22R1
Reefer Containers for Sale
Insulated, machinery-fitted containers for temperature-controlled cargo and cold storage — 20ft and 40ft High Cube, working or non-operating.
- External length
- 6 058 mm
- Internal height
- 2 270 mm
- Cubic capacity
- 28.4 m³
- Payload
- 27 430 kg
A reefer is an insulated container with an integral refrigeration unit built into one end wall. It maintains a set-point temperature — typically anywhere between about −25 °C and +25 °C depending on the machinery — as long as it is supplied with power, either from a ship, a terminal rack, a genset on the chassis, or a mains connection on site.
Two very different products are sold under the same word. **Working reefers** have functioning machinery, a service history and a pre-trip inspection. **Non-operating reefers (NOR)** are sold as insulated boxes where the machinery is no longer maintained or has been removed; they are bought as static cold stores fitted with new plant, or simply as very well-insulated storage. Which one you need changes the price by an order of magnitude, so the RFQ asks the question directly.
Technical specifications
| Property | 20ft Reefer22R1 | 40ft High Cube Reefer45R1 |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | ||
| Length | 6 058 mm19 ft 10.5 in | 12 192 mm40 ft |
| Width | 2 438 mm8 ft | 2 438 mm8 ft |
| Height | 2 591 mm8 ft 6.0 in | 2 896 mm9 ft 6.0 in |
| Internal dimensions | ||
| Length | 5 455 mm17 ft 10.8 in | 11 570 mm37 ft 11.5 in |
| Width | 2 290 mm7 ft 6.2 in | 2 290 mm7 ft 6.2 in |
| Height | 2 270 mm7 ft 5.4 in | 2 500 mm8 ft 2.4 in |
| Door opening | ||
| Width | 2 290 mm7 ft 6.2 in | 2 290 mm7 ft 6.2 in |
| Height | 2 245 mm7 ft 4.4 in | 2 440 mm8 ft 0.1 in |
| Weights | ||
| Tare weight | 3 050 kg6 720 lb | 4 600 kg10 140 lb |
| Maximum gross mass | 30 480 kg67 200 lb | 34 000 kg74 960 lb |
| Payload | 27 430 kg60 470 lb | 29 400 kg64 820 lb |
| Capacity | ||
| Cubic capacity | 28.4 m³1 000 cu ft | 66.2 m³2 340 cu ft |
Construction & fittings
- Sizes supplied
- 20ft (22R1) and 40ft High Cube (45R1)
- Insulation
- Foamed-in-place polyurethane, stainless or aluminium lining
- Floor
- Extruded aluminium T-bar floor for air circulation
- Machinery
- Integral unit in one end wall; brand and age vary by unit
- Typical range
- Approximately −25 °C to +25 °C, machinery dependent
- Power
- Three-phase supply required; connector type confirmed per unit
- CSC status
- Valid plate on cargo-worthy units
Power is the constraint everyone underestimates
A 40ft reefer pulling down from ambient draws a substantial three-phase load, and the steady-state draw once at set-point is much lower but continuous. On site you need a suitable three-phase supply and the correct connector, or a generator sized for the pull-down rather than the running load.
For overseas movement the reefer must be plugged in on the quay, on the ship and, for the inland legs, on a chassis with a genset. That is arranged as part of the freight, not part of the container purchase — see the distinction set out under worldwide delivery.
Working reefer or non-operating unit
- Working reefer — machinery operational, suitable for temperature-controlled cargo or as a plug-in cold store. Ask for the last PTI record.
- Non-operating reefer (NOR) — insulated shell, machinery not maintained or removed. Bought for static storage, or refitted with new plant.
- Insulated / porthole units — insulated but never self-powered. Rare in current trade; mentioned because the term still appears in listings.
Internal dimensions are smaller than you expect
Insulation and machinery cost volume. A 40ft High Cube reefer offers around 11 570 mm of internal length against 12 032 mm in a dry box, and 2 290 mm of width against 2 352 mm. The T-bar floor also raises the deck. Plan pallet patterns against the reefer figures in the table below, not against dry-container dimensions.
Typical uses
Temperature-controlled freight
Static cold storage
Insulated dry storage
Cold chain projects
