Best 12V Fridge for Overlanding: What I Run and Why (2026)
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The best 12V fridge for overlanding is a dual-zone fridge/freezer sized to your space. For me that's the 37QT ICECO APL35, which lives in our Tundra camper. If you need more room, the 58QT APL55 is my favorite overland fridge I've reviewed. The fridge is only half of it. How you power it matters just as much.
So, I've covered three ICECO 12V fridges on the channel since 2022, and one of them lives in our camper full time. I think a fridge is one of the most useful pieces of overland gear you can buy. Food is one of the most important things out there, and you need to keep it at the right temperature so it doesn't go bad, especially when you're driving from place to place and the temps keep changing. A 12V fridge does that without you buying ice every day.
Here's how I'd pick one, how I power mine, and where it goes in the truck.
The fridges I've run
These are the three ICECO fridges I've covered. Capacities are from ICECO's site, which I checked on October 28, 2026.
| Fridge | Size and zones | How I used it | Get it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICECO APL35 | 37QT, dual zone | Lives in our 2007 Tundra with the Tune M1 camper, on a fridge slide | Space is tight and you want a freezer side |
| ICECO APL55 | 58QT, dual zone | My 2024 review. My favorite overland fridge to date | You're feeding more people or going out longer |
| ICECO VL45 line | 47.5QT, single zone | I tested the VLPro45S on a few trips in 2022 | You want a more affordable fridge that still performs well |
Heads up on the VL45: the model in my 2022 video was the VLPro45S. ICECO's site now lists the VL45, VL45ProS and VL45PLUS, so check the current listing before you order.
There's no code to type for ICECO. Going through my link takes 12% off automatically. I go through the details in the ICECO discount code post.
Single zone or dual zone?
Of the fridges I've used, the single-zone VL45 is the more affordable one. The APL35 and APL55 are both dual zone, and that's what I run now. In the APL35, one side is just frozen otter pops and the other side is condiments, drinks, limes and random stuff. That way you get a freezer and a fridge out of one unit.
What size do you need?
It really comes down to where it's going and how many people you're feeding.
- If space is tight (a camper, a drawer system, the back of an SUV), go with something around the APL35's 37QT. Ours fits in the camper and I can still clear out the bed with my boxes and use the bed entirely.
- If you're going out longer or with more people, the APL55 at 58QT gives you more room.
- If budget matters most, the VL45 line is the more affordable option of the ones I've used.
If the fridge goes on a slide, make sure the slide matches your fridge model. ICECO sells fridge slide mounts on its site.
How I power my fridge
When I first set up the Tundra camper, I ran the fridge off a Goal Zero portable power station. It powered the water pump, the fridge and everything else in there, and that works fine if you want to start simple.
Later I switched to a RedArc QuickFit75 system with a 320Ah Dakota Lithium battery. The reason why is I was over the loose 12V connections and wires everywhere, and I didn't want to worry about the fridge shutting off. The battery charges three ways: alternator, solar and shore power. Now the dual-zone fridge shows up right in the RedVision app, and the APL35 sits on an ICECO fridge slide with the power cord routed so it doesn't snag when you slide it out.
So a portable power station is how I started, and a dedicated battery with alternator and solar charging is where I ended up once the fridge basically lived in the truck.
Keep the truck battery topped off
If the truck sits a lot between trips, or you run accessories off it while parked, a hood solar panel is a simple add. I run a Lensun hood panel on my 2nd gen Tundra. Its job is to trickle charge the starting battery while the truck sits, so you're not coming back to a weak battery. Dash cams, interior lights left on and fridges running while parked are the kind of things it helps with.
Be realistic about it though. On the 100W panel I tested, expect around 60 to 80W at peak sun, and angle, heat and shade all change that. So I look at it as maintenance charging for the starting battery.
Lensun makes hood kits for the Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser and more. The panel size depends on your exact hood. A hood with a scoop or a TRD Pro hood gets a smaller panel, so pick by your year and trim on their site.
Where to put the fridge
One thing I learned on our Tundra camper build: weight placement matters. The truck was leaning to one side, so on top of the suspension fix, we placed the fridge, the water tank and the battery all on the passenger side to balance it out. Before all that, there was a 1 inch difference side to side. Now it's about an eighth inch.
So if you're loading a fridge, water and a battery into the bed, think about which side it all goes on. On an SUV, the custom 4Runner drawer build I covered was getting an ICECO fridge slide, an ICECO fridge and a battery bank mounted right on top.
My verdict
If it's just you or two people and space is tight, get the APL35. That's what I run. If you're feeding more people or going out longer, get the APL55. If budget matters most, the VL45 line is the affordable way in. For me personally, the APL55 is still my favorite of the ones I've reviewed, and the APL35 is the one that fit our camper. Whatever you pick, plan the power at the same time. I started on a power station and moved to a dedicated battery once the fridge lived in the truck.
All my other codes are on the full code list.
More fridge videos
FAQ
What's the best 12V fridge for overlanding?
The one that fits your space and has the zones you need. I run the 37QT ICECO APL35 dual zone in our Tundra camper, and the 58QT APL55 is my favorite of the fridges I've reviewed.
Is a dual zone fridge worth it?
It's what I run. One side holds frozen stuff and the other holds drinks and condiments, so you get a freezer and a fridge in one unit. Of the ones I've used, the single-zone VL45 is the more affordable option.
ICECO APL35 vs APL55, which should I get?
Both are dual zone. The APL35 is 37QT and fits tight spaces like our camper. The APL55 is 58QT for longer trips or more people.
How do you power a 12V fridge while camping?
I started with a Goal Zero portable power station, then moved to a RedArc QuickFit75 system with a 320Ah Dakota Lithium battery charged by the alternator, solar and shore power. I made the switch because I didn't want to worry about the fridge shutting off.
Does ICECO have a discount code?
Not through me. Shopping through icecofreezer.com/TVO takes 12% off automatically, so there's nothing to type at checkout.