Carrier or TK

Carrier's are a bit cheaper but TK has the larger service network. But both are reliable but TK repair and routine maintenance will be more costly. TK' are much quieter in all modes than Carrier.

That said we have 300 trailers and are a 100% Carrier fleet. My boss is convinced they are more reliable and cheaper to operate and sell well enough at our 3 year trade cycles.

 

Carrier weighs about 175 pounds less than tk .
All the service shops work on both models.
Carrier uses 6 cyl compressor, tk uses 4, but larger cylinders, the cooling capacity is similar in both.
I would say if you do a lot of frozen during summer, buy Carrier 7300 or 7500. I have a 7500 and it cools like nobody's business. If you don't need the most extreme cooling power, buy tk.
Other than those factors they both perform well.

 

I really like the Carrier X4 series, very fuel efficient units.
You really can't go wrong with either though.

 

If you’re comparing an SB series vs a Carrier X2, the Carrier is the better option. Compare a new Precedent and an X4 and they’re pretty close. You say you do lots of frozen so a Carrier X2 2500 is best or second option of a TK SB 330, hauling lots of frozen, I’d stay away from an SB230. If you’re looking at new units get the S700 or X4 7500. The Precedent S700 will be a few grand more but you get the partial electric technology as well as HPCR fuel system, better efficiency. The X4 is cheaper because it’s all belt driven and mechanical fuel injection. The TK S Series also has additional maintenance due to their “light” EGR system. My local dealer says it’s 250.00 additional on your 3000 hour service, that’s not bad considering your eliminating other maintenance items and the increased efficiency. The C600 new TK is the same price as the X Series Carrier. It has the partial electric but mechanical injection.
TK has their own telematics called TracKing while Carrier only supplies the capacity for telematics, you have to bring your own device. Carrier’s preferred vendor is ORBCOMM, I’m running it on both Carriers I own. Another good provider is Coretex. You could also have the capacity for it installed by TK and bring your own device if you want. FSMA goes into effect for “small carriers” in April, which means everyone that hasn’t already been required to be compliant.

 

Can you expand on your experience with the new hybrid precedent TK units.....

How would you compare to the Carrier Vector units if you've used them..??

I'm thinking of trying a Vector on the new trailer this fall.... My customer has a few and loves them.

 

I’ve pulled TK Precedent units as a company driver and when I was leased to someone. Those were S600 units. They did a good job but being a 600, ran a lot on frozen loads. TK uses a 4 cylinder compressor and Carrier uses a 6 cylinder. The S600 didn’t have the juice to do well under heavy conditions where even an X4 7300 would have no trouble, because of the larger compressor. If you do lots of frozen, the TK 700 is the better unit from TK.

The Vector is the same price as a Precedent S Series. I was strongly considering the Vector 8500 but the TK dealer in my area is so good at what they do that I may go TK on my next trailer. The Vector is fully electric and has a fully hermetic compressor. It eliminates almost all the maintenance items you find on a normal belt driven reefer, or reciprocating compressor. It has slower pull down than a TK or X series but the overall BTU output at lower set points is the same as an S700 or X4 7500. Being fully electric, it can turn components on and off when they aren’t really needed, including the compressor. If you’re running a continuous load at 35, the compressor doesn’t need to run all the time, this unit can disengage it for small periods throughout the trip yet still be moving air in the trailer. The heat and defrost cycles are all electric as well. That makes defrost cycles faster and waste less fuel. The only maintenance item on them is the generator. The hermetic compressor has a very long service life and shouldn’t need major work for the life of the trailer, there is nothing on it that can break and doesn’t leak like a traditional compressor. The generator is the weak link but it’s not something that requires attention. A similar life to something like a compressor shaft seal would be my guess. I didn’t mention the Bector earlier because most people have no interest in it. But, if you don’t mind the higher price I’d say it is more efficient and less maintenance than an X4.

 

How much more is the vector? Can it be plugged in to shore power when at a yard to use 0 fuel?