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TriMoot · 03-12-2020, 01:09 PM

Hey Folks..yup..another question from me...sorry, there's going to be a LOT of them as we slowly count down to retirement AND Full Timing!! (292 days from today, 3/12/2020 - You know...in case you're interested. WOOHOO!

So, we are looking at a LOT of rigs and of course we want to have a washer and dryer in our new to us rig (yes..that'll be another post as we narrow down our choices).

So, "IF" you had to do it over again, would you choose a Combo or separate washer dryer, and why?

As I've done a bit of reading I hear folks sort of like the combo as you just "set it and forget it" and at the end of ??? (a lot of time) you have a small load of dry clothes, right?

What are the pros and cons of both you all don't mind me asking?

Thanks In Advance!

creativepart · 03-12-2020, 01:13 PM

We have separates and love 'em. You can do twice as much laundry with separates.

I've heard from those that own the combo units that they like them too. But they agree it's much slower.

When we first started looking my wife was all, "I don't need a W/D on my RV" and then after we'd seen maybe 3 RVs with W/Ds she said it was a must have on her list.

Now, she says it not only is her favorite feature but it makes her happy to stay out on trips longer than before. WIN.

Itchytoe · 03-12-2020, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriMoot

So, "IF" you had to do it over again, would you choose a Combo or separate washer dryer, and why?

I'd go with a separate washer and dryer like I have now. Yea, they eat up a lot of space, but I can do all of my laundry in a day, including my sheets and blankets. In fact, they eat up the space that used to be a bunk. I removed the bunks and setup the washer and dryer there. The space they eat up is definitely a concern. When working 7 days a week, laundry can pile up way more than you expect it to. It's wonderful being able to just toss 4 days worth of laundry in the washer, get a bite to eat, then toss it in the dryer and go to bed when I'm done eating. It also works well when taking multiple people on vacations. Me and my four nieces and nephews can go somewhere and not have to always be doing laundry. 1 load a day is plenty and we always have a fresh towel

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriMoot

As I've done a bit of reading I hear folks sort of like the combo as you just "set it and forget it" and at the end of ??? (a lot of time) you have a small load of dry clothes, right?

Yep, combo units are "set and forget", but they are small and take a long time. It's wash time + dry time for every load. With separate units, you're starting a new load every time you one cycle finishes. No need to wait for the previously washed clothes to also dry before starting load 2. The upside of the combo units is that they don't take up much space. They can work well for a solo person or a couple, so if that's you, consider a combo.

TXiceman · 03-12-2020, 03:25 PM

Saturate take up too much room and weigh too much. We have been full time with our Splindide 2100XC unit for almost 7 years now and would not be with out them. They work fine as long as you read the owners manual and follow the instructions. They are not like a home unit and cannot be loaded as heavily.

Most of those that complain about the combo units are passing on hearsay or did not bother to read the manual.

Ken

TechWriter · 03-12-2020, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creativepart

We have separates and love 'em. You can do twice as much laundry with separates.

x2. We used to have a single unit -- never again.

mb36912 · 03-12-2020, 05:01 PM

When we started full-timing 6 years ago, our rig had stackables with a 120V dryer.....but after using them for 6 months, the DW said to get rid of them as it took too long to dry the loads and took up too much space and CCC. She felt it was easier for us to go to a laundromat once/week for 2 hours. That being said, she says if we ever decide to install another washer and dryer, they will be stackable but the dryer will be propane to reduce drying time.

450Donn · 03-12-2020, 05:09 PM

Seperates allow you to wash and dry loads at the same time. Combo allows you to load start and walk away for about 3 hours, and come back to clean dry clothes. Each has their plusses and minuses. You have to decide which would be best for you. When we were camp hosting we would start a load in the morning, go to work, come back for lunch take out and fold out clothes and start another load.

Itchytoe · 03-12-2020, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mb36912

That being said, she says if we ever decide to install another washer and dryer, they will be stackable but the dryer will be propane to reduce drying time.

I have a natural gas dryer that I converted to propane. It dries wonderfully and doesn't use as much propane as I thought it would. I definitely suggest using propane over electric for the dryer.

JFXG · 03-13-2020, 12:01 AM

Eight years with a Splendide 2100XC, a vented combo unit. Love it.
Yes, it’s one load at a time, and these appliances are not as spacious as residential machines, but that really isn’t the issue people like to paint it as. For a couple, it’s no hassle at all. One poster above mentioned tossing four days of laundry into the machine. I don’t know what type of machine that was, but it was nothing I’ve ever seen for an RV!

ElvistheKing · 03-13-2020, 12:37 AM

I'm full-timing but it's just me, my washer-dryer combo has a 1kg-1 hour setting to wash and dry a small load which is way more than enough for a single day, even a full 10kg load (to dry, I think you can wash more) only takes I think 2-3 hours, but as you said I can just set it and forget.
Washer-Dryer technology seems to have come a long way in the last 5-10 years my new one certainly kicks the arse out of my old one.
I never even thought of getting separate washers and dyers, all that swapping between and it only really would have become more "efficient" if I was willing to hang around to swap them at the right time, life is too short!, and I'm using the space that the separate dryer would go!

vsheetz · 03-13-2020, 03:34 AM

Previous coach had a combo unit. Was convenient in that it went from wash to dry automatucally. No shuffle between washer to dryer. But the small capacity negated that good by creating the need for several loads. Doing laundry seemed to take forever.

Current coach stacked separates were a must-have. Larger capacity. Ah, much better. Only way to go, imho. Especially so if full timing.

###

Hint: RV dryers are typically 120v, not 240v like a residential dryer. So less heat and takes longer to dry. Much of this can be mitigated by running an additional spin cycle in the washer. This drives much of the water out - shortening dryer time.

glennwest · 03-13-2020, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itchytoe

I have a natural gas dryer that I converted to propane. It dries wonderfully and doesn't use as much propane as I thought it would. I definitely suggest using propane over electric for the dryer.

What do you have. I have not found a gas dryer that fits.

computerguy · 03-13-2020, 09:47 AM

I suppose separates are a little more versatile. You can certainly do more laundry at a time. The tradeoff is you need twice the space. Longevity of those units is still an unknown.
The Splendide 2100XC has been around a long time. It's built like a tank. I've never had a problem with mine in 10+ years.
I don't have room for separate units so a new motorhome is a pricy investment just to be able to have separate units. I would NOT want to go up in rv size just to be able to fit 2 units instead of one.

Mr_D · 03-13-2020, 10:08 AM

Our last rig had the combo Splendide, which we never used since we were both still working and couldn't stay out long.
Then we bought the present rig with stacked Ariston units. They work great although the 240 volt dryer means I have to run the generator or be on 50 amp service.