Portable ice-maker experience?

[Kistler]

Am I wasting my $ to buy one? I see that Home Depot now has a Magic Chef brand @ $199 (as opposed to rip-off CW @ $299) but the guarantee is for 1 year only. Does this bode well? $200 a year is a lot to pay for cubes.

[yukionna]

Hard to say if that is a bargain or not. I personally would never buy one. The refrigerator I just bought doesn't have an automatic ice maker. It is a convenience I can do with out but perhaps it is something you can't do without. That is a question only you can answer. BTW, you can buy 200 bags of ice for $200!

[Kistler]

Thank you for the input Yes, ice is necessary....gin seems to eat it.

Brenda spends way too much time making cubes and believe me our little trailer does not have a side-by-side refer.

We don't eat out alot so space is at a premium in the refer.

I just want to know....do you think it will last a while? Our house "Whirlpool" died abouta month ago at the age of 5 years. Yikes, what has happened to longevity in appliances.

Kistler

[Pick]

Ice machines are very simple. A stream of water flows over the cube molds and freezes, then goes to a heat cycle to release the cubes. Moving parts are the compressor, switches and water pump. Weak part in one, may be valves and water pump. See if it can be serviced. Manitowoc makes a good brand, but they are expensive. I have a Manitowoc that makes 400 pounds of ice a day. Too big for the Airstream though!!

[Minnie's Mate]

Williams-Sonoma and Frontgate have a portable ice maker that looks to be the same unit branded for each. It is about $379-$399. We had planned to buy one for our coach to use when camping. I don't remember its output, but it seemed to be adequate. I think you put two gallons of water per day or something like that. If Home Depot carries a similar unit for $199 I will have to check it out.

[Kistler]

Home Depot's is a Magic Chef brand and it is not stainless steel like the one in the Camping World flyer/catalog BUT I dropped the Pres's Club so I do not shop at CW CW's price is $299 with Pres Club card.

Kistler

[Minnie's Mate]

I think the one at Camping World is the same unit that W-S and Frontgate sell. I'll have to swing by HD and see that unit.