Laundry Considerations

Scott & Heather · September 23, 2011, 03:55:27 AM

We have a whirlpool 110v stacking washer and dryer. Front load...nice. spins super fast...enough to shake the coach a little on it's highest setting. Clothes come out "feeling dry" and take 30-40 minutes to complete drying in dryer...dryer is also 110. We love them. They can take a great amount of clothes..enough that we only do laundry once a week or less. It's great. Here's a photo:

saddleup · September 23, 2011, 04:07:58 AM

My, Wife uses our washer drier combo, to store canned goods, seems to work good for that.
Matt

TomC · September 23, 2011, 06:04:41 AM

There are many scaled down washers and dryers and a few washer/dryer combos available. The advantage to the Splendide is that it is made for a moving vehicle. The suspension system on it is stiffer then a house hold type so it won't beat itself up while driving. Good Luck, TomC

luvrbus · September 23, 2011, 06:09:40 AM

These new Splendide combos with a electric drying elements do a good job the old ones that dried with moisture were a joke but my wife loved the thing she won't do the public laundry's

good luck

robertglines1 · September 23, 2011, 06:11:01 AM

Scotty; We have same set. Haven't used yet,so is good to know they will preform well. Was wandering what to use/do with top storage area on dryer. Bob&Judy

white-eagle · September 23, 2011, 06:59:47 AM

we have a splendide that we use when parked with hookups. We have 100 gal fresh and grey, but usually we are only on the road for less than a week, so not a big deal to wait for hookups. if we have tons of clothes to do, we do find a "nice" and clean laundramat. most of the time when we are parked for a while, having our own allows fran to get the clothes going while still doing other stuff at home.
we do hang things up to avoid wrinkles and help dry them, but if you keep the vent cleaned out, it dries quicker.

we need the bay space, so loading a bigger washer/dryer in a bay requiring outside access, wouldn't work for us, plus the other reasons already mentioned. i don't think fran would want to be without the washer dryer, yep, just confirmed that.

luvrbus · September 23, 2011, 07:15:52 AM

Only bad thing about the house type on the drier you need to carry a spare element after they been used for awhile the vibration of traveling will cause the element to break in did on ours in another bus

good luck

Scott & Heather · September 23, 2011, 08:39:16 AM

Quote from: robertglines1 on September 23, 2011, 06:11:01 AM
Scotty; We have same set. Haven't used yet,so is good to know they will preform well. Was wandering what to use/do with top storage area on dryer. Bob&Judy

We're planning on inserting a doored cabinet of some sort up there. For us, the key to the coach looking tidy, is to hide everything in cabinetry

Bob, if you ever have problems with your washer, let me know. It has some quirks that can usually easily be fixed. BTW, these units were pulled out of a class A RV unused. So they must be coach-ready. And with proper air-bag and tire inflation, honestly how much rough treatment does your stuff get? Our coach doesn't ride as smooth as some and we're running 100 psi all the way around, but stuff stays put on my table...

technomadia · September 23, 2011, 10:12:25 AM

After 5+ years of full timing, not once have we wished for our own washer/dryer. So many of our friends who bought coaches with them built in have ripped them out for more efficient storage space.

Personally, taking our laundry to a laundromat is so much easier. In about an hour we can get everything washed and dried.. and it only costs a few bucks. Our time is more valuable than babysitting our laundry the entire day it takes to 'wash at home' (or constantly doing laundry every day or so to keep up). And we're reminded of this every time we set out to do laundry at a friend's house with just how long it takes to get it all done.

Yes, some laundromats are scary. But there are some really nice ones out there... some even serve beer.

- Cherie

Scott & Heather · September 23, 2011, 02:57:19 PM

Quote from: technomadia on September 23, 2011, 10:12:25 AM
After 5+ years of full timing, not once have we wished for our own washer/dryer. So many of our friends who bought coaches with them built in have ripped them out for more efficient storage space.

Personally, taking our laundry to a laundromat is so much easier. In about an hour we can get everything washed and dried.. and it only costs a few bucks. Our time is more valuable than babysitting our laundry the entire day it takes to 'wash at home' (or constantly doing laundry every day or so to keep up). And we're reminded of this every time we set out to do laundry at a friend's house with just how long it takes to get it all done.

Yes, some laundromats are scary. But there are some really nice ones out there... some even serve beer.

- Cherie

I totally understand what you're saying...laundromats are a super quick way to do it. But for us, our units are big enough for once a week laundry (if that) and we can sit inside our cozy coach and eat, work, watch t.v. and sip a nice cold lemonade while our laundry is being done. All in our pajamas. We love it. Of course, again, we do one load once a week or once every week and a half. So for us, it's no biggie. And our washer spins everything dry enough so that we can leave the coach and come back and transfer the wash to the dryer when we get back. And it only takes an hour and a half for us to wash and dry. 45 minute wash cycle, 45 min dry cycle. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Just our way

Bill B /bus · September 23, 2011, 04:30:07 PM

First bus was outside laundry. Second bus has a stacked pair with propane for the dryer. SHE doesn't have to spend 1-2 hours doing laundry., carrying the heavy bags/bundles to and from the car. Her back likes her a lot more. We laugh about having to do the laundry. Such a hard job - hamper to washer to drier to put away. Anyway washer and drier for us.
BTW the gas drier consumes less than a 1 gallon of propane per month. Which is much less than I had expected for usage.

Bill

Scott & Heather · September 25, 2011, 05:19:13 AM

Quote from: Bill B /bus on September 23, 2011, 04:30:07 PMFirst bus was outside laundry. Second bus has a stacked pair with propane for the dryer. SHE doesn't have to spend 1-2 hours doing laundry., carrying the heavy bags/bundles to and from the car. Her back likes her a lot more. We laugh about having to do the laundry. Such a hard job - hamper to washer to drier to put away. Anyway washer and drier for us. BTW the gas drier consumes less than a 1 gallon of propane per month. Which is much less than I had expected for usage.

Wow, is this typical usage for a gas dryer sized for our coach? Which model do you have Bill. Do share. And how much laundry do you do? Once a week? I would be interested since while using our dryer for 45 minutes, we have watch out other usage too if we're on 30amp. Might be good info for the individuals here considering what type of washer/dryer.

Scotty

Bill B /bus · September 26, 2011, 05:03:11 PM

Fridedare - not sure of model. We do 2-3 loads per week. 3 if I'm doing heavy work on the bus. 2 normally. It has became a standing joke about how hard it is to do the laundry.

I thought long and hard about an electric dryer. 120VAC takes a long time to dry. 240VAC would have been a pain to wire with inverter selection. All incoming power flows through the inverter to the electrical panel. So I would have to install a main breaker panel and one breaker to supply the dryer. Or go gas. Salesman told me the gas usage was low. And he was correct.

Propane usage: Filled both bottles in mid February. Used all the way through the end of May and refilled 4.5 gallons. That includes cooking usage on the stovetop. Since we mostly eat in that's cooking at least two meals per day.

Bill

JohnEd · September 27, 2011, 01:09:23 AM

Quote from: Bill B /bus on September 26, 2011, 05:03:11 PM
Fridedare - not sure of model. We do 2-3 loads per week. 3 if I'm doing heavy work on the bus. 2 normally. It has became a standing joke about how hard it is to do the laundry.

I thought long and hard about an electric dryer. 120VAC takes a long time to dry. 240VAC would have been a pain to wire with inverter selection. All incoming power flows through the inverter to the electrical panel. So I would have to install a main breaker panel and one breaker to supply the dryer. Or go gas. Salesman told me the gas usage was low. And he was correct.

Propane usage: Filled both bottles in mid February. Used all the way through the end of May and refilled 4.5 gallons. That includes cooking usage on the stovetop. Since we mostly eat in that's cooking at least two meals per day.

Bill

Bill

That is a great post. I tell everyone that will listen that propane is the way to go. And another post here mentioned that there is more than onr model of washer/dryer and they "spin" at much different speeds. That spec leaves the clothes so much dryer that they are almost dry coming out of the washer. That isn't in reference to your stacked version but even those should list their spin speeds. When I use the laundromat now, for whatever reason, last time was to wash the seat covers, I always use the centrifuge. Half the dry time, easily.

You mentioned your gas consumption but I didn't see the H water hearter or heating in your list of appliances. Omission?

Thanks

John