Help deciding on reefer truck setup

SMH exactly. You're trying to jump into a business. That you have no experience or knowledge.

If you don't even know what equipment to get. How are you going to know if someone is trying to rip you off on a repair? What things to look for before they become a serious repair. Trucking is not just getting in a truck and driving.

 

When you haul this bananas there will be a taddle tale recorder on board. Any deviation and the load may get rejected. Seller will want to see your unit download to prove you were tip top. If you were not you buy the load. That’s you or your insurance company.

I haul ice cream and produce. New unit and trailer. However I go thru unit everyday like I’m about to go into surgery preop. I got tools, spare belts, run it thru service at a great place, have good insurance, and a checking account. It’s not a get rich business. If you provide great service you may make a few dollars, if you do not, but charge for it….you will be out of business sooner than later.
If you go against the grain and don’t heed, I wish you luck and keep my me in mind in a couple years. I’ll be selling a unit.

 

Less than 10k hours is nice. But!….If you use it a little you will have moved into the greater than 10k. Engine accessories will generally fail before that little diesel. A newer trailer holds temp much better and will save you dollars on fuel ( especially these days) and wear and tear on Reefer. A 2018 trailer and unit under 4k would be nice to start with and sell two years later. The ones your looking at are at when you sell them to someone who is about to retire or knows no better. Risk management.

 

If you go ahead with your plan, let us know how things turn out for you. A lot of people with years of experience are struggling right now.

 

My biggest mistake I made starting out was buying a used reefer, for the amount I have into mine now I could of cashed in a couple months worth of empties on top of it and had a brand new one. And I only do LTL, try like hell to avoid produce. Have no choice but to fix it at this point but I’ll never buy a used trailer again

a 48’ is about useless these days unless you already have dedicated customers,

 

First you need to stop treating this as buying a car, you need to check out the truck as if it is a tool.

the second thing is you will have at least one rejected load with a reefer that old. Your insurance company if you have more than one cargo claim may require a validation on the reefer which being old may not pass because of either structural/insulation issues or mechanical issues.

 

Freight rates, fuel costs, operating costs, parts availability, finding decent drivers...