APL55 vs APL35: Best ICECO Fridge For The 4Runner?

Finding the right 12V fridge for your 4Runner can make or break your setup. If you’ve narrowed it down to the ICECO line of refrigerators, you’re likely considering the APL35, APL55, or any of the 45 units. So far, I’ve run the APL35 and the APL55, but I have yet to run either of the 45L units, VL45 and the VL45ProS. These sizes are going to be the most popular for all generations of the 4Runner. I recently wrote a review on the APL35 fridge and absolutely LOVE that fridge. It’s arguably the perfect size for the weekend warrior 4Runner owner.

What makes ICECO stand out from all the other top-tier brands is its warranty and the styles of units offered. ICEO has a 5-year warranty on its SECOP compressor, while Dometic (for example) only has a one-year warranty. When it comes to style, design, and features, ICECO has many more designs within its lineup, and most of the Dometic fridges are very similar.

The APL55 and APL35 are drastically different in so many ways. Let’s break down some of the features and functionality so you can decide which one might be right for you.

In each section below, we will give the “W” to one fridge over the other.

ICECO is running an Independence Day (7/2-7/7) sale as well as Prime Day (7/8-7/12) deals, up to 20% off sitewide – coming soon!

Find It Online

• APL55: Check Price
• APL35: Check Price
• PB1000 Power Station (Currently $400 off!): Check Price

If there is no active sale running, use code – TRAILCO – to save 12%. 

Size and Weight: APL35

The APL35 is noticeably smaller and easier to manage.

If you’re constantly pulling your fridge in and out of your 4Runner or mounting it on a slide, the APL35 will save you a ton of space for storing other items like recovery gear, camp kitchen boxes, Zarges boxes, sleeping essentials, and more.

• APL35: 32 pounds empty
• APL55: 63 pounds empty

The footprint on the APL55 is larger in every direction, it’s way heavier than the 35, and when loaded, it’s almost impossible to lift out of the 4Runner if needed, even with two people. The 35, on the other hand, can be loaded or unloaded full, with no problem.

Not many other fridges on the market can compete with the APL35 – the size, footprint, and weight are perfect for the weekend warrior.

Capacity and Internal Layout: APL55

The APL35 gives you 37 quarts of dual-zone cooling. It is simple, incredibly efficient, and makes the most of its space with one large chamber.

The APL55 offers a massive 58 quarts split between a removable fridge and freezer compartment. The dual-chamber design gives you the flexibility to run a fridge/freezer setup, or if you want to remove the divider, you can run any temperature you want in one chamber.

To enable single-zone cooling, all you need to do is remove the center divider, and the LCD control panel will switch to single-zone cooling. Pretty cool, intuitive feature.

If you need to run ice, meat, or frozen food for multi-day travel, the APL55 wins. If you need a week’s worth of food storage for a family of three to four, the APL55 wins. The APL35 simply can’t compete with the size and versatility of the APL55.

To put the size in perspective, I fit an entire 30-pack of Coors Light in the back of the fridge!!! That’s absolutely insane. When I go out with the APL35, I have to carry a separate Yeti cooler just for the beer. With the APL55, you have more than enough room for a case of beer, food, and more drinks in the main compartment.

The APL55 wins in the capacity and functionality department.

Compressor and Cooling Performance: Tie

Both fridges use a SECOP compressor, which does an incredible job of cooling down the fridge. I used to run a Dometic CFX3 45, and ICEOCO’s compressor is much faster when cooling down the fridge. Like insanely fast. Depending on the outside ambient air, the SECOP cool-down time ranges from 10-20 minutes.

I’ve been very impressed with the SECOP’s ability to cool-down both refrigerators.

They both recover quickly after lid openings and can hold temps steadily even in 100 degree ambient temps.

The APL35 might take a slight edge over the APL55 just because it’s faster to cool down.

Bluetooth App Control: APL55

Both the APL35 and the APL55 include Bluetooth control through ICECO’s app, which lets you monitor and adjust temperature wirelessly.

I didn’t think that I would actually use the Bluetooth app, but it’s nice to set the fridge down from 32 degrees to around 28 degrees when rolling up to camp just so the beers are extra frosty. Nothing like a cold Coors Light when you first arrive at camp.

The APL55 has a slight edge over the APL35 just because you can control two compartments individually.

Power Consumption in the Real World: APL55

APL35

Real World Test: I’ve run the APL35 off the Dometic PLB40 for two and a half days without charging. If I don’t want to worry about the fridge dying, I just plug the Dometic PLB40 or the ICECO PB1000 directly into the DC outlet in the rear of the 4Runner, and as the 4Runner charges the power station, the power station keeps the fridge running.

Testing APL35 Power Consumption:

• APL35 Wattage Draw ( DC -> DC | ICECO PB1000): 78
• APL35 Amp Draw (AC): .66
• Voltage: 119v

You would think APL35 is more efficient due to its smaller size and single-zone design, but it’s not. It draws more power from both AC/DC and cycles the compressor more often.

APL55

Real World Test: I tested the APL55 two separate times so far. The first test was with the ICECO PB1000 fully charged on an empty warm fridge. It cooled down the fridge in 15 minutes in 100 degree ambient weather to 32 degrees in both compartments. The PB1000 held the APL55 at 32 degrees for FOUR full days! However, that was without opening the fridge once. The next test was a little more realistic but still impressive. I pre-cooled the fridge, hooked up the PB1000, and it powered the fridge for about three and a half days before dropping to zero battery life while constantly opening and closing the fridge. The APL55 is impressive at conserving energy and not drawing too hard on its power source.

Testing APL55 Power Consumption:

• Wattage Draw ( DC -> DC | ICECO PB1000): 47
• Amp Draw: .46
• Voltage: 118v

The APL55 uses less energy. I did not expect this but after testing the wattage draw on DC and amp draw on AC, it appears that the APL55 is more efficient than the APL35.

Cable Management and Mounting Flexibility: APL55

Only the APL55 has front and rear power ports, which gives you more flexibility when planning cable routing or power station placement. This is especially helpful when the fridge is mounted on a slide.

This has to be the single biggest pain point on the APL35; it only has power outlets in the front, which makes cable management a pain when sliding the fridge in and out.

APL55 Ports 

• Front: AC/DC/USB
• Rear: DC/USB

APL35 Ports 

• Front: AC/DC
• Rear: Nothing

The 55 wins.

Fridge Lid Hinges: APL35

One of my favorite features on the APL35 is the zero-gravity hinges.

These hinges will keep the lid exactly where you want it, every time. It does not fall on its own weight. You don’t realize how amazing this feature is until you use it. I think that this should be the new standard for fridges.

The APL35 also opens from the side, not the front, which is nice on the 4Runner since the lid can open further. With the APL55, the lid opens straight into the liftgate and just keeps falling back down.

You can see in the image above, that the APL35 lid stands still with no support, and the APL55 needs something to support it while you’re digging around for a snack or drink. The APL55 does have a soft-close lid, and it does come down slowly, but not slow enough for me.

The 35 takes the W here.

Strength: APL55

Here is a photo of the 35 after a year of use from underneath the unit.

I’ve taken this fridge out with me on countless trips. It’s been through the Rubicon, Deer Valley, Slick Rock, and a handful of other pretty rough trails in Northern California. I’ve beaten the living daylights out of this unit. The only sign of damage is on the bottom of the unit where the fridge sits on the slide, and this might be self-inflicted, just from tightening my cam straps down so hard.

Regardless, I doubt something like this would happen to the 55. The 55 is stronger all the way around; the bumpers, the feet, and the exterior construction are just more robust.

The 35 can still go through some gnarly abuse, but I would expect the 55 to hold up better over time.

Control Panel: APL55

The control panel on the 55 is just better all the way around. The display, the buttons, the features, the location, UX/UI… everything.

The display is easier to see, read, and use on the 55 than on the 35. The display on the 35 sits really low on the unit, and harder to see the temp reading sometimes.

The 55 has a few features that the 35 doesn’t: max/eco mode, battery protection (low/med/high voltage protection), luminance display settings, and the exterior lighting that can be changed from white to blue.

One downside of the 55, though, is that you have to hit the + button really hard sometimes. All the other buttons work fine, but the + button, you really have to push down on it in order to trigger your action. I’ve never had that problem with the 35.

Weekend Warrior: APL35

• APL35 is perfect for solo travel, wheeling trips, weekend trips, or daily driver setups where weight and space matter
• APL55 is better for families, longer overland travel, or anyone needing to freeze food or carry larger family meals

The 35 weighs less and leaves more room for gear, camp kitchen boxes, recovery gear, and tools.

Family Fridge: APL55

I love the size of the 55. Being able to fit an entire 30-pack on the backside of the fridge is a huge win.

When we go out, everyone seems to drink all my beer, and then at the end of the trip, I only have a few left, and sometimes we run out because I don’t bring a whole 30-pack. Being able to stack an entire 30-pack and have room left over for food, snacks, and water is amazing. This is the biggest fridge I’ve ever run, and it’s hard going back to the APL35 after running the bigger unit.

If you go out with a large family or need a bunch of freezing cold beer for you and the crew, man, this APL55 is impressive.

Final Thoughts – I Choose APL35

7-4 APL55 Wins… so why would I still choose the APL35? 

Both the APL55 and APL35 are built to last. You’re getting a serious fridge either way. But before choosing, think about how much space you’re willing to give up, what kind of food or drinks you’re carrying, how you eat and drink on the trail, and how you power your setup.

Before buying either one, I recommend measuring your current setup and what you intend to bolt your fridge slide to. Mock up your other gear items; recovery gear, camp kitchen boxes, etc., and then from there determine how much space you have left over for a fridge and slide. From there, it’s easier to choose which fridge is best for your needs.

For a balanced mix of size, simplicity, and performance, the APL35 is hard to beat, as long as you’re willing to carry another small soft cooler with ice for drinks.

If you need more capacity and want to freeze while you travel, the APL55 will get it done. With the APL55, you won’t need a second cooler. Plenty of cold storage with this unit.

At the end of the day, the APL35 just fits my style a little more since I mostly travel solo or with one other truck. I don’t need a week of food for an entire family.

I currently have the 35 in the 5th Gen 4Runner and the 55 in the 6th Gen 4Runner. I found many reasons to love them both.

While both of these units are amazing. I think the VL45ProS is pretty much the sweet spot for the 4Runner. It has a smaller width size (15″) like the APL35, but it’s taller (19″) like the APL55…

What size fridge are you running? Comment below which brand/model you’re running and why you like/dislike it.

Cheers guys,