Anyone use a portable icemaker?

[Mark J]

Similar to many people above, we have one, cant live without it! Love it... always have ice at the ready for drinks, and for the cooler. It has easily paid for itself, haven't bought a bag of ice in years. We have had it for 4 years, maybe more, and its still running strong!

[BamaBob]

Found a GREAT deal on a ice maker last year at Sam's Club. Same one everyone else has was on sale for $75.00 - Can't live without it!

If you keep it going constantly, it can make @ +20# of Ice a day - not bad! It will pay for itself in not having to buy bags of ice when you are out camping!

[sewingcybermom]

Newbie here. We just bought a new camper, upgrade from out pop up. Now that we have a fridge with a freezer, I must ask my virgin HTT question: Why do you need an ice maker, if you can make ice in your freezer? I was thinking that I hated buying ice too, but now we don't have to...maybe. Why do I still need a cooler? I know, I know...duhhhhh...Iced tea, soft drinks, adult drinks, etc. but I am looking forward to NOT carrying coolers with me now that I have a fridge/freezer. Help! I am so new it's scary..

[dcheatwood]

Good question. People camp for different reasons. Some like to have ice handy for drinks or for kids easy access. Opening the freezer repeatedly will prevent it from maintaining cold. Takes a long time to cool back down after opening.
Wife and I seldom need ice as neither of us drink but when family camping we set it out for everyone. Just a personal choice.
And we never carry a cooler. Never need one.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Yarome

You need to learn to drink faster.

I've got this part down pat!

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by sewingcybermom

Newbie here. We just bought a new camper, upgrade from out pop up. Now that we have a fridge with a freezer, I must ask my virgin HTT question: Why do you need an ice maker, if you can make ice in your freezer? I was thinking that I hated buying ice too, but now we don't have to...maybe. Why do I still need a cooler? I know, I know...duhhhhh...Iced tea, soft drinks, adult drinks, etc. but I am looking forward to NOT carrying coolers with me now that I have a fridge/freezer. Help! I am so new it's scary..

The biggest reason for us is time. These icemakers we are talking about can crank out a pound or so of ice in 10 or so min. Contrast that to waiting for a icetray to s-l-o-w-l-y freeze in your freezer.

Also, some of us use the icemakers to keep our drink coolers topped off with Ice. Simply put, even a residential Refer with a built in icemaker cannot crank out ice as fast as these little portable units can

[Maris]

The fridge in the Roo isn't very big. The freezer even smaller. We have the freezer totally packed if we head out for a trip of more than a week. No room for making ice cubes. You will probably need at least one cooler for juice, pop and beer if you drink it. We camped in our trailer for a few years before we bought our ice cube maker after spending a fortune in ice. Our grown children & friends also visit us. Don't buy one right away, just wait & see.

[dutch]

Cover Dog,

If you would invite me and Kathie over more we can take care of the ice melting, we can drink more wine with your wife.

[The_Rhino]

We found ours on clearance at Wallyworld for around $75. We set it next to one of those 5 gallon refillable water cooler tanks with a hand-pump on top of the tank. A few squirts from the 5 gallon tank & it's full & making ice. We then dump the ice into a cooler.

I'm not thrilled about the quality of bagged ice or the fw found at the state parks, etc. I routinely sterilize our FW tank so we can cook with water from it but I like that our drinking water & ice come from a known safe source. I typically fill-up the 5 gallon tank at home & then exchange it at Wallyworld, etc. if we are running low. Works out really well.

[dcheatwood]

FYI. Down here you can get 10# bag at chic filet for $1.29. Just order at the drive thru. Too convenient.

[sewingcybermom]

Great tip, Rhino! Where does everyone get theirs at WW? I looked all over the place for one and couldn't find it. Maybe it's not the season yet?

[dcheatwood]

Sam's. $99

[Big Paul]

Got one for Christmas. Igloo works good. Plan to use in Florida next week first time camping with it.


Rockwood 2608WS
Paul

[Bilcin]

Originally Posted by sewingcybermom

Great tip, Rhino! Where does everyone get theirs at WW? I looked all over the place for one and couldn't find it. Maybe it's not the season yet?

Got mine from Wal-Mart in 2010. Works great and only cost $189, plenty of ice for drinks and keep the cooler stocked with ice! Take it everywhere we go!

[Jeanny]

Makes enough ice in 7 minutes for 2 drinks.
Keeps my freezer stocked up!
Would not be without!


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Jeanny

[dj3spots]

Had one. Loved it. Forgot to take it off the counter - it commuted suicide, by jumping off the counter, somewhere in West Virginia. Going to get another one!


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[B and B]

Have RCA from Walmart, $89 bucks CDN. Same unit sold under Igloo for $140 and Dometic at Camping World for $180 USD. Walmart even offer product protection for 10 bucks if you choose.

[Bilcin]

This is the same one I bought 5 years ago and have had NO issues with it at all. Wal-Mart. Doesn't matter what one you choose, as long as the ratings are good, but it saves you money and time instead of buying expensive bags of ice and having to store them, make ice when you need it quickly!
Magic Chef Portable Ice Maker, MCIM22TW - Walmart.com

[elind]

We have the ice maker mostly for ice water and drinks. We also purchased a small fridge for the basement to keep the sodas cold. Then we use the cooler for road trips if we saved enough ice.

[Weslene]

I have been using the $100 model from target for at least 5 years - yep the ice isn't as strong as premade /store bought. melts fast when put in drinks or cooler. I love mine cause I just chew it as a refresher straight from the tray.