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What does Frigid Rigid make?
Frigid Rigid produces very high quality ice chests and freezers/refrigerators. We offer 25 different sizes of ice chests and 7 sizes of freezers/refrigerators. These are designed mainly for the boating market although they are also ideally suited for many other recreational and commercial markets. How long has Frigid Rigid been in business? Frigid Rigid was founded in circa 1985 in the Florida Keys. The founder of the company was an avid fisherman and he could not buy an ice chest that would keep ice for more than a day or two. He was a very resourceful man so he decided to design and build a more efficient ice chest. All of the main features of the original ice chest plus some improvements are incorporated in today's design. Frigid Rigid has been continuously producing high efficient ice chest and freezers for 18 years. How come I have not heard of Frigid Rigid before? For the first fifteen years of the company's existence it concentrated mainly on the production of custom ice chests and freezers. These were sold mainly by word of mouth. Production was very limited because of the use of customized molds. In the last three years, Frigid Rigid has invested in production molds and this has significantly increased our production capacity, allowing us to serve a much larger market. How long will the Frigid Rigid ice chest keep ice? This is a very difficult question to answer because there are so many variables that will affect the efficiency. Such things as sun, outside temperature and the number of times the ice chest is opened can affect the melting rate of the ice. In general, we regularly receive reports of the Frigid Rigid ice chest keeping ice for 7 to 10 days. We have several reports that blocks of ice stayed frozen for three to four weeks. How can the Frigid Rigid keep ice for so long? The three design features that contribute the most to the efficiency of the Frigid Rigid are (1) the fiberglass construction, (2) two inches of high density foam insulation and (3) the "D" ring airtight seal which keeps outside air from leaking into the box. How strong are your ice chests and freezers? The ice chest and freezers/refrigerators are very strong. They are made of reinforced fiberglass and have a gel coat finish. They are constructed like the hull of a boat. The two inches of high density foam insulation adds significantly to the structural strength. We also use heavy-duty hinges and latches. Can you sit on the chests without hurting them? Absolutely, in fact we sell cushions, which can be installed for more comfortable seating. These chest can easily support the weight of several adults. Are your freezers/refrigerators designed to resist the saltwater environment? Yes. Freezers/refrigerators are the same design as the ice chests except they have an additional inch of high-density foam insulation in the walls. The compressor and electrical components are either stainless steel, anodized aluminum and all of the components are epoxy coated. This will ensure many years of service in saltwater conditions. Do you recommend any preventative maintenance on the freezers/refrigerators? We suggest that every six months you remove the access panel and vacuum the compressor compartment and spray a light oil in the compressor compartment. This will help to prolong the useful life of the compressor components. Does your freezer run on 110 volts AC? Yes. Our system is designed to run on 110 AC but it will run on DC if a 1500-watt inverter is installed in the DC electrical system. How much power does your freezer use? On compressor start, there is a peak draw of approximately 4 amps, which lasts less than one second. After initial start, the draw drops to approximately 3 amps. Can your freezers be used as a refrigerator? Yes. There is a digital thermostat that can be reset to allow the unit to operate as either a freezer of a refrigerator. At the factory we set the freezers to operate between 8 and 18 degrees F. As a refrigerator, we normally set the thermostat between 40 and 50 Degrees F. You will receive an instruction booklet on how to reprogram the digital thermostat with your order. How difficult is it to get replacement parts for the freezers/refrigerators? It is not difficult to get replacement parts. All the components are standard, off-the-shelf refrigeration components. Any refrigeration mechanic can service our freezers/refrigerators and replacement parts are readily available. How does the Frigid Rigid patented freezer work? Copper refrigeration tubing is wrapped in a continuous length with no solder joints or fittings to leak. The tubing is bonded and laminated directly to the outside of the interior fiberglass walls with a thermally conductive polymer. Heat is carried away through the fiberglass walls providing efficient cooling and even temperature throughout the chest. Since we do not use cooling plates, our interior surface is smooth and easy to clean. This also eliminates possible damage to exposed aluminum cooling plates as used on competitive brands. What is a "set back" lid on the ice chest? On most ice chests, the hinges are mounted on the back of the lid and the back of the box. When the lid is opened, the lid rocks back. In order for the lid to open fully, the ice chest must be moved away from the wall or bulk head approximately three inches to allow the lid to fully open. In our "set back" design, the hinges are mounted not on the back of the box, but on the top of the box on a specially designed shelf. This allows us to move the hinges forward either 3, 6 or 10 inches and open the lid while the box is flush against a wall. This design works well when the ice chest is placed in front of a center console or under a leaning post of a boat. What is the Frigid Rigid warranty policy? All of the Frigid Rigid chests carry a lifetime warranty. The mechanical and electrical components in the freezers/refrigerators have a two-year warranty. How can I get a Frigid Rigid? We have a number of dealers throughout the United States. Check out our list of Frigid Rigid Dealers here. If you do not have a dealer in your area, contact Frigid Rigid for assistance at 1-800-643-1988, or email sales@frigidrigid.com. How did the company get the catchy name Frigid Rigid? In the early days of the company's existence the founder and some of his buddies were sitting on the end of a dock in the Florida Keys drinking a few beers and talking about the newly invented ice chest. One of the men said that the new ice chest really kept things "frigid". Another commented on how strong and "rigid" the construction was. Thus the name Frigid Rigid was born. Has any testing been done comparing the efficiency of the Frigid Rigid with other ice chests that are on the market? Yes. And in every test conducted, the Frigid Rigid is significantly more efficient than other brands. Our most recent test results are posted here. What options are available?
The only difference is the shape, which allows the chest to be mounted on the rails in teh back of a pick-up truck. The basic design (fiberglass construction, 2 inches of high-density foam insulation, air-tight seal) are the same. Can the pick-up truck ice chests be used for dry storage? Yes. This is the best feature. The ice chest can be used for either cold storage or dry storage, such as tools. Is a refrigerated pick-up truck box available? Yes. These units run on a 12 volt DC compressor and have the capability to either freeze or refrigerate. They run on the truck's 12 volt electrical system. Can the freezer/refrigerator completely drain the battery? No. There is a digital control that senses the battery voltage. If the battery voltage dips below a pre-programmed level, the freezer/refrigerator will shut off to prevent further draining of the batter. This is also a manual on/off switch. How can I buy a pick-up truck mounted ice chest or freezer/refrigerator? At this time, not all dealers are offering this product. So, it is best to call the factory for assistance at 239-433-4447. What is a coffin/storage box? The Frigid Rigid coffin/storage box is designed for a center console fishing boat and is installed in front of the center console. Because it is tapered and has a rounded front, it fits nicely in the bow area, leaving room to walk around it. The large size coffin/storage box is fully insulated and will fit most center console boats 23 feet and larger. The box is 60" long, 22" wide, and 29" high with a 340 quart capacity. The smaller size, designed for boats under 23 feet in length, is 45" long, 22" wide, and 29" high with a 260 quart capacity. The box comes with a sandwich tray, removable divider, perforated stainless bait tray, stainless steel tie downs, and has a 3" toe kick (except on the small size) as standard equipment. An optional cushion for the lid is also available for the large size box. See our pricing guide for the 22" X 60" cushion. |
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