Dock and backing damage
Crushed rear frames, bent door frames, torn bumpers and damaged ICC bars are common. They're expensive to fix properly, but the rest of the trailer can still have value. Photos of the rear frame and doors tell us most of it.
Home / Damaged reefer trailers
Damaged boxes
We Buy Damaged Reefer Trailers
Holes in the roof, walls coming apart, a floor that's gone soft. Damage lowers the number, but it doesn't stop a sale.
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Damage OKAny length
- Crash and roof damage
- Delamination and wet foam
- Rotten floors and bad doors
Damage we buy
If it's still in one piece, we'll look
Roof damage
Torn by low clearances or branches.
Delaminated walls
Skins pulling off the foam.
Wet insulation
Heavier box, poor cooling.
Floor rot
Soft spots, corroded duct floor.
Door trouble
Bent hinges, worn seals, broken bars.
Crash damage
Rollovers and side swipes.
What we check
How damage changes the number
- Unit: still the biggest single factor.
- Running gear: axles, suspension, brakes, tires.
- Frame: rails and crossmembers straight?
- Box: how much of it is sound.
Reefer sitting idle? Get a number today.
Good to know
Insurance write-offs
If ICBC or another insurer has written the trailer off, tell us the status. We'll look at the paperwork with you before quoting.
What we buy
Damaged trailers we take
- Dock and backing damage
- Wet or delaminated walls
- Collision and rollover trailers
- Fire-damaged units and boxes
Damage in depth
How damage changes a reefer's value
Reefer trailers take a beating at docks and on the road. These are the kinds of damage we see most.
Wall and roof damage
Punctured walls and torn roofs let water into the insulation. Once the foam is wet, the trailer loses efficiency and gains weight. Tell us about any patches and whether the trailer still holds temperature.
Floor damage
Broken or rotted floors, damaged ducts and failed drains change what a trailer can be used for. Tell us what the floor is made of and what shape it's in. A photo looking down the floor helps.
Collision and rollover
Trailers involved in highway crashes are bought as they sit. If an insurer is involved, check whether the trailer is still yours to sell first, because an insurer that has paid out may own it now.
Fire
Fire damage to the unit or the box usually means recycling. Tell us where the fire started and how much burned. A trailer with a burned unit and a sound box may still have value as an insulated van.
Moving a damaged trailer
A trailer with a broken axle or frame may need to be loaded rather than towed. Photos of the running gear tell us which. We bring the equipment that suits it. Tell us whether the trailer rolls at all and whether the kingpin and landing gear are intact, because both decide how it gets hooked up.
Doors and seals
Sprung doors, broken hinges, failed latches and torn seals let cold air out. They're common on older trailers and are priced as repairs. Tell us whether the doors close and lock. A door that won't close fully also changes how the trailer travels, so we may strap it before the move.
Frame and crossmembers
Rusted or cracked crossmembers and a bent main frame change whether a trailer can go back on the road. Photos from underneath, taken safely, help us judge. If the frame is cracked near the kingpin or the slider, mention it, because it changes how the trailer can be moved.
Should I fix it first?
Usually not. Body and frame repairs on a reefer rarely pay off when you're selling. Get a repair quote and our number, then compare. A damaged reefer is priced as it sits, and the figure already allows for the repairs the next owner would face.
Questions
Common questions
Do you buy rolled-over reefer trailers?
Yes, if it can be loaded. Send photos and we'll plan the recovery with you.
Does a leaking roof matter?
It lowers the number because water gets into the foam, but we still buy it.
Can you move a trailer with a broken axle?
Yes. It goes on a deck instead of rolling.
Do you buy fire-damaged reefers?
Yes. Tell us where the fire started and how much burned. Most fire-damaged trailers are recycled, and the metal still has value.
Does wet insulation stop the sale?
No. Wet foam lowers the value but doesn't stop the sale. The trailer is priced as it sits.
Can I sell a trailer an insurer wrote off?
Only if it's still yours. If the insurer paid out, it may own the trailer now. Check with them first.