Do not base a used refrigerated-vehicle purchase only on chassis mileage. Mileage is a starting indicator for the running gear; it does not show how many hours the refrigeration unit ran, which modes were used or how the body behaves under load.
Build two separate histories. Record chassis mileage, use, accident or repair history and body age in one line. Record unit hours, operating modes such as cooling or heating, start pattern and service records in another. If the meter and service history do not tell the same story, ask for an explanation and supporting documents.
| Inspection area | Record | Decision question |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis | Mileage, axles, use and body age | Is chassis work separate from unit history? |
| Unit | Running hours, modes, alarms and service records | Which maintenance documents support the hour record? |
| Body | Panel joints, liner, seals and drains | Do finished clearances and sealing hold under load? |
| Service | Check points, access panel, parts and calibration papers | Are daily checks separate from workshop work? |
| Performance | Representative load, starting state and sensors | Was the target condition and return air checked under load? |
Read unit hours with the operating mode. A low-mileage chassis can have a high-hours unit, and short-route distribution can involve frequent starts. Record the hour meter, operating modes and service dates together. The Thermo King Precedent manual contains model- and equipment-specific checks; do not turn one model's hour or service interpretation into a remaining-life prediction for every unit: Precedent Multi-Temperature Units operator manual.
Thermo King's North American Certified Pre-Owned programme describes eligibility, inspection, testing and verification before reconditioning; the programme is limited to participating dealers and warranty coverage depends on its tier. This example shows why an hour meter alone is not proof of condition or certified refurbishment: Thermo King Certified Pre-Owned.
Body inspection is more than weighing. Look for liner bubbling, separated joints, impact, odour, water marks and continuity at the door seal. A clean exterior does not clear panel joints and drains. Do not declare a wet-looking panel irreparable from one sign; verify the moisture source, panel construction and the applicable repair method separately. Weighing helps assess carrying capacity, but equipment, fuel and accessories also change mass; weight alone does not prove water in a panel.
Photograph door alignment, seal contact, thresholds and drain outlets. The Thermo King manual treats body seals and drains as separate maintenance checks; this does not diagnose the same fault in every body. Put the accessible part and responsible service point on the acceptance list.
Separate an unloaded run from a loaded test
An unloaded run is a preliminary check of start-up, mode changes, alarms and basic return-air behaviour. It is not proof of loaded performance. A comparison needs the representative load, starting state, target band, sensor positions, door openings and ambient condition written into the test form.
Apply the preconditioned-load and airflow checks in the Thermo King manual with a layout that keeps the evaporator and return-air path clear. Record the unit model and body arrangement; do not transfer the result automatically to another body or control system.
How to price missing records
Do not treat a unit without service records as certainly neglected, a clean body as certainly dry or an unloaded run as sufficient. Separate each unknown item in the quotation file: hour and mode record, maintenance invoices, panel and drain inspection, service access and loaded test. The cost line then reflects an open check rather than an assumed failure.
In the comparison sheet, show potential labour, parts, testing, documents and downtime as separate lines beside the purchase price. Where a cost is not specified, write “to be confirmed in the quotation”; do not hide uncertainty in one total.
Use the used refrigerated-body inspection guide alongside this checklist. Match the hour meter and service history to the record questions in what unit hours mean.
End the purchase file with three lists: confirmed checks, repairs with written prices and lead times, and unresolved items requiring investigation. Do not add an unconfirmed repair estimate to the purchase price and present the result as a measured cost.
