Campinfan
Washtenaw County, Michigan
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Joined: 05/18/2005
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We are down in Alabama for almost 5 weeks so right before we left, I bought a portable ice maker. I have to confess that last year I thought it was funny to have one. We laughed because some friends of ours once complained that theirs kept them awake one night( they were joking. Well, with the 95+ degree heat down here everyday, the ice maker has been a blessing.
My one son is getting some medical therapy right at our campsite for 6 hrs a day so each day the DW or I have to take the other two kids out for the day and keep them busy so we are not distracting our son. The ice is keeping our water nice and cold as we are drinking alot of it each day.
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2008 F 250 FX4 4WD, V10, 4.10 Tow Command
35' 2007 Crossroads Cruiser CT32SB
Wonderful Wife and 3 small kids
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Rick From Sequim
Sequim, WA
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Joined: 08/19/2004
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Seems like a bit of an endulgance, but in my heart of hearts I envy you. I think it's a great idea because we use so much ice.
Rick 
& wife Loie & Kodi Dog (blk male std poodle)
1995 F-250 460 Banks (wow!) & 2005 25' Bigfoot RQ
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geefrank
Stockton ca
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Joined: 09/16/2006
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We LOVE ours and think it was a great investment!!
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Tarponteaser
Space Coast Florida
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Joined: 09/12/2005
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We bought one last year and it has more than paid for itself with the volume of ice it has made since then. Buying ice can be costly in some areas or may require a bit of a drive. I like getting to the campground and not driving the truck till time to head home, so the convenience of not having to go buy the ice is well worth it.
2006 Centennial 3606
2008 F-250 4X4 PSD King Ranch Crew Cab
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maddog348
Bakersfield,CA
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Joined: 04/08/2008
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Any one with one that works well. What kind did you get?? Tried one from CW last year (at home-kitchen counter) all we got were little tubes of slushy ice water. Took it back same day. Figured already had slushy ice water in bottom of cooler -- Didn't need much more. Thanks
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chockwald
Ontario, CA
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Joined: 02/06/2005
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We bought a portable ice maker right after we purchased our Newell. We keep it in one of the basement storage compartments where there is an electrical outlet. When we arrive at the campsite we pour in the water and turn it on. We have ice within 20 minutes. Over the 4th of July we had a famiy RV trip to a local RV Park for 4 days. There were 6 RV's in our group, and we kept everyone supplied with ice the entire 4 days....it was hot and humid...a rare combination for So. Cal. Wouldn't be without it.
CLARKE AND ELAINE
1982 Newell 36' diesel pusher
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robsouth
Near Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 06/20/2004
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We got a Magic Chef a couple years ago. It works very well and make more ice than we can use, so I bag it and put it in the freezer or cooler. Got it at Home Depot for about $120.00 on sale.
Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel Dually
1994 Terry 22U
1997 Regal 1900LSR
Charter GA'RVers member
"Great minds like a think"
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larrygranny1
el paso, tx
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Joined: 08/03/2006
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my Jayco has plenty of closet space so i put my ice maker in side of the closet in the living area. takes up about a third of the space but it sure is nice to pull in and have my own ice maker. in a year I figure it has paid for itself. It is also nice to take into the sticks at a holiday when all the kids and grandkids are home. makes ice, dump into refrig ice maker holder. Wife thought I was nuts to buy it, but now agrees it is nice to have.
Larry and Linda, we are retired from the miltary and teaching,
F250, 6.4l, 2008 Jayco, 25 ft w/slide
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ezrider6298
Conyers, Ga. Rockdale
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Joined: 12/19/2003
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We recently bought a stainless steel model on sale at Camping World for $229, tried it out in the house, and liked it so well we decided to purchase another for the 5ver. Picked one up at Brandsmart for $138 (+ $10 rebate coupon) made of plastic, but it actually works as well as the first one we bought. Something you may want to consider----I use bottled distilled water (65 cents a gallon or so) as much as possible, as this should cut down on any type of corrosion on the freezing rods. No discernible taste difference, and a gallon of water makes a LOT of ice! Just my opinion though. And you probably know the old saying about opinions. But, it works for me!!!
E.C. & Sandra Walker, (aka She Who Must Be Obeyed), and Baby, the "children cat" (non-camping), 1999 Ford F250 CC 4WD Powerstroke, 29' Wildcat RLBS 5ver.
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Tarponteaser
Space Coast Florida
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Joined: 09/12/2005
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maddog348 wrote:Any one with one that works well. What kind did you get?? Tried one from CW last year (at home-kitchen counter) all we got were little tubes of slushy ice water. Took it back same day. Figured already had slushy ice water in bottom of cooler -- Didn't need much more. Thanks
Morning maddog,
We bought an Edgestar from compactappliance.com. I think you can pick one up now for about $143.
One key factor in getting great ice is to use cold water. Typically the first few trays of ice are small, but once the unit gets cooled down and the water in the resevoir is cold, the machine works more efficiently and the ice will be harder. I'll fill a half gallon jug with water and keep it in the cooler with the drinks so it will be cold when time to refill the machine. Another thing to remember is the fact that the machine is an icemaker and not designed to hold the ice for long periods of time (it will melt)so empty the basket into your cooler when it is getting full.
Mine stays in the garage when not camping and works weekends to keep my garage cooler iced down for yardwork beverages. (For some reason, the DW frowns upon my going into the house for a gatorade when covered with dirt, grass clippings and drenched with sweat)
I use to take a hundred lbs of ice for a long trip, but now only have to take one cooler full and the ice maker.
Regards
Randy
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