37 ft. aluminum semi trailer

I have a 37 ft. aluminum trailer in my yard that was left by the previous owner. It is an old produce refrigerated trailer that was being used for storage in the yard. It has no wheels/axles or tongue. It appears to be mostly aluminum with some plywood in the walls and ceiling. I have no experience in scrapping, but I am good with tools and tearing stuff up. Could anyone suggest what might be the best approach to scrap it whether I should attemp to dismantle myself or have someone haul it. I don't know how they would haul it since it don't have wheels/axle/tongue.

Cut if up yourself. Worst will be the rivets that hold the sheets together. Just a 4 1/2 grinder with wheel to grind the rivets off. Or plasma is ideal. Lqst resort is torch. Then sheets come right off. Could use a truck and chain to yank the sheets once they7 loose too..

You could cut it up, but the reefer trailers have some insulation that could be a pain. You might want to call around if you have any shredders in your area. You could get .18 cents a pound the way it is. That usually includes the wooden floor.

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Originally Posted by justjunkin

You could cut it up, but the reefer trailers have some insulation that could be a pain. You might want to call around if you have any shredders in your area. You could get .18 cents a pound the way it is. That usually includes the wooden floor.

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I believe the floor is aluminum too. Is that possible? A magnet won't stick to it. It appears to be a fairly old trailer that was once used for produce, eggs, meat and such which I am assuming based on some advertising on the side. How many pounds do you think it might weigh and what do you think it might cost to have it hauled with no wheels, axles? I am probably 20 miles from the nearest place with a shredder.

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Originally Posted by ozzy214

Cut if up yourself. Worst will be the rivets that hold the sheets together. Just a 4 1/2 grinder with wheel to grind the rivets off. Or plasma is ideal. Lqst resort is torch. Then sheets come right off. Could use a truck and chain to yank the sheets once they7 loose too..

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How much a pound do you think it would bring if I dismantled and how many pounds do you think could be in it. The doors, floor, top, and sides appear to be aluminum? If the floor is aluminum, how do you handle it?

how about one of those dumpster loader trucks? your yard might have one they could just pick it up on

You could rent a hot saw with a metal cut-off blade to get it down to managable pieces for starters.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say with all the questions you have about it, I think you are in over your head on this. Might be better off selling/giving it to an experienced scrapper that can do it without hurting themselves. Or just contacting a scrapyard and selling it whole to them and let them worry about getting it in.

Yes the floor is aluminum. All reefers are like that I have saw. Estimated weight...maybe 2-3k lbs, not sure. Last 40 ft reefer I hauled down the road was like 10 12k on the scale. But we talking years since I drove truck, so not entirely sure. Where ya located?> I would be willing to cut it up for ya and give ya a cut..pm if ya want.

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Originally Posted by ozzy214

Yes the floor is aluminum. All reefers are like that I have saw. Estimated weight...maybe 2-3k lbs, not sure. Last 40 ft reefer I hauled down the road was like 10 12k on the scale. But we talking years since I drove truck, so not entirely sure. Where ya located?> I would be willing to cut it up for ya and give ya a cut..pm if ya want.

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I am about 20 miles northeast of Memphis, TN. Are you close enough?

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Originally Posted by klm

I believe the floor is aluminum too. Is that possible? A magnet won't stick to it. It appears to be a fairly old trailer that was once used for produce, eggs, meat and such which I am assuming based on some advertising on the side. How many pounds do you think it might weigh and what do you think it might cost to have it hauled with no wheels, axles? I am probably 20 miles from the nearest place with a shredder.

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No wheels or axles, I'm guessing they might pick it up free of charge, they'd need to bring a flatbed and a loader so it wouldn't be worth much after paying them.
The floor would be aluminum if a magnet doesn't stick to it.

Wow tn. Im about 600 miles from there man. Want to put me up for a night or 2 what the hell. I can come down. Yes Im serious, love an adventure. Up to you, but give me a day or 2 to get some gas money up lol. But ya probaly can find someone closer... Why dont you advertise on craigs looking for a scrapper. And take a copy of his drivers license so he cant burn you when he disappears.

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Originally Posted by ozzy214

Why dont you advertise on craigs looking for a scrapper. And take a copy of his drivers license so he cant burn you when he disappears.

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Or just ask him if you can work with him. Know enough to stay out of his way though and let him do his thing. Make sure you go to the scrap yard with him when you deliver the product and have the check made out in your name, bring cash with you to pay the difference to him (everyone knows cash is king to us). Explain it all to him before you start the project though so there are no surprises.
Good luck! Let us know how you make out.

I thought it would be easy. Wishful thinking I guess. I'm beginning to think if I could just find someone to haul it "as is" may be the best option, but I'm not sure where to look.

Call your scrapyards and see if any of them offer a pick-up service. I know that mine does.

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Originally Posted by Bear

how about one of those dumpster loader trucks? your yard might have one they could just pick it up on

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One scrap yard man told me the dumpster truckers probably would not touch it because he said they would not be able to anchor it down.

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Originally Posted by klm

One scrap yard man told me the dumpster truckers probably would not touch it because he said they would not be able to anchor it down.

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what about a tilt bed? i'm sure i've seen stuff like that loaded on em. Can't they throw their straps over it and buckle it down like that?

hek, sell it to another scrapper, be sure you get a no harm agreement signed (or what ever those things are called) because you might not know if they're professional with ins

I'm curious how this all played out. How much aluminium weight was there?