RV Washers and Dryers – Read This Before Buying One

Living life on the road can be fun and exciting. However, few things can sap the joy of the experience more than doing chores, especially the laundry. An RV with a washer and dryer is essential for RV enthusiasts who want the convenience of doing their laundry at any time.

To make doing chores easier, manufacturers have come up with three basic types of RV washers and dryers, to take the headache out of doing laundry on the road. In the following guide, we discuss the benefits of a reliable washer and dryer for RVers.

Types of RV Washers and Dryers-

There are three main types of RV washers and dryers:

• RV stack-able washer and dryer
• RV washer and dryer combo
• Portable RV washer and dryer

But that’s not all, there are also two variations across the three types:

Vented: These machines utilize the air in the room to dry your clothes. To accommodate these types of RV washers and dryers, you will have to make a hole for the exhaust vent.
Non-vented: During the drying process, these units heat the air inside the drum to dry the clothes. Although they do their job fairly well, experienced RVers generally stay away from these types of RV washers and dryers. They tend to use a lot of water, and drying clothes takes a long time. However, if these are the kind that fit in your type of RV, go for it.

RV Stackable Washer and Dryer
A stackable washer and dryer for RV enthusiasts works pretty much like the ones in most homes, but they are lighter and smaller. They can handle 12-pound loads, and the washer and the dryer can be used at the same time. If you have the space, and will be doing large laundry loads while on the road, they are the preferable option.

Pros

• Load size is similar to what you would expect from home units
• Ability to wash clothes and dry a load at the same time
• Vented, so they don’t use water to dry the clothes
• Dries clothes quicker

Cons

• They don’t fit in smaller RVs
• They use more water than RV-specific units

RV Washer and Dryer Combo
By far, this is the most popular choice of RVers who are looking for effective, and efficient, RV washers and dryers; one drum is used for both washing and drying. In addition, most units are able to switch between the two operations without any input from you.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Designed for small spaces
• Lets you set it and forget it
• Available in both vented and non-vented models
• Uses 13-amps, on average

Cons

• Small loads
• It can take up to three hours to do one load, and if overloaded, the number will climb
• Uses a decent amount of amps, and a lot of water

Portable RV Washers and Dryers

Portable washers: These allow you to do laundry anywhere that there is access to an electrical outlet, sink, and a drain. Some models don’t even need electricity to work; simple elbow grease is used to power these bad boys. They are perfect RV washers and dryers for those who don’t have anywhere else to do their laundry, plus loads can be done in under 20 minutes.

Portable dryers: Most of these dryers are non-vented. Some models come with sensors that keep track of how damp your clothes are, and apply heat as needed. Most models also come with multiple heat and drying cycle options.

Pros

• Water efficient
• Compact
• Require little, if any, electricity
• Affordable
• Easy storage
• Loads are done quickly, especially the washer

Cons

• Many units are quite heavy, about 100 pounds
• Manual operation
• Lower quality than other types of washers and dryers
• Not the best option for RVers who are looking for units that are permanently mounted

RV Washer and Dryer Alternatives

• Truck stop plazas: Many of these (Flying J, Pilot, etc.) have amenities set up for truckers that would be of benefit for RVers
• RV Parks and Campgrounds: Washers and dryers are usually readily available at these sites
• Local laundromats: Gets the job done in a pinch
• Hand-washing: If things are really tight, a 5-gallon bucket works just fine for laundry purposes.

As you can see, there are many options available for getting your laundry done on the road. With this chore out of the way, you can turn your focus to more enjoyable pursuits on your RV vacation.