ICECO APL55 Portable Fridge Review: Best 12V Dual-Zone Camping Fridge for Trucks and Overlanding
Photo by Jordan Weaver
Why This 12V Dual Zone Camping Fridge is a Must-Have for Overlanding or Car Camping
If you’re like I was, you might think a portable fridge is unnecessary or just takes up valuable space in your rig. But after using the ICECO APL55 12V fridge on camping trips, trail rides, and long road hauls, I can honestly say it’s now on of my most essential pieces of gear.
Being able to keep drinks cold, freeze meals, and skip the whole “ice-melt soup” situation has been a total game changer.
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First Impressions: Built Tough and Very Portable
Right out of the box, I was impressed. The packaging was solid, the build quality looked premium, and everything from the metal latches to the digital display felt overbuilt in the best way. ICECO even included replacement parts for the components most likely to wear out over time like the bump plates and drain plug.
I went with the metallic black finish, but you can also get it in a sleek stainless steel. Despite it’s 55L capacity, it’s got a clean, compact look that doesn’t feel bulky even when putting it inside the cab.
Favorite Features of the ICECO APl55
This fridge is absolutely packed with tons of useful features that even other big name brands don’t have in their more expensive fridges. From someone who has never had a portable fridge though, there were some key features that stood out to me and helped me choose the ICECO one.
Dual Zone Fridge and Freezer Functionality
The dual zone feature lets you run one side as a fridge and the other as a freezer or even set both sides to the same temp. With a range from -4 degrees to 68 degrees (fahrenheit), you’re covered whether you’re keeping drinks cold or freezing meat for a longer trip.
Perfect Fit for a Tacoma Cab
Space is always tight in my Tacoma, but the APL55 fits perfectly in the backseat when I fold the seats down. That means I can still use the bed for gear and don’t have to dig through stuff to grab a cold drink. Total win for convenience and accessibility.
App Controlled Convenience
Pairing perfectly with my EcoFlow Delta 2, the ICECO app lets me control fridge temps, monitor power draw, and make adjustments on the fly whether I’m in the driver’s seat or sitting around a campfire.
Suprisingly Energy Efficient
Running the APL55 off my EcoFlow, I got around 32 hours of use and still had battery left over. On average, it draws about 1% per hour. For best results, pre-chill your food and the fridge a few hours before your trip to reduce power draw while keeping the compressor from working overtime.
Easy to Organize with Custom Baskets
The removable divider and included baskets make it easy to keep drinks, meals, and snacks seperated. On bumpy trails, however, I noticed that they can rattle if they are empty, but that’s easy to fix if it bothers you.
ICECO APL55 Specs
Now that I’ve told you what I think about the APL55, here are some of the specifications from ICECO:
Capacity: 55 Liters
Power Input: 12/24V DC, 11-240V AC, and solar power compatible
Temperature Range: -4 degrees - 68 degrees (Farenheit)
Weight: 48 lbs
Dimensions: 28.3” x 18.1” x 17.3”
Photo by Jordan Weaver
Real World Performance and Off-Road Testing
I have used the ICECO APL55 in a handful of camping and road trips and have gotten to test it mainly in dusty and hot temperatures and it has performed flawlessly. When temperatures were at their highest, the fridge was able to keep its content cold without draining too much additional battery life from my power station. When it got cooler, the power consumption did obviously lessen though as expected.
As far as being able to handle being bounced around on rough trails, it performed great and didn’t cut off or give any warnings. I also had glass bottles stored inside with the fridge not all the way full and they made it to the campsite without a scratch. I did notice however, you will need a way to strap the fridge down. Since I keep it in the backseat with the seats folded down, the surface is a bit slippery and the fridge can slide around a lot. I used Rollercam straps to secure it down by the handles and haven’t had any issues since.
As far as portability, this model is a little bit on the heavier side. It can be a little difficult to move by yourself if you have things inside of it but when empty it’s not too bad in terms of weight. The size can be a little bit of an issue putting it into a Tacoma though as the doors aren’t very big.
Portable Fridge vs a Cooler
After having now used both a portable fridge and a cooler I can easily say that a portable fridge wins if you expect to be doing longer camping trips. On the other hand, I do still think that there is a place for coolers as you just can’t beat the ruggedness and portability they offer especially if you invest in a nicer one.
One of the main selling points for me on why a portable fridge is better for longer trips is that you don’t have to deal with worrying about your ice melting and causing a big mess. There’s nothing worse than waking up ready to cook breakfast after a nights sleep while camping and realized that most of your ice had melted and gotten into your food and ruined some of it. With a portable fridge like the ICECO APL55, you don’t have to worry about that at all.
Final Thoughts
The ICECO APL55 is a rugged, efficient, and versatile dual-zone fridge that’s perfect for overlanding, van life, road trips, and weekend camping. With top tier performance and smart features, it’s worth every penny especially when you consider how much better it makes life on the road and camping trips.
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