Wascomat Gen 6 VS Dexter?

[radoson]

My father and I are getting close to opening a Coin Laundromat in Florida. We have talked to both sale reps with Wascomat and Dexter. They both have taken us on tours and showed their equipment. Both company’s washers and dryers look great. Wascomat have there new Gen 6 out and Dexter seem still the same. We think we might choose the brand on the better/cheaper priced equipment. Can any one help us with making a choice between the two brands? Or is this like trying to decide between a Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator?(just personal preference?) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Laundry_Mike]

NO! Popular opinion from veteran operators will tell you Wascomat is the best, all the way around, from quality, reliability, parts availability, and product support.

[Howard]

Anything other than Wascomat is third best!

[Avery]

Two questions...
1. How does the Wasco Gen 6's compare to the Wasco Gen 4's? The frame seems much thinner.
2. Does anyone out there have Continental hard mounts? What do you think?

[Howard]

Frames are a non issue. That was the same issue that was talked about when cars were first made of unibody construction rather than full frame. You are comparing technologies of two different eras. The new construction is much better. Sure, they may not last 40 years, but who wants a 40 year old washer.

[Jim_F]

Now that we've heard from the Wasco Lobby...Wascomat while a pretty good washer they make, their new dryers suck big time. The washers are no better than most of the other brands out there. This is an old argument. A person needs to go with what is best for their situation and what they prefer. A lot of it depends on what you have for distributors. I have mainly used Dexter for my big washers and have been very pleased. No problems and I mean none. They have more than paid for themselves.

The frame issue IS an issue and not related to the machine lasting 40 years or more. Having it last 4 or 5 would be nice. I know of many people who bought the "new" Wascomat when they came out with the Gen 5 machines and the frames were craking after only a year. There was also problems with wiring shaking loose. This is what started this discussion about the Wasco frames in the first place.

[Howard]

Thats a bunch of crap. I've had Gen5 equipment that is 10 years old and the "frames" are in perfect shape. I know many others with the same equipment and have never heard of such a problem. This is a bunch of BS that was started by Wascomat competitors when this new design came out. Why?- because it is a more cost effective design and they wish they had thought of it first. Let's see a few people post that they have actually had this happen to them - instead of BS that "I have heard that". And if anyone really had such a problem it is most likely caused by improper installation not a design flaw. Wasco Gen5 machines are great. Gen6 are probably as good if not better, but it is a little too soon to be sure of that.

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

I have yet to see a rebuilt anything other than Wasco, does this mean anything?

[Jim_F]

It's not BS and not "crap" I said I know of people who have had this problem, NOT I heard of them. That means I talked to them directly.

My local distributor built their business by selling Wascomat, Gen 4 that it. When the Gen 5's came out they almost went broke dealing with all of the complaints and warranty issues. This led to a big fight with Wascomat and my distributor dropped them as a line. If you want to say that Wascomat once had some problems and these have been overcome, then fine. After all. every make has some problem somewhere along the line.

I'm sure they have a fine washer now. Just there are a lot of other fine ones also.

[Howard]

Perhaps they had a mfg defect when they first came out - BUT they have made them for over 10 years, there are thousands of them out there and they have proven themselves in the field. IF it was a problem don't you think they would have changed it in the Gen6?

[Jim_F]

Herb,

They probably did fix it. There are not anywhere near as many Gen 5 machines out there as there were Gen 4. They were all replaced with Maytag & Dexter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You don't have to get your panties all knoted up!

[trek]

I have two stores - one with a combination of Speed Queen and Wascomat, and the second store has all Dexter. When comparing maintenance issues and repair costs, along with how the machines have held up over time, I would pick Dexter, hands down. The Wascomat machines generally look dated, and have little things happening to them all the time. They have more than paid for themselves, but when comparing them to the Dexter model's, I feel there is no choice. I am currently planning a new laundry, and am looking to go 100% Dexter.

[rondo]

Jim, Iraq called and said they need a new (mis)information officer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Jim_F]

Yes...we have driven those Wascomats out of the whole of the airport area.....

[rondo]

Heh,heh,heh we will kill all infidel Wascos and drive them from the face of the earth.<font color="red"> </font color>

[Laundry_Mike]

Wasco is the bomb. The dexter company has been around for a long time under different names, (Philco, Bendix, ect), but why don't you see any older units in operation? Why do operators and companies keep rebuilding Wascomats, and not any other brand of equipment? Why do parts distributers still sell parts for 30 year old Wascomats? Wascomats are like Harley Davidsons, they'll last as long as you want them to, and product support, and parts availability is second to none. Personally I operate 14 W-73s that are 25 years old, most all have been rebuilt, and they don't cause me any more frequency of repair than new equipment. You may find a 25 year old dexter out there, but its been been in the scrap yard for 15 years. I really wish all my competitors would buy Dexter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif (and GE's)

[rondo]

Well said Mike . Your the man.

[Howard]

I think all my competitors should buy non-Wascomat machines. I encourage them to do it, why would I want them to have a machine anywhere as good as mine???

[kbc747]

Radoson,
How about an update, which one did you buy and are you happy?

[azkid]

I bought Dexter (fronts and stacks) and have had them for 5 years with no significant problems (replaced a few water valves is all). I'd buy them again with no reservations. To me they have a cleaner look than other equipment also.

Even though I've had no problems, I can't imagine that I would want to keep them for 30 years...I would just want something new after 15 years I think (I don't drive a 30 year old car for the same reason).

[galaga]

No new machines build like they used to be,this inclued Wascomat,laundry owners still love their Gen 3,4 washers,some like their Gen 5,6,some don't.I remenber Troy Ameteck's Big Boy 25# wasaher,those washer look bigger than 50#,heavier than any 50# .I was going to keep the Big Boy forever until I worked on Wascomat,I took all of the Big Boys out!
I feel Dexter is one of best looking machine in market,how long will they last?nobody know since this "T" model design is about 10 year old or less.Dexter used own by Ford Motor,they made 20# front load washer with tran in,I had add tran oil all the time.
Wascomat's bearing design is over 30-40 years old,Wascomat doesn't use stanless steel for door and around the door for Gen 5,6 anymore for some reason.I had Gen 5,they looked so bad around the door,I replaced them with Gen 4 since I only had a few Gen 5,I just spoke the guy bought my Gen 5 a few days ago,they are still running great.

[Spin_City]

My "Wascomat fan" buddy swears by Wasco Gen 3 &amp; 4, and grumbles about Gen 5 &amp; 6. He is setting up a new mat, and says he is buying used Gen 3 &amp; 4 machines and rebuilding them, rather than buying new machines. Makes no sense to me but that's what he is doing.....

[Howard]

The same people that don't like Gen5 and Gen6 didn't like it when they converted cars from frames to unibody. The new Wascos are great. I have a hell of a lot less issues with the Gen5's than I ever did with the older ones. And when you do have a problem they are super easy to work on.

[Jefflange]

I have 12 Gen 6 machines electromechanical and so far they have been good. Mechanically they are excellent machines, cosmetics are another story. I don't like the cheap stainless they use now, the painted control panel and 4 soap cpmpartments. I am concerned are these machines still going to look good when they are few years old?

[galaga]

I got rid of my Gen 5 ,the reason was not frame,I just didn't like the the rust around the doors,square door and parts were more expensive than Gen 4,when someone offer me some Gen 4 in good price,I sold the Gen 5,they are still running now,I just don't like the look.

[Spin_City]

Just got off the phone with my Wasco Fan buddy. I told him about this thread, and boy did I get him going. He is the guy who swears by Gen 3 &amp; 4, but hates Gen 5 &amp; 6. I read a few comments to him, and this one got him ranting;

"The same people that don't like Gen5 and Gen6 didn't like it when they converted cars from frames to unibody".

Boy did this get him going. He went on for 1/2 an hour! I'll paraphrase his reply for your reading enjoyment. It could be boiled down to something like this;

"Car makers switched from frames to unibody for 2 main reasons. 1) To save weight, and therefore fuel. 2) To make them crush is a more controlled way in a catostrophic crash. Unibody works great for some cars, mainly small cars which do not do alot of commercial type work. But commercial work vehicles use frames. Try plowing snow or hauling a 12,000 lb trailer with a unibody vehicle! When you need strength, you get a vehicle with a heavy frame. Mom does great with her unibody car, and frameless GE washer. But for commercial work, go for the heavy steel."

[Howard]

Spin City - The issue is not the reason that car companies switched, it was just the comparison and the complaints people had. I'll tell you I have some original Gen5 equipment and it is just as strong and as workable as it was on day one. You are not plowing snow with a 35# washer, you are washing cloths and you don't need that old style heavy frame. If you engineer it correctly you can build a machine that is just as strong that costs less to make and thus you can sell it for less or raise your prices less.

[mikey]

Howard, I think that spin citi was saying that for commercial machines it is important to have a very strong frame. Both for cars and for washing machines. I was at a laundry machine show, and all of the companies told about how strong their frames and bearings were. It seems like a good idea to have a strong frame if you want a washer to last a long time in a busy store. At mine people are always overloading the machines, so I think a strong frame will make it last longer.

[Jefflange]

Alliance has a very strong frame but lousy beraing design.
Wascomat bearing design is far superior. As far the frame I never had a problem. As I said before i don't like the cosmetics of the machine.

[Howard]

Strength and weight are not always the same. You can have strong without having massive metal. Look at things like microlaminated beams which are stronger than wood beams. You have to be open minded to engineering improvements.

[galaga]

Cosmetic and more expensive parts are the reasons I get rid of my Gen 5,they just looked so bad.My Gen 3 look better than the Gen 5.
I do my owe bearing job,did Troy Ameteck Big Boy,Wascomat,Super 20....Wascomat has one of easier,cheaper and best bearing system.I don't know why Wascomat no longer use stainless steel door,around the door and make better looking machines.

[Howard]

They went with the door you don't like for several reasons. They look bigger which customers like. They are also attached with two pins at top and bottom and unlike the older machines, these "hindges" don't break. Further, the lock mechanism is far superior on the Gen5 to the earlier machines. They almost never break and are not prone to many of the problems of the earlier locks. The drain valves are water operated and have no electric motor and gear. I am not sure what you are talking about in terms of parts costs. While you may be able to get cheap parts for older machines the newer parts are not much more and you almost never need them. Have you ever gone through the nightmare of changing a timer on a gen3 or gen4? The newer machines are all modular and you don't have to play with a million wires. The Gen5 is a much better machine hands down over the earlier machines.

[galaga]

We can talk about this all day,I feel Wascomat improve some stuff from Gen4 to 5 but also made a less quality machine,maybe I had some early model Gen 5,maybe my customers just kill them fast,I got ride of them and not looking back.

[Jefflange]

yeah that square door was pretty stupid looking. They corrected that with the Gen 6 but had to change the soap compartment which was fine.

[galaga]

I do like Gen 5,6's hindges,just change one for a Gen 4 today,always keep 2 in my truck,like the no motor drain valve but not stanless steel door,around the door ,square door,that just drove me crazy,I didn't like the not fixable door lock,I heard the later model door lock can be fixed.
I know a lot laundry owners won't buy Wascomat after Gen 5, Wascomat dealers have to sell other washers to keep their door open.
Wascomat washers are in most laundromats when I started this business 16 years ago,now I see a lot different washers in market now why is Wascomat lose some of the market?
If I ever build a new store,I will check out Wascomat again and other 3,4 companies.