Ice Makers

by Shane on October 4, 2011

Portable Ice Makers

By: Raechelle Janzen – RVRepairNOW.com

     One of the things we seem to miss the most when we are out traveling in our travel trailer is having an ice maker. I know it seems like something simple, but sometimes those are the kinds of things that one misses the most when away from home. It can be inconvenient, when you go make yourself something to drink and you don’t have an endless supply of ice like you have in your home’s kitchen. Of course, you can just fill ice trays with water or you can make a trip to buy leaky bags of ice like you have always done in the past. But, if you use your RV frequently, a portable ice maker unit may be something you want to consider buying.

Features

     Today there are a variety of portable ice makers on the market that can make all the ice you might need. They can make 15lb to 40lbs or more of ice a day, depending which model you purchase. This is much more than the average person could use in a day’s time. These ice makers are very efficient and compact enough to sit on a countertop. All you need to do is add tap or bottled water and then plug it into a standard wall outlet. They start making ice in a short period of time – most units in about ten to fifteen minutes. You can get ice makers with modern LED and touch pad controls or simpler models with just basic features. A few ice maker units can also operate on batteries so you can take them to picnics, tailgating, boating, your kid’s sporting events, or maybe a backyard barbeque or party. It is a good idea to make sure the portable ice maker has a water filter built into it to help not only with the taste of the ice but to also prevent hard water problems with the unit.

Prior to Purchase

     Before you purchase your portable ice maker consider how much ice you will actually need and how much space you have for the unit. Another important factor to consider is where it will be stored during travel. Keep in mind that you can also use it at home as an extra source of ice when needed as well as using it in your RV. Portable ice makers are made by many different manufacturers and come in many colors and different features to fit your needs. Some units can produce a lot more ice than others so it is important to research specific models prior to buying so that you get the proper one for you. The least expensive units can run about $130. For about $200, you can find a pretty decent capacity ice maker that would fit most needs. There are units well above the $200 level as well.

Where to Purchase

     You can purchase portable ice making units in such stores like Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Target and several online outlets. Also, check the camping supply department of sporting goods stores as well as RV supply outlets. Wal-Mart currently has units made by Igloo, Haier, Oster and Magic Chef and others. Their prices run from $129 up to $244 depending on the manufacturer and features you prefer.

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“Restauration” – The “little ship that could” was the start of some 800,000 Norwegian immigrants that journeyed to America starting in 1825…

Restauration II Sloop

But this story is more about an American expat’s chance encounter with a bautastein (monument stone) in a park and an entire day spent researching the internet to learn everything possible about that monument.

As I have been doing since we arrived in Stavanger, I set out for a day of exploring with a special interest in all things WWII-related.  I have always marveled at the lengths that armies went through with building giant underground fortresses, roads, bunkers, airfields, etc. and it seems that Norway has had more than its fair share of concrete poured in the name of war.  So I have been out hunting old gun batteries and other coastal occupation architecture.

Yesterday, for example, I went past the entrance of the enormous German built underground bunker currently occupied by NATO and then today headed out in a different direction. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon a stone monument sitting atop a small hill overlooking the harbor.

Restauration Marker - Stavanger Norway

It didn’t take long to hit on several websites that described the little 53ft sloop known as “Restauration” that had carried 52 hearty souls across the Atlantic to America in 1825 and thus became the first of some 800,000 Norwegians to immigrate to the US.

Now, being a kid of German & English decent did not leave a lot of room for discussing Norwegian immigration around our home and frankly I just assumed that all of those “funny sounding folks” in Minnesota had always been there…  Not until much later in life did I understand that they had come from Norway; and much later than that I even ended up living there myself (strange things happen!). So I decided I had better get off my backside and learn some history!

So, a chance encounter in a small park 6,500 miles from “home” has led me to understand that a great deal of time, effort and blood was shed with thousands of people simply trying to better their situation in life and put food on the table.

The story of the sloop Restauration is best documented by the website that is dedicated to the pioneering Norwegian immigrants who ended up in far flung places like Napa, CA and in recent years a bautastein (monument stone) was dug up, carved, transported and dedicated to the pioneers’ grave-sites.  Check out “The Wheelerfolk Project” (link below) for complete details.

After reading through several websites dedicated to the subject I understand that there is a re-creation of the sloop and full details on that project can be found below.  The Restauration II is located about 30 minutes away from my home on the island of Finnøy just north of Stavanger, Norway and you can be sure I am planning a trip to see this painstakingly re-created piece of history.

But first, there was an interesting opening in the base of that small hill and someone has bricked up the opening to… something!? Wonder what could be in there?

More information;

Wheelerfolk.org Slooper Monument Project - “The Norwegian Mayflower”

Restauration II – Recreated sloop located on the island of Finnøy just north of Stavanger, Norway

Credit for the Restauration II photo goes to Gunleif Seldal of Klepp, Rogaland, Norway

You can see the monument yourself on Google Earth at “Restauration Marker” lat=58.9776814364, lon=5.71952714713

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Norwegian word of the day – “bobil”

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Today I started looking around the area and wondering where all of the RV’s that I see are coming from?  And as I started to approach drivers/owners to make inquiries and discovered that while 91% of all Norwegians are fluent in English, they had no idea what I meant when I said “RV” or “motorhome”!  [...]

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Moving Day… Look out Norway, Here we come!

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Today we start our new life and adventure in Norway as we are moving overseas to the city called Stavanger, Norway.  Traci has taken a great job and I am going to contemplate being an exceptional house hubby. We are currently at 12k feet as Delta offers peanuts and cokes…           [...]

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Tragedy in Norway

July 27, 2011 Life

I have been staring at this blank blog post off and on for several days now and still have no idea what to say. So many thoughts and emotions come to mind when tragedies like this happen. I can’t pretend to empathize with Norwegians, especially those loved ones of the victims. I do however sympathize [...]

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U.S. National Healthcare

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     I recently started attending college so I could increase my level of intelligence and earn a Bachelor’s degree. I had an assignment of writing an argumentative essay regarding national healthcare here in the U.S. I am going to post it here so it can be discussed and debated. (Not the writing, although I’m always open to [...]

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