One of the things that sold us on our Thor Challenger 37YT motorhome was the large bathroom with double sinks and a large closet for storage. After 2+ years of traveling the country, we have learned a lot about things we like and don’t like with Full-Time RVing.
The top thing on our list of dislikes is laundromats! They are so hit or miss, and usually miss. While we like being able to do all our laundry at one time. Most laundromats are not kept as clean as we’d like. The costs of laundromats are going up like everything else is currently. We’ve found it can cost as much as $6 to wash and dry a load of laundry. At those prices, it won’t take too long to pay for a washer and dryer for an RV.
We’ve found out not to use them after rain because the homeless like to dry their sleeping bags without washing them first, leaving the dryers a mess. People like to use too much bleach so unsuspecting people behind them end up with bleached clothes. The list goes on and on.
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Finally, after our Workamping gig in Yellowstone, we decided this winter we would have a washer and dryer put into our motorhome. This meant we would lose our storage closet in the bathroom but we’re so happy we did this.
We purchased and had our washer and dryer installed at Camping World in Denton, Texas. It took about 5 hours for them to install and test them.
You can also purchase this washer from Amazon here.
Separate Washer/Dryer or Combo Unit?
Whether you’re buying a washer-dryer combination unit or a washing machine and dryer separately depends on how much space you have at home. A set of separate machines takes up a little more space, but has more drying capacity, is more energy-efficient, and is faster. Searching for which washer, dryer, or combo unit would be best for our situation we found out that if we did choose to go with a combo unit it needs to be vented. In the end, we decided with our closet, a separate washer, and a vented dryer were the way to go. We went with the Splendide Stackable Washer WFL1300XD and Dryer DV6400X.
See our review of the Splendide Stackable Dryer DV6400X Review here.
No Room for Laundry Basket
Something we learned from a friend when we were talking about washers and dryers in an RV is there is no longer room for a laundry basket. No worries though, as you remove your clothes throw them in the washer until it’s time to wash a load. This is a great space-saving idea!
Splendide WFL1300XD
A 24-inch wide washer that fits in a hallway closet or under a kitchen counter, the WFL1300XD is easy to use and fits where full-sized washers won’t. Meant to be paired with the Splendide DV6400X dryer, the WFL1300XD can be installed side-by-side or placed underneath the dryer. It features a classic cycle knob and modern, digital display, as well as an extra-wide door opening. Detergent, bleach, and softener are added automatically during the wash cycle. Variable spin speeds and a dual-rotating drum work quietly to minimize fabric creasing and remove the most moisture from fabrics.
Splendide washers and dryers not only offer the space, weight, and energy savings that are so important in RVs, yachts, and tiny houses but they’re built tough to withstand the rigors of the road and sea.
Splendide washers are Class A rated, and spin up to 1200 rpm. This makes them some of the most efficient washing machines available. So, you’ll not only be getting outstanding wash and dry results, but you’ll also be conserving energy and water.
Regardless of the type of fabric or degree of soil, Splendide’s WF1300XD washer with its 12 wash cycles makes choosing the right cycle easy.
Specifications
- Cabinet Dimensions: 32 7/8″H, 23 1/2″W, 22 3/4″D
- Drum Capacity: 15lb wash
- Wash Water Usage: 7.5-16 gal/load
- Weight: 146lbs
- Electrical: 120V, 60hz, 6amp
- Max Spin: 1200 rpm max
- RV/Marine-Ready: Heavy-duty springs and shock absorbers, cULus approved for min. install clearances and simple winterization
Our Review
As Full-Time RVers this is the best upgrade that we have made to our motorhome so far. We love having our own washer and dryer finally! They work just like the expensive ones that we had in our house.
For a load of clothes on the colors cycle (the cycle we normally wash our clothes on) the washer says it takes 1hr 21 minutes but we found it to take about 1hr 13 minutes.
One of our favorite things about the Splendide WFL1300XD is how quiet it is. Super quiet! It can be a little sensitive during the spin cycle and does shake the RV a bit, but once it’s up to speed it smooths out nicely. Clothes come out barely damp saving on long dry times.
The cost for both the washer and dryer installed in our motorhome at Camping World was just over $2800. You could save quite a bit of money installing them yourselves. On the road, we didn’t feel we had the time or place to do the installation ourselves otherwise we would have.
We average between $100-$120 per month on laundromats (and that price continues to rise) so these units will be paid for in approximately 2 years. Sooner with not having to spend time going to laundromats and waiting on our clothes. In our opinion, this was the best investment ever!
It’s been over a year and a half now that we’ve had the washer and dryer. They continue to work great.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a washer for your RV, Boat, or Tiny House look no further than the Splendide WFL1300XD. It’s a workhorse of a small washer. With the costs of laundromats these days it’ll pay for itself in no time. Pared with the matching Splendide DV6400X dryer they’ll handle most of your laundry needs easily.
Thank you for reading our article. Do you have a washer and dryer in your RV? What are your thoughts on them? If you have any comments or questions we’d love to hear from you below.
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I have the same machine, installed when we bought our new KZ one year ago. After the 2nd or 3rd load we noticed water on the floor. Out of convenience, we waited until now to have a service tech come out. He found that the drum was cracked and had to have the unit replaced. The replacement was covered under our service contract but we still have to pay $342 out of pocket. Disappointed but hopeful that we just got a lemon the first time.
Sorry to hear you had issues with your washing machine. We’ve had our for going on three years now with no issues.
I bought the washer and dryer. Washing machine is a huge disappointment. Less than 2 years old and the cold water valve is leaking. I called for warranty service only to learn the warranty does not cover any seals or plastic parts including the hot and cold water valves. The set was installed by the dealer and I was never informed that the company does not stand behind its product. I will make sure I post the review any place someone may be considering buying this product. I don’t mind so much that the valve started leaking, sometimes parts just break. I spoke with a manager and he just said well it states in the warranty we do not cover this. I asked him how you sell any washing machine and not warranty the valves? I would have been fine if they just sent me the replacement part but I had to pay for that AND the shipping. My washing machine is the same model. The washing machine worked ok. We did less than 10 loads in it before it started leaking.
Hello Jeff, I’m sorry to hear that you had issues with your washer. While it is understandable that you are frustrated with your experience, from what I see in the reviews of the Splendide WFL1300XD is 4.2 stars on Amazon and 4.4 stars on Camping World. Anyone can end up with a machine that doesn’t meet their expectations especially if it’s something leaking on a washer. It may not be a machine issue if a valve is leaking, it could very well be an installation issue. I have ran into a handful of examples over the last few years of poor workmanship at dealers. If someone overtightened the valve, either slightly cracking it or causing the leak itself I can see why Splendide wouldn’t warrant the item. We have had our washing machine for nearly 2 years and as full-time RVers we use it nearly every day. So far we couldn’t be happier with our washer and dryer. Sorry again you had issue with yours. From what I have seen that seems to be an exception to what others find with the Splendide WFL1300XD Washer.
Rob