Portable Ice Makers

[Derek700]

Who has them? How do you like them? Are they worth it? We have been wondering about getting one. We went camping last weekend and went through 5 bags of ice to keep drinks cool. That was $18 and we are going camping in July for 8 days. I am thinking around $40-$50 for ice. I think I could pay for this thing in a year. How much water do they hold? and How often does it need to be filled back up. We have been trying to keep from taking too much stuff with us when we go but this is seeming to be money well spent.

[Terry]

I dont think they will produce enough ice to keep your cooler cold...I looked at one before and it didnt look like it made much...maybe they have gotten better?

You might try looking into dry ice...you have to be careful, but it will last longer. I also have a little trick I use that works pretty well for a small cooler. I have two 2-liter bottles filled with frozen water. I put one in the cooler and keep the other in the freezer directly on the bottom where it is the coldest. I swap them out daily. As long as I start with a good cool fridge, it has not been much of a problem. Also it helps to have a really good high quality cooler (rated 5 day or more).

Hope that helps!

[kcconawa]

Back in our no fridge pop-up camper days, we found that buying some block ice was more cost efficient.

[82corvette]

The actually make a good amount of ice pretty quick, but it is not very hard ice. It melts pretty quickly.

[hammer]

I have one mounted in my front bin. It makes more ice than you can use. I got it at wallmart it is a Ice@easy brand It make 12 cubes every 15 minutes. You will still need a bag or 2 before you leave home to get you started.

[82corvette]

When we take a cooler, I usually collect ice from our fridge at home for a few days and store it in the deep freeze. I lasts pretty good.

[Derek700]

I guess I will have to look into this more. I usually drop a couple of frozen milk jugs with water into the coolers the day before we leave to get them started to cool off. I don't want to pay more thn $150 for one if I can help it.

[Terry]

It is the age old problem...lol....if you can solve it, along with the mice problem....you could make a fortune

[joe in calif]

Originally Posted by tafische

It is the age old problem...lol....if you can solve it, along with the mice problem....you could make a fortune

What mice problem!!!!!!!! If my wife reads this she will never get in the TT again.

[Seann45]

I think most McD's still give free ice for the asking.. just flip on a ball cap and make like the coach of a little league team.

[Derek700]

In BC they stopped doing that a couple years ago. they will sell bags and proceeds go to Rnald Mcdonald house.

[Terry]

Just as an aside, it does pay to have a good cooler. I had one of those large ice chests (I call it a body cooler cause it is about the right size and weight when full lol). Filled it to the top Friday at 5pm. It sat outside in the 95 degree heat until Tuesday at 5 pm and it still had several inches of ice in the bottom. I opened it several times a day to get ice and drinks.

[Derek700]

Do these ice makers keep ice frozen at all? or is it just another cooler? They came on sale starting tomorrow for $150.

[hammer]

No they just make ice then dump into a basket were they will melt if left in the machine. How ever the melting ice just runs back into the water tank and gets re frooze into cubes again.

[ldlogue]

Our freezer in the frig has a pan that holds ice. we take ice from the house frig and fill the pan. this usually will last us for 4-5 days for drinks, tea, etc. Course there is only 2 of us. :hihi:

[norty1]

We start out our trip with a gallon freezer bag full of ice. As we use it, we replenish it by using a ice tray and dumping it in the bag. We are only 2 but never have run out of ice.

One thing less to worry about.

[Jrmay25]

Target has their Emerson on sale this week for $119.00. I just picked one up this morning and already had 1 1/2 Walmart bags full of ice. Only thing I wish is 1. the unit kept the ice cooler and 2. it held more than a couple of lbs. So far ours has filled the little holding basket about every 2 hours.

[jwb023]

i have been considering one of those,..i just looked at the emerson,and read reviews on it,and sounds like they have some serious issues w/it,..like low wtr lite on,stopping ice production,no ice,..altho runs for hours,..etc etc...

[coalrig]

I know in these parts if you take your empty cooler to Mcdonalds they will fill it with ice no charge