ICECO VL45 Pro S Review

Review

Sep 1

Is this the best 12v fridge for overlanding?

As many of you know, I've been trying to find the right refrigerator for my rig, and up to this point, it's been a trial-and-error process. But hopefully, all that's behind me now is because this episode was brought to you by ICECO.

Before we proceed, I want to clarify one thing. I did not choose ICECO just because they were willing to sponsor the show. While I'm super grateful for the relationship, I went with ICECO because they make a good product, and I would buy one anyway.

Let's move on to the summary and review of my new refrigerator, the ICECO VL 45 Pro S.

Exterior Specs:

This single zone 47.5 quart fridge maintains temperatures between 0 to 50° F.
Outside, it's 28.1" wide from handle to handle, 15.9" deep, 18.1" tall, and weighs 52 lb empty.
The exterior is a really nice magnetic black metal casing, and the corners and lid feel like heavy-duty composite plastic.
The walls are super thick and provide excellent insulation, and the handles not only feel solid but also look really nice.
On the front of the unit, we have a control panel with buttons for the battery protection level, Eco or Max mode, and, of course, temperature control.
You'll also find outlets for 12V and AC power and two USB ports on the front.
On the back, we have just one 12-volt power outlet.
One of the unit's unique aspects is the lid. It opens in two directions, and you can even take it off completely. More on that later.

Interior Specs:

The interior is 20.2" wide, 11.5" deep, and 13" tall.
Of course, the compressor takes up a little room on one side of the cooler.
The unit has a typical textured aluminum inside and comes with two baskets. This is ICECO's new basket design, and I'm a huge fan.
We also have a convenient LED light and a drain plug in the bottom.

Compressor:

That's everything you can see, but what you can't see is arguably the most important thing. The compressor. ICECO exclusively uses secop compressors. This highly reliable and efficient compressor can handle up to 40° of tilt, and it has a 5-year warranty. This compressor is a huge part of the reason I went with ICECO.

Why I Chose This Unit:

Capacity. 47.5 quarts feels like a sweet spot for a single full-time traveler. I can fit all my food in there comfortably without having to cram it all in.
Depth. Many of the other refrigerators that ICECO offers in this similar capacity end up being taller and a little bit narrower, which means you stack food, making it harder to reach. This one's slightly more shallow and feels like a traditional cooler.
Style points. I dig the aesthetic of the VL series. It's just a well-built, clean design.
Lid. I didn't see the benefit of this at first, and frankly, I didn't even think I would use it that much, but I have grown to love it. If I need to grab something quickly out of the top basket, I'll open the left side, which can't be propped open all the way because of my storage bag in the camper, but if I need something out of the bottom basket, I'll open the right side which can be propped up all the way, and I'll grab what I need. And if I'm at a grocery store, and I need to load up a complete run of groceries, I'll take the lid off entirely and then replace it when I'm done.

What I Fit Inside:

I just went to the grocery store and bought four days' worth of food, so let's take a realistic look at what you can actually fit inside this fridge.

In the top basket:

9 Canned Beverages
A Bag of Carrots
A Bag of Kale
Green Beans
3 Oranges
2 Apples
A Chocolate Bar

In the bottom basket:

2lbs Ground Turkey
2lbs Ground Beef
A Dozen Eggs
Overnight Oats
Maple Syrup
A Large Jar of Peanut Butter.

With all that, I still have extra room.

Ice Expense:

I've discussed this before, but it's worth revisiting. When I used a cooler, I spent an average of $8 a week on ice.

$8x52 Weeks In A Year = Annual Ice Expense of $416.

That's a lot of money.

This fridge retails for $699, but if you use the code HEYJON12 at checkout, you get 12% off, bringing the total down to $616. Considering that the annual expense of ice is $416, the refrigerator pays for itself within a year and a half. If you have a power system in your rig, then it's a no-brainer.

Conclusion:

So far, in terms of capacity, build quality, and energy efficiency, this fridge has been everything I hoped it would be. At this point, I'd be confident in recommending it to anyone. If you want to pick one up for yourself, use the discount code HEYJON12. Plug that in at checkout for 12% off your order.

I hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop a comment below. I'll do my best to help you out.

Cheers!