Considering a portable ice maker for the TT. I would like to know your experiences using them outside vs inside. I realize the hotter it is outside, the harder it will work. I have a dorm fridge we bring on extended trips, but a lot of our trips are 2-3 day local trips (kids in school) so packing the fridge is more of a pain on short trips. Recently a neighbor camper had one in his motor home and brought me ice all weekend. It was great, kept my cooler stocked with ice. He hadn't tried using it outside though. Thanks for thoughts/suggestions.

I bought a remanufactured portable ice maker the other day for $90, and we were surprised at how much ice it produces in a day's time. I put in about 1/2 gallon of water every morning, and it keeps making ice over and over as water thaws off the bottom of the pile.The ice is round and hollow, so it's better for putting in glasses/drinks than it is for cooler use. When used in bulk, it thaws pretty fast.

I have this one: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/dometic-portable-stainless-steel-ice-maker/55033We use it outside all the time and it does fine. I also crank it up at the house a few days before a trip and get a good stock of ice. We've had it for about five months now with no complaints.

Mine sits outside under the awning with no problem. We use a gallon milk jug to keep water handy to refill it. BTW compact appluances sells a lot of different models priced from less than a hundred dollars to out of site in price.

If you look closely they're all the same. They just have different name badges and widely varying price tags. I've used mine inside most of the time, but if I used it outside I would make sure it was in the shade. Target often has them on sale for around $100.B.O.

Portable ice maker, inside or out | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

CT_WANDERER
Explorer
Aug 28, 2014
We us it in both places depending on how long we will be stopped for. I bag the ice in put it in the freezer, seems like it freezes solid last longer. Maybe it is just in my mind. Gary
jamnw
Explorer
Aug 28, 2014
Bought one last night. Used it in the house. Wow they make ice fast! I will be trying it out this weekend in the TN heat/humidity.

Thanks for all the input.
Trlrboy
Explorer
Aug 28, 2014
We use ours outside all the time. These things make ice so fast it is kind of amazing. We empty the icemaker bin into a container that we keep in our fridge's freezer. Works for us.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2014
outside. plug it in by the steps, used to fill the ice chest and for drinks, so that's where most of the ice goes anyway. Been doing that for 4 years, and probably close to 300 camping days.
djousma
Explorer
Aug 27, 2014
We use ours indoors, and bag the ice it makes and put it in the freezer, usually 2-3 hours in the late afternoon makes enough ice for drinks, etc for the next day. While it makes ice quickly, it is not a refrigerated cooler, so it does melt.
bob213
Explorer
Aug 27, 2014
In cooler temps I'm sure mine would work fine outside. We live and camp where it is usually over 100*. I have only used mine once outside in those temps and was not impressed with it's output. I think in those temps inside would be better. I'm going to sell mine and look for a small dorm fridge.

Edit....
Just used mine for a week in 100*+ temps but kept it indoors. Worked great. Impressed with quantity of output. Now...I'm keeping it.
Crazy_Ray
Explorer
Aug 27, 2014
We use ours outside. JMO
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2014
If you look closely they're all the same. They just have different name badges and widely varying price tags. I've used mine inside most of the time, but if I used it outside I would make sure it was in the shade. Target often has them on sale for around $100.

B.O.
donn0128
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2014
Mine sits outside under the awning with no problem. We use a gallon milk jug to keep water handy to refill it. BTW compact appluances sells a lot of different models priced from less than a hundred dollars to out of site in price.
IndyCamp
Explorer
Aug 27, 2014
I have this one: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/dometic-portable-stainless-steel-ice-maker/55033

We use it outside all the time and it does fine. I also crank it up at the house a few days before a trip and get a good stock of ice.

We've had it for about five months now with no complaints.