ICECO VL45 Plus Review: Front Door Access Changes Everything!

I just tested the ICECO VL45 Plus, and the front door access is an absolute win for builds that require it.

No fridge slide, no tilt slide, no unstrapping and yanking the whole unit out every time you need a cold beer. Just strap it down, leave it mounted, and access the front door whenever you want.

An industry first… why did this take so long?

Find It Online:

• VL45Plus Kickstarter Page: Check Price

Specs At A Glance

The VL45 Plus carries a 44QT / 42L capacity, runs a Secop compressor, and cools down to 0 to 50°F. Net weight comes in at 57.6lbs / 26.1kg, and it accepts 12/24V DC or 100 to 120V AC power. ICECO backs the Secop compressor with a 5-year warranty.

My Setup

My current build is a 6th Gen 4Runner hybrid model, and that hybrid system puts a battery in the back of the cargo area. That battery alone eats up several inches of floor height before I’ve added anything else. On top of that, I run the ADGU drawer system, which sits another ten inches above the battery. So before a fridge even goes in, I’m already looking at roughly thirteen inches of added height in the rear cargo area.

Stack a fridge on top, and there is zero chance you’re accessing the fridge without pulling the unit out.

For my setup and many others, there is minimal clearance between the fridge and the headliner when you’re running a drawer system.

The solution before this has always been a straight fridge slide, or a tilting fridge slide, just to access the lid. And even then, with a slide, it’s always a struggle to access the fridge from the top, especially if you have a lifted truck on big tires.

With the VL45 Plus, that’s no longer necessary. Front door access, or as ICECO likes to call it… the “side basket.”

Access With A Better View

After testing the fridge over the last month, I found I can get to about 80% of the interior without ever touching the lid. That’s a big win for anyone who mounts a fridge in a fixed spot and stacks gear on top of it. I don’t have to dig through a pile of gear just to grab a drink.

It’s not just about reaching in; it’s about actually seeing what’s in there. With most fridges, you’re looking straight down into the unit, digging through stacked items to find what you want, letting warm air pour in the whole time. With the VL45 Plus, I can slide the basket out and actually see around it instead of digging blind. Grab what I need, close it back up, done. Less time with the lid open means less warm air getting in and less work for the compressor.

Front Door Latches

I didn’t expect to care this much about a latch, but the VL45 Plus features one of the most satisfying latch locks I’ve heard on a fridge. Solid, confident, no rattle, and just incredibly satisfying. I know it’s a small detail, but it’s just a quality reassurance. It sounds and feels very well built.

Reversible Top Lid

Like the other ICECO VL45 refrigerators on the market, the top lid is also reversible on the VL45 Plus. Read a full review of the VL45 fridge here.

Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIP)

The VL45 Plus uses Vacuum Insulated Panels, VIP for short, with 2.8″ thick insulation layers.

After testing the unit, it’s holding temperature about the same as previous IECCO models I’ve tested in the past. I wouldn’t say there is a huge noticeable difference in retaining cooler temps, although I have not torture-tested this thing back to back against other units.

We’ll save that post for another day. Regardless, it’s nice to see ICECO continuing to push the limits and bring in even more features that keep these fridges running cooler, for longer.

Magnetic-Ready Power

ICECO built the VL45 Plus to work with their magnetic power bank, and it attaches directly to the freezer instead of running through a separate cable setup.

This is actually the first time I’ve tested this magnetic power bank, and it’s actually pretty impressive. It’s really made me reconsider my fridge power supply setup because of how slim the unit is. In the past, I’ve always used my Dometic PLB40, but it just died on me, and after calling Dometic directly, they informed me it’s been discontinued… which sucks because it was one of the only real solid 12V regulated power stations outside of Jackery and maybe a few others.

Back to the ICECO battery pack. Its form factor is amazing. It’s just a little small. I think ICECO would have crazy success if they made a larger 1000WH magnetic power bank over the 250WH offering they have now. Imagine a 1000WH slim-profile, magnetic power bank that lives on the side of your fridge. That would be amazing.

For now, the 250WH magnetic power bank works, but I feel like ICECO is leaving a lot on the table with this one.

Four Corner Tie-Down Points

ICECO added four corner mounting points on the VL45 Plus, so you can strap it down securely from every angle. That’s a killer upgrade for anyone who’s dealt with a fridge shifting around on rough trails.

Whether you use Roller Cam Straps or Perfect Bungees, the choice is yours.

I will note that the actual tie-down opening is pretty narrow. You can see in the photo above that the perfect bungee hook barely fits in between the fridge and the tie-down point. For bigger hooks on certain ratchet straps or cam straps, the tie-down point opening might be a little narrow.

Not a deal breaker, just something to think about.

Same App

The VL45 Plus runs the same ICECO app I’ve used before on the APL35 along with other models. It gives you the same remote monitoring and temperature control I’m already familiar with.

Per ICECO’s spec sheet, the unit also supports onboard panel control and Apple CarPlay control while driving, which is incredible because you can monitor temps while driving.

I love the Apple CarPlay feature.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t going to be the right fridge for everyone, and that’s fine.

But for guys running tall lifted trucks, no fridge slide, a fridge sitting on top of a drawer system or bed storage setup, or a tight SUV space with little to no room between the fridge and the headliner, having a front door entry point is an absolute win.

I’m surprised it took this long for someone to build a fridge like this.

It’s a problem a lot of builds run into, and ICECO finally solved it.