Portable Ice Maker

[Barbie]

Need recommendations on a portable ice maker. Have always carried a cooler for our ice and drinks. Ready to make a change. Thanks

[cpaharley2008]

Drive about 1500 miles north and throw a bucket of water into the air to make ice........
We always carry a 5 lb bag of ice on 2 weeks trip and always have some ice when returning home. The freeze can carry 2 bags if needed. Not sure what Escape model you have nor size of refrigerator.

[Greg A]

We got an Emerson or something similar that was a Target deal about 10 years ago when we had our Scamp 13. I think it is about $90 and it is still going strong, We don’t take it trailering much anymore, but it is in use on our rear patio.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Barbie

Need recommendations on a portable ice maker. Have always carried a cooler for our ice and drinks. Ready to make a change. Thanks

We also always bring a cooler along . Have been looking at a portable ice maker . Hmm Pat

[Allan Bornestig]

Yep, bought one on the way home from the desert (!) Some where in Oregon, Anderson WalMart.$ 99 US.Went to our local Costco here in Vancouver last week and they had the same brand for $ 99 Canadian.Works like a charm, building up a supply ahead of time.

[Allan Bornestig]

Always bring a cooler anyway, one of those Extremes that will hold the cold longer.Igloo or Coleman.Also have that grizzly proof (!) roto molded Igloo Sportsman for Canadian wilderness trips.

[LIJ Michael]

Having an ice maker from our Scamp days I can make some informed, at least from my perspective, comments on this subject.

• Don't expect to have ice that is as hard as what you get at home, it just doesn't work that way.
• Don't expect the ice to last as long as what you get at home, see above.
• The more ice making tubes it has the more ice you will get from each cycle. well duh
• You will need to develop a way to keep grit and small flying/crawling critters out of the reservoir. We use a hand towel draped over the top and lid, being careful to not block the air intakes or fan exhaust.

On one trip to Florida in August/September we were buying 20lb of ice daily just to keep our extra supplies cold in the RTIC cooler. (this was before our Escape and having a bigger refrigerator and freezer)
Since the Escape the ice maker does not get near the use it did during our Scamp years, but it does keep us from having to buy ice and it does keep the cooler we carry in the truck cold for those on the road drinks and snacks.

[Barbie]

We are just finalizing our build sheet for an Escape 21 that we pick up in April. We are from Texas so we have to have our ice for our margaritas.....Sounds like the newer refrigerators in the 21 will have plenty of room for ice.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Allan Bornestig

Yep, bought one on the way home from the desert (!) Some where in Oregon, Anderson WalMart.$ 99 US.Went to our local Costco here in Vancouver last week and they had the same brand for $ 99 Canadian.Works like a charm, building up a supply ahead of time.

Encouraging ! Pat

[jumboscott]

Like others, carry a cooler for beer but invested in a better quality cooler. Watched enough cooler showdown videos on youtube and went with an Orca. Get around 3+ days on a bag of ice.

[Jim Bennett]

We make all the ice we can use in our fridge freezer, short of wanting a big cooler full at one time. We use those silicon ice cube trays and they work great. We have a couple that make very large ice cubes, and if you want ice in a drink one cube lasts a real long time.

I am curious as to the desire for an ice maker when you have a nice large freezer, especially seeing you need to bring along yet another device, and lordy knows I might have too many already.

[pkgman51]

I bough an ice maker thinking I would make ice along the way instead of buying it. Didn't work. The ice maker made soft ice that didn't last long in a cooler. We now have a Yeti clone from Wal-Mart and purchase a bag every four days, or so. A Gin and Tonic isn't a Gin and Tonic, without ice.
I did come across a guy who had a 'commercial' ice maker in the back of his pick-up truck that was big and heavy. It never left his truck.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

We make all the ice we can use in our fridge freezer, short of wanting a big cooler full at one time. We use those silicon ice cube trays and they work great. We have a couple that make very large ice cubes, and if you want ice in a drink one cube lasts a real long time.

I am curious as to the desire for an ice maker when you have a nice large freezer, especially seeing you need to bring along yet another device, and lordy knows I might have too many already.

Jim we have a small 4.3 . Not very big . We always carry a cooler now for way over 35 plus years . Carries extra and if the refrigerator doesn’t work we will be fine . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

We make all the ice we can use in our fridge freezer, short of wanting a big cooler full at one time. We use those silicon ice cube trays and they work great. We have a couple that make very large ice cubes, and if you want ice in a drink one cube lasts a real long time.

I am curious as to the desire for an ice maker when you have a nice large freezer, especially seeing you need to bring along yet another device, and lordy knows I might have too many already.

We also start out with chucks of ice we make in 1/2 cartons before the trip .

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Jim we have a small 4.3 . Not very big . We always carry a cooler now for way over 35 plus years . Carries extra and if the refrigerator doesn’t work we will be fine . Pat

I always have ice on the go in my freezer for my cooler because every trailer fridge I have owned has caused my problems.

[stratos175]

Another interesting thread, have to say an ice maker has never popped up in my mind when it comes to camping.
One thing we started doing a few years ago is freezing Gatorade bottles of water, usually 4, one in each corner of the cooler then laying a bag of ice unopened on top of everything until we needed it and even then only tearing small whole in bag to get out some ice. As the ice in the bottles melted sure was nice cold glass of water on a hot day but you would be surprised how long they last.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve

[Dave Walter]

Got my own ice-maker right now. I left a water bottle in my truck last night and this morning it was a solid block of ice! Of course it was only about -16°C last night. When it starts to get cold this winter, the effectiveness of my ice-maker will be even better!

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by stratos175

Another interesting thread, have to say an ice maker has never popped up in my mind when it comes to camping.
One thing we started doing a few years ago is freezing Gatorade bottles of water, usually 4, one in each corner of the cooler then laying a bag of ice unopened on top of everything until we needed it and even then only tearing small whole in bag to get out some ice. As the ice in the bottles melted sure was nice cold glass of water on a hot day but you would be surprised how long they last.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve

That is a good idea , I guess we could use OJ bottles . May give that a try . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Dave Walter

Got my own ice-maker right now. I left a water bottle in my truck last night and this morning it was a solid block of ice! Of course it was only about -16°C last night. When it starts to get cold this winter, the effectiveness of my ice-maker will be even better!

Dave do you own one of those little ice makers or your talking about the freezer on refrigerator? Pat

[MikeS]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

We make all the ice we can use in our fridge freezer, short of wanting a big cooler full at one time. We use those silicon ice cube trays and they work great. We have a couple that make very large ice cubes, and if you want ice in a drink one cube lasts a real long time.

I am curious as to the desire for an ice maker when you have a nice large freezer, especially seeing you need to bring along yet another device, and lordy knows I might have too many already.

Seems obvious, they are making a lot of snow cones!