Washing machines not allowed

Cruising Granny · Guru

RE: Washing machines not allowed

lost Gypsy · Veteran Member

Hi, a bit off the subject , would you know if washing machines can run off motorhome water tank with pump , as we are buying an old bus/motorhome and want to install one.

thanks.

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Hi Lost Gypsy,
Nice to have you on the forum. Yep when the boss wants to do washing on the road I start up Genny and the machine uses water from tanks via 12V pump. No problems. Hopefully you will carry more water than we do. We have around 170lts. It's good for around 3-4days, quick showers every day. Only wash when we have to in free camps but we have done it a few times. This of course takes one day of water. If you do a bus up make sure you have big tanks.
Have fun planing is part of the fun.

lost Gypsy · Veteran Member

Hi , and thanks for your fast reply, we are new at this and really hoped we could use a washing machine because we have an old dog who has a talent for really messing up our bed, looking foward to our new life on the road.

trouto · Senior Member

how absured is that No its like booking in to a motel and setting up a B.B.Q in the room

its good to see you offering to help out around the park but at what cost to the park owner ? I hope that all other park owners agree 100% with you or i could see you bad mouthing them around the block.Just because YOU don't agree it was an honest answer also

i enjoy/ed reading all the post so i won't wright anything else as my view might upset people that don't agree.

THANKS I WILL ENJOY MY LIFE AND MONEY

PeterD · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
To add my little washing machine bias... I only like to use public machines in parks where they dont allow dogs, after finding a machine with lotsa dog-hair in it. Sorry, dont mean to offend dog owners, only the one who washed their dog-blanket in a public machine!

This is a big problem in parks. When you talk to dog owners they all claim to be responsible owners, none of them use the laundries fo washing their dogs or dogs stuff and of course they all pick up their droppings.

The truth is that there are heaps of travellers with dogs out there that speak with fork tongues. Talking to park owners, they all report problems with owners taking their dogs into cabins, washing them in showers and laundry tubs, washing the dog stuff in machines and having their machines out of action until they can get the dog hair out of them. In each case that is why they have gone dog free. Several Big4 park owners have related the problems they have with dog owners and have been dog free long before they joined the chain.

Dog free parks are neater, cleaner and tidier than pet friendly ones to boot.

Ma · Guru

trouto wrote:
how absured is that No its like booking in to a motel and setting up a B.B.Q in the room
its good to see you offering to help out around the park but at what cost to the park owner ? I hope that all other park owners agree 100% with you or i could see you bad mouthing them around the block.Just because YOU don't agree it was an honest answer also
i enjoy/ed reading all the post so i won't wright anything else as my view might upset people that don't agree.
THANKS I WILL ENJOY MY LIFE AND MONEY
Trouto, the last time I looked this was an open forum where we can all express our opinions
Whether we agree or disagree we should all respect the opinions of others.
Some of us actually enjoy "helping out" and don't look for any recompense. The reward is in the doing.
As for badmouthing, that isn't and never has been a feature of this forum. We advise each other of our experiences and if it fits in with your plans then you take note. If not you just carry on. We are all different both in our mode of travel and in our wants and expectations.
I am glad you are going to enjoy your life and your money, you obviously have worked hard for it, as the majority of us on here have also.
Just remember money can't buy your health and if it's the lack of money that clouds our judgement then we are a sorry lot.
Having said all that there will be numerous people on this forum that won't agree with me but I would sincerely hope that they respect my right to that opinion.

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Trouto,
You seem to have trouble with the written word. I said " it is like booking into a motel and not being allowed to have take away" where you got having a BBQ in the room is beyond me. and where in any of my posts have I " bad mouthed a park?"
I thank you as before for your honest answer. It is all about getting more out of the already paying customer.
As I said I just asked the question, if you took offence because you own a park then I am very sorry. As I said have a great life, and may your day get better.

-- Edited by Dreamcaster51 on Sunday 19th of June 2011 07:38:17 PM

jimricho · Guru

I think you lot are being a bit hard on trouto just because he failed Customer Focus 101.

It would have been much easier to run the park without the hassle of paying customers although I suspect the park owner's bank manager, accountant, and creditors would not be real enthused with that idea.

Cruising Granny · Guru

As a customer and long-term resident of several van parks around the country, I have developed a whole lot of respect for the park owners/managers who put the customers' comfort first and foremost.
I have gardened in some of those parks, out of the goodness of my heart, because I love gardening and wanted to improve my outlook, without expecting anything but a smile in return.
I use the park washing machines, despite the incessant sludge problem. My choice.
It seems Trouto you expect much from your customers, but don't want to give a little.
Most of the people who carry their own washing machines, for their own reasons, look after everything wherever they go.
Sacrificing $3 per week per a small percentage of tenants won't break the park's bank.
We expect quality for our dollars. It doesn't have to be 5 star, glamorous and frilly, just friendly, clean, neat, presentable and affordable.
Unfortunately caravan parks is slow money unless you're 100% occupancy 24/7, which is never going to happen, even at the Highway 1 Tourist Park, Bolivar.
What do you expect of your customers Trouto? What do you give your customers during their stay? Why and what would it cost the park operator if someone offers to help around the park?
I'd be interested to learn from your perspective.
Bearing in mind we are free to agree, or disagree, with you.

-- Edited by Cruising Granny on Sunday 19th of June 2011 08:07:09 PM

littledick · Senior Member

Dreamcaster 51

I dont know why you feel the need to appologise to anyone who misinterperates what is being put forwood. Their problem not yours.

Many will continue to use park machines, I wont, my choice.

LD.

BushbabyandGumnut · Veteran Member

I must jump in here too,I have my own washing machine too and use it every time I need to,as yet there have been no problems.I'm thinking there will come a time when I will see a big notice "No private washing machines to be used in this park".Some parks have not got proper outlets for the amount of water they pump out and you have to run the sink water on the ground too,or in a bucket,(then where do you empty the bucket?) but in most cases the lawns benefit from the extra water.

http://www.nomadsnotes.com/AP.aspx?ID=551&EID=10594211

Chevy · Member

I lived in caravan parks for 10 years and the Managers and Cleaners kept everything emaculate. The only problem was the line up to use the machines as a lot of permanents lived in our park. After my first child was born we purchased a 3kg Auto Westinghouse, great machine, lasted 20 years and 4 kids. Its the laundromats that we find worse but have had some problems with especially front loading park machines. One thing we have noticed is the amount of park machines that don't spin the washing out very dry therefore if you need to use the dryers it costs a lot more to dry your washing. We also carry a length of clothline and a prop and hang out the washing to dry back at the camp.

So the need to have one of our own. The 5kg costs $125 and the dimensions are 495Lx37Wx550H, weighs 12kg. There are 2 models in the 3.6kg size 1 costs $110 and measures 580Lx375Wx580H, weighs 12kg, and the other $249 and 600Lx360Wx660H.

We have set ourselves up to be as self sufficient as possible and prefer to free camp especially after being allocated sites that back on to major roads, just dirt on the annexe side, unexperienced caravaners who have no idea of site boundaries and of course paying for a powered site even though everything runs off the solar or gas. The small amount of power we would use charging our batteries would be well and truly covered in the site fees. Last trip was 8 weeks where we spent 4 nights in a park.

Surprising how parks have changed, when I lived in parks from 1974-84 the trend was to have a concrete pad for the annexe and beside that room to park a car on every site but in the last 4 years we have seen everything from shadecloth, grass, dirt and gravel. The the sites have gotten narrower too probably because of the more modern awnings etc that don't require as many ropes to secure and often cars are squeezed in front.

herbie · Guru

I have noticed the signs going up in more v/ parks over the last 12 months , than ever before. banning washing machines .I have one but do not use it. We just wipe the inside of the machine with a cloth and some disinfectant. Never had a problem.The park we are at the moment has tqo machines for work clothes one for the dog gear and three for normal washing.The problem here though is the back packers come in with their shoe string budget and the latest trick is that they drill out a $1 coin tie very thin fishing line through the hole of coin and then just put the same coin in and out of machine or dryer .Problem is some times the coin gets stuck and then the machine is out of action until it is fixed. All cost to the c/ van park ownerAlso he has had to close the laundrey at 8pm every night now due to them sneaking in and useing laundry and not booked in.We also have the key card to get into the shower block due to the back packers.This park owner said to me if he could put a sign up out the front regarding back pakers he would.He also said the grey nomads and the Ausie traveller in the end pays for this behaviour from the back packers.He also said he never has had a problem from the grey nomads .

Willow · Veteran Member

I don't think electricity is the problem. The park mentioned at Conway Beach like our local one and indeed my house have to buy in water by the truckload. People from towns and cities don't realise how precious water is when you rely on a tank. For example I would never dream of wasting water by washing a car yet people from towns think nothing of it.

Cruising Cruze · Guru

that's why white cars are the best ,you wont see the dirt :))