Over the counter ice makers

[oldtimer#1]

Simply are they worth having in a part time camping situation, we do have freezer room but I don't want the hassle of ice trays, thought it would be great to have ice for drinks and maybe the cooler.

 

[DennisT]

We had them in our old coach. The kind that makes the little bullet shaped cubes.

Worked well for us. It is “damp” ice so, if you put a bag in the freezer it will need broken up when you get it out.

If I recall they were about $100.

 

[GypsyR]

The $100 ones (like we use) have downsides. Yes, they make wet ice. Fine for drinks or cooler topping up though. We have plastic bucket in the freezer we dump it if there's extra. Not too hard to break back up later.
They don't "keep" ice. The second the ice is done being formed, it's starts melting. It will fill the reservoir before it really melts much though. Never used one inside a very hot camper or tent though.
Noisy. During the day we don't care but I always shuit it down at night.
Kind of high maintenance. It's always needing emptying or filling it seems. I don't mind but other might.
Part of that is part of the plus. They say it start making ice in 8 minutes (or whatever it is), No kidding. Suckers don't make much ice but they have the speed.
We like ours and are on our second one. Some family had to have one becasue we had one, Used it one trip and got rid of it. Not everyone's thing. THey expected it to be like the icemaker in their home fridge and it is just not.
THere are much spendier icemakers that will "keep" ice. They also tend to be too large fro campers if you ask me. If I could have squeezed in a fridge just a tad bigger than the one I bought I could have had a "real" icemaker. But I couldn't and the countertop will do for us. They don't seem made to last a real long time. But if the current one lasts as long as the first one I'm good with it. I'm not big on buying extended warranties but it might be worth it if you buy one.

 

[oldtimer#1]

The $100 ones (like we use) have downsides. Yes, they make wet ice. Fine for drinks or cooler topping up though. We have plastic bucket in the freezer we dump it if there's extra. Not too hard to break back up later.
They don't "keep" ice. The second the ice is done being formed, it's starts melting. It will fill the reservoir before it really melts much though. Never used one inside a very hot camper or tent though.
Noisy. During the day we don't care but I always shuit it down at night.
Kind of high maintenance. It's always needing emptying or filling it seems. I don't mind but other might.
Part of that is part of the plus. They say it start making ice in 8 minutes (or whatever it is), No kidding. Suckers don't make much ice but they have the speed.
We like ours and are on our second one. Some family had to have one becasue we had one, Used it one trip and got rid of it. Not everyone's thing. THey expected it to be like the icemaker in their home fridge and it is just not.
THere are much spendier icemakers that will "keep" ice. They also tend to be too large fro campers if you ask me. If I could have squeezed in a fridge just a tad bigger than the one I bought I could have had a "real" icemaker. But I couldn't and the countertop will do for us. They don't seem made to last a real long time. But if the current one lasts as long as the first one I'm good with it. I'm not big on buying extended warranties but it might be worth it if you buy one.

That's what i wanted to know,I didn't know they didn't hold ice.

 

[DennisT]

That's what i wanted to know,I didn't know they didn't hold ice.

They do, kind of. The ice goes into a basket and will stop the machine when that is full.

The ice in the basket will melt eventually and the machine will turn back on to make more.

As stated ours was great when we had it - quick, convenient, etc.

 

[WB2020ClassA]

Simply are they worth having in a part time camping situation, we do have freezer room but I don't want the hassle of ice trays, thought it would be great to have ice for drinks and maybe the cooler.

They do, kind of. The ice goes into a basket and will stop the machine when that is full.

The ice in the basket will melt eventually and the machine will turn back on to make more.

As stated ours was great when we had it - quick, convenient, etc.

 

[WB2020ClassA]

I bought a well rated one late last year on sale from Walmart for $58 (including sales tax) and tried it out at home. The remarks above by others are spot on - the ice is wet and will freeze together in a freezer and it starts melting soon after being made. But, I think it will be worth the small price - it's small and won't take up much counter space while in use and will easily stow away when not in use. Bagged ice, even frozen, allows more options for freezer placement than ice cube trays. With just my wife and me, we'll only go through one cycle of ice every few days. Only time on the road will tell but I have good expectations for it being more convenient than ice cube trays for a small investment.

 

[GypsyR]

I would prefer a Manitowoc or some such ice maker that "keeps" ice. But the size and price of them make them a non-starter for us as casual campers.