Looking for a reefer...

End of March/beginning of April, I'm going to start looking for a used reefer. This is my first time buying a reefer, so I'm open to suggestions on what to look for and look at when checking them out.

Requirements are 50' up to 53'x102" (probably go with a 53'), air ride, Thermo King unit (may consider Carrier if the trailer is priced right), relatively clean, no damage on the rails and no patches. This may sound strange, but no smooth sided trailers - needs to have corrugated exterior skins. 1998 or newer.

Preferences are Great Dane, followed by Utility, then other. Would like a reefer unit with 15,000 hours or less on it.

Reefer does not have to be CARB compliant...CA can suck it.

Looking to spend in the vicinity of $10,000.

Appreciate PMs with any leads/information.

Thanks.

 

Gears, my 'no patches' requirement is for the exterior skin, the interior walls below the lower 18" line or so, and the floor. I'm with MM when it comes to floor patches. Of course, if someone replaced an exterior skin panel it might be hard for me to tell, but that's the chance you take buying used. Just have to hope if that's the case, they did it right and the insulation was done correctly at the same time. I am leaning towards a 50' spread, but beggars can't be choosers. The more I talk to folks about Carrier, the less impressed I am. The search continues...I'm hoping to hit a home run in the next two or three months. We'll see. I certainly appreciate the comments gents.

 

That thought did cross my mind, and I've seen plenty of vans and reefers running around with replacement panels. I guess if they did replace the panel, and painted to match, they probably did the insulation right as well. Hopefully my prepurchase inspection is good enough that I catch those sorts of things right off the bat.

Like I said, I do have time on my side...and I'm not going to settle for something, only to have to dump a crapload of money into the thing later on. If I don't have the trailer by my self imposed time line, the company I'm most likely leasing on with has plenty of trailers I can yank behind me. I'd just rather keep the percentage held back for using their trailer to myself, thank you very much.