Portable icemaker?

[pennysmom09]

Anyone here use a portable icemaker in their camper? I've done some research and am aware of their downfalls, but am wondering if they are worth it anyway?

[bob213]

Now that I've learned to keep it inside in high temps I love it. Keeps our ice chest topped off at all time. Extra goes in freezer. Don't waste your money on an expensive one as they are all pretty much the same. Only the high dollar ones keep the ice frozen. Otherwise you have to dump each batch or it will melt and then be remade into cubes.

[Halmfamily]

On our old fiver we kept it on a table under the awning. New fiver has an outdoor kitchen so it's kept in there. We haven't purchased ice in three years. Makes more than enough that we run it only when we need iceice for drink or to fill the cooler before taking day trips. I really like the soft ice it produces as I love to chew my ice.

[tvman44]

Ours does not make much noise. I used to keep it on the counter, but started putting it in the shower.

[djousma]

pennysmom09 wrote:
By downfalls I meant they do take up counter space, do not store ice, plus the reviews say they can be noisy. I use a lot of ice throughout the day, winter and summer, and when in Florida we are constantly buying 10 lb bags, a couple times a week. We separate it into gallon storage bags and store in our freezer, discarding what won't fit. I will shop for less frozen vegetables so I have room for the ice!! LOL. Since counter space is limited, even though we have an L shaped peninsula in the kitchen, I'mhoping it would be more useful than annoying.

Gotcha on the space. We just moved up to a 5th wheel from a TT. I now run the portable ice maker in the basement on the door side, which fixed the counter space and the noise issue for us. Usually sitting around that area in the early evening anyway, so keeping an eye on it when its full or runs out of water is easy.

[FunnyCamper]

I got one. don't use it. Plus I am now almost again carrying 'extra gadgets' with me.

makes 'watery ice' so when ya bag it and freeze for later you got the monster clump. and annoying to 'deal' with it as I move a ton and don't stay at the rv long times, don't want to wait on removing the ice etc. Mine is sitting in the 'junk room' now 🙂 🙂

I have cube trays in the freezer and they are better than the icemaker in my opiinion for us. Plus when hubby does buy bulk ice for coolers, I grab baggies of it and put in freezer for drink use.

I 'thought' it was the cat's meow, but in the end I find it annoying mostly.

but some love theirs 🙂

[pennysmom09]

By downfalls I meant they do take up counter space, do not store ice, plus the reviews say they can be noisy. I use a lot of ice throughout the day, winter and summer, and when in Florida we are constantly buying 10 lb bags, a couple times a week. We separate it into gallon storage bags and store in our freezer, discarding what won't fit. I will shop for less frozen vegetables so I have room for the ice!! LOL. Since counter space is limited, even though we have an L shaped peninsula in the kitchen, I'mhoping it would be more useful than annoying.

[CC-skipjack]

Just got back from our first 2 week vacation using a new ice maker. I loved it! Not having to run out for ice was really nice. Anytime we were chilling around in camp, we'd make ice and either put it in a 1 gallon bag and then the freezer or directly into a drink cooler.

[djousma]

I'm not aware of any downfalls? We use ours a lot, making ice for beach cooler everyday we are camping. Yes, for best result you need to make it, bag it, and throw it in the freezer. We come home from the beach, fire up the icemaker, and 2 hours later have two large ziplock baggies full for the next day. It was the best $125 we spent 10 years ago on a deal at Costco! Just make sure you drain it when not using for a period of time, and bring it in the house in the winter.

[wildtoad]

How much ice do you use, are you opposed to using ice trays? Keep in mind most ( perhaps not all ) of the portable ice makers do just that, they make ice, but do not keep it. You have to remove it and put it in a freezer if you want to save the ice. it does make ice faster than ice trays, and you can make a large batch of ice in a few hours. My wife bought us one and we have used it a couple of time.

They don't cost much, but do take room to store and counter space to operate. For me, buying a small bag of ice when needed is a better idea.