Ice Makers

[sourdough]

I've tried to use the search function for this because I'm sure I've read posts about them on this forum but find nothing.

Does anyone use the ice maker when traveling? If so, where do you store it? How much ice does it make? Is there a storage area in the maker to hold a quantity of ice? If so, how much?

Lots of little questions. We are heading off into the boondocks with the nearest services of any kind 80 miles away so will be taking extra fuel etc. and thought an ice maker might come in really handy. Any thoughts?

[x96mnn]

I have one, store it in my pantry, has a storage compartment that is weight sensitive. It will stop the machine from making ice after so much is in it. It makes enough to keep a few drinks in play, how much it holds depends on the size of the cubes, small, medium and large. We usually bag it when it gets full so it will keep making ice over night, with a full bag and the machine ready to go in the am has always been enough.

Only item to mention, they put off a fair bit of heat via a fan, the size of the ice cubes can be drastically reduced if the machine is left in a warm area say direct sun light.

[Javi]

DW wanted one for her birthday or maybe Christmas (can't remember) but anyway.. We got one and have used it a few times this past year. The ice will melt if you leave it in the machine and it will just keep making cubes until you turn it off or the water evaporates..

We generally use it about the third or fourth day after we use up the bag we brought with us. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ce-maker/67689 is the one we have.. DW loves it.. Running it one evening after dinner will usually make us enough to last the rest of the week..

[Desert185]

We bought a Magic Chef from Walmart. 27# of ice every 24 hours, so its more than suitable for our demands. We normally make a gallon freezer bag full and store it in the freezer. The ice maker rides in the garage and sits on the Splendide when its running (its quick to drop ice, too). Wouldn't leave home without it.

[Knucklehead]

The DW wanted one I did not but now we use it all the time Got ours from wally world Store it on kit floor while traveling It sits on a set of shelves in the garage while at fishing hole

[chuckster57]

Ours is a Dilongi I think. Store it under the dinette table with the Camp Chef oven. Once the slides come out it is plugged in under the trailer by the entry door. Stops making ice when the basket is full and keeps the ice frozen.

I use it to replenish the ice in the cooler. Using the cold drain water from the cooler it makes ice real fast. Ice for drinks is made inside with bottled water.

[jje1960]

Have had one for a number of years, have not had to purchase bagged ice for a number of years.... Echo the other posts. We keep ours in the SRX garage, bag ice in the freezer for drinks, ice for cooler at the beach and riding around in the golf cart. When the unit breaks, will immediately buy another, great 'must have' for us. Will get a workout at Bristol next week that's for sure. We love having the unit with us, no negative.

[sourdough]

Thanks everyone. I will be purchasing one right away.

[omextreme]

Bought ours clearance from target end of summer last year, got it for a bargain, its a sliver emmerson version.

[rjsurfer]

One day I walked into my Home Depot and low and behold they had an ice maker on sale for 99 bucks. We have been using it for two years now and no problems, we keep it the storage compartment where the 110 v outlet is.

I think it puts out 12 small cubes every 7 minutes more than enough for two people.

There is a larger version as well that makes bigger cubes I think.

Ron W.

[cjelliott81]

We've got this one: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ZsIaAv8t8P8HAQ


and this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/25538170?w...456952&veh=sem

The intent was never to end up with two of them, after a fair amount of hand wringing on the ROI of a $200 icemaker vs bagged ice we finally bought the Dometic. Not two weeks later we came across the Magic chef at a yard sale for $20. With it's larger capacity we use the Magic Chef in the camper in the area between the sink and the window, storing under the dinette when not in use. The Dometic typically stays at home for use when we have people over and more ice than the kitchen fridge can produce is needed. We will bring both if camping with a lot of friends in the Florida heat.

From a recommendation to buy standpoint - the Dometic is faster but makes smaller, faster melting ice cubes and holds less of them. The Magic Chef has a larger ice bin (approx 7 lbs) but takes a little longer to make ice. Both work on the same principle where the ice is dumped into a colander type basket suspended over the water reservoir, draining back into it. Neither has any sort of refrigeration to keep the ice from melting but the melting ice does cool the water reservoir considerably leading to shortened cycle time once the machine is running for a few hours.

[zuley]

Heads up to our Ontario Canada friends. Canadian Tire has their ice makers on sale this week. 40 dollars off for either of their Magic Chef models. Just purchased the larger model for ourselves yesterday. Fits perfectly under the bed.

[Desert185]

This is the one we have. More than adequate for the price and easy to store wherever.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/13308699?w...682305&veh=sem

[dcg9381]

Anyone have a recommendation for one that fills a decent bin (IE - 4+ lbs of ice). The bin capacity on many of these isn't easily found...

[sourdough]

Thanks everyone. Bought the large Dometic from Camping World. The service manager keeps one in his office and highly recommended it....and it was the closest place I found that had one.

Ran it thru a few cycles then left overnite to see how it works. Will be taking it to the boonies in a couple of weeks so will see how it goes. I'm taking 2 70qt. coolers, 1 50 qt. cooler, 1 48qt. cooler and a couple of smaller ones and will fill the 4 large ones with ice at the last stop before the hills. That's quite a bit of ice so hopefully it will hold for several days and keep the 150-160 mile round trips for fuel and ice at a minimum.

[gtsum2]

A couple people kept telling me it was a must have so I picked up one on amazon...avalon bay I think it was. I was unimpressed at first...seemed to take awhile and not make much, but as it got going, it started pumping them out about every 8 minutes..before you know it the basket was full. Takes about a half gallon of water and it makes quite a bit. I think it is rated for 27-28lbs per hour. Used it this past weekend and it was more than adequate. I have two Yeti coolers I use to separate kids drinks from adult beverages and didnt think I needed an ice maker...I dont really need it per say because the coolers keep ice for almost a week, but it is very nice to have. Glad i listed to those that recommended picking one up


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[Shadowcats]

Have used one for several years in different rigs. Currently we store it in the center island next to the sink...Made a special shelf in the left cupboard - made it sturdy due to the weight. Also get gallon jugs of spring/purified water. Have used several brands...seem like they all work about the same, but this time got one a little smaller so it would fit. Only problem...makes noise for anyone sleeping in the dinning area? Well worth the investment, and sure beats the little useless trays in the freezer.

[GMcKenzie]

We turn ours off at night as it is loud. Turn it back on while making coffee so we have ice when needed.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by GMcKenzie

We turn ours off at night as it is loud. Turn it back on while making coffee so we have ice when needed.

Our Magic Chef isn't any noisier than the ice maker in the home fridge. You can hear the ice drop-cycle, but other than that it's pretty quiet. We only run it to stock up on ice, but not because it is noisy. I've heard the noisy comment on these before, but I can't agree. Whatever noise it emanates, its a much more welcome noise than a fellow traveler's barking dog or alcohol-fueled, loud party conversation/incessant laughing with genre-incompatible music added from the site next door. Now that's noise.

Just sayin...

[GMcKenzie]

The noise of the ice dropping wakes the dogs, makes them bark and wakes me up.

I turn it off at night.