Portable Ice maker

[Fish and Dear]

Does anyone use one of the counter-top portable ice makers? What brand? What do you think of it?

[The Gritz Carlton]

I tried one a few years ago at the FL house. Can't remember the brand but...better than nothing but lots of drama keeping water in it and the space it takes up wasn't worth it for me.

[Popfla]

We have this one in the RV. It pumps out a lot of ice very quickly, and we only have to add water roughly every three hours of operation. As the bin fills up, we put the ice in ziplock bags and put them in the freezer. But we didn't pay anywhere near CW's price as shown; we got ours at BJ's on sale for $69.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Fish and Dear

Does anyone use one of the counter-top portable ice makers? What brand? What do you think of it?

I am on my second Ivation 35 lb portable ice maker. The first one failed after 15 years of use. It sits under the dinette when traveling and against the bathroom wall on the floor when the slide is out. My coach had a full time sine wave inverter (Xantrex Freedom XI 1,800) so it is always on. The only time we run low on ice is when we are entertaining.

[Lt Keefer]

We've been using them for years in our motorhomes, no particular brand. Our only complaint is they quit working every three or four years. I guess they're not designed for going up and down the road. But they cost less than a hundred dollars and are available at practically every big box store.

[pstandiford]

We had one. Used it twice and sold it. Took up too much space. Easier to buy a bag of ice.

[Popfla]

Ours is 9.5" wide, 14.1" front to back, and 12.9" High. Its size has not been a problem for us through two motorhomes, a 26' and a 30'. It sits next to the coffee pot and there's still plenty of open counter space.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by pstandiford

We had one. Used it twice and sold it. Took up too much space. Easier to buy a bag of ice.

We just spent 5 days at Fort Griffin State Historical Park (full hookups for $24 a night); home of the state Longhorn herd. The closest ice was in Albany, TX 15 miles away.

[Fish and Dear]

Originally Posted by Beau388

We just spent 5 days at Fort Griffin State Historical Park (full hookups for $24 a night); home of the state Longhorn herd. The closest ice was in Albany, TX 15 miles away.

Wow. I was sort of thinking I can just take a pre-chilled Yeti along and get ice at the campground. But I ain't walking 15 miles for ice!! LOL

Then I thought how often I have been boondocking or not towing a car for an ice run. This might be a good thing for a maragrita on the rocks in the hot summer sun.

[Diemaster]

I was thinking of getting one, but since I also want to retrofit a larger fridge in the 31E, I'll most likely get a fridge with a ice maker in it. Or perhaps a residential fridge. I'd like to get one that has the ice/water in the door (not sure if that exists on a RV fridge unit.) There's water going to the shower under the fridge I can tap into for it.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Diemaster

I was thinking of getting one, but since I also want to retrofit a larger fridge in the 31E, I'll most likely get a fridge with a ice maker in it. Or perhaps a residential fridge. I'd like to get one that has the ice/water in the door (not sure if that exists on a RV fridge unit.) There's water going to the shower under the fridge I can tap into for it.

You might check on the amperage draw for a residential frig with an ice maker and auto defrost. Most of the bigger diesel come with 18 cuft residential. With 450 ah of battery bank, they can usually go for 10 hours before the auto start kicks in the generator.

[Lt Keefer]

Originally Posted by Beau388

We just spent 5 days at Fort Griffin State Historical Park (full hookups for $24 a night); home of the state Longhorn herd. The closest ice was in Albany, TX 15 miles away.

Have you been to Caprock Canyon SP? The bison roam almost everywhere.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

Have you been to Caprock Canyon SP? The bison roam almost everywhere.

No, but spent 8 days Custer State Park, SD among the 1,300+ bison in the park as well as the "beggin burros". I have yet to see a American Bison bull scratch his ass with horn tip like a long horn steer can. Once you cross the cattle guard on the road to the Fort Griffin visitors center, you are in one of the five longhorn pastures. At the campground, it is nice to look out the windshield in the morning and the the yearling longhorns grazing about 60 feet away. A really nice. quiet place with an interesting history.

[Calman]

Bought a Frigidaire 26 LB icemaker on sale at Lowes at end of last year's camping season for $60.00. Didn't get to use it on the road but a home it was okay but have to empty ice bucket when full and transfer ice to my freezer. Otherwise the ice will eventually return to a liquid state. This is because it does not have a "freezer function".

Could not find anything in the literature but assume the "26 LB" is a 24 hour total ice production.

Will be using it on the road this summer.

NOTE: Must be plugged into 15 AMP 110--15 VOLT 60 HZ GROUNDED OUTLET.

[nosticks]

I have two of them. One at home and one on the rv. Brand name makes no difference, all from same factory in China. At home the kitchen refer has a through the door ice dispenser, but we still use the portable every day for happy hour.

I use the space in the overhead bunk. Two coffee makers and the ice maker.


Stowed for travel.

[Fish and Dear]

Originally Posted by nosticks

I have two of them. One at home and one on the rv. Brand name makes no difference, all from same factory in China. At home the kitchen refer has a through the door ice dispenser, but we still use the portable every day for happy hour.

I use the space in the overhead bunk. Two coffee makers and the ice maker.
Attachment 16785

Stowed for travel.
Attachment 16786

Good use of the space. Thanks for those pics!!

[Fish and Dear]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

I tried one a few years ago at the FL house. Can't remember the brand but...better than nothing but lots of drama keeping water in it and the space it takes up wasn't worth it for me.

Are they useable outside during summer, or do they need to be inside the RV?

[Mattie1]

Originally Posted by Fish and Dear

Does anyone use one of the counter-top portable ice makers? What brand? What do you think of it?

Love it got it at Home Depot. 100$

[Calman]

Originally Posted by Fish and Dear

Are they useable outside during summer, or do they need to be inside the RV?

Keep it inside and you'll keep your ice longer.

[BandG]

Originally Posted by Calman

Bought a Frigidaire 26 LB icemaker on sale at Lowes at end of last year's camping season for $60.00. Didn't get to use it on the road but a home it was okay but have to empty ice bucket when full and transfer ice to my freezer. Otherwise the ice will eventually return to a liquid state. This is because it does not have a "freezer function".

Could not find anything in the literature but assume the "26 LB" is a 24 hour total ice production.

Will be using it on the road this summer.

NOTE: Must be plugged into 15 AMP 110--15 VOLT 60 HZ GROUNDED OUTLET.

I got the same one last year...Frigidaire. We've used it several times & we love it.

I got tired of dropping $4-$5 a bag for ice or finding out that the camp store had already closed for the day.

It cranks out ice pretty quickly & we really like the convenience of having of it, can even use it at our sticks & bricks home for bigger parties.