Dometic CFX5 55IM 55L Electric Cooler with Ice Maker (97000050756)

Overview: who is this for?

The Dometic CFX5 55IM is a 55-litre single-zone compressor fridge-freezer with a built-in ice maker. It's the largest single-zone model in Dometic's premium CFX5 line, sharing the VMSO 3.5 compressor, weatherproof colour display and Bluetooth app of the CFX5 35, and adding an ice-making compartment that you can switch on when you want ice and off when you don't.

What the Amazon link sells: the listing this page links to is "Dometic CFX5 55L Electric Cooler with Ice Maker", model and part number 97000050756. That's Dometic's US SKU for the CFX5 55IM. Dometic also lists a CFX5 55 without the ice maker in its manual, but the US product range and this listing are the 55IM.

Choose this if:

• You want a large single-zone fridge, 55 litres, for a couple on long stretches between shops or a family on weekends.
• Ice for drinks matters to you and you'd rather not buy bags of it.
• You want Dometic's premium features: app control, colour display, aluminium handles, and a lid that Dometic's manual says can be reversed on this model.

Skip this if:

• Your battery bank is modest. Dometic's published figure with the ice maker on is the highest of any single-zone Dometic we cover.
• You need a freezer and a fridge at the same time. This is one zone; look at the ICECO VL60 Dual Zone.
• You don't need ice. The ice maker is the main reason to pick this over a 45-litre fridge, and it costs space and power.

This is a research-based review. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specifications come from Dometic's US product page for SKU 97000050756, Dometic's CFX5 operating manual (the edition linked from that page), and the Amazon listing. Where Dometic's own documents disagree, we say so.

Capacity, dimensions and clearance

Interior capacity. Dometic lists a total volume of 55 litres. Its US page says it holds up to 84 twelve-ounce cans. Some of that space is taken by the ice-maker housing when it's fitted; Dometic's manual says the housing can be removed for cleaning or when it isn't in use, "to increase usable space".

External dimensions. Dometic's manual lists 720 x 455 x 480 mm, which it gives as 28.35 x 17.91 x 18.90 inches including handles. The US product page gives the same dimensions.

Weight. Here Dometic's documents disagree. The US product page lists a net weight of 44.44 lb. The operating manual's technical data lists 24.3 kg (53.6 lb). We can't tell which is right, so plan around the heavier figure for payload and lifting.

Ventilation clearance. Dometic's manual says: "Ensure at all times that there is a minimum of 50 mm (1.97 in) ventilation on all sides of the cooling device." With that clearance, plan for roughly 32.3 x 21.9 inches of floor space. Dometic also says to keep the ventilation slots clear and to choose a well-ventilated spot out of direct sun.

Lid and access. It's a top-loading chest with a removable lid. Dometic's manual includes a procedure for reversing the lid opening on the CFX5 55IM (and the dual-zone 75DZ and 95DZ), so you can choose which side it hinges from. The manual doesn't show that procedure for the 25, 35 and 45.

Wheels. None. Dometic fits self-folding aluminium handles and M6 threaded inserts in the base for mounting. Dometic sells a strap kit and a tie-down kit separately.

The ice maker

Dometic's manual explains how the ice maker works and is unusually candid about its costs:

• The ice maker zone makes ice cubes "independent of the main compartment's temperature setting" when it's switched on.
• It comes from the factory switched off.
• When switched on, it makes ice fast for a number of hours, then goes into an ice maintenance mode to reduce energy use. Switching it off and on again restarts fast mode.
• "The cooling device's energy consumption increases with ice maker on. Therefore you should switch off the ice maker if it is not needed."
• "Low freezer temperature settings in the main compartment may not be maintained in high ambient temperature conditions with the ice maker switched on."

The Amazon listing says it "freezes two trays of fresh ice in hours". Dometic doesn't publish how much ice per day.

In practice, owners describe using it as an occasional feature: switched on the day before you want ice, then off again. That approach makes sense given Dometic's own advice.

Power consumption

Keep the published rating separate from the daily figure.

• Published power rating: 55 W rated AC input, with a rated DC input current of 8.5 A at 12 V and 4.0 A at 24 V (Dometic US page). That's what you size the fuse and wire for. It isn't a 24-hour average; the variable-speed compressor spends much of the day running slower or off.
• Published energy figure: Dometic's US page rates the CFX5 55IM at 1.55 Ah per hour at 12 V DC, measured with the inside at 4°C (39°F), the ice maker on in its maintenance mode, and 32°C (90°F) ambient.

Over 24 hours, 1.55 Ah/h is about 37 Ah per day, roughly 446 Wh at 12 V.

The mild and hot rows are our estimates. Dometic doesn't publish a figure with the ice maker off, so the mild row is a planning number, not a rating. For comparison, Dometic rates the CFX5 35 at 1.11 Ah/h under its standard US test (90°F ambient, 39°F inside, no ice maker), about 27 Ah per day.

Battery protection

Dometic's manual describes a three-stage battery monitor. If the voltage falls below the set level while the vehicle ignition is off, the fridge switches off and restarts once the battery recovers. Dometic says to select HIGH when the fridge is fed from a starting battery and that LOW suffices for a supply (house) battery. The manual shows the actual voltages only in a graphic, so check the display or the app for the values on your unit.

Battery sizing

With the ice maker in regular use:

• 100 Ah lithium: about two days of fridge-only use with no charging, by our estimate; tight for anything longer.
• 200 Ah lithium with 300 W or more of solar or alternator charging: a comfortable baseline for full-time use, with headroom for the ice maker in summer.

Run your own numbers in the fridge battery calculator, and see how big a battery bank a van kitchen needs for the whole system.

Insulation: a note on Dometic's documents

Dometic's marketing for the whole CFX5 line, including this model's US page, leads with Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIP). The same US page's specification table lists "Insulation Type: PU (Polyurethane)". The CFX5 25's specification table lists PU too. VIPs are typically used together with polyurethane foam, so both can be true, but Dometic doesn't explain which panels are vacuum-insulated on which model. We can't resolve it from the published documents.

Build and features

From Dometic's US page and manual:

• VMSO 3.5 variable-speed compressor; R1234yf refrigerant.
• Temperature range of 68°F down to -8°F (Dometic's page says -7°F; the manual gives 20°C to -22°C).
• Rated operating ambient of 61°F to 109°F (16°C to 43°C). Dometic notes the minimum temperature may not be reached above 90°F ambient.
• Weatherproof colour display, Bluetooth app with temperature and energy tracking, and a lid-open alert.
• 18 W QC 3.0 USB port, interior LED light, removable wire divider and basket, drain plug, anti-condensation coil.
• AC 100–240 V and DC 12/24 V inputs.
• Internal components mounted on dampers, which Dometic says isolates noise and vibration off-road.

Dometic's US page shows a 3-year warranty for this model. Its manual points to an online limited-warranty document, so confirm the terms before you buy.

How it fits a van kitchen

The CFX5 55IM is a big box. At 28.35 inches long and nearly 19 inches tall, it takes the floor space of a 45-litre fridge and then some. It suits vans and trucks where the fridge sits in a dedicated bay or on a slide, not under a low bed platform. Check the lid's swing as well as the box height.

It suits people who are already planning a large electrical system. If your build has 200 Ah or more of lithium and decent solar, the extra draw is manageable, and the ice maker gives you something no other fridge on this site does. If your system is modest, a smaller single-zone fridge plus the occasional bag of ice is cheaper to run. Our 12V fridge buying guide and the fridge sizing guide cover how to choose.

Limitations

• The highest published draw of the single-zone Dometics we cover, with the ice maker on.
• Conflicting weight figures in Dometic's documents: 44.44 lb on the page, 53.6 lb in the manual.
• Insulation details unclear, with VIP marketing and a PU specification.
• Single zone. The ice maker isn't a freezer compartment for food.
• Premium price. It's one of the most expensive fridges on this site.

Verdict

The Dometic CFX5 55IM is a premium 55-litre fridge with one feature no other fridge we cover offers: ice on demand. Dometic is clear that the ice maker raises energy use and should be switched off when you don't need it, and its own 1.55 Ah/h rating reflects that. For a well-powered van whose owners want cold drinks with ice on long trips, it's a genuinely different choice. For most builds, a smaller CFX5 or a 45-litre fridge does the core job with less power and less weight.

FAQ

How much power does the Dometic CFX5 55IM use?

Dometic's US page rates it at 1.55 Ah per hour at 12 V, with 90°F ambient, 39°F inside and the ice maker on in maintenance mode. That's about 37 Ah, or 446 Wh, per day. Dometic doesn't publish a figure with the ice maker off.

How much ice does the CFX5 55IM make?

Dometic doesn't publish a daily ice output. Its manual says it makes ice fast for a number of hours after you switch it on, then goes into a lower-energy maintenance mode. The Amazon listing says it "freezes two trays of fresh ice in hours".

Can I turn off the ice maker?

Yes. It's off from the factory, and Dometic's manual recommends switching it off when you don't need it, because energy use increases with it on. The ice-maker housing can also be removed to free up space.

What are the CFX5 55IM dimensions and weight?

Dometic lists 28.35 x 17.91 x 18.90 inches including handles. The US page gives the weight as 44.44 lb and the manual as 53.6 lb. Add at least 50 mm (about 2 inches) on all sides for ventilation.

Can the CFX5 55IM lid be reversed?

Yes. Dometic's manual includes a procedure for reversing the lid opening on the CFX5 55IM.

Is the CFX5 55IM a dual-zone fridge?

No. It's a single-zone fridge-freezer with a separate ice-making compartment. For separate fridge and freezer zones, Dometic sells the CFX5 75DZ and 95DZ.

Sources and verification

• Dometic US product page, CFX5 55IM Electric Cooler, SKU 97000050756: dimensions, weight, rated input current and power, energy consumption with test conditions, operating temperatures, insulation type, features, 3-year warranty label. https://www.dometic.com/en-us/product/cfx5-55im-electric-cooler-97000050756 (checked 2026-10-11)
• Dometic CFX5 operating manual (EN/FR/ES edition linked from the US product page): 50 mm ventilation requirement, lid reversal, battery monitor, ice maker operation and energy notes, technical data. https://media.dometic.com/externalassets/07-0703-070328-070328005_97000050756_152475.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
• Amazon US listing for ASIN B0DVLZL61N, the listing this review links to: title, model 97000050756, feature bullets and availability (checked 2026-10-11)