Under 35 Feet with Bunkhouse = No Luck

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by thegreenthre

We are talking about using the camp site laundry mat but if we had hookups we could save time.

You definitely won't save time. You will be washing a few articles of clothing at a time - not near what you do in a load at home. If it's an all-in one then you will wait until those are dry before starting another few items. With children this would be an ongoing job.

Doing it in a laundromat is the fastest way. You can be done in 1-1/2 hours. They have big washers and dryers.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Originally Posted by thegreenthre

Thanks for the advice on the grey tank filling up. How many loads would it take for your tank to fill up?

We are talking about using the camp site laundry mat but if we had hookups we could save time.

Our coach has a Splendide 2100 vented model. Specs from the manufacturer:

Laundry load: 2 to 15 pounds
Water per load: 9 to 16 gallons (claims as low as 5 gallons)
Machine weight: 148 pounds

I haven't tracked the cycle time. It varies, depending on the load, fabrics and selections made. A very rough estimate for an "average" is 90 minutes.

Per the HR brochure, our coach has a 43 gallon grey water tank. By that number, I should be able to run 3 to 4 loads before filling the tank. I spent several hours during our recent shakedown voyage getting the black and grey water tank level indicators to read better. We were washing on and off. It seemed to me that two cycles was enough to make me want to empty the tank.

[wildtoad]

Good luck on the washer in that size with bunks. One thing to consider is internal storage space. The washer dryer will replace something, and that would be a closet, drawers, or other storage area. Everything is a trade off. It does no good to have a washer dryer if you can't bring along the clothes that need to be washed!


we have a 31 Ft with bunks, and there is minimal room for clothes, and no way could you stick a W/D in it.

[thegreenthre]

Originally Posted by MisterT

probably not a Class A Bunkhouse with Washer/Dryer in the 35' or less range...

but, when you get to 36'+ you have these GAS options:

Forest River Georgetown 364TS is 37'6"
Forest River Coachmen Sportscoach 361BH is 36'6"
Jayco Precept 36T is 38'2"

...the reason is that the practicality of enough 'room' within a shorter coach for BOTH bunks and a place for a w/d combo unit is zilch, especially if you consider that longer coaches with REAR bathrooms is the typical placement for a w/d combo unit.

You have MANY MANY more floorplans and coach styles options if you can live without a w/d combo, as we do...

What is your washing routine?

You are right, the bath and half usually has the hookups. However we only need 1 bathroom and not 2. So much space wasted.

We even looked into the foot petal washer where you are the motor to make it spin but I don't think we will be very motivated to use it.

[thegreenthre]

Originally Posted by dexters

Most RV parks and cities/towns have washer/dryers. They are good places to meet people and add to the adventure.

Good point!

[thegreenthre]

[QUOTE=uladriver[/QUOTE]

We have looked at the fleetwood models and we love them. Just making sure there is not one out there that has washer hookups we are missing.

[thegreenthre]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

You definitely won't save time. You will be washing a few articles of clothing at a time - not near what you do in a load at home. If it's an all-in one then you will wait until those are dry before starting another few items. With children this would be an ongoing job.

Doing it in a laundromat is the fastest way. You can be done in 1-1/2 hours. They have big washers and dryers.

Is this your routine? Have you ever had to hand wash clothes?

[thegreenthre]

Looks like the majority is telling me if I want a shorter coach then I will need to forgo the washer hookups.

[Cranemec]

Tiffin Allegro 36 UA. Bunkhouse. Bath and a half. Optional combo W/D in rear bath. It's 38 feet overall though. You're going to have to compromise somewhere.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by thegreenthre

Is this your routine? Have you ever had to hand wash clothes?

Yes, this was our routine for 16 years of full-timing and traveling constantly. Naturally, with full-timing we had everything we owned with us. We had plenty of clothes (especially underwear ) to last two weeks. That's when we'd go to the town laundromat (never used RV park laundries). We planned the trip to include some errands, groceries, fuel fillup, picking up our mail at the post office, etc. We could finish the 2 weeks of laundry in 1-1/2 hours then it was blocked from our mind for two weeks while we played. It was absolutely no big deal. Perhaps read our book while waiting or the laundry's magazines or newspaper or playing games on the phone, etc. to pass the time. Plus, unlike some horror stories you may hear, the laundramats in towns were always clean as most of the time they had a person working there all day long - wiping out the machines, cleaning the tops of them, sweeping the floors, wiping down the folding tables, etc.

A RV park laundry is the last place we'd do laundry. Those are the ones that are expensive, small machines and many times - dirty because, especially at beach or pool places, wet towels are thrown into the dryers without washing them, along with wet clothes caught out in the rain, etc. Campers are not that clean and conscientious. We've volunteered in parks so we saw firsthand.

Just like thinking you need 1-1/2 baths in a RV, we also don't think you need a W/D - just wasted space to us - but everyone thinks differently. Folks nowadays think they need everything in their RV like they have at home. Roughing it a little might let you appreciate what you have waiting for you when you return home.

We don't hand wash clothes.

[trs80]

we just went from a 35/36 foot Georgetown 351DS gas bunkhouse (no washer dryer) to a 41ft Fleetwood Discovery 40G. We love the extra space, the comfort, and the washer dryer. This summer we took a 20 day trip and the last two campgrounds we stayed at did not have a laundry ...dont assume they all will.

If you are driving a lot of miles or mountains you may want to consider the diesel (in my opinion). The comfort level driving, having a conversation, etc is a big difference. Also, living out of it for a while you will appreciate the additional storage.

You mentioned family ...not sure how many/age of your kids. Make sure you have enough cargo carrying capacity for all your things ...several of the entry diesel bunkhouses have 2-3000lbs CCC ...that was too low for me. We have 3 kids from 7-15 and the extra space (and bigger bathroom) was nice.

If you are going to be in it for 2 years, I personally would go bigger now instead of a couple months from now in a trade ...I also would not test drive a diesel unless you want to buy one ....the difference is big.

[GrampaDennis]

At the FMCA Rally in Springfield, MA, we saw the Forest River Legacy 340 series. I have the brochure at my side now. Their 340BH model is a diesel pusher that comes close to fitting your criteria. However, it is listed at 36 feet long and does not have the washer. In addition to the two bunks on the side, the one we saw had the optional drop-down bed in the cockpit area.

We liked the very similar model 340KP, which is the same except that it has storage and a stacked washer & dryer instead of the bunks. We thought the flooring and finishes were a lot more practical than some of the more expensive units. If we had the money to buy new, the Legacy 340KP would be on our short list.

[thegreenthre]

Originally Posted by Cranemec

Tiffin Allegro 36 UA. Bunkhouse. Bath and a half. Optional combo W/D in rear bath. It's 38 feet overall though. You're going to have to compromise somewhere.

You are right and we loved the Tiffin Allegro. We wish it had only one bath...

[thegreenthre]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Yes, this was our routine for 16 years of full-timing and traveling constantly. Naturally, with full-timing we had everything we owned with us. We had plenty of clothes (especially underwear ) to last two weeks. That's when we'd go to the town laundromat (never used RV park laundries). We planned the trip to include some errands, groceries, fuel fillup, picking up our mail at the post office, etc. We could finish the 2 weeks of laundry in 1-1/2 hours then it was blocked from our mind for two weeks while we played. It was absolutely no big deal. Perhaps read our book while waiting or the laundry's magazines or newspaper or playing games on the phone, etc. to pass the time. Plus, unlike some horror stories you may hear, the laundramats in towns were always clean as most of the time they had a person working there all day long - wiping out the machines, cleaning the tops of them, sweeping the floors, wiping down the folding tables, etc.

A RV park laundry is the last place we'd do laundry. Those are the ones that are expensive, small machines and many times - dirty because, especially at beach or pool places, wet towels are thrown into the dryers without washing them, along with wet clothes caught out in the rain, etc. Campers are not that clean and conscientious. We've volunteered in parks so we saw firsthand.

Just like thinking you need 1-1/2 baths in a RV, we also don't think you need a W/D - just wasted space to us - but everyone thinks differently. Folks nowadays think they need everything in their RV like they have at home. Roughing it a little might let you appreciate what you have waiting for you when you return home.

We don't hand wash clothes.

Wow 16 years, that is amazing! I bet you have some great stories.

Thanks for sharing your routine, it really helps to paint the picture of the adventure we are about to start.

Out of curiosity, what prompted the decision to start full timing for you guys?