ICECO VL60 Dual Zone 60L 12V Fridge Freezer vs ICECO JP40 Pro 37L (40 qt) Wheeled 12V Fridge Freezer

The short answer

For most solo travelers and couples, the ICECO JP40 Pro is the better buy. It's the cheaper of the two, weighs about 39 lbs, and its 13.8-inch-wide body fits the narrow bays most vans have. Its single zone, 37 liters (40 quarts) per ICECO's manual, runs as a fridge or a freezer, and wheels plus a pull handle mean one person can move it.

The ICECO VL60 Dual Zone is the right fridge for families, for long trips far from resupply, and for anyone who wants frozen and fresh food at the same time. It has two compartments with separate lids and setpoints, 60 liters in total and a steel cabinet, at a price that is still reasonable for a true dual zone. The trade-off is a box 64 lbs empty and 31 inches long that should be planned at about 45 Ah a day with both zones running. Your battery bank has to be sized for that.

The deciding question is whether you need a real freezer running alongside your fridge. If you don't, the JP40 Pro is cheaper, lighter, smaller and easier to power. Our full ICECO JP40 Pro review and ICECO VL60 review cover each in detail, and the 12V fridge complete guide explains the sizing basics. VanLifeKitchens does not test fridges hands-on. The figures here come from ICECO's manuals, spec graphics and listings, retailer listings and owner reports.

Single zone vs dual zone

This is the real decision. The JP40 Pro has one compartment set anywhere from -4°F to 68°F. Each trip you choose whether it is a fridge or a freezer. At 37 liters, that is usually the right call, because splitting a box that size leaves you with a small freezer and a cramped fridge.

The VL60 gives each zone its own lid and its own setpoint across ICECO's 0°F to 50°F range. Opening the fridge side does not let warm air into the freezer. You can also run both sides as fridges at different temperatures, or switch one zone off on short trips to save power. ICECO doesn't publish a volume for each zone, but its interior graphic shows one full-depth compartment and a smaller one that has the step over the compressor.

Two caveats on the VL60 come from a published long-term review by Camp Addict. First, 0°F did not keep ice cream hard. Second, the left zone sometimes read up to 8°F off its setpoint, while the freezer side held within about 2°F. Owners commonly recommend checking each zone with a standalone thermometer for the first few days. The JP40 Pro's lower -4°F floor is colder when you run it as a freezer, but only one temperature at a time.

Edge: VL60, if you need both zones. It is the only one of the two that does fridge and freezer at once.

Size, weight and moving it

The JP40 Pro measures 28.5 x 13.8 x 18.0 inches and ICECO lists it at 39.1 lbs. The VL60 measures 31.2 x 19.5 x 18.9 inches and ICECO lists it at 64.0 lbs. That makes the VL60 almost 6 inches wider, close to 3 inches longer and about 25 lbs heavier before you load any food.

Width is the number that matters most in a van. At 13.8 inches, the JP40 Pro fits between wheel wells and into galley bays where a 19.5-inch box will not. Its wheels and fold-out pull handle let one person tip it back and roll it like a suitcase. The VL60 has recessed spring-loaded steel handles and no wheels. Owners describe it as a two-person lift once it is loaded, and it is really meant to live on a slide or a truck-bed mount. ICECO did size it at under 19 inches tall so it fits under a pickup tonneau cover.

The JP40 Pro has one catch. The wheel and handle hardware make it longer than a plain box of the same capacity, which is wasted length in a fixed slide-out.

Both need the same ventilation space, because ICECO's manuals give one rule for its fridges: more than 5 cm (about 2 inches) at the left and right sides and 10 cm (about 4 inches) at the front air outlet. Including that, the JP40 Pro needs roughly 32.5 x 17.8 inches of floor space and the VL60 about 35 x 23.5.

Edge: JP40 Pro, for being narrower, much lighter, and movable by one person.

Power draw and battery sizing

ICECO's VL60 manual gives two figures in different tables. Its catalog page lists 0.545 kWh per 24 hours (545 Wh, about 45 Ah a day at 12V). Its consumption table lists 0.416 kWh, but that table appears to be shifted by one row. ICECO's Amazon listing gives 199 kWh a year, which matches the 0.545 figure. Plan around 0.545. Our VL60 review estimates roughly 27 to 32 Ah a day in mild weather or with one zone off, and about 68 Ah in hot weather with frequent lid openings. Camp Addict measured roughly 40 to 45 W while the compressor was running. Its 24-hour run, with one side at 0°F and one at 38°F, works out to roughly 50 Ah by our conversion.

ICECO's JP Pro manual lists the single-zone JP40 Pro at 0.323 kWh (323 Wh) per 24 hours, about 27 Ah a day at 12V, as a lab figure with no stated conditions. ICECO doesn't publish a rated wattage; the roughly 50 W you'll see is a dealer figure. Using duty-cycle estimates, our review comes to roughly 25 to 35 Ah a day in mild to moderate weather and 50 to 60 Ah in serious heat.

For your electrical system, that means:

• JP40 Pro: 100 Ah of lithium plus about 200 W of solar is comfortable for three-season use. Go to 200 Ah for hot climates or freezer use.
• VL60: 100 Ah of lithium is tight, about two days in moderate weather with no charging. Our review recommends 200 Ah of lithium plus 300 to 400 W of solar to run both zones full-time.

To model your own bank and climate, use the fridge battery calculator.

Edge: JP40 Pro, because it needs noticeably less battery and solar.

Build, controls and app

The VL60 is the tougher box: a painted steel cabinet that ICECO calls shockproof, heavy-duty corner caps, steel latches on each lid, an extra-thick insulation layer and a built-in 110 to 240V AC adapter with no external power brick. Camp Addict described the build as almost military-like. ICECO's product page lists no Bluetooth or app, so you set it from the front panel, which shows both zone temperatures and battery voltage.

The JP40 Pro has a molded shell with reinforced corners. It is lighter and will scuff sooner than steel, but it adds useful features. The lid hinges on either long side or lifts off completely, there are DC ports on both ends, and a Bluetooth app lets you change the setpoint, mode and battery cutoff from inside the van. Physical buttons on the panel still work without a phone.

Both use Secop compressors, both have MAX and ECO modes, and both have the same three-level battery protection: 12V cut-outs of 9.6V, 10.4V and 11.1V per ICECO's manuals. ICECO's product pages rate both to run at up to 40° of tilt.

Edge: split. The VL60 is more rugged. The JP40 Pro is easier to place and to control.

Noise and ventilation

ICECO publishes no noise rating for either fridge, so we won't make one up. Owners of both describe the usual Secop sound: a low hum while the compressor runs and a faint click when it starts and stops. Light sleepers in a quiet van may hear either one.

Ventilation matters more with the VL60, because one compressor serves two zones and works harder. Camp Addict reported an electrical burning smell after leaving it running in a closed vehicle above 100°F. The unit kept working, but it is a clear warning. Whichever fridge you choose, leave ICECO's 5 cm side and 10 cm front gaps, and keep it out of direct sun. ICECO says its compressors can fail at ambient temperatures above 55°C (131°F).

Edge: JP40 Pro, which is more forgiving because it is smaller and has less load on its compressor.

Value

The JP40 Pro is the cheaper fridge, and the VL60 costs noticeably more. Check current prices on Amazon, since they move often. ICECO lists a 5-year compressor and 1-year parts warranty for both.

The extra money buys you 23 more liters, a second zone with its own lid, a steel cabinet, a built-in AC adapter and an insulated cover. That is strong value for a true dual zone. Go by the hidden cost too, though. To run both VL60 zones full-time, our review recommends about 200 Ah of lithium. A JP40 Pro can manage on half that in moderate weather. If you would need to buy a battery to support the VL60, the real gap is much bigger than the sticker difference.

Which one should you buy?

Buy the ICECO JP40 Pro if:

• You are solo or a couple and choose fridge or freezer each trip.
• Your fridge bay is narrow, around 14 inches.
• You move the fridge in and out of the vehicle on your own.
• You run a 100 Ah lithium bank or want to keep power use low.

Buy the ICECO VL60 Dual Zone if:

• You want frozen meat and fresh food on the same trip.
• You are feeding a family or staying far from resupply for long stretches.
• The fridge stays mounted on a slide or in a truck bed.
• You have about 200 Ah of lithium and solid solar, or plan to.

FAQ

Is the ICECO VL60 worth it over the JP40 Pro?

Only if you need a fridge and a freezer at the same time, or more than 37 liters. The VL60 adds a second zone and 23 liters for noticeably more money. It is also about 25 lbs heavier and much wider, and needs more battery.

How much more power does the VL60 use than the JP40 Pro?

Plan the VL60 at about 45 Ah (545 Wh) a day at 12V with both zones running. That's the figure on its manual's catalog page and its Amazon listing; another table in the manual shows 0.416 kWh, but it appears misaligned. ICECO's manual lists the single-zone JP40 Pro at 0.323 kWh (323 Wh), about 27 Ah a day in the lab, and our estimate is roughly 25 to 35 Ah a day in mild to moderate weather. Switching one VL60 zone off brings it closer to the JP40 Pro.

Can the JP40 Pro work as a freezer?

Yes. It can be set as low as -4°F, which is colder than the VL60's 0°F floor. But it is single-zone, so the whole compartment becomes a freezer and you lose the fridge for that trip.

Do both ICECO fridges have an app?

No. The JP40 Pro has Bluetooth app control. ICECO's product page lists no app or Bluetooth for the VL60, so you control it from the front panel.

Which ICECO fridge fits a small van?

The JP40 Pro. At 13.8 inches wide and 39.1 lbs, it fits narrow galley bays and one person can roll it. The VL60 is 19.5 inches wide and 31.2 inches long, so you have to plan your layout around it.