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The Truth About RV Washer And Dryer Combo Units

RV washer and dryer combo machines are usually found in larger rigs like Class A motorhomes.

This is because they take up a certain amount of space that smaller rigs just can’t provide.

But for many RV owners, giving up the space for a washer and dryer combo is well worth the trade-off.

Everybody has to do laundry at some point. And if you don’t have a built in washer and dryer installed in your RV, your choices are limited.

In fact, you will most likely have to wash your clothes at either a campground facility or a nearby laundromat. And there are drawbacks for both of these choices.

Either way, you will probably have to sit with your clothes while they are being washed and dried.

On the other hand, having a washer/dryer in your RV allows you to do other things while the laundry is being done.

Also, the machines in campgrounds and laundromats can be dirty at times and even greasy from the previous users.

And then there is the expense involved in using those machines that can also add up over time.

Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website.

Pros And Cons Of RV Washer/Dryers

The main benefit of an RV washer and dryer combo unit is their convenience of use. You lose no travel time to bring your clothes anywhere else to do laundry.

You also don’t lose the time babysitting your clothes while they are being done.

In fact, the combo units use the same drum to both wash and dry. And this means that you don’t even have to transfer clothes from washer to dryer. And these machines do a very good job and are known to be reliable.

The cons of RV washer/dryer combos is mainly related to their size. Because they are designed to take up as little space as possible, you can’t do large loads of laundry.

This may be an irritation at first if you are used to doing laundry in larger washers at home.

But as you learn to use the machine correctly, you simply adjust to the smaller load size. And you plan on doing laundry more often to make up for the smaller loads.

But you may notice that during the spin cycle, the vibration from the washer will shake the RV a little bit. Again, this is a minor issue for most but some find it disconcerting when compared to a home washer.

Also, you will have to get used to machine washing clothes in a different way. When we first got our Splendide washer, my wife thought it wasn’t working properly.

This is because the drum would just roll back and forth for a while. Then it would roll over a few times, then go back to the back and forth motion.

After a call to the manufacturer assured us that it was designed to work that way, we let it do its job. And sure enough, our laundry came out just fine.

How To Use A Washer/Dryer Combo

As mentioned above, you will need to adjust the size of your laundry loads and do them more often.

Although the combo unit can both wash and dry your clothes automatically, you may choose to air dry your laundry.

Some RVers put a portable drying rack in their shower or outside on their rear ladder for this purpose. This allows you to wash more loads while air drying them as they are done with the wash cycle.

Also, you will need to use a laundry detergent that is made for these washers. It will be labeled “HE” (High Efficiency) on the detergent bottle.

This keeps the amount of suds down in each laundry load while still doing a great job cleaning your clothes.

Tide makes a great detergent for these units, but most other laundry brands have their version as well.

If you use regular laundry detergent, it will produce too many suds and overflow. So be sure to use the HE version of your favorite laundry detergent.

You also can use a mild fabric softener like Downy but no dryer sheets can be used in these units.

And every now and then you will want to empty out the lint trap that is usually located at the bottom of the unit.

What Is The Best RV Washer And Dryer?

This is the Splendide washer/dryer in our bedroom:

Our Splendide RV washer and dryer combo — **Our Splendide washer and dryer combo**

For many RV owners, the best RV washer/dryer combo is made by Splendide. You can find them in many full-time RV rigs these days. However, Splendide makes both a ventless and a vented model.

But there is a big difference in customer satisfaction between those two models. By far, the preference of most RV owners is for the vented machine.

On Amazon the vented units have a 4.5 star rating and the ventless model only 3.5 stars. So my recommendation is definitely for the vented model. That’s the one that we have.

If your RV did not come with a washer/dryer combo installed, make sure that is has been plumbed for it first.

And be sure that your RV electrical service can handle the additional load one of these machines can place on it.

Then have it installed by a professional who is familiar with this kind of installation. Otherwise, you can have a mess on your hands that can be costly to fix.

Click here learn more about the Splendide RV washer and dryer combo

(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

Conclusion

So are RV washer and dryers worth it? Well, it depends.

You don’t have to own a washer dryer combo unit to keep your clothes clean while RVing.

There are plenty of campgrounds and laundromats that can help you stay up with your laundry needs.

But if you have the room in your RV, I can heartily recommend the Splendide washer and dryer combo as it has been a real pleasure to use in our motorhome.

My wife basically plans on doing one load a day on average. By doing this she keeps up with the daily laundry for us both.

And since the machine washes and dries the clothes automatically, it doesn’t really take up much of her time to do laundry.

When larger items like bed covers need to be done, she plans ahead to use a commercial machine at a convenient laundromat. This system has worked well for us in our RV travels.

Of course, what works for us may not be best for you. Everyone who travels by RV has different needs and circumstances, so your mileage may vary.

But we are glad to have the convenience that a washer dryer combo unit brings to our RV life.

I hope that this discussion of washer/dryer combo units for RVs has been helpful.

Please let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t answer. You can include them in the comments below.

As always, have safe and happy travels my friends!

The Best RV Air Compressor For Your Rig

This article is about how to find the best RV air compressor for your particular RVing needs.

And one of the most important components of an RV is its tires. After all, that is your connection with the ground when you are traveling down the highway.

So you need to pay even more attention to your RV tires than you normally do to the tires on your car.

And this means that you need to determine what is the best RV air compressor for your particular rig.

And then use that compressor regularly to keep your RV tires inflated properly. So let’s take a look at the RV tire inflators that I recommend for your consideration.

12 Volt RV Tire Inflators

There are several manufacturers of 12 volt portable air compressors on the market. And many of them are not very well-made.

In fact, quite a few are nothing more than just small toys that will never get the job done for RV tires.

But there is a brand of 12 volt RV air compressors that is widely regarded to be the best by many RV owners.

And that is the Viair brand. They are known for their quality of build and their smooth, capable function while in use. And they hold up to regular use well.

Viair makes 4 different tire inflators for the RV market, depending on what kind of RV you have. For Class B RVs, the model 89P works great and comes with a 20 foot hose.

If you have a towable RV, the model 300P works well and comes with a 30 foot hose. For Class C RVs, the model 400P is the best choice and comes with a 60 foot hose.

And finally, for Class A motorhomes, the model 450P does the job very well and also comes with a 60 foot hose.

The idea with making so many models is to be able to offer these units at the size and price point that fits your RV.

How To Use The 12 Volt Best RV Air Compressor – Viair

Of course, you can always buy a larger Viair model than is recommended for your rig and it will work fine.

And this might be a good strategy in case you might sell your current RV and buy something larger.

All Viair models come with clamps to attach to your battery as a power source and plenty of hose for your RV size. They are all lightweight and easy to use.

And some RVers I know of have even mounted their Viair compressor permanently in their rig and hooked it up to their 12 volt power system.

Just click on the images below to get more information and specs on the Viair product line for RVs:

(These are an affiliate links for Viair products. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

120 volt RV Air Compressors

While Viair clearly makes the best 12 volt air compressors for RVs, some RVers choose a 120 volt model instead.

In fact, one of the most popular RV tire inflators is a pancake-style compressor made by Porter Cable.

One drawback to this style of RV air compressor is its size and weight. If you have a smaller RV it may not be the best choice for you and a Viair unit may work much better.

But for those who have ample storage space, these smaller pancake compressors can be very versatile.

In fact, the versatility of these compressors extends well beyond their use as just tire inflators.

The Versatility Of 120 Volt RV Air Compressors

Since they are true 120 volt air compressors, they can often be used for small repair and remodel jobs around the RV.

They can easily run most air-powered tools and that can be very useful in such situations. But they are also very competent RV tire inflators too.

Since they can produce up to 150 psi, that will allow you to inflate almost any size RV tire easily.

But unlike the Viair models, you will also need to get the hose and connections needed to inflate your tires.

Of course, as mentioned, these compressors run only on 120 volt electricity. And this means that you will either have to be plugged into shore power or use a generator to operate them.

But if this is not an issue for you, the cost of one of these air compressors is very attractive. In fact, they can be much less expensive than the Viair compressors mentioned above.

I personally use one of these units myself for its overall versatility and power to inflate my motorhome tires quickly.

Click on the link below to learn more about the Porter Cable air compressor. And you can also see what others have said about it as well.

Click here for the Porter Cable air compressor

(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

My recommendation

In my opinion, if you choose an RV air compressor from one of those in this article, you can’t go wrong. Any of the Viair models will be a good purchase.

They will be light and efficient but will be limited only to inflating tires. If you choose a pancake compressor, it will take up more room.

But it is also more versatile and can be used for other projects around the RV. But all of these air compressors are well-reviewed and have stood the test of time.

So I hope this information has been helpful for you. Having the right air compressor is important as you learn to maintain and care for your RV tires.

Have safe and happy travels my friends!

Which RV Water Filter System Is Best For You?

Some kind of RV water filter system is a necessity for RVers. But especially for those who travel a lot. That’s because the water supply at some campgrounds can leave a lot to be desired.

You will find bad tasting and awful smelling water, along with dirty water that has sediment in it. And since we all understand how important it is to have clean water for drinking, bathing and washing, here are a few ways to make sure that your water is safe to use.

Watch my video on RV water filter systems

Use An RV Cartridge Filter
Higher Quality Whole-RV Filter System
High Quality Drinking Water Filtration
The Berkey Water Filter VS Installed Filtration
Conclusion

Use An RV Cartridge Filter

One of the most popular RV water filter systems in use is an outside cartridge filter. These can be placed somewhere in line with your water hose before it attaches to the RV.

It doesn’t really matter much whether it is attached at the water faucet or by the RV water inlet. Just as long as you have it inline before the water from the campground goes into your RV.

The beauty of these kind of RV water filters is that they will treat all of the water that is going into your rig. So whether it is kitchen or bathroom water, it is being filtered before use.

All you have to do is take a stroll through almost any campground in the country and you will see these filters in use. They are usually blue in color and easily spotted.

And for most people they work very well as they filter down to a 20 micron level. In fact, out of almost 3,000 reviews on Amazon, they have a 4.5 star rating. So a lot of people are happy with what they do.

There are certainly other RV water filter systems that filter water to a higher degree. But for most people this little filter does the job very well. And the cost is affordably low.

So this is a good place to start when filtering the water going into your RV. Just click the links below to read the reviews on these filters.

Click here for the outside blue cartridge water filters that we use

(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

Higher Quality Whole-RV Filter System

Now if you want to take whole-RV water filtration to another level, there are plenty of options. But one of the most cost-effective is to use a higher level carbon filter that filters down to 5 microns or so.

Some RVers use this filter instead of the blue ones mentioned above. But some also add in this kind of filtration in addition to the blue filter. That’s what we do in our motorhome for our water used for washing and bathing.

Again, for most people this will be just fine. You can either use this kind of filter on the outside of the RV, or install it permanently inside. Either way, it is simple to use and the filter cost is very reasonable.

In fact, they usually last for about 3 months at a time if being used on a regular basis. We use this kind of filter along with the blue filter above and we are happy with the water quality we get for bathing and washing.

You can also use almost any 10 inch filter that you find at a local Home Depot or Lowes store for replacement filters. Check out the reviews on this product at the link below.

Click here for a low cost, higher-quality whole-RV filter system

(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

High Quality Drinking Water Filtration

But when it comes to our drinking water, most of us want to make sure that it is up to very high standards. So although the above-mentioned filters will work very well, I have another suggestion for your drinking water.

Of course, there are any number of high-dollar water filtration systems available. These include reverse osmosis, 2,3 and 4 stage filters, and even ultraviolet water filtration.

But if you look at the real world reviews of most of these products on Amazon, they are not rated any higher than the ones already covered.

But there is an RV water filter system that will virtually replace all need for bottled water of any kind. And it will be much less expensive in the long run than those high-dollar systems.

It’s called the Berkey water filter and many RVers use it for their everyday drinking water. It is a gravity fed unit so you have to refill it manually. But the resulting water is incredibly clean no matter how dirty it may be going into the filter.

In fact, the Berkey helps eliminate 99.9% of bacteria, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, viruses, and other water contaminants.

The Berkey RV water filter is also portable allowing it to be used either at home or in the RV. And since it uses no power to operate, it’s perfect for boondockers.

It also is cost-effective as it can filter 6,000 gallons of water before needing a filter replacement. So if you drink two gallons of water a day the filters will last you about 8 years!

And the replacement filters only cost a little over $100. So that means that you get ultra-safe and clean drinking water for about $12/year. You can’t get much less expensive than that!

You can find out more about the Berkey RV water filter system by clicking here.

(This is an affiliate link for the product on TechnoRV. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

The Berkey Water Filter VS Installed Filtration

One of the best features about the Berkey water filter system is that it is portable. so it can be moved from the RV to a home, or from one RV to another RV, all without need of any installation!

Reverse osmosis filters and ultraviolet filters actually work very well. But they have to be installed correctly and that usually means professional installation. So you have to pay not only for the filtration system, but the installation as well.

Then if you decide to sell your RV for any reason, you have two choices. (1) You can let the installed water filtration go with the RV, and go out and buy another whole system for the new rig. (2) You have to disassemble the installed system and re-install the old RV plumbing as it was. Then you have to pay again to install the old system in the new RV.

The point is that permanenty installed water filter systems are more suited for home use, not for RVs. This is because people don’t change homes nearly as much as they may change RVs.

This makes the Berkey water filter a great choice as an RV water filter system because of its portability. It can go wherever you go. So if you buy a different RV, just bring along the Berkey. Then you get pure, clean water in the new rig without any installation effort or costs.

Conclusion

When you bring up the subject of RV water filtration, you can get a lot of opinions about what is best. And most RVers seem to think that whatever they are doing is the best way to go.

But the truth is that there are any number of great ways to get fresh, clean, and pure water for RV use these days. Whatever fits your needs and circumstances best will be fine.

But in this article I am trying to approach the subject from a cost-effective point of view. And with that in mind, using cartridge filters for washing and bathing is a cheap way to go. And they work very well as the associated Amazon reviews testify.

Then if you use the Berkey water purification filter, you will also have the best drinking water. And this will come at a very low cost per gallon.

But if you have other suggestions for RV water filter systems that you have found to work well, please mention them in the comments below. We would love to hear about them!

In the meantime, I hope this discussion of RV water filtration has been helpful for you. Have safe and happy travels my friends!

Click the image above for the video – “Which RV Water Filter System Is Best For You?”

Click the image above for the video – “The Best RV Water Filter System For Drinking Water”

Category: All RVing Articles

The Truth About RV Washer And Dryer Combo Units

Pros And Cons Of RV Washer/Dryers

How To Use A Washer/Dryer Combo

What Is The Best RV Washer And Dryer?

Conclusion

The Best RV Air Compressor For Your Rig

12 Volt RV Tire Inflators

How To Use The 12 Volt Best RV Air Compressor – Viair

120 volt RV Air Compressors

The Versatility Of 120 Volt RV Air Compressors

My recommendation

Which RV Water Filter System Is Best For You?

Table of Contents

Use An RV Cartridge Filter

Higher Quality Whole-RV Filter System

High Quality Drinking Water Filtration

The Berkey Water Filter VS Installed Filtration

Conclusion

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