used reefer trailer???

If taken care of, they are good for 35,000 hours+. If not well taken care of, may not even make 15,000.

So the answer, as usual, is "it depends".

 

I've got one that has a TK SB+ III that has nearly 25,000 switch hours (about 16000 run hours) and it's a great unit. Cools faster than my Carriers with 3000 - 6000 hours. Like Rogue said, it all depends on how they've been maintained. Also remember that it's not just the engine, but also the compressor and micro's that can be an expensive cost to repair if they've been overlooked.

Usually you can expect about 1000 hours per year unless the wagon is being used for cold storage, or is on all the time for other reasons (maybe hauling ice-cream non stop).

 

Yep! When you power it up it'll show both (I think), or you can manually check the hours, and see both, too. On the TK, I believe it will show <number of hours ON> for switch hours, and <number of hours RUN> for actual run hours.

 

Not whole lot to service on the microprocessor board, but you can sometimes detect boards failing within range by doing a pre-trip (where you initialize the pre-trip function after you turn the unit on) and let it test itself. As for the compressor, you have a sight glass to show you compressor oil. You can also visually inspect the unit and again, run the pre-trip function. If they have serviced the unit as required there shouldn't be a lot of worry, but you never know when you buy one if they are being truthful or not about the service history. If they have records, you can rest a little easier.

I always check them over myself, and then take the unit for an inspection by TK or Carrier before I buy anything used. I also bring a ladder so I can see the roof to make sure there hasn't been damaged or patches. Climb inside and have a friend or someone close the door so you can look for sunlight beaming through anywhere, including the door seals. Shouldn't be any light from anywhere.

Normally on well used reefers you'll find where tire caps have blown off and dug out craters in the bottoms of the floors on the outside. That's not uncommon, and hasn't really influenced my purchase decision. Floor patches on the inside will cause problems sometimes: some shippers like to floor load by pushing full rows of pre-staged product from their warehouse floor into the trailer all at once. If you have patched / repaired floors in the trailer, it will stop them from doing that, and usually ends up having them tell you not to bring said trailer back ever ever again... ask me how I know. haha.

Good luck on your purchase. I hope you find a good one.

 

How old is this reefer? You may want to rethink that California option if it's too old.