Best Portable Washing Machine · RVs & Campers

Best Portable Washing Machine for RV Living

For an RV or camper, a light twin tub like the Giantex 20 lb is the practical choice: it weighs about 30 lb, draws around 300 W while washing, and drains by gravity. In a rig, the limits are your fresh and gray tanks, your power and your floor space, not the washer. Check the manual too: BLACK+DECKER says some of its washers are not designed for RVs.

Small twin tub washer set on the step of a travel trailer at a campground, drain hose running into a bucket

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best for RVs#1
Giantex 20 lb Twin Tub Washer washer

Giantex 20 lb Twin Tub Washer

Budget price range

Light twin tub with separate wash and spin tubs and a gravity drain; Giantex lists 300 W wash and 110 W spin.

See specs ›
Best with a drain pump#2
COSTWAY 26 lb Twin Tub with Drain Pump washer

COSTWAY 26 lb Twin Tub with Drain Pump

Budget price range

Bigger 18 lb wash tub, a built-in pump and only about 34 lb.

See specs ›
Best off-grid#3
The Laundry Alternative WonderWash washer

The Laundry Alternative WonderWash

Budget price range

No power at all and about 2 gallons of water per load, by the brand’s figure.

See specs ›

In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications and capacities are each brand’s own; awards are credited to the publishers that gave them. We did not test these machines ourselves.

Best for RVs#1

Giantex 20 lb Twin Tub Washer

The twin tub most often recommended by editors: NBC Select named it its best twin tub. You wash in the left tub, then move clothes to the right tub to spin. It is light, cheap to buy, needs no drain pump, and drains by gravity into a tub, shower or floor drain.

Why it stands out

  • Separate wash and spin tubs with their own timers, so you can wash one load while spinning another.
  • Giantex rates it at 12 lb wash and 8 lb spin, with a 1,350 RPM spin (other listings print 11 + 6.6 lb).
  • About 28–32 lb, light enough to carry to the bathroom and back.
TypeTwin tub: wash tub + spin tub
Capacity (brand)12 lb wash + 8 lb spin
Weight28–32 lb
Fill & drainFaucet hose or fill by hand; gravity drain (no pump)
Hot waterWater up to 129°F (brand limit)

Good fit if

  • You have a tub, shower or floor drain lower than the machine.
  • You do not mind standing by: NBC Select warns it does not stop filling on its own.
  • You want the most wash-and-spin for the money in an apartment, RV or garage.

Skip it if

  • You need water pushed up into a sink: there is no pump.
  • You want to load it and walk away.
  • You plan to use water hotter than 129°F, the brand’s limit.
Best with a drain pump#2

COSTWAY 26 lb Twin Tub with Drain Pump

The biggest twin tub on our list, and one of the few with a built-in drain pump, so it can push water up into a sink instead of needing a floor-level drain. COSTWAY rates it at 18 lb wash and 8 lb spin.

Why it stands out

  • Drain pump plus a 52.5-inch drain hose.
  • Gentle, normal and drain modes with 15-minute wash and 5-minute spin timers.
  • Only about 34 lb for its capacity.
TypeTwin tub with drain pump
Capacity (brand)18 lb wash + 8 lb spin
Weight34 lb
Fill & drainFaucet hose; built-in drain pump
Hot waterBrand gives no temperature limit

Good fit if

  • You wash for a family or do one big laundry day a week.
  • Your drain point is a sink, higher than the machine.

Skip it if

  • You want a fully automatic washer.
  • You only wash a few items at a time.
Best off-grid#3

The Laundry Alternative WonderWash

A hand-crank washer that needs no electricity and no plumbing. You add about 2 gallons of water, clothes and a little detergent, seal the lid and turn the crank for one to two minutes. HGTV named it its best budget manual washer, and Apartment Therapy’s reviewer liked it for small loads.

Why it stands out

  • No outlet, no faucet hookup, no pump, and about 5.7 lb.
  • Uses about 2 gallons of water per load, by the brand’s figure.
  • The Laundry Alternative backs it with a 3-year warranty.
TypeHand-crank, no electricity
Capacity (brand)5 lb dry weight
Weight5.7 lb
Fill & drainFill by hand (about 2 gal); drain spout
Hot waterCold or warm water (brand)

Good fit if

  • You camp, live in a van or tiny space, or face power cuts.
  • You wash light clothes and delicates in small loads.

Skip it if

  • You have limited grip or shoulder strength: BestReviews notes it takes time and effort.
  • You want clothes spun: there is no spin, so they come out wet unless you add a spin dryer.
  • You wash thick towels or bedding.

Pair it with a spin dryer such as the Ninja if you want clothes close to dry in minutes.

Also worth a look

Equator EZ 4600 Washer Dryer + Portability Kit

The only all-in-one washer-dryer here sold with a kit made for no-hookup living: four casters, a Y-connector and a faucet adapter. It washes and dries in one drum on a regular 110–120V outlet, either ventless or vented through a 4-inch hose.

Why it stands out

  • True heated drying, not just spinning, plus a built-in heater for hot and sanitize washes (165°F, per Equator).
  • Drain pump and a 1,400 RPM spin; ventless mode needs no duct.
  • Fifteen programs, including a short Winterize cycle Equator designed for RV storage.
TypeAll-in-one washer + heated dryer
Capacity (brand)15 lb wash, 9 lb dry
Weight161 lb
Fill & drainFaucet adapter and casters in kit; drain pump
Hot waterBuilt-in water heater; sanitize cycle

Good fit if

  • You rent with no laundry hookups but have a sink faucet and a sink or tub to drain into.
  • You want clothes dry without a separate dryer or a trip to the laundromat.
  • You can leave a cycle to run for a few hours.

Skip it if

  • You dry big loads: Equator’s manual rates it at 15 lb wash but 9 lb dry.
  • You need it to move often: it weighs about 160 lb even on casters.
  • You want fast drying: the manual lists 80–120 minutes of drying after the wash.

In ventless mode the cold faucet must stay open during drying, because the condensing dryer uses running water to pull moisture out of the air.

Also worth a look

COSTWAY 5.5 lb Mini Washer

A countertop-size washer for small, frequent loads: baby clothes, underwear, socks, gym wear and scrubs. COSTWAY rates it at 5.5 lb, with a removable spin basket that goes in the same tub after washing.

Why it stands out

  • About 11 lb and 14 by 15 by 20 inches, small enough for a closet shelf.
  • 170 W motor and quick, standard and deep wash settings (6, 9 and 12+ minutes).
  • Gravity drain hose built in; 365-day warranty.
TypeMini, with removable spin basket
Capacity (brand)5.5 lb
Weight11 lb
Fill & drainFaucet hose; gravity drain hose
Hot waterBrand gives no temperature limit

Good fit if

  • You wash a few small items every day or two.
  • You want something electric that fits on a counter or in a dorm-sized space.

Skip it if

  • You need to wash towels, jeans or sheets.
  • You want a separate spin tub that runs while you wash.

Washing on the road?

A light twin tub keeps water and power use low. Count your fresh-water gallons and gray-tank space before laundry day.

Read owner reviews ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Budget your tanks

Winnebago lists fresh tanks of about 49 to 93 gallons and gray tanks of 40 to 102 gallons across two of its models. A WonderWash load uses about 2 gallons; a small automatic washer can use 4 to 11.

02

Dump gray water legally

Cruise America says many states and federal campgrounds ban dumping gray water on the ground. In national parks, federal rules allow draining only at facilities provided for it.

03

Size your power

Maytag says to add up the watts of everything running at once, and notes that motors can need two to three times their running power to start. Check your washer’s rating label.

Honest note

Some manufacturers do not support RV use. BLACK+DECKER’s 2.0 and 3.0 cu ft manuals say the washers are not designed for mobile installations such as RVs, and Danby says its washer is not designed for vehicles. Read your manual before you rely on a washer on the road.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Can you use a portable washing machine in an RV?

Yes, many people do, as long as you have water, a drain and enough power. Check the manual first: BLACK+DECKER says some of its washers are not designed for RVs. Light twin tubs and manual washers are the most common choice.

How much power does an RV washer need?

Small washers draw modest power: Giantex lists 300 W wash for its twin tub, and Magic Chef lists 340 W for a 1.6 cu ft automatic. Maytag warns motors can need two to three times their running power to start, so leave headroom on an inverter or generator.

How much water does it use from my tank?

It depends on the machine. Magic Chef lists about 4 to 10.6 gallons per load for its 1.6 cu ft washer, and the WonderWash uses about 2 gallons. Twin tubs refill for rinsing, so plan for more than one fill.

Where do I drain the washer water?

Into your gray tank or a dump station, not the ground. Cruise America says many states and federal campgrounds prohibit dumping gray water on the ground, and NPS rules allow draining only at facilities provided for that purpose.

Is there a washer-dryer for RVs?

The Equator EZ 4600 has a Winterize cycle Equator designed for RV storage and can dry ventless, but it weighs about 160 lb. Most RVers use a light washer and a drying line instead.

Can I store a washer in a cold RV?

Drain it fully first. BLACK+DECKER says its washer always retains some water in the valve, pump and hose, and freezing can damage them. GE says freezing damage can void the warranty.

Clean clothes, wherever you park

Want the full picture? See all our best portable washing machine, compared by home type, and the FAQ on hookups, drying and care.