Cold Storage Tips
10 minute read

Renting a Walk-In Cooler Without Losing Your Cool

mobile refrigerated trailer - walk in cooler for rent
Written by
Icebox Staff
Published on
July 29, 2025

Your Guide to Temporary Cold Storage

When your regular refrigeration isn't enough, a walk in cooler for rent provides a fast, on-site solution. Mobile refrigerated trailers are essential for businesses and event planners facing unexpected breakdowns, planned events, or seasonal overflow.

Common reasons to rent mobile cold storage include:

  • Emergency Breakdowns: Your main cooler or freezer fails unexpectedly.
  • Large Events: Extra capacity is needed for weddings, festivals, or concerts.
  • Kitchen Renovations: Temporary space is required for perishables during updates.
  • Seasonal Demand: You have more inventory than usual during holidays or peak seasons.
  • Off-site Catering: Reliable cold storage is necessary away from your main kitchen.

Finding the right temporary cold storage is key to protecting your inventory and ensuring your event's success. This guide will walk you through your options to help you choose the perfect mobile unit without the stress.

Infographic detailing the top 5 common situations and applications for renting a temporary walk-in cooler or freezer trailer, including emergency breakdowns, large events, kitchen renovations, seasonal overflow, and catering needs. - walk in cooler for rent infographic infographic-line-5-steps-dark

How to Find the Perfect Walk In Cooler for Rent

Finding the perfect temporary cold storage is simpler than you think. Follow these four straightforward steps to get exactly what you need, stress-free.

Step 1: Assess Your Cold Storage Needs

The first thing to do is figure out exactly what you need. This means thinking about how much space you'll need, the right temperature, and how you'll power the unit.

Size Considerations

How much do you need to keep cold? Our mobile cooler and freezer trailers come in versatile sizes designed for most applications. A common 5'x10' refrigerated trailer, for instance, can hold up to 6,400 lbs or 283 cubic feet of product—often more than enough for events, restaurant emergencies, or seasonal overflow.

When considering size, think about:

  • Volume: How many cases, kegs, or food pans will you store? It's always better to have a little extra room than to run out.
  • Access: Will you need shelving to keep things organized for frequent access? We can provide shelving as an accessory.
  • Footprint: Our mobile trailers are compact and designed to fit into a standard parking spot, making placement simple even in crowded venues.

Interior of a walk-in cooler trailer with shelving - walk in cooler for rent

Temperature Requirements: Cooler vs. Freezer

Do your items need to be chilled or frozen solid? This is a critical detail.

  • Coolers (Refrigeration): Perfect for keeping items cool, our trailers typically hold temperatures between 35°F (2°C) and 41°F (5°C). This is ideal for fresh produce, beverages, and prepared foods.
  • Freezers (Low-Temperature): If you're storing frozen meat, ice, or other goods, you'll need a freezer trailer. These units maintain temperatures from 0°F (-18°C) down to -10°F (-23°C).

Many of our units are dual-purpose, meaning they can switch between being a cooler or a freezer for maximum flexibility. Maintaining proper temperature is vital for food safety. For official guidelines, you can consult the FDA's food safety charts.

Power Source

Our mobile refrigerated trailers are designed for ease of use. They run on a standard 110-volt outlet, so you can plug them into a regular commercial or household outlet. We recommend a dedicated 20-amp circuit for best performance, but no special electrical hookups are required. For remote locations without power, we also offer generator options to ensure your unit operates anywhere.

For more detailed information on selecting the right portable unit, check out our guide on Portable Walk-In Coolers.

Step 2: Identify When You Need a Walk in cooler for rent

Once you know what you need, pinpoint when you'll need it. Mobile cold storage is perfect for everything from sudden crises to carefully planned events.

Emergency Situations

When your restaurant's main walk-in cooler fails during a busy service, panic can set in. A walk in cooler for rent is your hero in this scenario, saving thousands of dollars in inventory. We specialize in 24-hour emergency service and can dispatch a refrigerated trailer to your location within hours. This rapid response is crucial for preventing financial loss from equipment failure or power outages.

Mobile cooler trailer behind a restaurant - walk in cooler for rent

Planned Events

Our mobile refrigerated trailers are essential for the success of any gathering.

  • Weddings & Catering: Provide on-site cold storage for food, drinks, and even floral arrangements at any venue.
  • Festivals & Concerts: Handle the massive demand for cold beverages and food, ensuring vendors can operate smoothly.
  • Sports Events: Keep concessions stocked with cold drinks and snacks for fans.
  • Holidays & Seasonal Peaks: Get temporary extra capacity during busy times like Thanksgiving or Christmas without the commitment of buying new equipment.

Business Operations

Many businesses use our trailers as a flexible solution for daily operations.

  • Kitchen Renovations: Continue operating with minimal disruption by using a temporary on-site cooler.
  • Seasonal Inventory Management: Wineries and food producers can cost-effectively manage fluctuating stock during peak seasons.
  • Additional Temporary Capacity: Get an immediate boost in cold storage when you have a large order or your existing space is maxed out.

For a deeper dive into how businesses leverage temporary cold storage, explore our insights on Commercial Cooler Rental.

Step 3: Understand the Rental & Delivery Process

Renting a walk in cooler for rent from us is a straightforward process from start to finish.

Initial Inquiry and Getting a Quote

The first step is to contact us by phone or through our website. We'll ask a few simple questions to understand your needs:

  • Unit type (cooler or freezer) and size
  • Desired rental dates
  • Delivery location and power access

Based on this, we provide a clear, competitive quote with flexible daily, weekly, or monthly rates.

Delivery and Placement

Once confirmed, our professional team handles all logistics. We deliver the pre-assembled trailer at a scheduled time and our experienced drivers maneuver it into your desired location. We then level the trailer and connect it to your power source. The simple plug-in setup means you can start loading your products immediately.

24/7 Emergency Service and Scheduled Pickup

We know refrigeration issues can happen anytime, which is why your rental includes 24/7 emergency service. If you have any problems, our team is on call to provide rapid support. When your rental period is over, we'll schedule a convenient time to disconnect and pick up the unit, making the entire process seamless for you.

For more details on how our rental services work, check out our page on Cooler Trailer Rental.

Step 4: Recognize the Advantages of a Mobile Walk in cooler for rent

Renting a mobile trailer offers distinct advantages that make it a superior choice for temporary cold storage.

Ground-Level Access: Easy and Safe Loading

Unlike larger refrigerated vehicles that require ramps, our units sit at ground level. This allows you to simply walk or wheel carts directly inside, eliminating the risk of slips and falls associated with ramps and making loading safer and more efficient.

Image showing easy ground-level access to a refrigerated trailer - walk in cooler for rent

Quiet Electric Operation: No Fumes, No Noise

Forget loud, smelly diesel engines. Our mobile trailers are electric-powered, so they run quietly and produce no noxious fumes. This is a huge benefit for events, residential areas, or any location where noise and air quality are concerns.

Fits in a Standard Parking Spot: Versatile Placement

The compact design of our trailers means they can fit comfortably within a standard parking spot. This makes them ideal for urban restaurants, crowded event sites, or any business where space is limited.

Cost-Effective and Prevents Spoilage

Renting is far more cost-effective than buying a new unit for a temporary need. More importantly, having reliable cold storage on hand prevents costly food spoilage, protecting your inventory and saving you from significant financial losses.

For a comprehensive look at the benefits of choosing mobile cold storage, visit our page on Cold Storage Rental.

Your Next Steps for a Stress-Free Rental

Finding the right walk in cooler for rent is easy when you're prepared. By assessing your needs, understanding the simple rental process, and planning ahead, you can ensure a stress-free experience.

For planned events or seasonal peaks, booking in advance is key. For unexpected breakdowns, having a reliable emergency provider is invaluable. When your main cooler fails, you need a fast response to save your inventory.

At Icebox Mobile Refrigeration, our focus is on convenience and reliability. Our 24-hour emergency response means we're ready when disaster strikes. Our simple 110-volt units plug into standard outlets, eliminating the need for special electrical work. We deliver clean, dependable refrigerated and freezer trailers directly to your location, whether you're in Nashville, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, or our other service areas across the East Coast.

Our professional team handles delivery, setup, and pickup, so you can focus on running your business. We're here for you, from a planned event to a middle-of-the-night emergency.

Ready to secure reliable mobile cold storage without the stress?

View our available rentals and get a quote today

Choose the perfect rental option

Explore our wide range of trailer rentals and find the one that suits your needs