If this is your first time driving an RV, you’ll want to learn everything there is about the vehicle before you hit the road!
Whether you’re an occasional or a full-time RVer, you might have encountered the term RV w/d hookup. But what does this mean exactly?
Today, we’ll look at what RV w/d hookup means, the different types of washer-dryer combos, and how they can make your RV life more effortless.
What Do W/D Hookups Mean?
Put simply, RV w/d hookups are connection outlets you can install in your RV to connect your washer and dryers. The sole purpose of such hookups is to provide hassle-free laundry right in the convenience of your motorhome without connecting any appliances.
For starters, the RV w/d hookups let you connect your washer and dryer machines to your RV. Such hookups come with an electrical outlet, a cold water inlet, and a hot water inlet.
And then all you need to do your laundry is continuous access to fresh water, a sewer to dump the greywater, and a voltage supply, which mainly are your RV batteries
Besides being cost-efficient, doing your laundry via w/d hookup washer and dryer is hygienic and quicker.
Types Of RV Washer and Dryer
Basically, RV washers and dryers are of three types.
- RV Portable washer and dryer
- RV stackable washer and dryer
- RV washer and dryer
All three types of RV w/d hookups are based on the two variations of the RV washer dryer:
Non-Ventilated RV Washer Dryers
Non-ventilated RV washing machines and dryers work by blowing hot air inside the drum to dry clothes.
While non-ventilated RV washers and dryers help you avoid drilling holes in your RV, they consume more water than ventilated RV washers and dryers.
Furthermore, using a ventless RV washer/dryer system means you’ll spend more time drying your clothes.
However, if water resources aren’t a problem and you aren’t in a hurry to dry your clothes, a non-ventilated RV w/d is a good option.
Ventilated RV Washer Dryers
Ventilated RV washers and dryers essentially work by consuming the surrounding air to dry your clothes; they need an exhaust pipe to do the job.
The good thing about using a ventilated washer and dryer system is that it consumes less water and requires less time drying your clothes.
The installation process, however, is comparatively trickier than non-ventilated washer dryers.
RV Portable Washer Dryer
The RV portable washing machines and dryer are specially designed for older RVs that don’t have an RV w/d hookup.
They can be either electric or manual.
Compact and affordable, portable washer dryers are incredibly energy-efficient.
The water requirement for washing is also minimal. But the added portability comes at a cost.
The load capacity of such portable washer dryers is less, which means you can enjoy only a maximum of one laundry session a day. Also, they are a little heavy.
RV Stackable Washer Dryer
Similar to the ones at your homes, stackable RV washer dryers are lighter and smaller. The RV stackable washer dryers are perfect for RVers who want to handle high laundry loads in their motorhomes.
The stackable washer dryers let you run both machines simultaneously. Keep in mind that stackable units do use up a lot of water.
RV Washer Dryer Combo
The RV washer dryer combo offers hassle-free laundry. It has a single drum to perform washing and drying simultaneously with automatic cycling, so you don’t have to monitor the machine’s performance constantly.
While similar to a standard washer and dryer, it takes less space but more time. The RV washer dryers combo is available in both vented and non-vented versions.
How Does an RV Washer Dryer Combo Work?
The RV washer dryer combo operates on the same principles as a standard washer dryer. It washes and dries clothes at the same time.
You can manually set washing cycles. But if you are in a hurry, you can simply set the washer-dryer to automatic cycles and enjoy stress-free laundry.
How Do You Hook Up a Washer Dryer Combo to Your RV?
Hooking up a washer dryer combo to your RV isn’t as overwhelming as you might believe it to be. As long as you follow the proper guidelines, you can hook up your washer dryer combo to your RV pretty quickly.
The first thing you should do when installing an RV washer and dryer is to measure the space to ensure an adequate room.
Depending on whether you’re using a vented dryer or a non-vented one, the steps of hooking up a washer dryer combo to your RV differ.
Hooking Up a Non-Vented Washer Dryer Combo to Your RV
- Decide on a location to hook up your non-vented washer dryer
- Carefully place your w/d combo nice in the desired location
- Connect the RV w/d hookup to your washer dryer
Hooking Up a Vented Washer Dryer Combo to Your RV
- Pick a location to hook up the vented washer dryer.
- Since this type of w/d combo is vented, draw a circle for the exhaust pipe on your RV’s wall. It should be slightly more than the diameter of the exhaust pipe.
- After drawing, check twice to confirm that it doesn’t overlap with any RV wires.
- Next, drill the hole nice and slowly
- Place your w/d against the RV wall and connect the exhaust pipe through the whole.
- Lastly, hook up the ventilated w/d to your RV
Can You Use a Regular Washer and Dryer in Your Camper?
The short answer is no. You cannot directly hook up a regular washer and dryer to your camper.
For starters, your regular washer and dryer are only suitable for use by a home electrical system where the voltage values are 220 volts.
RV washers and dryers, on the other hand, operate on your RV’s batteries and have a voltage of 120 volts. Plugging a 220-volt device into a 120-volt outlet is technically not possible.
Furthermore, standard washers and dryers are bigger. However, your motorhome will typically require a compact washer and dryer. So there won’t be enough space to adjust a standard washer and dryer in your camper.
Should I install my washer and dryer in my RV?
Washer/dryer combination units are built specifically for RV use. Besides taking minimal space, they are light, durable, and easy to install.
And the best part of installing a washer and dryer in your RV is that it ensures hygiene cleaning, which might not be possible in a laundromat.
Furthermore, your own washer/dryer hookups help save laundry expenses and allow you to enjoy your vacations fully.
Since they wash and dry in the same unit, it takes some practice learning how to use them. However, once you get the hang of it, laundry becomes an easy task.
Keep in mind that an RV washer requires an inlet for fresh water and a draining outlet. This means you need to have a continuous freshwater supply and a suitable water drainage system for efficient laundering.
If this isn’t possible, especially if you regularly boondock, installing a w/d in your RV might not be a good idea.
How do you do laundry in your RV? We would love to know in the comment section below!
