Washing machine in garage (1 Viewer)

[r8ck_chick]

Hi y'all

A little advice and guidance please.

We've just bought an old concorde charisma (2001 model).

We're just getting her ready to head off to morocco / Europe for the winter.

The garage is obviously massive and the water feed is already in for a shower so we're thinking of buying a washing machine.

Am I correct in thinking that a standard house machine will be fine or am I missing something?

My understanding is that the waste water is pumped out anyway so it won't matter if the machine is a bit lower than the grey waste tank.

Obviously we will wash on quick cycle to save the water and probably cold wash.

Any machine recommendations greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Eva

 

[Reallyretired]

There are small washing machines available for large motorhomes. Ordinary domestic front loaders are extremely heavy due to a large counterweight to the drum.
We have a portable twin tub which weighs little but may not meet your needs.

 

[PP Bear]

Firstly, Welcome to Fun

Not heard of anyone in the UK installing a domestic washing machine in their garage.Have heard if smaller units being used, but they’re not that common.

 

[Jim]

Nice Motorhome. Remember that garage size is not indicative of the weight you can put in it. They are designed for storing lightweight bulky items like cycles. An average washing machine must weigh-in at over 100 kg which would put much more than 100kg onto your back axle. Given that much of your available storage is in the garage, I would say give it a miss.

There are lightweight twin tubs that do a good job, they are bulky, but your garage is designed to carry stuff exactly like it . Meanwhile, welcome to the Fun

 

[funflair]

Hi r8ck_chick

Welcome to fun and congratulations on your purchase, I have seen a few people fitting washing machines in these larger vans with decent payload, for me a full size one would just ruin the garage space so that would be a non starter I have seen these, Just to give an idea of size I have seen these fitted in a gas locker when the van has a tank so the locker space is vacant.

Fitted in the garage of a Palace

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[jezport]

I have used and sold lightweight twintubs for a number of years and they wash better than home machines, faster and cheaper! I have a couple left in stock in my garage. They are very hard to find at the moment due to increased shipping costs from china.

 

[Southdowners]

We have a Charisma and use a little twin tub. It washes well, spins very well indeed and is light. Also if you do a bit of hand washing it can be spun in the machine. The one we bought was about £100.

We usually travel in cold climates and so I usually do the washing in the garage and hang it up on one of those retractable washing lines (it has 5 lines, so plenty of hanging space).The washing lines go across the garage ceiling.

It might not be easy if you’re tall to stand in the garage but I’m a petite woman at 5’2” and I can stand up straight. The garage is heated so the washing dries quickly.

 

[bigwood]

When we were waiting for the ferry to the north island of New Zealand a guy next to us with a coach build showed us the improvements he had made. He had a washing machine built into the garage area under the rear bed. I think it must been a smaller machine because the bed wasn’t too high off the floor.
Compared to the PVC we hired it was like a palace.

 

[TaylorSwift]

I have used and sold lightweight twintubs for a number of years and they wash better than home machines, faster and cheaper! I have a couple left in stock in my garage. They are very hard to find at the moment due to increased shipping costs from china.

Do you have a link jezport?

 

[jezport]

Do you have a link jezport?

I only have a few left so they are not advertised, they are like these below but I sell them at £90

Leisurewize Portawash Plus

Buy the Leisurewize Portawash Plus at Robert Dyas online. Free Standard Home Delivery on this product

www.robertdyas.co.uk

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[TaylorSwift]

Nice one I will mention it to HQ

 

[Swifter]

As mentioned by jezport . The smaller unit would be more suited to your set up . He is an example. This is Lenny HB s one. Perfectly suited to his garage .

 

[r8ck_chick]

Hello everybody. Thanks so much for all the replies.

I honestly didn't even consider the weight; just thought garage would be OK for it since I've seen people with motorbikes in them and they must be very heavy.

So a small washing machine like the Candy aqua that my river rat buddy has would be OK?

Was I right about the water being pumped out?

Any ideas about power needs, the bus came with a 1600w invertor but we're not sure if it'll be enough.

I love those wall mounted machines, very cute!

 

[jezport]

Think it will need 3000w minimum if it heats the water.

 

[Stealaway]

We use one of these supermarket carpark machines about once a month..

Cheap as chips and very quick.

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[r8ck_chick]

Once a month! Lucky you.

We're future planning for our new arrival next year as well so imagining a time when there's a lot of dirty things to be washed

 

[Reallyretired]

Our little twin tub we use in the shower, as water and drain available. Lecky use is only around 150w so even a titchy inverter will do.

 

[CazPaul]

Hi y'all

A little advice and guidance please.

We've just bought an old concorde charisma (2001 model).

We're just getting her ready to head off to morocco / Europe for the winter.

The garage is obviously massive and the water feed is already in for a shower so we're thinking of buying a washing machine.

Am I correct in thinking that a standard house machine will be fine or am I missing something?

My understanding is that the waste water is pumped out anyway so it won't matter if the machine is a bit lower than the grey waste tank.

Obviously we will wash on quick cycle to save the water and probably cold wash.

Any machine recommendations greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Eva

Can’t help with your specific question but I love the older Concordes, any photographs?

 

[Googlebot]

A mate lives off grid and uses a washing machine. He can only cold wash mind and then only when the sun is shining. Will you be on hook up? If not it may take a lot of driving to replenish the power use.

1600w should be enough depending on the spec, I would check the rating on the appliance.

If you aren’t carrying anything else heavy and have a little one, I would go for it. Only babies can have a brand new outfit on and bodily fluid them in seconds.

They do indeed pump out, so waste is no issue. Just check the water system on the van as if they are micro switches rather than a pressure switch, it will fill with water and nothing will happen unless you fit a pressure switch to turn the pump on.

 

[Stealaway]

Once a month! Lucky you.

We're future planning for our new arrival next year as well so imagining a time when there's a lot of dirty things to be washed

We just pack it in a black sack until we have a full load. Load the washing machine and go and get the shopping.

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[r8ck_chick]

Here's a pic of our bus. Looks like something out the 80s We were thinking of driving around in shell suits in matching colours

Not planning on using hook up, we've got 1500W of solar though so I'm pretty sure we'll be OK for power being topped up.

Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[EuroTrotters]

I installed a 3.5kg wash load candy aquamatic in our Eura Mobil. But it was right over the rear twin axle and we had the payload.

I did put photos on the dark side. But I can’t find them now

 

[EuroTrotters]

Compact washing machine

Can anyone recommend a compact washing machine which would suit a bathroom in a mobile home? I.e. not a domestic 60cm model. You guys must have them in your A class garages?!! Thanks in advance. Cheers James C

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Don Campbell]

When we were waiting for the ferry to the north island of New Zealand a guy next to us with a coach build showed us the improvements he had made. He had a washing machine built into the garage area under the rear bed. I think it must been a smaller machine because the bed wasn’t too high off the floor.
Compared to the PVC we hired it was like a palace.

We also hired a PVC in New Zealand. The van was a piece of sh+t but we still had a great time

 

[Garry - June]

I have used and sold lightweight twintubs for a number of years and they wash better than home machines, faster and cheaper! I have a couple left in stock in my garage. They are very hard to find at the moment due to increased shipping costs from china.

100% agree...we have a plastic camping twin tub and had one for 5 yrs on our boat too...they are the best things ever and not only has it paid for itself 10 times over but my wife also swears that it cleans her whites better than anything else too... its also portable and light which beats built in machines hands down. Oh and we have no problem powering it off our solar/inverter either.

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[stewartwebr]

Hi r8ck_chick

Welcome to fun and congratulations on your purchase, I have seen a few people fitting washing machines in these larger vans with decent payload, for me a full size one would just ruin the garage space so that would be a non starter I have seen these, Just to give an idea of size I have seen these fitted in a gas locker when the van has a tank so the locker space is vacant.

View attachment 680077

Fitted in the garage of a Palace

We have the exact machine fitted in what was meant to be the gas locker, we don't need the locker as we have a large gas tank. The issue with these machines when installing is they do not have a waste water pump, they are designed to be installed on a wall so rely on gravity to empty. We had ours installed in Germany by a company who have fitted many of them. They install an additional 1L tank low down to allow the machine to empty. The tank is fitted with a level switch and a pump so the tank starts to fill the pump kicks in and pumps the water to the grey waste tank. It uses around 20L of water for a wash. We had ours installed with a bypass valve which allows us to control the inlet water. They are designed like most washing machines to use only cold water for all washes below 90 Degrees (this one uses cold for all washes) So the bypass valve allows us to heat the water in the Alde by using gas then use that water at the inlet which prevents us wasting precious inverter power when using off grid.
It works extremely well and we would not be without it and surprising how much you can get in it. The main concern I would have if fitting myself would be how and where to secure it, it really does create a lot of energy when it goes into spin.
I could add some pictures if anyone is interested in the actual install?

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Back of the garage is a long way past the axle, it might be a good idea to find the specs if available for that van and check the overall garage loading, as opposed to the vans payload. 100kg bouncing around that far back will affect the front axle. Especially on infamous Moroccan ramps.
Mike

 

[triky]

I bought a washing machine in an Italian outlet that is a top loader ,cold fill only. No need for electric heating ,They are not as heavy either , Washes & spins .The water supply in the Concorde(shower in garage) would do perfectly for such a machine .An outlet hose to a site drain for emptying ,or into a container could suffice .

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I could add some pictures if anyone is interested in the actual install?

Yes please.
Been thinking about this for a while, my garage already has a supply, waste and power fitted for a washing machine and I do like the small wall ones.

 

[meanders]

Not sure about the inverter power. The big issue with automatic front loading washing machines is the start up or inrush current to the motor which happens every time the drum starts moving. Several years ago I had a machine on a fused spur which kept blowing even on a cold wash. A sparky friend put clamp meter on it and it was drawing over 20 amps for about half a second each drum start. Put it onto a standard ring = no problems.

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