Ours was put in when we ordered our Carriage new BUT I don't see why a handy person couldn't do it themselves.
You'll find many opinions on whether the combo or stackable is better. We happen to have the stackable but we had the room and I like being able to start another load while the 1st one is drying if I want to. Ours also holds more BUT you have to go with that you have room for and what you feel will work best for you.
I think it also depends on how you travel. We are fulltimers so I'm always doing laundry in my 5th wheel so the stackable was the way to go for us. Diana
Keep us posted. Diana
1996 Dodge Dually, Max Brake Controller, Mor/Ryde Susp Rear Spgs, Air Bags, Tailgate Easylift,
1996/2010 Triple Slide Carriage, Mor/Ryde Susp, Kodiak Disc Brakes, Big Foot Auto Leveling System, TST TPMS
JMO, waste of space better used as a pantry or general storage. Waste of time too spending all day doing tiny loads. Laundry is every two weeks for us. Use five or six washers at once in Laundromat. In a couple hours, all done.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter
SDM wrote: Thinking about a washer dryer combo, any thoughts good or bad. Is this an install that some with good skills could do?
I installed a Splendide combo W/D unit myself.
The W/D is ok if you wash often but it will take a while to catch up if you get behind on laundry. If you start a load before you leave for a few hours it's done by the time you get back. The newer Splendide models supposedly wrinkle less than the old ones. I haven't washed enough to say much about that.
The installation and tools are pretty simple.
For tools, you'll need an electric drill, a 4" hole saw attachment for the drill, a screwdriver bit for the drill, a small level, and a studfinder. I purchased an installation kit which had the dryer hose, vent, outside cover, and 6 self tapping screws, plus I purchased a tube of sealant to keep it from leaking.
Installation is as follows...
Pick a spot for the hole close to where the vent exits the back of the washer/dryer. Use the studfinder to make sure you don't drill a hole into one of the aluminum studs. I suggest you pull the electrical outlet for the washer/dryer if it's close by to see which direction(s) the wires are routed from it. That could save you from cutting through some wires.
Once you have your drill location marked, drill through the wall with the hole saw. I drilled through the inner wall, removed the insulation from inside the hole, and then continued to drill a pilot hole through the outer wall with the center drill bit of the hole saw. Then I drilled through the outer wall from the outside using the pilot hole as a guide. I did that in hopes of minimizing the chance of having any damage to the fiberglass visible from the outside. After doing it, I think I could have drilled all the way through with no problems but better safe than sorry.
Slide the vent through the hole and level the vent. You'll want to make sure your RV is level first though or the vent won't be level when you are done.
Drive the self tapping screws in with the drill to hold the vent in place.
Add sealant around the vent and over the screw heads. I also put sealant around the vent where it would come up against the hole as a precaution before inserting it but it probably wasn't necessary.
Install the vent cover over the vent and the hard part is over. I did this before the sealant dried so I could make sure it fit in place properly. The cover used two self tapping screws to hold it in place as well so you'll probably want to seal them as well.
My kit came with a piece of plastic that goes around the vent on the inside but no screws for it. I stuck it on and just left it without screws.
One problem with my install is that I needed to place the vent further away than the install kit was designed for. The water and drain hookups were directly behind where the vent leaves the washer/dryer and the vent hose that came with the kit was too short. I had to purchase a longer vent hose at Walmart.
While I was installing the W/D, I also installed a GFCI outlet in place of the single connection factory outlet. I'm using the space above the W/D for a 6 place setting dishwasher and needed a 2nd outlet anyway. The GFCI outlet requires more depth and I had to insert an outlet spacer so it doesn't push on my outer wall. I had to order the spacer from Forest River because nobody had them locally.
I did find my entertainment center slide power comes off the back of that outlet in the process.
Anywho... it took less than a half hour for the actual install. The worst part was getting up the courage to put a 4" hole in the side of my 5er.
I forgot to mention that I installed a plastic drain pan under the W/D as well. If there are any leaks it's supposed to catch the water and direct it out of the RV through a drain hose. I had to buy a plastic hose fitting and the drain hose separate.
Installing that took quite a while since I had to line up the drain pan perfectly with my door and I routed the drain hose through existing holes rather than drilling new ones. Routing the hose was a real pain; I should have just drilled new holes.
* This post was
edited 07/07/12 04:25pm by jdiffend *
Ours has the Splendide combo also. And washes along with drys clothes fine. Again does not do big loads. but then again just 2 people keep them washed no need for those big loads.
Pete
2004 Duramax/allison Trans C/C 4x4
2012 Landmark Key Largo
2008 Lund 1825 Pro Guide Tiller, With a Evinrude 90 HP E-Tec
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