This aluminum 12-volt dual-zone fridge/freezer is impressive • Iceco APL 35 test & review

[@softroadingthewest]

*Take a closer look at the APL35:* collabs.shop/puyozl. ALSO NOTE: Iceco has a video that explains how to adjust the temperature readout if needed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqHcl4uLe7qJfKs

[@arcenciel2968]

Donald, I have a custom made fridge 70lt/freezer 30lt combo in my boat. As you understand the organization inside the fridge is all too important, we dont have bumpy roads but very bumpy seas! I create a bottom layer of equal height bottles, usually water bottles, and on top I place a rectangular plastic container, much like the one you used to make ice at home, only a bit bigger. In there I keep anything that would otherwise get lost or break- cans, mustard and jam jars, eggs maybe, a couple of sensitive fruit etc. When you need access below you just remove the container. The bottles below have to have the same height in my fridge because otherwise the container leans and may empty part of its content. I navigate in Greece where its very hot in the summer so I have a lot of condensation at the bottom, I once in a while insert a sponge and remove that water. You should not have that problem up there. Good luck!

[@wildnfreeoverland]

We’ve had the 78QT VL74 Single Zone Portable Fridge RV Fridge 12v| ICECO for about a year now in our Xpedition trailer. We are a family of 6 , and its never let us down.

[@DanitaReynolds]

We've owned a Dometic 75 dual zone for many years now and love it. In the beginning when I did my research, Dometic had the best rating for durability and was one of the few that offered the dual zone with separate compartments (and lids). But over the years I've been following along and am really impressed how Iceco has stepped up its game and they now have very good products. I absolutely LOVE having the freezer option and we use it for several things like freezing meats, ice cubes for drinks, ice cream, and even though our Dometic has a large capacity we tend to camp for days and days so we do fill up that fridge which means there's really no room for beverages. So, what we do is bring a smaller, regular ice cooler for our beverages and instead of ice we use blue ice and rotate the blue ice between the Dometic freezer to the beverage cooler and now our beverages are always cold for however long we are camping. We pack food for two and on occasion when camping with friends we do a full dinner for 6 which means we really have to plan out what will fit in the Dometic. It really is a game changer and there's no way we could go back to using a ice cooler.

[@softroadingthewest]

I’m definitely eager to explore the possibilities having a freezer!

[@Gone_Camping]

Your video was way better than most of the people just doing it for the money. I've had my JP30 for years now & have no complaints. The newer models give me fridge envy.

[@kingfish4488]

I have a ICECO VL45 which works great, and it came with a basket.

[@softroadingthewest]

Good to hear!

[@darthmatt4120]

I recently bought a SetPower 35 dual zone for $209. I think both companies are decent, but a huge price difference.

[@scottymac5174]

I really like how that Iceco looks! The all aluminum construction. I went with a 50 qt dual zone ARB earlier this year. Like you, I have done a rear seat delete and put in a really solid tie down setup to keep it secure. If you ever get in an accident, you do not want to have an unsecured fridge flying around in the cab of your truck. I have had to rig up a micro bungee cord from one of the back seat grab handles to keep the lid open on the ARB.

[@Thergood]

I've been looking at this fridge since they released it. I've had an ICEO JP40 for several years, but I've been really wanting a dual zone. I picked one up using your code.

[@That_Paul_Guy]

Thanks! You answered my question about actual temps between the 2 compartments when one side is much colder than the other.

[@stephenmiller5023]

We bought the ICECO VL-45 about 8 months ago now for our Overlanding / camping use and really like how quiet and durable it’s been so far . I have set it to its lowest battery protection setting for use in our vehicle & it draws so little amps that it never seems to need to shut off due to low battery voltage. I recently added a 200 watt set of solar panels with Lithium Ion separate battery & 600 watt /120 volt inverter & charger for some serious long trips I have planned on once my retirement begins in April 2025. Just a little extra peace of mind in case I’m far away from help if out solo camping like you do . 😎👍

[@markrossnagel4680]

Thank you for the great review and build process. I have been going crazy trying to decide on just how much I despise using ice versus spending so much on the fridge and battery bank. Like everything else I do, I try to think of every angle and possible outcome. Reckon I will bite the bullet and get a fridge. So far Iceco checks off more of the boxes I want than the others.

[@lazynorse5607]

I’m most excited about Iceco’s new 90 degree 12v cigarette plug! I’ve been fretting over Iceco’s old version getting sheared from my Jackery. I’m surprised by your power draw, must be the addition of freezer. My JP50 filled with water bottles took 7 days to drain my Jackery 1500 below 10%, first tested inside my home (68 degrees). You’re right about temp accuracy, I set mine to 36 and that ensures proper cooling.

[@utahjohnnymontana3373]

Nice review and a good looking fridge. I like the lid stays where you put it. I have an Engel and I got a floppy lid. I agree that going back to bags of ice would be a huge step back.

[@Crzyfrlss1]

Iceco definitely makes a quality product! I've been using their JP50 pro going on almost 3 years now paired with an EcoFlow river 2 max. Great for camping and long trips from the grocery store!

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

You are right. Once you go to a 12V refrigerator you'll have a hard time converting back to a cooler. Thanks for the review! George.

[@scottymac5174]

A huge step up from something like a Yeti. A 50 qt Yeti has about a 30 qt capacity when you add in the ice. Then buying ice every day when its hot for $10/bag. If you can find it.

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

@@scottymac5174 yes and a 50qt Yeti is around $300.00. I picked up my 42qt BougeRV refrigerator with insulated cover for $225.00 a couple years ago. They are having a Black Friday sale now and you can get the fridge for $209.99.

[@scottymac5174]

And you will need a forklift to move a loaded 50 qt Yeti, fully loaded.

[@jimbrown7261]

I have to admit I was interested in this when I clicked on it, but I did anyway. I ended up watching the entire thing, it was more interesting and informative than I expected. 😊 I’m guessing the reason they don’t put the controls right upfront is because that is the spot that would always get banged and knocked around and spilled on and damaged first.

[@fatmanoutdoors]

Just started watching the video, but I wanted to comment immediately. I got the Iceco APL 35 during the IndieGoGo back in June. THIS FRIDGE ROCKS! I have been amazed at how quickly it cools and how well it works. (Mine is just belted into the back seat of my 2016 Pro-4X.)

[@softroadingthewest]

Glad to hear it’s working well for you!

[@GunPilot3000]

Great review! I have a Iceco JP42. (I think discontinued now) Fantastic fridge/freezer. Came with 5year compressor warranty. Ill never go back to ice. With a Jackery 300, 100w solar panel it will run indefinitely. As always, after every vid I have to hit the hills.

[@drewpknutz1410]

I have the same unit and Im glad you addressed the app readout, I just thought I got a bad one but I was too lazy to contact Iceco. THEY DENT EASILY, after a few months, the inside of mine looks like a golf ball.. I purchased the insulated cover, (Which is very nice) and it has 2 pockets where you can put 2 of those 200wh Setpower or Iceco batteries.. so the truck will power it and charge the batteries when running, but the batteries will take over when the truck is off.. and they will easily last 20 hours with minimal opening. All in all I like it though!

[@Justcruisintrails]

We have had the APL55 for a couple of years now and love it! Very impressed with their whole lineup!

[@softroadingthewest]

Glad to hear it’s been working well for you!

[@Steve_and_Deb_Explore_the_USA]

That’s a very nice fridge for the cost! The self-supporting lid is a feature I’ve not seen before. And I especially like that you can set either side as the freezer! I’ve mentioned before that I got a steal on a National Luna 90 liter dual zone in 2015. It has similar proportions as yours, maybe 60/40. It can be set as both sides freezer, both sides fridge, or one of each. But unlike yours, if I have only one side fridge, it must be the side closest to the compressor, which is the 40% side. We rarely take more frozen food than fridge food, so there is frequently a lot of wasted space in the freezer. A suggestion. I keep my heavy fridge in the LC200 year round, and have it running from March until Christmas. (Not during sub-zero winter months) I have a second AC brick in the truck, and run a short extension cord out under the trailer hitch. So at home or camping where we have AC, it’s plugged in, and when driving or camped off grid, it runs from my Bluetti. No need to pre-cool, and I propose that it is better on the compressor than having to work extra to cool down a hot fridge. Over 50,000 hours so far with zero problems. That’s a long post…

[@jaystewart9947]

Nice install Donald. Though I think I would have at least accepted the fridge slide just in case. I can relate to your criticism of the display location. Ours is on the lower right corner on the front. We bought an “ only used once” Iceco VL65 off of Marketplace. Great shape with no wear. While we haven’t used it camping yet it performs well in the house. After watching your video I downloaded the app and am going to start messing with it. Thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts

[@jmathre44]

Very informative. Seems Iceco has become really popular for content creators on YT. I'm sure I'll get one down the road, but I need to figure out where to put it without drilling holes for a slide.

[@johndej]

When setting up my rig a couple of years ago, the pricing on fridges seemed pretty high so I opted for a Yeti cooler. It does a great job for a couple of days but longer term usage is not what I'd like. This sounds like a good solution to consider in the future. Thanks for the honest review!

[@jackiegainer3866]

Supervisor Charlie! 😻

[@BackroadExploration]

Looks fantastic. I have the less expensive less feature rich model and love it.

[@TobyCostaRica]

The for me is, these ICECOs are near Dometic (Iceco’s do have longer warranty) prices when they are on sale and the cheap $200 fridges have pretty solid reliability ratings. They’re at the price where I’d just go Dometic which has been reliable for me for a decade.

[@dave_in_az]

Well done product review. I have found that fridge doors that you can open from either side, or swap sides, really let me use a fridge in better orientations and don't force me to one spot in the car.

[@JBlinky67]

Wow! Fantastic upgrade!

[@scottymac5174]

Actual fridge/freezer temps. I know now that the ARB's temps are off. Leaning on the cold side from the display. ( Display reads 28 degrees/thermometer reads 33 degrees). I read about this and bought a couple of good, digital thermometers that I keep in both zones. I work off of these more than the app/display. The 50 qt ARB pulls around 48 watts when running, 4 watts in maint/cycling mode.

[@TEO7187]

nice review, thanks Donald!

[@steveparsons6324]

Donald, thanks for the review. If I ever replace my Engel, that’s a potential. If you want to conserve power even more, consider getting the insulation pack if they offer one.

[@dalecurrier5631]

Great information thanks Donald.

[@Cubsin-cs3do]

I love my ICECO JP42.

[@GamerNxUSN]

Got these on my list for Christmas waiting on bf sale

[@tdg0101]

Nice fridge. Good review thanks

[@clifford_overland]

I've had my JP50 for over 3½ years running non-stop in the back of my truck. It's been thru a lot of bouncing around and had held up perfectly. I would also say I've had my Iceco longer then Jason and he did copy me getting the same one 🤣

[@softroadingthewest]

Oh I didn't realize yours was an Iceco as well...glad to hear it's been working well for you long-term. And thank you for starting the trend for the rest of us! 😄

[@clifford_overland]

@softroadingthewest 🤣🤣🤣

[@carolleimbach6407]

Nice setup, Donald! 😊

[@skyepilotte11]

Nice looking cooler...thx for the review.

[@brandtdaniels]

Love my JP30. I just wish I had a way to monitor power and temperature from the driver seat. The display is on the top but in the back. I have mine positioned like yours behind the driver seat. I don’t like how the lid opens long-ways on mine because we don’t have a lot of clearance in the car. I want my wife to be able to access it from the passenger seat as well as from the door side.

[@augiewolff2754]

Just an idea those forever bags made out of recycled plastic.. Could work for baskets...You could get different color ones... Possibly a small plastic box inside to keep them in shape... they fold away when not being used!?

[@sevynblanes]

Good video!

[@jeffreypreiss8191]

Great video, Donald. Always enjoy your real use/real world product reviews. Congrats on the upgrade. Curious on the direction you will go with your cooking setup. Just staying on the tailgate or something different? Thanks again.

[@softroadingthewest]

Definitely still trying to figure that out!

[@aimlesslydriven]

I wonder why they don't put the control panels outside on the lid. I have the JP50 and the GO20, IceCo makes great fridges for the money. The APLE35 you showed is tempting to replace my 4+ year old JP50. Great "review"!

[@scottshepperd7634]

I agree, I bought my fridge for its size and how it opens, but my control panel is on the back side making it difficult to see and use. Especially when I’m fully loaded

[@conniewaite1371]

Lots of improvements, But I have a jeep.the bed is under a shelf,so I am going with the bodega drawer style cause I don't like digging for food.they have a console model too

[@softroadingthewest]

Drawer fridge is an awesome solution for sure

[@ExploringWithTheBz]

I have run a VL45 for several years and it’s flawless. And it came with baskets which might be available separately from ICECO to work in this fridge. I am curious to why you didn’t put your fridge in the camper? I think the reason why the control panel is on the skinny end is because the core “overland” consumer will have it mounted longitudinally front to back, more than likely on a fridge slide. However, it would be nice to have a detachable display that can be mounted on either side of the fridge.

[@softroadingthewest]

I don’t cook in my camper and it’s very small in there as it is, so for my usage it doesn’t make sense to have it taking up space in there. It’s also nice that I don’t have to hear it cycling on and off through the night. For the way I cook outside, the fridge is much more accessible and convenient in the back seat location…that setup has been working well for me for years. 🙂

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

Great info! In my own freezer/fridge ive noticed temp is more accurate when that compartment is full. I dont know if that will hold true with that unit.

[@softroadingthewest]

Yeah when I was out camping, it was displaying in the mid-30s, though when I filled the fridge for my at-home power consumption test, it was regularly showing well down in the 20s even though it was nowhere near that cold in there. I mean ultimately as long as it’s keeping my food appropriately cold, I’m not too concerned. 🙂

[@scottymac5174]

Better than digging for your stuff in slushy, ice water!

[@Radsinqer]

Good information about the fridge/cooler other than saying "game changer"... Boo to that!

[@softroadingthewest]

LOL fair 😄

[@MauroMarzorati]

Donald, as far as a basket thingy that would be half height, it occurred to me as I watched the video, what about wooden dowels at the corners to act as stoppers, and fashioning the basket similar to reusable grocery bags that have that plastic semi rigid flooring. Could work… I’ll try that and report back. -.\\

[@softroadingthewest]

Something like that seems like a good idea…A DIY solution is probably where I will end up 😄

[@sagebrushbob2321]

I looked at that fridge awhile ago, but it just won't fit behind the seat. It's about 4" longer than my Bouge RV 30 qt fridge, which has a snug fit. Sooner or later someone will come out with a 35 qt that will fit in my available space. I hope. 🙄

[@mykalbee]

I got my APL35 earlier this year and color me impressed. It's convenient for my needs as i am usually on my own with the dog on daytrips or an overnighter.

[@dlansburg2673]

Nice looking unit, my Engle has been very unreliable,works one day then quits.

[@williamkenyon9858]

The cost is not really an issue if you factor in the cost of one those "NAME BRAND" Super coolers that keep ice for 5 days. Now I need to get rid of said cooler so I can justify one of these....LOL Thanks for the Video

[@zealousoutdoors]

Who makes the hoodie/sweater that you're wearing in the conclusion? It looks comfy.

[@softroadingthewest]

More info about that coming in a video very soon 🙂

[@brianbechtol7329]

So, if I'm doing the math correctly this fridge draws only 3 amps when running off of a 12v power supply? That's amazing!

[@jlr3636]

Question regarding the most efficient method to power the Iceco 200w solar panel, 100ah lithium battery, 1000w psw inverter Realizing every time power passes through an inverter there is a power loss, which is the most efficient 1. Battery - inverter - Iceco 2. Battery - 12v fuse block - Iceco My real question is - does the Iceco compressor operate on a final AC or DC 12v or 120v. If the Iceco is plugged into 120v does the internal electronics convert it to 12v to run the compressor, like wise if plugged into 12v DC does the Iceco have an internal inverter which converts to 120v AC. 1. Battery - inverter 120v- Iceco buck inverter back to 12v 2. Battery - 12v fuse block - Iceco inverter to 120v

[@softroadingthewest]

I don't know. The 12V power cord that came with the fridge is just a cord. The AC power cord that came with the fridge has a transformer that turns it into DC. What happens INSIDE the unit, that would probably be a question for Iceco.

[@scottymac5174]

Kind of weird, The Iceco lid is set up to be on a certain side. That is the side that most probably is going to be facing you. I've been in so many places where you do not have any cell phone reception. Your phone just constantly is trying to aquire a signal and burning through its battery supply. It does not make your phone a good, monitoring device. I always enjoy your camping Geek stuff!

[@softroadingthewest]

I usually switch my phone to airplane mode when I'm out of cell range so it stops trying. :-)

[@scottymac5174]

@@softroadingthewest same as turning it off....hahaha!

[@scottymac5174]

@@softroadingthewest Same deal.. You probably still have that big, polished, Aluminum Camp Chef stove.. Same here. My nephews bought it for me a few ago for XMas! I almost burned a Heritage cabin down in Death Valley with that stove. Propane leak..

[@MauroMarzorati]

I too have an APL35on the back seat drivers side of my XTERRA. Same issues with the control panel, due to same arrangement. However with it being an SUV I can contort myself to push the buttons from the hatch. Why would I do that when there’s an app, to calibrate the thermostat readings. ICECO, if you’re listening you need to give more attention to the support /guidance given to end user. The F1/F2/F3 thing is not well explained and from the limited sample given it is very hard to to understand which to calibrate for a desired temperature. Please provide more exemplars.

[@DeannaAlexander-se3kr]

ICECO provides a tutorial video on APL35 temperature adjustment. You can contact their support team and the problem will be solved after adjustment.

[@ramenbob4242]

how often do you change your home fridge settings?

[@softroadingthewest]

Almost never. Same for my truck fridge...set and forget. But with the freezer compartment...that I envision changing regularly between fridge temps and freezer temps depending on my needs for any given trip. Also, having lost multiple days worth of food on a couple of occasions due to not realizing the fridge power plug had jiggled loose from my Jackery, I became a little obsessive about checking my fridge status multiple times a day. 😄 Control panel access - or at least some kind of easily-visible status screen - will always remain a desired feature for me. 🙂

[@shelhenderson7008]

can this be used as a freezer?As in the fridge side to freeze also

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes, you can run it it as entirely a freezer, or run it entirely as a fridge, or run it as a fridge/freezer. You set the temperatures for each zone separately on the control panel or in the app, and the full range of temperatures (something like -4°F to 50°F if I remember right) is available to both zones.

[@WhiskeyPete07]

What is that pullover ?

[@softroadingthewest]

Details in an upcoming video very soon, stay tuned! :-)

[@Mandingobull]

There is a reason why iceco gives a fridge to every social media content creator..it's free market for a mediocre product.

[@softroadingthewest]

So you have firsthand experience with Iceco being “mediocre?“ Care to share more specifics? As I mentioned in the video (which perhaps you didn’t actually watch) I have watched these fridges in use for years. Have a read through the comments as other viewers have been running Iceco fridges for much longer than me and appear to be universally pleased with their purchases. If you’re going to make a statement like that, at least provide some evidence to back up your claim. I very rarely accept products to review like this and try to only work with companies producing a quality product, so I would love to know more…thanks!

[@pleinairbarnettoutdoors]

Iceco, a good to great product line. But, I chose a different dual zone unit, with dual doors also... Enjoy your new Iceco 😉

[@darrylk808]

Put it on shock absorbers.😁 Can you put the fridge on the Jackery and the Jackery on your 12v? You have a picture of your cat on your phone? Don't you have kids, or a wife?😂

[@softroadingthewest]

Happily divorced 😄 I have two kids but the cat is the star of the family 😄

[@alanmohn4146]

Algorithm shuffle; do the dance now.

[@MIAMIC70]

A VL Pro style lid would be nice as you can open it from either side. Also, why are the dimensions for the APL35 and APL37 the same?

[@softroadingthewest]

I don’t see an APL37 on their website. The APL35 is a 37-quart fridge so maybe that’s what you’re seeing?

[@MIAMIC70]

@ Yep, was my mistake they list in other site multiple times.

[@Steve_and_Deb_Explore_the_USA]

That’s a very nice fridge for the cost! The self-supporting lid is a feature I’ve not seen before. And I especially like that you can set either side as the freezer! I’ve mentioned before that I got a steal on a National Luna 90 liter dual zone in 2015 (63% off retail price.) It has similar proportions as yours, maybe 60/40. It can be set as both sides freezer, both sides fridge, or one of each. But unlike yours, if I have only one side fridge, it must be the side closest to the compressor, which is the 40% side. We rarely take more frozen food than fridge food, so there is frequently a lot of wasted space in the freezer. A suggestion. I keep my heavy fridge in the LC200 year round, and have it running from March until Christmas. (Not during sub-zero winter months) I have a second AC brick in the truck, and run a short extension cord out under the trailer hitch. So at home or camping where we have AC, it’s plugged in, and when driving or camped off grid, it runs from my Bluetti. No need to pre-cool, and I propose that it is better on the compressor than having to work extra to cool down a hot fridge. Over 50,000 hours so far with zero problems. That’s a long post…

[@TobyCostaRica]

The for me is, these ICECOs are near Dometic (Iceco’s do have longer warranty on the compressor) prices when they are on sale and the cheap $200 fridges have pretty solid reliability ratings. They’re at the price where I’d just go Dometic which has been reliable for me for a decade.