Ice Makers

Some high end RVs have built in ice makers,  but they certainly haven't reached the state of becoming close to being standard equipment yet.  They receive water from the RV plumbing system and most are powered by 120-volt AC current from shore power, generator, or inverter.  RV refrigerators typically have freezer compartments that can make a tray or two of ice cubes at a time, but an ice maker will produce far more ice more quickly -- automatically.  You might be able to add one to an RV that doesn't have one, but it will require access to a 120-volt outlet and running a water line -- and you need to have a cabinet or closet space large enough to hold it that you can sacrifice.  I've seen listings on line for propane powered ice makers so it may be possible to get around the 120-volt requirement but it would take extra plumbing of gas lines to install one unless it was set up to use a portable propane source.  I felt really lucky when I had a van conversion with a little fridge that ran on 120 volts or 12 volts and could make ice cubes traveling down the road on the way to camp!

Having plenty of ice is more than just a convenience for keeping your favorite summer beverage cold.  It can have important medical benefits.  If someone gets a sprain, ice packs are the standard treatment.  Ice can be used to help reduce body temperature when a patient has become over heated.  Cold packs at strategic locations (arm pits, groin, wrists, neck) to cool the blood can help reduce body temperature during thermal emergencies.  Take care to keep a comfortable buffer between the ice and the flesh as direct contact and cause injury and great discomfort.

Permanently installed ice makers in RVs are typically adaptations of residential models.  A quick Internet search showed models starting at about $300, plus installation.

Some large luxury RVs have residential style refrigerators that may include an ice maker,  but most RV fridges don't have ice makers and could probably not have them added economically.

For those of us who don't have built in ice makers, there are portable ice makers.  They typically produce around 25 lbs of ice per day and I've seen claims they can make ice in as little as 6 minutes (but they don't say how much in that time).  They run on 120 volt AC so you still need shore power, generator, or an inverter to run them.  They typically cost from $120 to about $300, but I've seen some on ebay around $100 so they can be surprisingly inexpensive.  Because they are portable, they won't need permanent connections for a water supply.  You have to pour water into a built in reservoir.   So, you don't need plumbing but you will have to remember to check and refill the reservoir periodically.   You will need to find a place to set them near a 120-volt outlet to use them and someplace to secure them during transport.  Because they aren't connected to a permanent source of water you have to monitor the water level and replenish it as needed.  The self-contained reservoir could present a spill risk during travel, depending on how it is designed. 

Having an on board source of continuous ice can be a real boon when boonbocking in hot weather.  Even if you're staying in campgrounds where you may have access to ice from the office or camp store, having you own ice maker is a convenience and can save several trips to get ice.  While certainly not an essential component like a working refrigerator, an ice maker can definitely be a nice addition to the RV lifestyle.  Portable ice makers could even be useful for tent campers if they have a generator or access to some other source of 120 volt power.  I spent almost every holiday weekend for 30 years dry camping in the Mojave Desert and, even when I had an ice maker, I seldom used it, so, at least to me, it isn't a critical piece of equipment but it was nice to know it was there if I did need it.  Having plenty of fresh ice to make snow cones is a real boon when camping in hot weather, but the freezer compartment of our fridge could usually keep up with our needs for a family of 8.  Sno-cones were a favorite summer treat on our Desert outings, but our Sno-cone maker used ice  discs from its own specially designed ice cube trays so we seldom needed the ice-maker.

Lack of an ice maker would not cause me to turn down an otherwise nice RV, but I would be delighted to have one again if I get the chance.

Ice it!