Just a couple silly questions I have about them. Do they get their fuel/electricity from the tractor or are they self contained with their own fuel tanks/batterys?
Self contained units with oil, fuel, and batteries. Plus, a whole extra set of gauges that you have to learn along with warning lights and codes. j/k here, but you need a degree from Harvard to run one! *my hubby's joke, he use to run them*
A "REEFER" is fully a self-contained unit. At the bottom of the unit is the battery, and you can jump your truck with it if needed, and the cycle gauges are usually on the drivers front corner of the trl. so you can see them while driving. Unless someone has backed into or turned into them and smashed them, then you will have to look at the faceplate of the unit to check the cycles. The old style unit had the fuel tanks under the unit( remember MONFORT) but now they are belly tanks.
Being able to jump the truck from the reefer and vice versa is one of the benefits of reefer ops. Trailers are also heavier, even when empty, because of all the extra insulation, fuel, reefer unit, etc. Many miles I have driven with an empty reefer trailer, being blown all over the lane, and feeling sympathy for the dr van guys running empty!
All good info on reefers. The trlr is also not quite as wide as a dry van. And ALWAYS check your fluids when picking up a different tlrl. Most people will just pickem up and drop em off. Dont be the one to let it run outta oil or coolant. They dont always shut down like they are supposed to. keep extra cooland and oil for your reefer. Make sure the chute is in good condition as well. If its torn make a note of it. You dont want to be the one they try to blame for it being ruined as i believe they are running around 2500 bux new.
