Portable ice makers

[uraljohn]

Anyone out there have experience with these? Looking to buy one and would like input on which to purchase. We drink a lot of ice tea and need one that has a decent production capacity. Thanks for suggestions.

[HHPJ]

Or, you can make the ice and keep other stuff cold as a backup with a Dometic XCF 45 Frige/freezer cooler...12v 120...

[GCinSC2]

We were given a dometic ice maker. It’s doing a good job actually makes enough some days to save extra in fridge. Depending on usage. But it’s job is to make ice not refrigerate the ice it just made so keep it in the shade. And it keeps you from going in and out just for ice. Fill it in evening and full at morning too.

[mojoe7009]

I bought an igloo branded one at WalMart for $88. Identical unit at Camping World was over $130 but had a different brand name decal stuck on it. Ours makes ice quick and a lot of it. Had it for over a year and used every couple of days for four and half months during our winter trip this year. Still going strong. Love it.

[mojoe7009]

Price went up a little. I must have caught it on sale.

[mojoe7009]

If you don’t mind the color...$89. Same unit.

[jdalrymple]

We have had great luck with one similar to those above.

It makes enough ice for a couple of cocktails in about 10 minutes..

We have learned to harvest the ice it makes over several hours and keep the ice in the freezer.


Regards,


JD

[wulfraat]

If you enjoy ice tea you’re like my wife [emoji4] I got her a mini “sonic” ice maker for the airstream last year for Christmas. Opal is the brand and comes out of a small think tank in Kentucky, funded by GE.... small batch production.

It makes tiny, chewable “nugget” ice, just like sonic. It’s the only one on the market that produces sonic ice in a small form factor. We have a commercial / high volume machine at home for sonic ice, but it wouldn’t fit in the airstream so this was the next best option [emoji6]

Works well!! We did a custom install in our pantry to include 120v power and a fan to pull in fresh air to keep the unit cool....

https://firstbuild.com/products/opal/

It’s not cheap at $500 but if you are an ice aficionado when it comes to ice tea nothing else will do [emoji4]

Has a mobile app that allows you to set ice production start times so you’ve got fresh, chewable ice when you get back to home base after a day out an about

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by mojoe7009

Attachment 310316

If you don’t mind the color...$89. Same unit.

My sister & BIL have one of those in their trailer, for the last 3 years. It keeps us both supplied with ice for drinks, while we camp together all winter in FL.

[LBOskiBear]

We have the little portable one and it's the first thing I plug in and set-up when we arrive at a campsite. It is then kept running the entire trip until we break down camp.

We'll usually turn it off at night and generally, it doesn't 100% melt by morning - the compartment where the ice collects stays reasonably well insulated. We love it so much we gave one as a gift to the in-laws who also love it.

[Overstreet]

Personally i'm not going to use up counter space for something my freezer can do.

Two days before a trip I turn on the fridge. I fill three ice trays. When the ice freezes I know things are cold. Yes, there is also a temp read out, but who can argue with ice.

I fill up a gallon zip lock with cubes.. Then empty a tray each time we use from the bag. Tea, lemon aide, etc should have more liquid than ice in my opinion not like restaurant 90% ice, 10% liquid. So our ice lasts.

But go right ahead and get an ice maker. Just make sure the storage area and ice maker tray gets cleaned. Things can be cool and moist there or hot and moist during storage just right for things to grow. It is a common place for restaurant health dept inspection items in the bigger units.

[garry]

Had one like the Walmart $88 bought it at Target on sale for $98.

Over 5 years and wuldn't leave home without it.

[Wayne&Sam]

When we leave home we put a ziplock bag of ice in the Airstream's freezer. We then use ice cube trays to make more as we travel. Works fine for us.

[rmkrum]

Sam's Club currently has the $89 one in various colors. Grabbed one a while back in silver with black trim to match the AS...won't leave home without it.

[UncleBad]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

If you enjoy ice tea you’re like my wife [emoji4] I got her a mini “sonic” ice maker for the airstream last year for Christmas. Opal is the brand and comes out of a small think tank in Kentucky, funded by GE.... small batch production.

It makes tiny, chewable “nugget” ice, just like sonic. It’s the only one on the market that produces sonic ice in a small form factor. We have a commercial / high volume machine at home for sonic ice, but it wouldn’t fit in the airstream so this was the next best option [emoji6]

Works well!! We did a custom install in our pantry to include 120v power and a fan to pull in fresh air to keep the unit cool....

https://firstbuild.com/products/opal/

It’s not cheap at $500 but if you are an ice aficionado when it comes to ice tea nothing else will do [emoji4]

Has a mobile app that allows you to set ice production start times so you’ve got fresh, chewable ice when you get back to home base after a day out an about

We love our Opal as well! Well worth the price so far.

Which commercial unit do you have for home?

[Hittenstiehl]

We love what everyone will do to make their camping travels comfortable and to fit their needs.

Wulfraat that Sonic ice maker is very cool and the custom cabinet for it's storage.

This forum constantly reminds us that one size rarely fits all. We do drink adult beverages but just try to keep the beer or wine cool in the cooler as we drag it from one shade spot to another. Then again we make our coffee from a package of instant so we have lots of room for growth.