and others that are as bad often enough that I don't care to risk washing my families clothing after stuff like that.

You can find a new takeout Splendide 2100 for less than $600 on Craig's List. Well worth that and other than rugs, everything else goes in it.
Closest I can find to Ohio is in Lexington for $400.

If the wife does most of the laundry, the decision should be hers. :B

I was told, by a RV salesman, to take the amount I would spend in quarters and use them at laundromartd instead of buying a washer dryer! Have to agree, most RVparks have alaundromart and I would not want to give up the extra storage where the WD would go!