Just got my new travel trailer and have seen recommendations from others on getting a countertop portable ice maker.Will the freezer get cold enough to make ice cubes if I use ice cube trays?If I bought the portable ice maker or a bag of ice, will the freezer keep the ice cubes from melting?Does the refrigerator/freezer have a frost free cycle or do you have to manually defrost?Thanks.

JohnG4706 wrote:Just got my new travel trailer and have seen recommendations from others on getting a countertop portable ice maker.Will the freezer get cold enough to make ice cubes if I use ice cube trays?If I bought the portable ice maker or a bag of ice, will the freezer keep the ice cubes from melting?Does the refrigerator/freezer have a frost free cycle or do you have to manually defrost?Thanks.Remember the ice maker is not a freezer. You can't store ice cubes in it. I usually take the cubes that are made and put them in an ice bucket in the freezer.Yes, the freezer will make ice cubes in trays. It takes a little longer normally, than a home freezer.Yes, the freezer will keep a bag of ice frozen.I have yet to see an RV fridge that has a defrost cycle. I have always done it manually.Think of your RV freezer just like a smaller normal freezer. Ice cream won't stay super hard normally, but adding a coil fan or external fan reduces the temps even more if needed. A handy item to have is the Accurite wireless fridge/freezer display thermometer found on Amazon.Hope this helps!

Well my RV fridge freezer section temp is routinely 0 (zero) degrees or colder.Ice trays work just fine.Manual defrost.......we usually have to do it 3-4 times a year

I just use my two ice trays as needed.I would have a cooler and purchased ice if I threw a party.Pace yourself on the accessories. Go camping and see what happens. If you really need something for three consecutive trips then by all means get it.

The refrigerator capacity is not as high as a electric only refrigerator found at home. Yet there are things you can do to make it run better.On gas, the BTU input is typically 2,200 Btu's. Electric is normally 300 watts, or around 900 Btu's. So I always change over to gas on days over 90F. Electric works great when it is in the 60's and less. It works "OK" in the 70's and 80's. Yes the freezer will keep ice cream frozen solid. Yet the refrigerator and freezer are not that great at cooling things down. So best to bring already cold stuff into the refrigerator. It can make ice, yet remember that it takes 144 Btu's to change one pound of water into ice, and that is about the total capacity (in cooling units) of the freezer for a hour. So don't expect it to be a great production machine of ice. It will keep ice solid frozen.Good luck!Fred.

I have found or 5er fridge will freeze water quickly for cubes. Once frozen store in an ordinary brown paper lunch bag - they will keep for several days - without sticking together.bbt

Making Ice Cubes | Good Sam Community

bsinmich
Explorer
Jan 21, 2015
I have a U-Line separate ice maker that I used 1 time and gave up on. I don't like the taste of some of the water I get in CGs. I can still afford a couple bucks for clear ice in a bag and my Frig has a great freezer section that keeps it from melting.
C-Bears
Explorer
Jan 21, 2015
We keep 4 ice cube trays in the freezer for drinks. If we need ice for coolers we pull out our portable ice maker the night before and make all the ice we will need for the next day. Put it in extra large zip lock bags and keep it in the freezer.

Good portable ice maker can be found (on sale) for under $100.00. We have used ours for almost 2 years to fill coolers dozens of times.
tenbear
Explorer
Jan 21, 2015
Ours makes ice cubes just fine. Manual defrost.
wingsfan20
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
We snowbird. Got an Emerson ice maker from target for a little over $100.00. We put the ice in one gallon freezer bags and store in freezer. Usually keep two or three in freezer at all times. You cannot store the ice in the maker. We use a lot of ice with our beverages. We keep a few empty gallon milk jugs and refill at local Publix for 30 cents a jug. Know we are using good water.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
We fill a gallon bag with ice from our home freezer and throw it in the trailer freezer well before we leave. Then we fill a couple of ice trays when get to our destination, refill as needed. Haven't run out of ice yet.
Clay_L
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Our Norcold has a defrost cycle in the refrigerator part but not in the freezer. We had to defrost the freezer a couple of times per year.

From the Norcold Quick Start Guide

"Does your model have frost limiter?
Norcold N510 and N6, N8 and 1200
series refrigerators are designed to limit
frost build-up on the fresh food compartment’s
cooling fins. Periodically, a temperature
control system automatically adjusts
to remove most frost from the fins and the
water drains into a collection cup in back
of the unit. Heat generated by the cooling
system then evaporates the water."
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Well my RV fridge freezer section temp is routinely 0 (zero) degrees or colder.

Ice trays work just fine.

Manual defrost.......we usually have to do it 3-4 times a year

x2
mgirardo
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
If we are camping for more than a few days, we make our own ice cubes with ice cube trays. We have 4 and stack them in stacks of 2. The tray on top freezes quicker than the one on the bottom, so once the top has frozen we swap them.

It does take longer in the RV than it does in the house. If we are only camping for a few days, we either bring a bag from home (from our ice maker) or just buy a bag at the campground. Once the cubes are frozen, our freezer keeps them frozen.

-Michael
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 20, 2015
JohnG4706 wrote:
Just got my new travel trailer and have seen recommendations from others on getting a countertop portable ice maker.

Will the freezer get cold enough to make ice cubes if I use ice cube trays?

I assume (since you did not say) you have a standard Absorption Cooling Unit type Fridge (Dometic or Norcold more than likely) These can run off either Electric or Propane.

Many Class A's. come with a standard U-line Ice Maker, so yes the freezer does indeed get cold enough.. When the U-line water line split I took it out and put in ice cube trays.
tvman44
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
JohnG4706 wrote:
Just got my new travel trailer and have seen recommendations from others on getting a countertop portable ice maker.

Will the freezer get cold enough to make ice cubes if I use ice cube trays?
Yes
If I bought the portable ice maker or a bag of ice, will the freezer keep the ice cubes from melting? Yes

Does the refrigerator/freezer have a frost free cycle or do you have to manually defrost? Manually defrost

Thanks.