If you have ever traveled by RV or spent time out camping with friends and family, you know that ice is an essential ingredient in an enjoyable trip. Thus, you need an outdoor ice maker!
Spending all day enjoying sunshine and the great outdoors means an increased thirst for everyone and nobody likes sipping a warm beverage.
That’s why having a reliable, portable outdoor ice maker is perfect for anyone who wants to RV or camp. When you can make your own ice you don’t need to make time consuming trips to a nearby store for ice and you don’t have to pay campground prices for ice by the bag.
Making your own ice the traditional way with ice cube trays is slow and most RV freezers are small, which limits you to one or two trays at a time. A portable machine can make ice in 10-20 minutes and can make you up to 30 pounds of fresh ice each day.
So, how do you purchase the perfect outdoor ice maker for your next RV or camping trip? Follow these three tips and you will be good to go.
1. Choose A Durable Outdoor Ice Maker
When you are looking for an outdoor machine, durability is very important.
An outdoor ice machine that is used in an RV or outdoor setting is going to experience more wear and tear than a countertop ice machine at home. While looks are something to consider, when it comes to an outdoor machine durability comes first.
Making ice outside is harder on machines if they are in warm climates. Also, the basic jostling of the machine as it is moved from inside to outside and across the road in an RV means the best commercial ice maker that you should get must be extra tough.
To find a machine that has strong durability, take time to read customer reviews of each machine you are considering purchasing. You can find an outdoor ice machine that is made with camping, RV trips, and even boating in mind.
After you have found several machines that have high durability ratings, then you can look at overall appearance and cosmetics.
2. Pick an Outdoor Ice Maker That Makes Plenty Of Ice
Don’t underestimate the amount of ice you will use. Even if you have an idea of how much ice you use at home, plan to use more when in an RV or camping.
The one thing you do not want to do after purchasing an outdoor ice maker is run out of ice! That’s why it is a good idea to buy the best commercial ice maker with the highest ice production possible that is still portable and in your price range.
Ice production is measured in how much ice a machine makes in 24-hours. When traveling you want a compact and durable machine that makes a good amount of ice. Most machines make between 25-30 pounds of ice per day.
You may notice that ice production is slightly less when the machine is outside where it needs to work harder to freeze water. However, you still should be able to get 20 pounds of clear ice daily from a quality machine.
Machines that make nugget ice are great for outdoor, camping, and RV use. Nugget ice is small pelleted ice that has great flavor, stores easily, and keeps drinks very cold.
Another thing to consider is ice bin storage, which is how much ice the machine can hold after it has been made. A portable outdoor ice machine is not designed as freezer storage and won’t keep ice frozen all day, but can store ice in an ice bin for several hours.
It is best to pick a machine with ice bin storage for at least 2 pounds of ice at a time.
3. Find A Machine That Is Light And Compact
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is easy to get caught up in features and cosmetics and end up with a machine that is too heavy to easily move or too large for simple storage.
When you are choosing an outdoor ice maker you want one that is easy to move from place to place.
A good rule of thumb is to look for an outdoor ice maker that weighs between 15-20 pounds. At this weight the machine is likely to be durable, but also able to be easily moved.
Heavier machines may have some interesting features and seem like they would last longer but they actually tend to get less use. The hassle of lifting and moving them keeps them stored away, which means no great ice!
Compact machines store well in small spaces. Know the dimensions of your RV and storage space and be sure to read the size details of any machine you are interested in purchasing.
By keeping these three things in mind, reading plenty of customer reviews, and carefully looking over the size and capacity specs of various machines, you are certain to find the perfect outdoor ice maker for your next trip.