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A refrigerated trailer — sometimes called a fridge trailer or a reefer trailer — is an indispensable piece of equipment for many situations. Unless you have a permanent need for one, renting a fridge trailer is an inexpensive way to get the cold storage solution you need for your event or job site.

Whether you’re storing food for your restaurant while building a more permanent walk-in, keeping food at safe temperatures for a large catering event, or in need of temporary cold storage for medical or other purposes, renting the right trailer can save you money, time, and frustration. We created this guide to help you get exactly the refrigerated trailer for your needs.

Renting a Refrigerated Trailer: What To Consider

Cold storage trailers come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different technical specifications and at different prices. In this section, we go over the main questions you’ll need to answer to find the right solution for whatever you plan to use your fridge trailer for.

What Size Refrigerated Trailer Do I Need?

The first step is to figure out your cold storage space needs. Renting a trailer that’s too small can leave you with not enough space for everything you need to keep cold. A refrigerated trailer that’s too large will cost more than you need to spend in rental fees and electricity.

Generally speaking, there are two popular sizes of trailers that can accommodate most uses.

6’ x 12’

The smaller 6’ x 12’ trailer is a relatively compact, efficient mobile cold storage unit. They are cheaper to run than larger units and easier to move in, out, and around sites. These reefers are well-suited for most small-to-medium-sized applications, including:

• Catering events
• Temporary storage for smaller restaurants
• Pop-up medical sites
• Vendor storage for farmer’s markets

6’ x 16’

Larger trailers provide ample space for applications with big storage needs. While they cost more to rent and can be more challenging to maneuver, they can handle the refrigeration needs of just about any job. Some of the most popular uses for these larger fridge trailers include:

• Temporary storage for large restaurants and hotels
• Semi-permanent medical sites
• Seasonal venue cold storage
• Construction site cool-down rooms

How Much Does It Cost To Rent a Refrigerated Trailer?

The average cost of renting a refrigerated trailer runs between $250 to $600 per day. Rental prices for refrigerated trailers depend on several key factors, including:

• Size: In general, the larger a trailer is, the more expensive it will be to rent.
• Rental time: Refrigerated trailer rental companies typically offer daily, weekly, and monthly rates. Some may offer longer terms. In general, the cost-per-day of renting a cold storage trailer goes down the longer your rental term is.
• Location: Rental trailers are subject to local market rates just like most goods and services. Prices in your area are likely to be a little different than those in other parts of the country.
• Specifications: Refrigerated trailers have different built-in equipment and capabilities. Some can reach freezer temperatures, while others can only refrigerate. More powerful fridge trailers tend to be more expensive to rent.
• Company: As you’d expect, different companies have different rental rates, even for the same exact trailers.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Refrigerated Trailer Rental

Rates can vary significantly based on your rental term. For example, our 6’x12’ trailer rental starts at $275 per day at the daily rate, but for $1,600 total for an entire month — about $53 per day.

This is because much of the work of renting out a trailer is in coordinating the rental and getting it to and from a site. Since you only have to pay for a company’s services once, that cost gets spread out over the entire rental term, whether you’re renting for a single day or three months.

What Do I Need at My Site for a Refrigerated Trailer?

The site needs for your rental trailer can vary depending on its make and model and other factors. We chose our rental units with ease of setup and breakdown in mind. As a result, the list of things to consider for site preparation is small and simple:

• Standard 110V/15 amp power outlet
• A level space equal to or greater than the size of your trailer plus two feet of clearance on each non-door side
• Four feet of space on the door side of the trailer to allow for loading and unloading
• Clear pathway to get in and out of the space

How To Rent a Refrigerated Trailer

With the right provider, renting a refrigerated trailer is easy. There are only a few steps you need to take to ensure you get the best refrigerated trailer for your needs at the best price.

1. Decide Which Refrigerated Trailer You Need To Rent

The first step in the process is to determine the size of the trailer and capability you need. If you’re using the trailer in place of a refrigerated unit you’re already using, you can simply get a trailer that is similar in size.

If you don’t yet know exactly how much space you’ll need, you’ll have to estimate. Generally speaking, our smaller trailer is sufficient for the needs of most small-to-medium-sized operations. However, it’s always a good idea to overestimate your space needs by at least 10% to be safe.

Consider Refrigerated Trailer Accessories

You may need a few additional things with your rental trailer to ensure a smooth operation. These include:

• Loading ramps
• Door lock
• Generator plate (if using a generator to power the trailer)
• Tow hitch (if you plan on picking up and returning the trailer yourself)

2. Select the Dates You Need the Refrigerated Trailer

People often rent reefers months in advance of when they need them. That means it’s a good idea to make renting a refrigerated trailer one of the first items on your to-do list when planning your function.

Plan your rental dates out at least three months in advance; further out if you can. Determine whether you have any flexibility on either side of your desired rental period in case your exact dates aren’t available.

3. Contact a Fridge Trailer Rental Company

Once you know the refrigerated trailer you want and the dates you need it for, you can start shopping for a company to rent from. At Penguin Trailer, we offer some of the most competitive rates on high-quality rental refrigerated trailers in the New England area. We also make it easy to book your rental through our quote form.

Keep in mind that the price you see advertised isn’t the only consideration. Some companies attach additional fees on top of the base price. Others may rent out old or poorly-functioning units at a lower rate.

4. Determine How To Get the Trailer to Your Site

You’ll also have to get your refrigerated trailer to the place you want to use it. Some companies require you to pick up the trailer yourself. Others will deliver it for you. We offer both options to make it easy for customers.

Refrigerated trailer delivery is a far more convenient option for most people. It also means you’ll have the task carried out by professionals and don’t have to worry about anything happening in transit. However, most companies charge a fee for delivery.

You don’t need special equipment to pick up most trailers yourself other than a tow hitch and a car or truck capable of towing the unit. Most reefers range from around 1,500 pounds to 4,500 pounds when empty. Be sure your maximum tow capacity comfortably exceeds the weight of the trailer you rent.

Make sure to consider fuel costs and the time you spend picking up and returning your fridge trailer. When you do the math, you may find that simply paying a company to deliver the trailer is more than worth it.

5. Prepare Your Site for the Refrigerated Trailer

Before you get your trailer to the site, you’ll want to make sure it’s ready. It’s much easier to prepare your site ahead of time.

Our rental refrigerated trailers don’t require much site preparation. Here’s all you need to do to make sure things go smoothly:

• Clear the area you need for your trailer of any trash or debris.
• Check that the site is mostly level. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but if there is a significant slope, use mulch, soil, or other filler to compensate.
• Ensure you have clear and easy access to a dedicated power outlet.
• Secure an extension cord at least five feet longer than the distance between the site and the outlet you’re using. Get a backup to make sure you’ll always be able to stay plugged in in case anything happens to your primary cord.
• When it’s time to bring your refrigerated trailer to the site, ensure that you have a clear pathway to bring the trailer and the vehicle you’re towing it with to the delivery point. If the site has lots of people moving around near it, alert everyone that you’ll be coming through.
• Ensure you have enough space to get in and out of the trailer while carrying loads

6. Clean and Inspect Your Trailer Before Returning

When your job is finished and you no longer need the refrigerated trailer, the last step is to get it back to the rental company. Just like with getting the trailer to your site, your options are to take it yourself or have the company pick it up. Again, we offer both to let you choose your best option.

Before you send the trailer on its way, you’ll need to make sure it’s ready to go back. Here are a few steps to take:

• Remove all items that didn’t come with the trailer
• Clear the trailer of trash and other debris
• Sweep the refrigerated trailer floor
• Look for any damages to the interior or exterior and document the condition with pictures
• Collect any accessories you rented to take back
• If taking the trailer back by yourself, notify the rental company and give them an approximate arrival time to allow them to prepare

Rent Your Next Refrigerated Trailer With Confidence

Whatever your refrigerated trailer rental needs are, we’ve got you covered at Penguin Trailers. Our Polar King trailers are known throughout the industry for their reliability and build quality, meaning you don’t have to worry about whether your rental is up to the task.

With locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Maine, we serve customers throughout New England. Our prices are among the most competitive in the region, and we offer self pickup and delivery options.

Use the form below to request a quote for your next refrigerated trailer rental. Our team will get back to you in a hurry to help you get exactly what you need at a price that’s hard to beat.