6 Best Dryer Timer Replacements For Vintage Campers That Nomads Swear By

There’s nothing more frustrating than a load of damp clothes and a dryer that’s gone silent mid-cycle. In a vintage camper, where every appliance pulls its weight, a faulty dryer isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a major roadblock. Before you rip out that classic machine, know that the culprit is often a simple, inexpensive mechanical timer that’s surprisingly easy to replace.

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Diagnosing Your Faulty Vintage Dryer Timer

Before you start ordering parts, you need to be sure the timer is actually the problem. A faulty timer usually fails in one of three ways: it won’t start the dryer at all, it gets stuck in one spot and runs forever without advancing, or it shuts off randomly. If the drum turns and the heat works but the cycle never ends, your timer’s internal motor has likely burned out.

The most common failure point is the set of tiny electrical contacts inside the timer. Over years of use, these contacts arc, corrode, or simply wear out, failing to complete the circuits that control the motor and heating element. You might hear a faint buzzing but get no action, or the dryer might work on some settings but not others.

To be certain, you can perform a continuity test. After unplugging the dryer, remove the control panel to access the back of the timer. With a multimeter set to test continuity (the setting that beeps), you can check if the contacts are closing properly as you turn the dial. If the meter shows an open circuit when it should be closed, you’ve found your culprit.

Supco TDE107: The Universal Nomad Favorite

If you ask a seasoned mobile RV tech what dryer timer they keep in their truck, chances are it’s a Supco universal model. The TDE107 is a legend in the repair world because it’s designed to replace dozens of different OEM timers across multiple brands. Its versatility is its greatest strength, especially when you’re dealing with an obscure dryer model from the 80s whose original parts are long gone.

This timer comes with a variety of terminals, not all of which you’ll use. The key is to carefully match the terminal labels (often letters like H, F, A, B, C) from your old timer to the new one. You’ll likely have to snip off the unused spade connectors on the new timer’s wiring harness to prevent them from shorting against the chassis.

The Supco isn’t a perfect one-to-one copy, but it’s a workhorse that gets the job done. It provides the essential functions—timed dry, heat, and motor control—that 90% of vintage dryers need. For a nomad who values a quick, reliable fix over a perfect factory restoration, this part is an absolute must-have.

Whirlpool W10185972: OEM Build Quality

Many compact and stackable dryers found in vintage campers were manufactured by Whirlpool, even if they were branded as Kenmore, Roper, or Estate. If you pull your old timer and find a part number that cross-references to the W10185972, consider yourself lucky. Opting for this OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part is the closest you can get to a factory-new repair.

The primary benefit here is a perfect fit. The mounting holes will line up exactly, the wiring terminals will be in the correct positions, and the D-shaped shaft will fit your original knob without any modification. This eliminates the guesswork that can come with universal parts, making the installation a simple plug-and-play process.

While an OEM part typically costs more than a universal alternative, you’re paying for precision and peace of mind. For those who aren’t comfortable modifying wiring or are worried about an improper fit, the extra expense is well worth it. It ensures your dryer operates exactly as it was designed to, with all original cycles, including the cool-down phase, functioning correctly.

ERP 3398191: The Heavy-Duty Workhorse

The ERP 3398191 is another replacement timer, often for Whirlpool-family dryers, but it’s known for being a particularly robust build. Think of it as an aftermarket upgrade. If your original timer failed due to heavy use, this is the part you install to make sure you’re not doing the same repair again in three years.

This timer is often chosen by full-timers who rely on their camper dryer several times a week. The internal contacts and motor are built to withstand more cycles than many stock parts. It’s a direct replacement for many common models, offering the fit of an OEM part with the durability of a heavy-duty component.

The tradeoff can sometimes be a slightly stiffer feel when turning the knob, but that’s a small price to pay for longevity. When you’re miles from the nearest parts store, reliability is everything. Installing a workhorse like the 3398191 means one less thing to worry about on the road.

Frigidaire 131758600: A Common Retrofit

While Whirlpool dominated the compact dryer market, Frigidaire units were also incredibly common, especially in the stackable laundry centers found in larger fifth wheels and Class A motorhomes from the 1990s. The 131758600 timer is the go-to replacement for a huge range of these models.

This timer is known for its straightforward, logical terminal layout, making it a favorite for retrofitting even if the original part is unavailable. The wiring is often simpler than on more complex units, focusing on basic timed cycles that are perfect for the no-frills needs of camper life. It’s a solid, reliable choice for a specific but common family of vintage appliances.

Before buying, double-check your dryer’s model number. This part is a perfect fit for many Frigidaire, Gibson, and White-Westinghouse units, but it’s not a universal timer. If it matches, however, it’s an easy and affordable way to bring a dead laundry center back to life.

GE WE4M527: Ideal for Compact Camper Units

General Electric also made a number of smaller dryers that found their way into RVs. These units are often 110/120V models that are physically smaller than their residential cousins. The GE WE4M527 is the timer you’ll frequently find in these compact machines.

What sets this timer apart is its smaller physical profile. In a cramped camper control panel where every millimeter counts, a bulky universal timer might not fit. The WE4M527 is designed for these tight spaces, with a compact body and a terminal layout specific to GE’s wiring schemes.

If you have a GE-made "apartment" or "portable" dryer in your rig, this is almost certainly the part you need. Trying to shoehorn a different timer in will only lead to frustration. Match the brand, match the part, and you’ll have a quick and painless repair.

Robertshaw 5500-200: A Simple Mechanical Pick

For the ultimate in simplicity and off-grid reliability, sometimes you need to look beyond appliance-specific parts. The Robertshaw 5500-200 is a universal mechanical timer, more akin to a simple switch on a clockwork mechanism than a complex appliance controller. It’s the kind of part you’d find in a commercial laundromat or on industrial equipment.

This timer is for the minimalist who just needs the dryer to run for a set amount of time. It doesn’t have fancy cycles like "permanent press" or an extended cool-down. You turn the dial, and it closes a circuit to run the motor and heater. When the time is up, it opens the circuit. That’s it.

Its beauty is its utter simplicity. With fewer internal components, there are fewer things to fail. This makes it a fantastic choice for a custom-built camper or for replacing a hopelessly fried electronic controller on a newer, less-reliable machine. It requires some basic wiring knowledge to install, but once it’s in, it will likely outlast the dryer itself.

Matching the Right Timer to Your Camper Dryer

Choosing the right timer isn’t about finding the "best" one, but the correct one for your machine. The wrong timer can fail to work, run indefinitely, or even create a fire hazard. Your first and most important step is to unplug the dryer and remove the old timer.

Once you have the part in your hand, follow this process:

• Look for a part number. It’s often stamped in ink on the plastic housing or on a paper label. A quick search for this number is the most reliable way to find a direct OEM or aftermarket replacement.
• If there’s no number, count the terminals. How many spade connectors does it have? Are they grouped together or spread out? This is a critical piece of information.
• Note the terminal labels. Look for letters stamped into the housing next to each terminal (e.g., A, B, C, H, F, X). A replacement timer must have the same terminal configuration to work correctly.
• Check the shaft. Is the knob shaft a half-moon "D" shape, splined, or some other configuration? The new timer’s shaft must match your old knob.

If you can find an OEM replacement, that’s usually the easiest path. If not, a universal timer like the Supco TDE107 is your best bet, but you must be prepared to carefully match the wiring from your old unit’s terminals to the corresponding terminals on the new one. Take a picture of the old wiring before you disconnect anything. When in doubt, a wiring diagram for your dryer model is your best friend.

Bringing a vintage appliance back from the dead is one of the most satisfying parts of camper ownership. A simple timer replacement can save you hundreds of dollars and keep a perfectly good machine out of the landfill. It’s a small repair that makes a huge difference in your life on the road.