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A caravan washing machine is a compact clothes washer, usually 2.5 to 5 kg, built to fit a caravan, motorhome or camper and run on limited power and water. It is also sold as a mini washing machine or RV washing machine. Most models run on 220 to 240V AC from a powered site, a generator or an inverter connected to your battery. Before you buy, check four things: the machine’s rated power against your inverter, the battery used per wash, the water used per cycle and the machine’s weight against your payload.
BOTTOM LINE: Choose the machine your power system can run, not the biggest drum. For most couples touring off-grid, a 2.5 to 3.5 kg machine running cold washes through a pure sine wave inverter is a practical fit. Size the inverter to the machine’s rated power, not its wash power, and leave any 240V wiring to a licensed electrician.
Five types suit caravans: fully automatic top loaders, front loaders, wall-mounted front loaders, twin tubs and manual or portable units.
A mini washing machine is the same idea under another name: a small drum built for tight spaces. The right type depends on where it will sit in your van and how hands-on you want laundry to be.
| Type | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully automatic top loader | Fills, washes, rinses, spins and drains in one program | Vans with a tall cupboard or ensuite space | Height; needs restraint for travel |
| Front loader | Horizontal drum, door at the front | Under bench spaces | Heavier; door seal care |
| Wall mounted front loader | Slim unit bolted to a wall | Vans with no spare floor space | Needs strong wall backing; often higher rated power for steam or heat |
| Twin tub (semi-automatic) | Separate wash and spin tubs, manual transfer | Low budgets, simple setups | More hands-on; bulkier |
| Manual or portable | Hand crank or small turbine, often no spin | Occasional use, camping | Wet clothes take longer to dry |
A wall-mounted machine suits vans with no spare floor space, while a top loader suits vans with a tall cupboard and can hold more.
- Wall-mounted: frees the floor, but needs solid wall backing and can have a higher rated power. The HiTech wall mounted washing machine holds 2.5 kg, weighs 19 kg and is rated at 1200W.
- Top loader: sits on the floor and must be restrained for travel. The HiTech 3.5kg mini fully automatic washing machine holds 3.5 kg, measures 470 x 465 x 820 mm and washes at 235W.
A caravan washing machine needs an inverter rated above its highest (rated) power draw, plus enough battery to cover the amp hours each wash uses.
Wash power and spin power are what the motor and pump draw. Rated power is the most the machine can draw, usually when a heating element or steam function runs. Size your inverter to the rated power.
| Machine | Wash power | Spin power | Rated (peak) power |
|---|---|---|---|
| HiTech 3.5kg Mini Fully Automatic (DRV) | 235W | 230W (with pump) | Not listed separately |
| HiTech Wall Mounted Washing Machine | 100W | 100W | 1200W |
The wall unit washes at 100W but can draw 1200W. Your inverter must cover that figure plus anything else running at the same time, such as a kettle. Washing machines have motors and electronic controls, so a pure sine wave inverter is the safer choice. See pure sine wave and modified sine wave inverters for why.
One cold wash on a 235W top loader uses about 17Ah from a 12.8V lithium battery, and a heated wash on a 1200W machine uses about 33Ah.
Amp hours = (watts × hours of use) ÷ (battery voltage × inverter efficiency)
| Scenario | Energy used | Battery use (12.8V) |
|---|---|---|
| Cold wash on a 235W top loader (235W wash, 230W spin) | About 195Wh | About 17Ah |
| Wall unit with 15 minutes of heating at 1200W, plus 100W wash and spin | About 384Wh | About 33Ah |
Assumptions: 12.8V lithium battery, 90% inverter efficiency, 40-minute wash, 10-minute spin. At 1200W, a 12.8V system also pulls about 104 amps through the inverter cables, which sets cable size and fusing. To plan your setup, see choosing a lithium battery for your caravan and roof or portable solar.
PRACTICAL TIP: Wash in the middle of the day when solar input is highest. Use cold programs off-grid and save heated or steam cycles for powered sites.
Some compact washing machines run directly on 12V DC, but most, including both HiTech models, need 220 to 240V AC.
Australian mains is nominally 230V. The HiTech wall unit lists an operating range of 187 to 242V, so check that your generator or inverter output sits inside your machine’s range. A 12V machine avoids inverter losses but is usually smaller. If you already carry a pure sine wave inverter, a 240V machine with low wash power is often more flexible.
A compact caravan washing machine uses up to about 26 litres per cycle, which is about a sixth of a 160 litre fresh water tank.
The 26 litre figure is the maximum water volume listed for HiTech’s 3.5 kg top loader. Many listings don’t publish water use, so ask before you buy. Clothes washing machines are a registered product type under the WELS scheme; where a model shows a WELS label, use it to compare water use.
- Water pressure: the wall unit needs 0.05 to 0.8 MPa (50 to 800 kPa) at the inlet. Check that your 12V pump or mains regulator sits in that range.
- Drainage: run wastewater to the grey tank or a hose to an approved outlet, then empty the tank at a dump point. Grey water rules vary by park and council.
A compact washing machine adds its own weight, 19 kg net for HiTech’s 2.5 kg wall unit, plus any extra water you carry, and all of it counts towards your caravan’s payload.
Subtract your van’s Tare from its ATM (aggregate trailer mass) to find your payload, then check the machine and your usual load fit inside it. The Queensland Government states it is unsafe and illegal to overload a trailer.
COMMON MISTAKE: Filling the fresh tank for a laundry day before you tow. Water weighs about 1 kg per litre, so fill at your destination where you can.
Secure the machine to the van’s structure, connect water and drainage, and have a licensed electrician do any new 240V wiring.
- Floor-standing units: restrain with brackets or straps fixed to the van’s structure, not a cupboard panel.
- Wall-mounted units: need solid backing. Check with your van’s manufacturer or a qualified repairer before drilling.
- Hoses: secure them and check for chafing and leaks after travel days.
- Noise: check the dB ratings if you wash at night in parks. The HiTech wall unit lists 55 dB washing and 65 dB spinning.
- Water protection: an IPX4 rating means protection against splashing water. HiTech’s 3.5 kg top loader lists IPX4. Still install it under cover.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: A new 240V power point, a hardwired appliance or an inverter connected to your van’s AC wiring is electrical installation work. Energy Safe Victoria states DIY electrical work is illegal and can be deadly. Use a licensed electrician working to AS/NZS 3001.2:2022, the standard for electrical installations in caravans and other transportable structures.
Look for the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) on the compliance plate. Household electrical equipment sold in Australia must carry it.
Most couples need 2.5 to 3.5 kg; choose 3.5 kg or more if you wash towels and bedding on the road.
| Your situation | A good starting point |
|---|---|
| Solo or couple, short trips, small loads every day or two | 2.5 kg, such as a wall mounted washing machine |
| Couple on long trips, towels and bedding included | 3.5 kg, such as the 3.5kg mini fully automatic washing machine |
| Family, or mostly powered sites | 4 to 5 kg, if your space and payload allow |
A 2.5 kg load is roughly a few shirts, underwear and a light towel. A larger drum means more weight, more water and a bigger footprint.
BEFORE YOU BUY:
☐ Measured the space, including door or lid clearance and hose runs
☐ Found the machine’s rated power, not just wash power
☐ Confirmed my inverter is pure sine wave and rated above the machine plus other loads
☐ Estimated amp hours per wash and checked my battery and solar can replace them
☐ Checked litres per cycle against my fresh water tank
☐ Confirmed the inlet pressure range suits my pump
☐ Planned drainage to the grey tank and a dump point
☐ Added the machine’s weight to my load and stayed within ATM
☐ Planned how it will be restrained or mounted for travel
☐ Booked a licensed electrician for any 240V wiring
☐ Checked for the RCM, noise rating and warranty term
The right compact caravan washing machine is the one your power system, water supply, space and payload can support. Size the inverter to the rated power, work out amp hours and litres per wash, check weight and mounting, and leave 240V wiring to a licensed electrician.
Ready to compare options? Browse HiTech’s caravan and RV washing machines, or contact the HiTech team on (03) 9123 8442 to talk through the inverter, battery and solar setup that suits the machine you choose.
Yes, if your inverter covers the machine’s rated power and your battery covers the amp hours. A cold wash on a low-power top loader is the easiest load to run off grid.
You need a pure sine wave inverter rated comfortably above the machine’s rated power plus anything else running at the same time. For a 1200W machine, that means well over 1200W.
Yes, but they are less common and usually smaller. Most caravan washing machines run on 220 to 240V AC through a powered site, generator or inverter.
There is usually no difference. Both terms describe compact washers of about 2.5 to 5 kg; caravan and RV models are marketed for small spaces and mobile power.
It is rarely practical. Household machines are larger and heavier and often draw more power, which uses up payload and can overload an inverter.
Yes. The machine and any water you carry for washing count towards your caravan’s loaded mass, so check both fit within your payload.
Most compact machines spin clothes but do not tumble dry them. Plan to finish drying on a line or airer, and check the specification if a listing mentions drying.
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