Info on buying a used reefer

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by Wespipes, Jan 15, 2021.

  1. Knucklehead

    Knucklehead Road Train Member

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    I wouldn't buy a used trailer without a unit. You need to know beforehand if that trailer is going to hold the temp. Everything in your business is riding on both pieces passing - preferably with flying colors. Personally, I'd buy a trailer and reefer together after having them both tested.
     
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  3. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I don't know… I don't run a reefer although I used to do food delivery, but the problem with reefers is if you don't have a new engine or at least something that is next to new I could only imagine what the claim would be if that engine broke down.

    Like I said I don't pull refer but I can only imagine that insurance is very expensive as it is and if you had a claim I would think it would only go up.

    So I guess if your going to buy used look for something that may be 1 or 2 years old with low hours?
     
  4. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    That’s what breakdown insurance is for. Most product you have a few hours after the unit shuts off to get a plan together before you risk a claim.
    To the op walk the floor front to back in about 2’ sections. Take a step and bounce up and down. If you feel any give,keep looking.
    Also if you see any spots that look like corrosion on a battery. Those are pinholes and will turn into soft spots.
     
    bzinger Thanks this.
  5. Peter_Bilt

    Peter_Bilt Light Load Member

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    Any place that sells trailers might throw one on to test it to get a sale. I was more so thinking that they would even take one off to sell it without it after you take it for a test drive. You never know, I’d actually do it to sell a trailer if I was selling them.

    Also, what I meant was like a 2014 and up used trailer, not one from 2000 that looks sketchy lol.
     
  6. Peter_Bilt

    Peter_Bilt Light Load Member

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    Did I mention they should sell jumper cables with reefer units? Invest in a long length pair (20ft works on my Pete with a little frame as long as I took left turns careful) from Walmart. I cut off the ends of my first set to bolt them to the batteries on both the truck side and the reefer side and that didn’t work the greatest so I used zip-ties on the next set to keep them secure to the batteries with the original spring-loaded ends which worked out perfect and then you can still use them for quick jump starts when you need them. Also zip-tie the cord to points on the truck and on your frame of your reefer near the battery to keep it in place. I mention all this as you can run jumper cables from your truck to your reefer if you have a battery or alternator go bad and avoid a road call, missing an appointment, or losing a load all together.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2021
    Midwest Trucker Thanks this.
  7. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    I keep a spare alternator/starter to go in the box, as well as spare filters and belts, oil should be the same as the truck, coolant may or may not be the same.

    good copper jumper cables 20-25’ to just in case
     
    slow.rider and Midwest Trucker Thank this.
  8. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    Stay away from ice cream , haul chilled.
     
  9. Knucklehead

    Knucklehead Road Train Member

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    Agreed. -20deg as the norm is only asking for trouble.
     
  10. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    chilled or even regular frozen/processed junk load the Wagon set her at 0 and go, still do temp checks but you don’t have to constantly baby sit it like produce or ice cream
     
  11. scoobertdoo

    scoobertdoo Road Train Member

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    What would that look like?
     
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