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Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Yahoo Message Number: 73734
I'm calling on the collective brain trust for those of you with coaches with clothes washers on board. We're interested in both 2006 and 2007 Magna Rembrandts - the 2006 apparently had a single "washer & dryer combo" unit, where the following year they changed to a separate washer and dryer that are stacked on top of each other.

I would welcome any and all comments to the questions below!

1) If you have a washer/dryer set up, do you really find it frequently used when you're using the coach, or would you have changed it(from combo to stacked, or vise versa) or omitted it completely (for additional storage space) if you hand the chance to do it all over again?
2) Do you only use it when you are parked with full hook ups, or can you wash or dry when you are on the road?
3) The capacity seems really small - what's the maximum load you can wash to your satisfaction (i.e. 3 pairs of jeans?), and are there things you can't fit (i.e. king sized sheets)?
4) Dryer - what's been your satisfaction with how well and how long it takes to dry a load?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond!

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73735
Mark, we have stacked Whirlpools and use them all the time. The capacity is good and you can use both at the same time.

Jerry

07 Allure 31485

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73736
A good resource is Wrinkle-Free RV Laundry by Sandra Jones, which you can buy at RVBookstore.com. Questions 3 &4 are addressed. We have the book and Jeanne likes it.

Lee
--

Lee Zaborowski

07 Intrigue 12153, Cat C-13

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73737
We have an 06 Inspire with the Splendide, and it took me talking to several folks who have that along with buying the book Lee mentioned, or at least I think it's the same book We're not in our motorhome right now and that's where the book is. Even with the book, I took me a while to really figure out how to use it, and now I really like it! It's not as easy as having a separate washer and dryer, but it is very doable when remembering to not put in anymore clothes than would fit in a normal sized Target plastic bag or as the author of the book says I think, what would fit in a basketball.

I also do use it frequently with the joy of knowing I CAN do laundry if we're stopped and parked at a full hookup site at will! It is a great sense of freedom! You can tell I wasn't comfortable with doing laundry for a while in order to feel this way now! I also follow a suggestion in the book to not go from wash directly to dry without taking the clothes out, sort of folding them, putting them back in, and set the dryer for 30 minutes, checking to see how dry, and then either take them out or set another 30 minutes. It is imperative I've found to get them right out when the dryer finishes. One other hint given in the book is to lay out a golf shirt, for example, on the bed, hand iron it sort of, put another warm golf shirt or whatever on top of that, hand iron it, and the heat seems to help them all not end up with wrinkles. Because there are only a few items in the dryer, it seems to be just fine. If too many in the dryer, not so good! Hanging things on hangers wherever available in the coach helps too.

I think a king sized sheet might not work, but we have queen, and one of them is fine at a time. One part of your question number 1 is that I would not get rid of it for the storage -- I think there is ample storage in our coaches, and it's great to be able to do laundry right in my own "home!"

Sorry for the long email re this, but I do like the washer/dryer combo!

Mary Frederick
06 Inspire 51784

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73739
Mark...

I have the Splendide combo washer/dryer in my ol'magna... It works fine if you keep your loads small and keep in mind that the dryer takes a while to dry a load...
I usually put up a clothes-line and dry the clothes with solar and wind energy... But, I stay in the State Parks, National Forest, and Corp of Engineers parks... Some of the "fancy" privately owned parks won't let you put up a clothes-line...
Methinks 3 pair of jeans would be too much... two pr of jeans and a few pieces of underwear or pairs of socks, or a queen-size sheet with a pillowslip and a couple of shirts...
The Splendide is still washing/drying after 11 years, but, when it dies, I will replace it with the stacked washer/dryer unit...

buck

k7wn, '99magna5653, Cat C10, Allison HD4060, SantaFe toad

=========================================================

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73740
My wife did not like the Splendide we had in our coach. Took it out and made a closet out of the space. Now she's happy which means I'm happy.

Dan 06 Intrigue 11936

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73741
Buck hit it right on. I am the only one in the coach, and use my Splendide three or four times a week to do wash - I do not bother with the dryer, as it takes too long and does not do a great job. But it does work to keep me clean and out of wash-a-terias. With my wash strung up all over the coach I am careful to not invite anyone over. I enjoy the freedom to do laundry when I want, and put up with the limitations, but I doubt any lady aboard would. Stacked pair for me if the all in one dies.

Jack 2003 Intrigue 11527

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73745
Hi,

We have had both types, the combo unit and stacked (our present set-up). I love having a washer and dryer and would not be without one in a coach. My preference is for the stacked as it is faster...you can be washing and drying at the same time. Both types of units wash very well. I like the separate dryer since it works in a similar fashion to our dryer at home in that you can open/restart it at any time easily to take out those clothes you want to hang up. As far as capacity, we have a king-size bed. I am able to comfortably wash one of the sheets and two pillowcases at a time (we use 4 pillows). If I'm in a pinch, I have washed both sheets at one time without a problem or fear of overloading. Having laundry capabilities in a coach gives us a lot of freedom. I usually do one or two loads a day so that I'm doing maybe whites and darks one day, colors and towels the next, etc. In that way, I never have a large load of anything and it's easy to throw a load in while you're having your morning coffee. I still use the laundromat for larger, heavier types of laundry....blankets, comforters, throw rugs.
It takes about 10 gal of water to wash a load, so that is your only limitation if you are not hooked up. The washer and dryer will work if you are running the generator. We have used it when dry camping but have not had it running while we're driving.
This, of course, is a personal preference. I thoroughly detest spending my time in a laundromat...some of the laundry rooms are not very clean and the equipment leaves a lot to be desired. Therefore, I love using my own equipment on my own time.

Good luck with your decision,

Barb McMaster

2008 Inspire - 55162

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73749
I must love my all in one Barbi n Ken unit. Because I worked the original one to death (1999 model) and replaced it with the latest unit on the market a year or so ago. The newest one is far better at everything including drying 50% faster due to much improved air flow (do NOT buy the non vented unit). You must understand using these 110-Volt dryers is like trying to dry a load with a hair dryer. I mostly wash large loads and dry only the stuff I don't mind looking like I'm homeless. So shirts mostly get hung in the shower. Towels, Jeans and undergarments all get the 30 minute dryer action and recheck for just barely moist (really who checks to see if ones tighty whiteys are wrinkled)
I use mine all the time going down any level freeway. However the school of hard knocks taught this brainiac a long uphill or down hill washer runs are a HUGE no no! Just trust me on this one. Yes, I subscribe to the verbiage of use it or lose it... When it comes to Genset use. Besides the extra over head cooling or heating is always a welcome addition on any point n shoot road trip.
If I had the extra room I'd definitely go with a stacked 24 inch unit. But not a top load washer that most units come with. Front load is the only way to go in a MoHo due to water use. Also I'd like a far faster LPG dryer instead of 110 hair dryer unit (all those extra minutes on the dial scare the heck out of me)
Oh yeah... One more thing about using any all in one unit. Make sure you only use "he" liquid detergent and use fabric softener at 50% watered down in a squeeze bottle (a small shampoo bottle with lift up spigot works best), and then only about 5 to 10 drops (load size). Otherwise it will quickly clog the vent system with sticky lint. You only need to have enough to release the clothes after the last super high speed spin. Yes, I can be lazy and sometimes look homeless due to drying an entire load!

Gordo

1999 Allure 30344
Sacramento, Ca.

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73750
we have a separate washer and dryer- being full timers that is the only way to go.

Robert Huffhines
2007 Tribute #81042

From: marksperos

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 3:59 PM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

I'm calling on the collective brain trust for those of you with coaches with clothes washers on board. We're interested in both 2006 and 2007 Magna Rembrandts - the 2006 apparently had a single "washer & dryer combo" unit, where the following year they changed to a separate washer and dryer that are stacked on top of each other.

I would welcome any and all comments to the questions below!

1) If you have a washer/dryer set up, do you really find it frequently used when you're using the coach, or would you have changed it(from combo to stacked, or vise versa) or omitted it completely (for additional storage space) if you hand the chance to do it all over again?
2) Do you only use it when you are parked with full hook ups, or can you wash or dry when you are on the road?
3) The capacity seems really small - what's the maximum load you can wash to your satisfaction (i.e. 3 pairs of jeans?), and are there things you can't fit (i.e. king sized sheets)?
4) Dryer - what's been your satisfaction with how well and how long it takes to dry a load?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond!

Re: Clothes Washers - All in 1 or Two Stacked?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73793
(Bowing Deeply from the waist)

My deepest thanks to the many insightful responses that were provided! Not only did I learn a lot, but more importantly learned what NOT to do (yeah, the school of hard knocks is a tough one!)

Thanks again!
Mark