washing machines

We have a Lemair machine that has travelled on thousands of Km of rough roads in the back of our F250, and it has not suffered any problems. We just use it under the awning when required.

Cannot comment on the other types. Lemair does seem to use a lot of water for the amount of washing that can be put in at a time and we only ever use ours when we have a good water supply available.

Brian

Sounds like you won't be going to Tamworth Brian!!!

Bushkat, if you buy a Lemair, save the packaging that holds the bowl in place. Top AND Bottom. We have ours in a box on the A frame. The aluminium tread-plate box is the same size as the cardboard box that the machine came in, so the moulded foam packaging is retained. The box has no bottom, and sits on a rubber mat......it is pulled down onto this rubber mat by two over-centre hatch latches. (Competely dustproof)

The machine has travelled through Oodnadatta-Dalhousie, Red Centre (Mereeni Loop), Top End, Cape York, and just about all "unsuitable for caravans" roads in NSW and Qld. It has certainly paid for itself and we have had no problems with it at all. One advantage we saw was that it weighed only 20kg,(incl. packaging) and you wouldn't get a front loader less than about 35 kg.

The box weighs 9kg.

Cheers...........Rob

Bushkats,

Have the Lemair plumbed and fitted into out 21' BT and have done the Birdsville, Oonandatta, Development Rd, Donohue, Plenty H'Way, across the East Macdonnel Ranges, Gt Central Rd and no problems with it.

Living in the BT full time in a park at the moment and use it all the time and its great. It does use a lot of water so only use it when water supply is around.

Yes keep the top foam piece as it holds the bowl in place when travelling.

Cheers
Stewart & Marlene

Hi Bushkat,

We have a Lemair fitted in our 19mft van delivered in October 2006. The machine itself has performed well and we have done the Donohue, Plenty, Mereenie Loop, Marble Bar-Newman and numerous shorter bush tracks - certainly can't believe the "highway' tag some have.
However, the pump out hose has been a problem to us. Ours fractured and we replaced it under warranty in Perth. The new one lasted about 6 weeks and again fractured (under the machine). I have wrapped the split hose in gaffa tape from the point where it fixes to the bowl as far as the point where it exits below the machine and would suggest that if you get a Lemair you do the same , just in case. It will till lock into the clips on the machine. When we get back home ( after about 30 months on the road) we are going to get our friend to make us up a tray out of about 1mm aluminium with 50 mm sides that fits under the machine so that if there is ever any leak it can be contained within the tray and not flow out into the
van.
Mike and Marg

Hi Bushkats,

We too have a Lemair top loader which we carry, in its original carton with bottom and top foams - but ours travells in the rear of the LC strapped in along with the dog !

When in use we set the machine up under the awning and utilise an outside tap I fitted just aft of the steps.
Note however that some CV Parks, who are ripping thousands of dollars off the tourists in their Park washing machines [and you can bet they do not declare it on their Tax Return as it is literally "free cash"], are now threatening tourists with heavy "fines" if they use their own machines in the Park [Broome for example]. In these parks we set the machine up on the floor just inside the van door, still use the outside tap and direct the machine outflow via the van's sink.

If you should add a town water connection to your van plumbed into the original BT "ordinary" water distribution system, DONT FORGET to include a high quality pressure reducing valve to protect the van's plumbing which may not stand some of the excessively high town water pressures in various towns. We use a bronze bodied RMC Pressure Limiting Valve as utilised on virtually all solar hot water systems and The Chef says that the town water mod was the best improvement to the van we have made.

The outside tap just by the step is the best location for washing feet after the beach or for flushing the coffee pot etc. Never understood the sense of putting a tap on the A frame !

General Question - what "portable" FRONT LOADER machines are available for caravan use ?

Cheers from Martin & Christine B.