Is a Combo Washer Dryer Unit in Your RV Right for You?

Whether you use your RV for occasional trips or travel full time in your rig, you probably still need to find a way to wash your clothes, just like every other garment-wearing human on the planet. And, luckily, you have a few options for completing this chore: You could go to the laundromat, whether local or at your campground or RV park. Or, you could do your laundry at the house of a relative or friend that you might be visiting. You could also try hand washing your clothes in makeshift facilities – think a bucket, water, a plunger, and elbow grease. But what about having a washer and dryer in your RV? Is that possible? Of course it is! In fact, some RVs even come with individual, stacked, or combination washer/dryer units, and many RVers will have units installed if their rigs didn’t come with the option. Today, we’ll look at some of the pros and cons that come with combination units.

Pros

A combo washer and dryer does what it sounds like – it washes and dries your clothes in one single appliance. Once the washing cycle is complete, the drying cycle will begin. It’s an efficient concept!

Here are a few other advantages that combination washer and dryer units offer:

• It will save space – A washer/dryer combo unit will take up less space in your RV than a stacked or individual washer and dryer. This is often an attractive feature when people are considering installing other washer and dryer options and they realize how much real estate can be taken up in the rig.
• You’ll get peace of mind – For some people, using the laundromat is a concern because they don’t know what was in the washer or dryer before they used it. So, one thing you may appreciate most about using a combination washer and dryer in your own rig is that you’ll know only your clothes and unmentionables have been inside that unit.
• You can enjoy your free time – Having a combo unit in your RV means that you can start a load and then go about your business for the next few hours. You won’t have to use that precious time waiting in a laundromat for your clothes to wash and then dry.

Cons

Despite the advantages combo units can offer, many RVers find that there are some downsides to these appliances, too.

Here are some disadvantages of combination units:

• You can only wash one load at a time – With a combo unit, you can only wash and dry one load of clothing at a time. Comparatively, with a stacked unit or individual appliances, you can wash a load, put it in the dryer, and then start another load in the washer. In a laundromat, you can typically wash all the loads and dry them all at once, for an even more efficient washing experience. Another consideration is that drying clothes in a washer/dryer combo unit will take longer than your typical full-size washer and dryer.
• You can only wash small loads – Your washer and dryer at home can probably handle rather large loads but doing laundry in a combo unit is much different. Your loads will have to be smaller and as noted above, cycles will take longer. You may double your overall time spent on completing laundry.
• Added weight – If adding extra weight in your rig is an issue, having a washer/dryer combo – or any version of the appliances – in your rig may be a no-go.

Ultimately, deciding whether to have a combo unit in your RV or not is a choice that depends on your travel habits and lifestyle. Think about how much dirty laundry you generate, the type of camping and travel you typically do, and weigh other factors before you decide. Want to learn more? Contact us today!