Any Ideas for best Compact Vacuum Cleaner?

Lee Davis · 08-24-2005, 02:12 PM

We are getting ready to go full time and our Airstream is fully carpeted with pretty new carpet. Does anyone have experience with a compact vacuum that they really like for this kind of situation?

Thanks

Lee Davis

Peter&Denise · 08-24-2005, 02:17 PM

1 gallon shop-vac. Does carpet fine with the floor attachment, plus a whole lot more. Small and easy to store too. P.

**jcanavera** · 08-24-2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Davis

We are getting ready to go full time and our Airstream is fully carpeted with pretty new carpet. Does anyone have experience with a compact vacuum that they really like for this kind of situation?

Thanks

Lee Davis

I know a fellow with a 34' limited who built in a small shop vac under the double closet floor. He added Beam vaccum connections so that when he plugs the hose into the outlet (which is mounted on the panel below the closet doors), the vacuum turns on automatically. It's a pretty slick operation. If you are interested I can see if I can get him on the forum to explain how he set it up. He may have some pictures also.

Jack

Rivetedude · 08-24-2005, 02:21 PM

They've got a little dust buster thingy that has attachments to make it like a normal but small upright. I'm not sure who makes it, but it looks pretty cool and easily storable.

johnbaker · 08-24-2005, 02:45 PM

Lee,

We have a Eureka "The BOSS" cordless vacuum. It has two settings of one run the beater bar and has an adjustable handle for the user to stand upright. The recharge stand that mounts on the wall/closet for secure storage.

I find it great for maintaing the floors and carpet on trips but in my opinion it would not be sufficient for full timing.

Eureka and other manufacturers have small, easy to store yet powerful and some are bag less.

Hope this is useful to you or perhaps someone else can tell of his or her experiences with various vacuum cleaners.

guy99 · 08-24-2005, 02:53 PM

We put in a 'built-in' unit when we remodeled our 31' motorhome. Came with a tool with a rotating beater bar. Our is installed in the rear under the bed, it is a bit of a stretch to pull the hose foward so you can do the cockpit. A more central location would have avoided this.

6xblessd · 08-24-2005, 02:53 PM

I'll be really interested to read everybody's experiences with small vacs because we are still experimenting. When you have young children traipsing in and out of the Airstream all day long, it really gets dirty in a hurry. My husband bought a Scunci Wet/Dry Vac (very small and compact) from Target for $40 hoping it would be our answer, but unfortunately, the suction was terrible, so we are going to return it. For now, we use the Oreck canister vac that we use in our house (small enough that you carry it over your shoulder) for the Airstream, but it's only a temporary fix until we find something smaller---and hopefully cordless---for our rig.

2airishuman · 08-24-2005, 02:56 PM

hi lee and others

airstreams classic mhomes for a while came with a built in canister vac and a 35 foot hose....i took mine out for closet space but the hose was the same stuff they currently put on the closet rods....quick go take a look.

i went with zero carpet but still use and carry.....a dustbuster and a small canister vac. rated amps more or less determine power. i went with the eureka mite might which comes in several flavors.....get the highest (12amps?) rated one which also has a hepa filter option. i had 2 of these over the last 25 years and they've held up nicely....

also the hose can be attached to the back end to make a blower....and the vac will fit in one of the under bed storage drawers or in the big under bed box, or in the dinette seat storage drawer, or under the front sofa.
the attachments are weak on the eureka, but simplicity makes an attachment kit that has a better/longer hose, a really good floor head, upholstery head and so on which will fit the eureka. i highly recommend this addition.

there is also a beater head attachment sold separately for the eureka, which i'd purchase if i had carpet.......also works great to vac the truck....

cheers
2air'

johnbaker · 08-24-2005, 03:00 PM

This unit looks good, you might want to check it out.

Euro Pro UV617 Shark Cordless Rechargeable-Station Sweeper Upright Vacuum Cleaner only Weighs 5 pounds

I saw this advertised at 70.00

**overlander63** · 08-24-2005, 07:34 PM

We had a small Dirt Devil hand-held vacuum, it weighed about 5 pounds, and had a handle attachment so you could stand up like a human, and sweep the floor. We now have a coach with no carpets, so a broom is more in order.

Lee Davis · 08-26-2005, 01:28 PM

Well, as I expected, no consensus, but good ideas. Thanks

Lee

**jcanavera** · 08-26-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Davis

Well, as I expected, no consensus, but good ideas. Thanks

Lee

Lee I contacted the fellow who built in the shop vac in his 34' Limited. He's going to take some pictures to show what he did. I'll post them once I get them.

Regards,

Jack

GlenCoombe · 09-04-2005, 05:53 AM

I bought a Dirt Devil corded hand held at Camping World this week for $26. It has a number of attachments and works o.k. Small and easy to store.

Foiled Again · 09-04-2005, 08:41 AM

I've got no carpeting in mine (CCD) and currently I have a small Euro Pro which is OK, but doesn't store all that well. I'm going to get very small wet/dry vac to replace the current one, and take the one I have to the office.

The advantage is obvious - for spills, and it also can be used as a blower - handy when you want to blow moisture off of a damp awning prior to rolling it up, or have to blow up an air mattress. I will keep the vacuum powered beater bar head for the cushions, etc.

Tin Lizzie