Washing machine

Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 at 22:39

ThreadID: 99229 Views:2624 Replies:8 FollowUps:6

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Hunter Gatherer

We are in the process of ordering a new caravan and don't know whether to get a front loader or top loader washing machine, as weight is of concern and the top loader I believe is about 30 kilos lighter we are considering that type. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Reply By: Member - wadams - Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 at 23:17

Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 at 23:17

Go to thread 99226,your might find your answer. HAHA
I have lived in a van since 2008 with a top loader washing machine
and never used it. My wife uses the bucket system and bailey's too.
Works for both of us.

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AnswerID: 499386

Reply By: Member - John and Lynne - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 07:45

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 07:45

We decided to have an extra (very useful) cupboard and do without the washing machine when we worked out that the front loaders weigh a huge amount and toploaders use a huge amount of water! We now use a plastice barrel with screw on lid (from canoing supplies) as we travel and a plumber's plunger if we need more agitation. Very cheap and effective and we can bush camp and wash using our tanks o rwhatever water is available on site. As necessary we find a laundromat or caravan park for sheets and towels - see washing thread below for more ideas! Lynne

AnswerID: 499409

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 08:22

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 08:22

Interesting comments J and L. I'm not a caravanner but have bever quite worked out why you would have a washing machine in a van - unless perhaps if you were living in it for an extended period in a mining area where the CV park washing machines get a very hard time.

If you are touring and using CPs there are always washing machines, and almost always they are clean and do a reasonable job.

If you are not in a caravan park would you have enough water to run a washing machine? And there are laundromats as well.

Maybe I'm missing something - someone can set me straight?

Cheers,

Val.

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

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Follow Up By: Member - Rick P (NT) - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 08:59

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 08:59

Hi Guys we have been living in our van for 3 years now and the best thing we did was put in a front loader, the van came standard with a front loader and a drier but we asked them to give the drier the flick and put in the biggest front loader they could giving us more cupboard space where the drier went. They ended up putting in a 7kg front loader, the wife loves it, it doesn't crease the cloths and they don't need ironing. A lot of people we talk to now regret not putting in a washing machine when they have their van built from scratch.
Cheers Rick P

FollowupID: 775398

Follow Up By: Hunter Gatherer - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 09:14

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 09:14

Thank you all for your valuable advice. I think that on this site you could get the answer to anything, I am amazed at the wealth of knowledge and information of the people on Exploreoz.

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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 09:29

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 09:29

Hi all, One of the things that got a lot of use on our last trip was our washing machine. We have no problem using the park machines but this is not always possible and while we were camping remote there were several opportunities for our machine to be used but the big proviso is that you must have water and power (or generator in our remote situations). It is only a small machine but that is not a problem as we washed every second day. There are a number of advantages the most obvious one is that we were not hording dirty clothes for a washing opportunity and being a small machine it seemed sensible to use it more frequently so there are always clean clothes.

A couple of brothers we met along the way washed every day after they used their own shower and have done this for ever because it simplified everything for them - they joked about having only 2 changes of clothes for packing on a 3 month trip.

We wouldn't be without ours now!

Kind regards

FollowupID: 775401

Follow Up By: Hunter Gatherer - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 16:21

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 16:21

Hi Beatit, do you have a top loader or front loader?

FollowupID: 775437

Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Friday, Nov 30, 2012 at 11:24

Friday, Nov 30, 2012 at 11:24

Sorry for the delay, it's a top loader because it located under the bed and is accessed via lifting the bed.

Kind regards

FollowupID: 775512

Reply By: Kiwi100 - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 10:09

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 10:09

As others have said - a washing machine is a bit of an indulgence. You can wash a few things quickly and easily in a bucket with minimal water unless you are physically handicapped.

Save the weight and minimise the size of your new van instead. You'll get it to more-interesting places that way.

If your travel plans are restricted to places with mains-pressure water supply then go for it. And why not add a dishwasher too? ;)

AnswerID: 499418

Reply By: mbw650 - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 13:47

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 13:47

We are glad we got a top loader and use it as the dirty clothes basket between washes, we almost bought a van without a washing machine in the first place and we would have regreted it. We have decided that if we ever can live without the washing machine, the front of the cupboard easily comes off and the top loader lift up lid can be used as a desk.
Then if we decide to sell, the machine goes back in and we have an extra selling feature.
But who would want to give up living on the road !

AnswerID: 499439

Reply By: Kiwibound eventually - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 17:12

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 17:12

We decided to include a small top loader washing machine when we ordered a new Jayco Sterling which was delivered November 2010. In July 2011 we headed off from Melbourne on an eighteen month trip around Australia. At the completion recently of our trip we listed what were the best things and having the washing machine was high on my list. We only used it when we were in caravan parks but at least I didn't spend hours in the laundry. We have no regrets including the washing machine and recommend it to others.

AnswerID: 499448

Reply By: 410 - Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 17:20

Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 at 17:20

Hi
We purchased our first family van ( 5 berth) and it came with a front loader w/m. We at 11 nights away over the last hols and it was great, especially with the kids. This gives you the freedom to wash when you want and in your own machine. Yes you lose the cupboard but my my wife would have the machine any day. Another good thing is when the machine is in spin mode i lay on the floor and get a free massage !
Richard

AnswerID: 499449

Reply By: K&FT - Friday, Nov 30, 2012 at 17:46

Friday, Nov 30, 2012 at 17:46

G'day Hunter Gatherer,

Our van is 22' outside length and it came standard with a 3kg front loader that uses 40 litres of water per cycle, much less than top loaders or twin tubs.

Mrs KFT loves it as she does not have to line up for a machine at a CP and some we have seen you would not want to use anyway. It has a very high spin speed so the clothes are close to dry when they come out of it and only need a short time on the line(we have that with us too).

We have used it when camped out and run it on the genny because we were running out of some clothing items due to the hot weather.

Our van has more storage than we use so the loss of space was not really a problem.

With that experience under our belts we would not be without one now.

hope that helps

Frank

AnswerID: 499530