2004 utility/thermoking

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

 

@Short Fuse EOD

 

Don't buy it!!!! At 44k hours, the unit is at the end of its life, its basically its worn out. Also a 2004 reefer trailer is at the end of its life as well. Guaranteed the floor is cracked at the back door and the walls are in bad shape.

 

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.

 

And what do they want for this 20 year old trailer?

 

The floor usually cracks at the rear right where the channel is for the rear drain holes. Also the cross members under the rear of the trailer rust out as well. The trailer that you described is $5000 trailer. And some brokers will not even load you with a trailer that old. If your looking for a used reefer trailer, look for hours between 12k and 14k. This way your going to get a fairly newer trailer in reasonably good condition, and you will easily get 10 plus years out of it.

 

If you want to join us out here in the reefer world, do it. Have a liability and continuation of service plan. It’s not an exclusive field. Shoot if I can do it, pretty much anyone can. Just got to strategize.