Good morning, I’m looking at buying a 2004 utility with a thermoking sb200. I’m a little concerned with the unit as it has about 44,000 hrs on it. Do you all have any tips on if this would be a good trailer to start reefer and what to look out for? Also how hard is it to find someone to rebuild the motor? So far I’m only finding rebuild kits when I search.
2004 utility/thermoking
Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by Dallison, Feb 26, 2023.
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That's at the end of its life. It's not just the engine you have to worry about, it's also the insulation. That's degraded by now. Maybe if you're just gonna do refrigerated stuff but for frozen food, hell no. It's just gonna cause you headaches
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bzinger and Short Fuse EOD Thank this.
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I’m completely honest and not being pompous. I would not take that setup if it was free.
Trailer- liability. Pick up a load and deal with broken crossmembers, wet rotted wood, trailer not holding temperature and eating up fuel. If your trailer is down for a week for parts/repairs and your freight is perishable.. Customer may reject if it comes too late. They have lost value of product as there is less time for quality for the end buyer.
Reefer- you can resurrect the unit with money. Keep in mind you can get a brand new 7500 x4 for 28500.00 with fuel tank etc installed. The cost of a reefer unit barely even registers the cost of destroyed loads or worse yet a rejected load that insurance won’t cover. My customer will make me buy the load if it goes to them in start/stop or tattle take and my download are unfavorable. Even if product is perfectly in order. Customer WILL take me to court in Michigan to get the invoiced product amount. They will win as contract would have been broken due to me not holding up my end. At that point insurance won’t cover and I will never recoup the load because food chain of custody is not in order. I will have to write a check. Pennies on dollar. Some say get a new customer, well I am doing good in this down turn while others struggle. It’s my angle to stay alive out here these days. Hard customer, high customer service, nice paycheck. You need big money per mile if you want to survive the next years. If you are leased on. You are a little more safe as you put the liability on the fleet. If you came to me with that unit you could not lease on to me. Too much risk. I also require full inspection on unit twice a year with oil analysis at my local Reefer shop. -My cost. Geeting into Reefer on the cheap can put you in the poorhouse nowadays. What happens if unit blows to cold on produce? Unit dies on ice cream? Customer rejects load for a tattle take that shows out of temp and you can’t prove you are all good with a reefer data download?? Many guys have done what you are considering and have gotten burnt. If not, matter of time. Reefer pays more, well cause liabilities and equipment drive costs up. Those that wander in reckless drive rates down and steal the money until something happens and then they cry. Had a o/o ruin a load of banana for Indy fruit co last year. They came for me for consultation. Bad deal. Open deck is easier to get in with less money.Last edited: Feb 26, 2023
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And what do they want for this 20 year old trailer?
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