Dometic  CFX5 55 Powered Cooler + Icemaker

TL;DR: A niche investment with hidden costs to get the most out of it. Assuming you can properly power it, I would recommend a fridge like this for long weekend or longer trips and where the fridge is accessible while in the vehicle. Otherwise, a traditional ice chest is more convenient and gets the job done. With respect to the just the product itself, the CFX5 55IM deserves 4 stars. I like the attention to detail, but have some concerns about long term durability. From an overall rating/practicality/cost/usage perspective, I think 4 stars is also appropriate. The 55IM is a specialized tool that will not replace my ice chest but definitely has a place in my load out depending on the adventure. Full, wordy review: 55IM Features and thoughts: The 55IM includes some well thought out design details. There are two baskets: a “main basket” and a smaller basket that sits above where the ice trays are housed. There is a removable divider in the main basket that helps keep your food/drinks organized. The baskets have indents so that you can easily grab onto the baskets and pull them out and there’s an interior light to help with late night cravings. The ice trays have a cut outs between adjacent ice cube cells so that water can flow from cell to cell. The trays are also flexible, helping easily free ice cubes from the tray. The user interface is intuitive, and there is a corresponding app that you can use to remotely monitor and control the 55IM. However, I do have two concerns about the long term durability of the 55IM. First, there’s a noticeable scratch on the lid from passing a backpack across the top. I understand that outdoor gear gets scratched, but I feel like this shouldn’t have happened so easily. Second, I had some issues with setting the temperature. As shown in the posted videos, both the 55IM itself and the app wouldn’t let me set a temperature. Luckily it defaulted to 32F, which kept my refrigerated food near frozen and if I had frozen food, that food near frozen. Simply unplugging and plugging the 55IM did not solve this problem. After reading the manual, I was able to solve this issue by performing a factory reset on the 55IM. You accomplish a factory reset by holding the “UP” + “OK” buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. A bug relating to a critical feature like setting the fridge temperature should not happen, although I do appreciate the mitigation with defaulting the set temperature to 32F in such an event. Using the 55IM: I’ve been a long time user of traditional ice chests. I struggled with ice management and having enough space for longer trips (3+ nights). While my particular ice chest is marketed to have 65 quarts of capacity, in reality, it’s really only about 50 quarts (48 liters) and at least half of that will be ice. Some manufacturers even recommend a 2/3 ice and 1/3 content ratio. The CFX5 55IM comes in at 55 liters and to get a similar capacity, considering the ice ratio, you’re looking at a pretty big and heavy traditional ice chest. On top of not losing space to ice, the 55IM is easy to pre-chill, because again, you’re not using ice - you just plug it into a wall outlet prior to filling it with food. Additional benefits of going ice-less including not having soggy food and not having to dry out your cooler after using it. I understand these are minor inconveniences but I can’t describe how satisfying it is when your food isn’t floating around in ice water. The 55IM provides voltage protection in instances you’re plugging directly into your vehicle’s 12V cigarette outlet. However, that makes me uncomfortable, as I don’t want to be stranded with a dead battery. While you could solve this issue with a portable battery jumper, I think a dedicated power system is the way to go. I luckily already have such a power system, originally bought for power outages. I’ve had luck my 400 Wh power station, which I charge while driving. I will be looking into solar panels to help with instances where I won’t be driving much. To aid with this search, I found some metrics from the older CFX3 55IM, where the energy consumption at 12VDC (Ambient@90F, Internal@39F) = 1.11 Ah/h. I would image that the CFX5 55IM has improved performance due to the vacuum insulated panels. I made a spreadsheet to help understand what I would need to power the 55IM long term from my 400 Wh battery. Long story short, my estimates show that my 400 Wh power station paired with a 100 W solar panel (assuming 60% efficiency) would power the 55IM for weeks, if not indefinitely with about 5 hours of direct sun a day. Your mileage my vary. There lays in, what I think is the biggest drawback of the 55IM. There are some hidden costs with running it. I now have to purchase solar panels and if I didn’t already have a power station, that would have also been an additional purchase. I used the 55IM with a 2018 Tacoma and it would not fit under the OEM tonneau cover, so I resorted to putting it in the back row seats. I could still access the 55IM and its contents, but it was inconvenient and uncomfortable. I now understand why folks mount these fridges on slides. You have to consider how the 55IM and the power source are positioned otherwise you won’t be able to access the contents, without pulling out the whole fridge, wires, and power source out of your vehicle. With a traditional ice chest you can just move it around as you please. Additionally, I would not use the 55IM as a freezer. When my kitchen freezer unexpectedly stopped working. I used the 55IM as a temporary freezer, keeping the temperature at 11F. At this set temperature, it seemed to be running frequently (you could hear the compressor frequently running) and unfortunately, some frozen waffles that were kept near the top thawed out, so I would avoid using the 55IM as a freezer since it seems inconsistent with the inside temperature distribution. Overall, I would recommend the CFX5 55IM if you understand the complexities associated with powering it and limitations as a freezer discussed above. Otherwise, I would stick to a traditional ice chest.

The Dometic CFX5 55 is a high-end portable cooler that offers a lot of features, but after using it for a while, I have mixed feelings. Here's the rundown: Pros: 1. Efficient Cooling/Freezing: The cooling performance is solid. It can get down to -7°F, which is impressive for a portable unit. Whether you're keeping drinks cold or storing frozen foods for a longer trip, the CFX5 55 delivers excellent temperature control. 2. Battery Protection: The built-in battery protection system is a nice touch. It lets you adjust the voltage cutoff, which prevents your car battery from draining if you’re using it while parked for an extended period. 3. Robust Build: The overall construction feels durable and solid. It's made with high-quality materials, and the design is sleek and modern. You can tell it’s built to withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures. 4. App Connectivity: The ability to control the temperature and monitor settings via the Dometic app is handy. It makes adjustments easier but in heavily forested area connection can be difficult. Cons: 1. Pricey: Let’s be real—this thing isn’t cheap. For the price, I expected something with just a little more bang for the buck. The CFX5 55 is on the expensive side compared to other coolers that offer similar performance at a lower cost. 2. Size/Weight: It’s relatively heavy for a portable cooler, even though it’s marketed as "portable." When fully loaded, it’s a bit of a struggle to move around, especially if you’re carrying it over uneven ground or loading it into the back of a truck. It’s certainly not something you can just pick up and go with easily. 3. Noise Level: It’s not silent. The compressor kicks on every so often and can get pretty noisy, especially when the temperature is cooling down to extreme levels. If you're camping or trying to sleep nearby, that noise can be a bit of a disturbance. 4. Power Consumption: While it’s efficient, it still draws a decent amount of power. If you're relying on a portable power source or car battery, you might find yourself needing to recharge it sooner than you’d like, especially on long trips. Conclusion: The Dometic CFX5 55 is undeniably a high-performance cooler, and if you’re serious about outdoor adventures, it’s certainly a capable tool. However, the hefty price tag, weight, and occasional noise factor hold it back from being a must-have for everyone. It's perfect for long-term use in remote places, but if you’re just looking for a weekend cooler, you might find better value elsewhere.