How cold should a unit go? Buying a reefer trailer very soon

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by truckman29801, Dec 16, 2013.

  1. truckman29801

    truckman29801 Medium Load Member

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    I havent seen the catch yet lol other than the sound it makes, sounds like an old yanmar diesel., the sister trailers have brand new thermo units on them and they run 13k. I guess its the age of the trailer. Verry very clean, i spent a few hours looking over the undercarrage.
     
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  3. stlvance

    stlvance Medium Load Member

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    Stevens does not use a 6 number system for the trailers and i can see the outlines of 6 digets on the chrome
     
  4. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    I'd also use a fridge/freezer thermometer in the center of the trailer if you're going to run the unit to test for cooling capacity. As a general rule the temp readout on the display is more or less a good representation of the temp but I don't trust any used trailer salesmen to not figure out a way to jigger with the unit to make it read lower then reality if there is some mechanical problem with the unit. 15 feels a lot like 0 in a trailer with open doors
     
  5. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

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    That is an old Stevens trailer. It has the 53" below the remote indicator panel and the two red stripes across the front. That is tape covering up the black stripes. The side panels have been replaced where the Stevens decals were and i can vaguely see the residue from the red stripe that runs from front to rear. It also has the intermodal rub rails along the bottom of the side gussets. The one up at the top have been removed. Since i can't see the rear doors but i'd guess it has diamond stamped stainless panels on the rear doors.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2013
    EverLuc Thanks this.
  6. Jayshawn89

    Jayshawn89 Light Load Member

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    you can run a rig dig report on the trailer it costs about 35$ tell you accidents trailer ownership history(if they are still around) and roadside dot inspections
     
  7. truckman29801

    truckman29801 Medium Load Member

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    Well a price correction on the new units, he wants 14k down. I walked inside and there is a bubble over the kingpin area inside, can that be fixed? Im not buying that one just the one i originally wanted, i spent the day looking at this one. Just gotta set the pickup date.
     
  8. EverLuc

    EverLuc Light Load Member

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    Well, I started out as a Buzzard so I was certain it was a Stevens trailer. This is a good thing as the equipment is very well maintained. That 1st 8 to 10ft does look like it has been replaced. The inside shows the joint. Also, the processor/computer could have been changed and may show less hours than the engine. At $4300 it's a good deal. At $14k, nope, use that $ towards a new unit.
     
  9. truckman29801

    truckman29801 Medium Load Member

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    Well guys thanks for the info, I decided to go after another unit, its a newer Unit on the trailer, and its a 2000 Trailmobile. it had rear end damage on the DOT bumper but i got it at a good price. its a thermoking and its ALOT quieter and went to -15F. dual E tracks on both sides, and a 90gal fuel tank it has Miller Truck lines in the Door. Anyways heres the problem I had with the other trailer. I paid for the Rig Dig report as well as a $100 to bring a certified TK tech out without planing ahead. First off the trailer was a Rental unit on lease with Stevens transport. Then i found out the trailer was in an accident that caused the termination of lease.....Then i went and
    Hired a TK tech to go to the place of business to check out the unit. we got there and the unit wouldn't start and when it did start it was cycling on and off, took 3 hours to struggle to get to 0 degrees. the Computer said it had 2k hours..............then the device the Technician had Showed it actually had over 54k hours on the unit. he said the only thing that looked changed was the Dryer. I didnt even pull an oil sample yet. I decided to not do business at that place. Spent $135 but it was well worth it avoiding trouble
     
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  10. EverLuc

    EverLuc Light Load Member

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    Awesome investigating. The Trailmobile is a great trailer. I own a 1999.
     
    truckman29801 Thanks this.
  11. ShortBusKid

    ShortBusKid Heavy Load Member

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    Just keep in mind that reefer insulation degrades over time. I personally wouldn't buy a unit that couldn't pull down to -15 to -20 in a reasonable amount of time. If it can't then something is wrong.
     
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