The Wild Thornbaileys are a family of six traveling in their 44 ft Highland Ridge 395BHS Open Range. After almost losing their son to undiagnosed type one diabetes they took their second chance at life, sold everything, and have been adventuring around the country for the past five years with no plan of stopping!
When we were RV shopping, having washer and dryer hookups was a must for us because of our family size and the messy adventures we’re always going on. We’ve done a year of laundromats and five years with a combo washer/dryer in our RV, and I want to share some tips to help you decide what might work best for your RV lifestyle.
We currently have the Highland Ridge 395BHS Open Range. This RV has hookups for a washer and dryer in the closet, but we opted for a vented combo unit to save more space.
Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether you need a washer and dryer in your RV (and which kind to choose) — or whether laundromats might be a better fit for you:
Going to the laundromat can be really inconvenient and time-consuming, especially if your campground doesn’t have one onsite or if they’re all being used. The cost adds up quickly too when you're doing multiple loads. You don’t have to pay a large upfront cost like you would with your own unit, but with our family size, we spent enough in that first year to have just bought one.
That said, we did find ourselves more motivated to fold laundry right there at the laundromat — instead of creating a “fold later” pile in the RV. It was also really nice to wash every item at once instead of running load after load in a smaller machine.
You can buy a portable washer that fits right in your shower — it’s more work, but it’s an option if your RV doesn’t come with hookups or dedicated space. Portable dryers are also available, though they’re quite small and better suited for 1–2 people rather than a full family.
If you have the space, this is an ideal option. You can fit more clothes than a combo unit, and you don’t have to leave to do laundry. It’s the setup most similar to what you’d have at home.
If you're nervous about cutting a hole in the side of your RV, you might go with a non-vented combo washer/dryer. Just know that these take much longer to dry clothes and increase the risk of mold and moisture inside the RV — which, in our opinion, is much worse than installing a vent. I don’t recommend this option for full-time RVers, but it can work well for those who only use their RV for weekend trips.
Combo units always take longer to dry than a standard dryer, but this setup works best for us because it saves so much space. We’re a larger family, and there’s almost always a load of laundry running. It's not the most efficient setup for a family of six, but it’s doable.
One thing we love: you don’t have to remember to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. No more rewashing because we forgot! Clothes do tend to come out more wrinkled, so we iron more often — but the convenience of doing laundry in our RV is a game-changer, especially after messy adventures, swim days, or when something needs to be clean by the next morning at 11 p.m.
To install a vented unit, you usually need to drill your own hole into the RV. Make sure you're not drilling into a stud or frame! Some RVs come with a small pilot hole where a dryer would go, so check for that first.
DISCLAIMER: Be sure to consult with your dealer or manufacturer before making structural modifications to understand the impact on warranties and ensure proper placement and setup.
The best tool for the job is a 4-inch hole saw. Drill from the inside out, then attach an RV dryer vent to the outside to keep critters from nesting in your warm dryer hoses — and you're good to go!
We still go to the laundromat for big items like blankets and pillows, but that’s way easier than doing all the laundry for a family of six.
I hope this helped you decide which option might be best for your next RV adventure!
This camping trailer affectionately nicknamed a “Fiver” is a favorite of many, especially those taking extended trips or traveling extensively in their RV. The prominent overhang resting above the tow truck bed is frequently employed as a bedroom suite, or, more recently, a living room or even a kitchen.
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