My wife and I searched for a functional washer-dryer for our Cedar Creek (very large) fifth wheel RV that would fit the OEM closet for a washer (it came fitted for one, but didn't have one in-place). With an RV, size is critical, and few make a decent 'resident-style' washer-dryer that is small enough (<2.5 cu ft) that will fit the small closets aboard. So, after WEEKS of research on this...comparing over 100 brands and sizes (and configurations), we settled on the Westland-Splendide WDC7100XC model (same company makes both Westland AND Splendide models). We went with the Westland simply because it came in Silver, where the Splendide was a white colored unit.
NOW...HERE'S THE HEADS UP ON THIS:
First off, you BETTER have some help putting this in! This thing is HEAVY! The crate was marked 147-lbs, but even after unstrapped from the crate, it felt like it weighed 200+ pounds! This thing is a BRICK when it comes to weight! If you are going to fight this up tight stairs, or corners, or heaven-forbid, into an RV closet...MAKE SURE you have help (I don't think Godzilla or the hulk could put it into a tight space by himself!) A HAND TRUCK will help move it and position it...but if you are like us, where the closet only had 1-inch of clearance on 3-sides...2-people and a hand truck are A MUST!
Secondly, get better hoses when you order it!!! The ones it comes with have PLASTIC necks between the hose and couplers...both ends...so after some hot water, a bump or hit during an out-of-balance wash cycle, these are going to get THRASHED and you're going to have swamp-soup wherever you placed the washer-dryer. Don't be cheap, opt for some solid stainless hoses with steel or brass coupler necks!!! It will save you MASSIVE water damage later!
Third, READ THE OWNERS MANUAL...2-3 times, before you EVEN TRY to use it!!! It requires a 'pre-wash' to get the assembly lube out of it, to start with...DO THIS! Secondly, it needs a dedicated 15-AMP 110V circuit! That means when you flip the breaker in your breaker box in your home, THAT ONE BREAKER ONLY GOES TO THAT ONE OUTLET you plugged it into! The good part is, all the functions go through that one connection cord...so one breaker is all you tie up (not two, where one goes to the washer, and one to a dryer)
Don't get frustrated once you have it connected...the manual says 'start a load on 2, nothing else...bit of soap...run an empty load' (that pre-run first-load I mentioned)...well, what the manual doesn't tell you is that in assembly at the factory, they've already started it and ran it...and it is in mid-wash already...just set the dials like the book tells you to, and start it...mine started in the middle of a spin cycle...so I let it run, then I ran it again like they said, with a '2-setting wash cycle'...empty...and all worked well. Great test-load, and made sure there was no assembly grease in my first load! NOW, the clock timer function is reset where you'd expect it to be reset...don't return it, just assume that 'first load' is not a complete run the first time...let it finish, then run it again to make sure it is now 'in-cycle'.
Next...unlike a big residential unit...the dials don't 'auto-turn'...they are VERY manual, and once set, the computer inside does time and advance everything...but you don't have a really good way to see 'where the cycle really is at' except through a small bank of four LED lights...sorry, but that's all you get on 'indicators'...the dials aren't broken...they just don't move...it's 'not that fancy'...
All this about the 'door lock' feature in the comments here is killing me...not really sure why everyone is wanting to go digging around in their laundry loads while they are running, to begin with! Seriously people, load it, add soap, set your load, and start it...THEN LEAVE IT ALONE! Yes, the door does lock...no, it does NOT hold your clothes 'hostage' with the door lock once done...it INSTANTLY releases when the dry-cycle that YOU CHOOSE has finished! If you don't like a long dry cycle, then set a short dry cycle...it's that simple! Get an idea of 'how dry' you want, and set it! Last night, we ran a FULL LOAD of underwear, bras, socks, etc. and the wash (set on 7) ran for about 40-minutes, then dry ran for about 1-hour...end of cycle, you hear the 'unlock' of the door, and guess what? The door INSTANTLY opened...and out came warm, fluffed, clean clothes...so less than 2-hours (READ YOUR MANUAL, NEW OWNERS!!! Lot of good information in it!)
Like with all washers-dryers, you have to learn 'how dry do I need to set my settings' in the beginning of 'new ownership'...but once you got that figured out...well, it's not rocket science...after all!!!
I can't recommend this washer-dryer enough! I've seen them on some other larger RV's and a lot of Trawler-Yachts at marinas....but it is absolutely PERFECT to greatly reduce your 'laundramat' loads to one load quick runs! We mainly run T-shirts, underwear, bras, washcloths, etc. in it...with all the 'heavy stuff', like bluejeans going to our 'big laundramat' load...we kinda figure that it will greatly help extend the life of this machine. It's not that it's wimpy or light duty...but it is a 'small unit' of 2-cubic feet...and not some 'big, heavy duty industrial unit' (and even they break down, you know?)...so...see it for what it is, learn how to use it properly, and appreciate a well-made machine...we do!
I'd highly recommend this to any and all friends and family!!!
| Manufacturer | Westland |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 145 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 33.1 x 23.5 x 22.3 inches |
| Item model number | WDC7100XC |
| Manufacturer Part Number | WDC7100XC |
| Special Features | Automatic |
