Fulltime RV'ing-Truck camper; built-in washer/dryer Question

[EYEMLOST]

How desirable would a washer/dryer be in a truck camper that's going to be used fulltime?

Would it be worth it?
Meaning; reliable/reasonably low maintenance/actual washes clothes reasonably, etc.


I'm currently looking at the Host 'Mammoth' model truck camper which offers an over-under washer/dryer.

I plan on doing mostly boondocking/remote/primitive/off-the-grid camping (65%/35% ratio~).



Baseline of set up:
1) I'm single (meaning one person).
2) Truck will be Ford F-550 or F-600 4WD PS diesel.
3) Fulltime travel/touring of N. America from Idaho.
4) Will be Winter camping.
5) Will be traveling on mostly fire roads/back country roads/forest roads, etc.
6) Will only be returning to civilization to restock/replenish/or travel/change location.

[Bedlam]

The Host model requires hookups or external dump tank and does not go into the internal holding tanks. We have a portable washer we set in the shower on trips longer than one week and stores on the basement slide tray during those trips. It does not have a dryer but we hang the wet laundry in the bath or clotheslines in our enclosed trailer. Since ours gets used only one or two trips a year, there was no way to justify the built in verses our $100 model. If you travel where laundry rooms are available, you get get multiple loads completed at once. Even our cheap model has not paid for itself verses the laundromat, but the convenience of being able to wash on or off grid was worth our choice.

[Bert_the_Welder]

Every time I go to town, I drive by the armory. There's always a great giant army truck there. 6x6, super-duper size crew cab, Flat deck( w/ canvas cover), giant roof rack, giant winch. And I think, yeah, take the running gear of a trailer and plop it on the flat deck and off you go.....anywhere!

[Bert_the_Welder]

EYEMLOST wrote:

adamis wrote:
I think the idea behind the washer dryer in the Host was to use it while on Hookups. Using it for Boondocking doesn't make sense in my opinion.

If I was traveling lots of miles on highways and had the option to stay in RV parks from time to time on laundry day then perhaps. Even then, most RV parks have decent laundry facilities so what are you gaining.

Not to nitpick but are you certain a Host Cascade and an F550 or F600 are the right direction for you? The combined cost is approaching that of an earth roamer and they will be way better suited for OffRoad camping as you seem to anticipate. They might even be a bit shorter helping with tree clearance that an F600 and Cascade will cause. Plus, keep in mind that while the campers are aluminum framed, it doesn't mean that they are built to handle lots of OffRoad jostling all the time. F600s are designed for actual heavy use like delivery trucks or dump trucks. The suspension on it will be rock hard so the camper won't get much give going down rough roads.

That being said, if you do go with the F600 and Cascade, it would be the envy of many as it would be a heck of a nice setup.

Excellent points brought up in this thread! :C


Re: Earth Roamer;
2021 F-600: $55,000 to $60,000+
2021 Host Mammoth: $65,000+

5+ year-old Earth Roamer w/F-550 chassis: $350,000+
Brand new: $500,000+


As I am a life-long off roader; you bring up excellent points about tree clearance and suspension articulation/softness.

In factory form; an F-600 with a Host camper is the same or shorter than an Earth Roamer.

I figure with a 4,700lb camper loaded with 1,000lb would somewhat soften a suspension meant to carry 3X that.


What I don't like about the Earth Roamer (besides the price) is the narrowness of the camper's interior; no slide outs.


Re: camper construction handling off road traveling;
That's definitely on my mind, especially in the slide-out areas.


This is an accurate representation of how my rig will be set up:

I was about to say, "I smell a Super Single coming!" 🙂

Another reason not to have the W/D is you can find a full service laundromat and just drop it off. Go do something cool instead of eating up time washin' yo draws'! Ha ha.

[EYEMLOST]

adamis wrote:
I think the idea behind the washer dryer in the Host was to use it while on Hookups. Using it for Boondocking doesn't make sense in my opinion.

If I was traveling lots of miles on highways and had the option to stay in RV parks from time to time on laundry day then perhaps. Even then, most RV parks have decent laundry facilities so what are you gaining.

Not to nitpick but are you certain a Host Cascade and an F550 or F600 are the right direction for you? The combined cost is approaching that of an earth roamer and they will be way better suited for OffRoad camping as you seem to anticipate. They might even be a bit shorter helping with tree clearance that an F600 and Cascade will cause. Plus, keep in mind that while the campers are aluminum framed, it doesn't mean that they are built to handle lots of OffRoad jostling all the time. F600s are designed for actual heavy use like delivery trucks or dump trucks. The suspension on it will be rock hard so the camper won't get much give going down rough roads.

That being said, if you do go with the F600 and Cascade, it would be the envy of many as it would be a heck of a nice setup.

Excellent points brought up in this thread! :C


Re: Earth Roamer;
2021 F-600: $55,000 to $60,000+
2021 Host Mammoth: $65,000+

5+ year-old Earth Roamer w/F-550 chassis: $350,000+
Brand new: $500,000+


As I am a life-long off roader; you bring up excellent points about tree clearance and suspension articulation/softness.

In factory form; an F-600 with a Host camper is the same or shorter than an Earth Roamer.

I figure with a 4,700lb camper loaded with 1,000lb would somewhat soften a suspension meant to carry 3X that.


What I don't like about the Earth Roamer (besides the price) is the narrowness of the camper's interior; no slide outs.


Re: camper construction handling off road traveling;
That's definitely on my mind, especially in the slide-out areas.


This is an accurate representation of how my rig will be set up:

[JimK-NY]

I would not want one at all....not just the weight and power and water consumption...but the inconvenience.

My wife and I were full time for a couple of years and often travel for months now. We long since solved the laundry issue. Once every 3-4 weeks we do laundry. It is easy to find a decent, clean, inexpensive laundromat. We load up usually a half dozen washers and then dryers and complete the entire chore in an hour or so.

Getting by with laundry every few weeks is easy. Even at home I have at least 30 underwear shorts, pairs of socks and pocket T-shirts. That and extra sheets, a couple of long shirts and a couple of pairs of pants or shorts is the bulk of what gets dirty in 3-4 weeks. I would not want to be messing with a tiny washer dryer every few days. I would rarely have the water or electric hookups needed.

Everyone travels differently. Personally I like a relatively light and relatively small RV. I travel lots of miles, stay in remote locations and certainly want a rig small enough to at least handle some unpaved back roads. I almost never stay in a campground with hook ups.

[Grit_dog]

EYEMLOST wrote:
How desirable would a washer/dryer be in a truck camper that's going to be used fulltime?


6) Will only be returning to civilization to restock/replenish/or travel/change location.

Depends if you own enough underwear to accomplish #6 on your list, I suppose.

[adamis]

I think the idea behind the washer dryer in the Host was to use it while on Hookups. Using it for Boondocking doesn't make sense in my opinion.

If I was traveling lots of miles on highways and had the option to stay in RV parks from time to time on laundry day then perhaps. Even then, most RV parks have decent laundry facilities so what are you gaining.

Not to nitpick but are you certain a Host Cascade and an F550 or F600 are the right direction for you? The combined cost is approaching that of an earth roamer and they will be way better suited for OffRoad camping as you seem to anticipate. They might even be a bit shorter helping with tree clearance that an F600 and Cascade will cause. Plus, keep in mind that while the campers are aluminum framed, it doesn't mean that they are built to handle lots of OffRoad jostling all the time. F600s are designed for actual heavy use like delivery trucks or dump trucks. The suspension on it will be rock hard so the camper won't get much give going down rough roads.

That being said, if you do go with the F600 and Cascade, it would be the envy of many as it would be a heck of a nice setup.

[Bert_the_Welder]

cooldavidt wrote:
In my humble opinion I would not consider a W/D

1- added weight to haul
2- severe shaking promotes breakage hence repairs needed
3- washing by hand in the sink is easy for one guy.
4- select non cotton easy dry fabrics for sheets and clothes.
5- use a smaller towel
5- more space to store your stuff in the camper

Ditto to the above.
Technical/quick dry travel clothing is easy and light weight to wash. Hand washing in a tub/bucket is easy. Hell, I've seen a guy do laundry in a heavy duty garbage bag, which is actually pretty smart and effective. If you're chasing the sunny climates, hanging to dry is easy. Or hang in your shower. Used bio soap and you can dump it outside and not fill your grey tank.
A friend does his in his apartment bath tub. Uses a drywall mud masher to agitate. (Looks like a jumbo potatoe masher)
W/D is a lot of space and weight for a single purpose, non-daily use machine.

[Kayteg1]

There are portable countertop washers available, when drying in good weather is not s problem (about 20 minutes for airdry in Las Vegas).

[larry_cad]

We have a splendide combo which we use all the time and it is wonderful. Despite going down the road about 150000 miles, still running strong.

However................we have a 40' motorhome, and even in that, it takes up a lot of space, makes noise, uses electricity, uses fresh water, and fills the gray tank after about 3 washes.

May want to reconsider.

[NRALIFR]

If I was full timing in a TC, I would need to tow an enclosed support trailer for all the bulky/heavy stuff you don’t want in the truck or camper. That’s where I would put a small washer/dryer pair or a combo unit.

I just can’t see the need to have something like that IN the truck camper itself.

:):)

[cooldavidt]

In my humble opinion I would not consider a W/D

1- added weight to haul
2- severe shaking promotes breakage hence repairs needed
3- washing by hand in the sink is easy for one guy.
4- select non cotton easy dry fabrics for sheets and clothes.
5- use a smaller towel
5- more space to store your stuff in the camper

[Lwiddis]

You’ll need a generator. How much water does a load use? What’s your fresh water and gray water capacities? Water is issue when boondocking. Bunch easier than laundromats.

[fpoole]

While I don't have one, I can say, it would be a great benefit assuming all else is workable.
Only concern would be the water consumption and gray holding tank capacity. I suspect that's been considered in the option and washing probably doesn't take much more water than a shower..
Sounds good to me.. curious to see what others say.. thanks for posting..