12 ft Refrigerated Trailer
Starting from $1,895 / month
The smallest trailer in the lineup. It fits tight lots and loading areas when a small walk-in cooler or freezer goes down.
San Diego, California Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
San Diego is a regional center in San Diego County, and HHrefrigeration serves it with refrigeration trailer rentals, mobile kitchen rentals, and dishwashing trailers. Service is nationwide, which means San Diego is covered from your first call.
San Diego is a city in San Diego County with about 1,388,320 residents (2023 Census Bureau estimate), and it is the county seat. Customers who rent in a place like this include hospital systems, universities, hotels and convention venues, large grocers, food distributors and processors, and stadium and event operators. Rent for a few days to cover a repair, or lease for months through a renovation, a harvest, a construction project, or a seasonal peak.
Our phone line, (888) 385-5513, answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If the need is planned, use the quote form below and tell us where in San Diego the unit will sit.
San Diego, CA at a glance
Numbers for San Diego that matter when planning a rental: how big it is, how spread out it is, and how far the next larger place sits.
Winter storms in California (November to April) can slow or close roads, so tell us your start date early and we plan the trip with the forecast in mind.
- Place: city in San Diego County, California.
- Population: 1,388,320 (2023 Census Bureau estimate), number 2 of 20 California places on our list.
- Land area: 326 square miles, about 4,260 people per square mile.
- San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County.
- Nearest larger place we list: Los Angeles, 111 miles northwest.
- Other places we list within 50 miles: 0.
How we plan getting a trailer to San Diego
Every rental in San Diego starts with the address, not a warehouse. Here is how a request for San Diego, CA moves from call to cold storage:
- Call or send the form. Tell us the street address in San Diego, what failed or what you are planning, and the temperature you need. Emergencies go to (888) 385-5513.
- We match the unit. A 12 ft refrigerated trailer suits tight lots and small kitchens, a 20 ft trailer holds more, and a refrigerated container is for bulk storage over longer jobs.
- Roads that serve San Diego include I-8. We confirm which approach suits a trailer, how the truck turns onto your site, and whether anything on the last few blocks is posted or restricted.
- San Diego is roughly 111 straight-line miles southeast of Los Angeles, California's largest city on our list. A longer trip means we plan routes, weather, and delivery timing with more care, and we confirm both in your quote.
- We confirm power and placement. The 20 ft trailers list 220V, single phase, 40 to 60 amps with a NEMA plug, so have an electrician confirm your service. Pick a firm, level spot with room for the door to open and for the truck to reach it.
- Delivery and setup. On site, setup takes about 1 hour for a refrigeration unit, plus 4 to 6 hours if a ramp is needed or 5 to 15 minutes for stairs. Delivery timing, servicing, and minimum terms are written into your quote, and an inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Emergency refrigeration support in San Diego
Emergency support for San Diego runs through one number, (888) 385-5513, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have these details ready:
In California, calls like this often follow heat wave and winter storm. Heat is hardest on older walk-ins, so a short refrigeration trailer rental is a common way to protect product through a repair.
For official emergency information in California, see California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). We are not an emergency agency; for danger to life, call 911.
- The address in San Diego (and the San Diego County location if it is outside town limits).
- What failed: a walk-in cooler, a freezer, a compressor, or the power itself.
- How much product is at risk, and whether it must stay at 32°F (cooler) or near -5°F (freezer).
- The power available at the site and whether a truck can reach the spot.
- Keep doors closed until the unit arrives so the product holds its temperature as long as possible.
What drives cold-storage demand around San Diego
Summers are hot and dry inland, with Central Valley highs often above 100 F, while the coast stays much cooler and humid. Winters are mild on the coast, foggy in the Central Valley, and snowy in the Sierra Nevada and other mountains, with the rainy season running October through March. The hottest stretch runs june to September, and the coldest december to February. Both extremes put stress on commercial refrigeration in San Diego.
San Diego's economy rests on military and defense, tourism, international trade, research, manufacturing, biotech and telecommunications. Hotels, hospitals, labs and base-related caterers depend on cold storage and can need temporary capacity during outages or surges.
The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the busiest international land border crossing outside Asia. Cross-border produce and food trade can create demand for refrigerated holding near the border.
The 2003 Cedar Fire burned about 280,000 acres and destroyed more than 2,200 homes; earthquake faults including Rose Canyon also cross the area. Wildfire and quake events can interrupt power and kitchens, which can create a need for temporary refrigeration and food service.
UC San Diego, San Diego State University and the University of San Diego are located in the city. Campus dining and large events often use temporary kitchens or refrigeration during renovations and peak periods.
Heat wave risk in California (June to September): Inland summers regularly top 100 F, and the September 2022 heat wave set a statewide electricity demand record while the grid operator issued Flex Alerts for nine straight days. Extreme heat can overload on-site refrigeration and strain the grid, which often leads food businesses and event operators to add temporary refrigerated capacity.
Winter storm risk in California (November to April): Heavy Sierra snowfall brings chain controls and occasional closures on I-80 over Donner Summit, and the California Highway Patrol usually closes I-5 at the Grapevine during snowstorms. Mountain closures can delay refrigerated freight and strand perishable loads, which can create short-term cold storage needs at distribution points.
In October 2019 PG&E's wildfire shutoff left about 738,000 customers across roughly 35 counties without power, according to the governor's letter to PG&E. Shutoffs of this size can last days for some customers, which can force grocers and restaurants to move perishable inventory into temporary cold storage.
Food service and business in San Diego
The kinds of operations that rent refrigeration in a city like San Diego are hospital systems, universities, hotels and convention venues, large grocers, food distributors and processors, and stadium and event operators.
Dairy was California's top commodity in the 2021-2022 CDFA report at about $7.6 billion, and the state produced about 18.1 percent of U.S. milk. Dairy and processing depend on continuous cold chain, and surge or outage situations can create demand for temporary refrigerated trailers.
Grapes brought in about $5.2 billion in cash receipts in 2021, up 16.5 percent from 2020, with almonds and pistachios also among the leading crops. Harvest and crush seasons concentrate large volumes of perishable product in a short window, which can create seasonal needs for extra cold storage.
San Diego customers use refrigeration trailers in three common ways: as emergency cover for a failed walk-in, as extra capacity during a peak (a harvest, a festival, a holiday week), and as temporary cold storage during a renovation. See rental prices for what each unit costs, or how to plan your site before delivery.
Demand also rises around events in California: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April (two weekends)); California State Fair (July (17 days)). Large festivals drive heavy food and beverage service in desert heat, which can create demand for temporary refrigeration and kitchen capacity.
Equipment you can rent in San Diego
Refrigeration is our focus, and San Diego customers rent the same four units as the rest of California:
Many San Diego requests pair cold storage with a mobile kitchen rental or a dishwashing trailer rental, so a facility can cook, serve, and clean up during a repair or renovation.
20 ft Refrigerated Trailer
Starting from $1,895 / month
The workhorse. A 20 ft trailer comes as a 32°F cooler or as a low-temperature freezer configuration, so you can match what failed.
20 ft Refrigerated Container
Starting from $2,995 / month
A stationary cold storage box for bulk product, built for longer projects, seasonal peaks, and renovations.
40 ft Refrigerated Container
Starting from $3,995 / month
The largest cold storage option. It takes pallets and bulk product for food distribution, disaster response, and large facilities.
Requirements for renting a refrigerated trailer in San Diego
Renting a refrigerated trailer in San Diego is simple, but a few items decide whether it runs smoothly on the first day.
Local agencies review plans and inspect mobile food units before they open, and a food facility may not open without a valid permit under Health and Safety Code section 114381. Plan check and pre-opening inspection timelines can affect how quickly a temporary kitchen can be put into service.
Under the California Retail Food Code (CalCode), CDPH sets health and sanitation standards while local environmental health agencies have primary responsibility for enforcement and permitting. Anyone placing temporary refrigeration or a kitchen at a food business should confirm requirements with the county environmental health office that permits that business.
- Customer type: commercial or industrial only (restaurants, grocers, healthcare, schools, hospitality, distributors, government). We do not rent to residential customers.
- Power: 220V, single phase, 40 to 60 amps for the 20 ft trailers, with a NEMA plug. Ask your electrician to confirm the circuit at your San Diego site before delivery.
- Placement: a firm, level surface with room for the trailer, its door swing, and the delivery truck. Soft ground, steep slopes, and overhead lines are the usual problems.
- Access: send the gate or door width, any low clearances, and the best approach into the property.
- Permission: if you rent the property, get the owner or manager's approval to place a trailer. For food-safety questions, contact San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality, Food and Housing Division.
- Paperwork: your quote lists the unit, the rental length, delivery, setup, servicing, and minimum terms. An inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Roads, routes, and access around San Diego
Highways and routes tied to San Diego:
- I-8: Interstate 8 runs east-west through the city north of Mission Valley.
Rental prices for San Diego at a glance
Rates are the same nationwide. Rentals start from $1,895 / month for a 12 ft trailer, and the price sheet prints a separate rate for 1-6 days, 8-14 days, 15 days to 1 month, and more than 3 months. See every rate. Delivery to San Diego, setup, servicing, and minimum terms are confirmed in your quote.
More of California and the Pacific
San Diego is one of the places we list in California, and California is part of our Pacific service area. Browse the California service area for every city page in the state, or the full service-area map.
Rental terms at a glance
Rentals run by the week or by the month, with short-term and long-term options, and we answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Setup on site takes about 1 hour for a refrigeration unit and about 5 hours for a kitchen or dishwashing trailer; a ramp adds 4 to 6 hours and stairs add 5 to 15 minutes. GPS tracking is possible on request. Delivery, setup, servicing, and minimum terms are confirmed in your quote, and an inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Cold storage down? Call now.
Emergency refrigeration rentals in San Diego, CA.
If a walk-in cooler or freezer has stopped holding temperature, call now. Tell us your city and state, what failed, how much product is at risk, and what power is on site. Keep doors closed to hold the cold while we work out the right trailer or container for you.
San Diego rental questions
Do you rent refrigerated trailers in San Diego, California?
Yes. HHrefrigeration rents refrigerated trailers, refrigerated containers, mobile kitchens, and dishwashing trailers to commercial and industrial customers in San Diego and San Diego County. Call (888) 385-5513 or send the quote form with your address. An inquiry does not reserve equipment; availability, delivery, and terms are confirmed in your quote.
How do I get a trailer if San Diego is far from a major city?
We plan the delivery from your street address, not from a fixed point on the map. San Diego is about 111 miles southeast of Los Angeles, so we confirm the route, the final approach, and the timing with you in the quote.
What power does a refrigerated trailer need in San Diego?
The 20 ft refrigerated trailers list 220V, single phase, 40 to 60 amps, with a NEMA plug. Have a licensed electrician confirm your service at the San Diego site before delivery, and send the voltage, phase, and amps with your request.
Who do I contact about food safety rules in San Diego County?
Start with San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality, Food and Housing Division (https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/deh/fhd/food/). Rules vary by jurisdiction, so check with them before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen.
Can I rent a mobile kitchen or dishwashing trailer in San Diego too?
Yes. When a kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens from 24 ft to 40 ft and dishwashing trailers from 22 ft to 38 ft. Many San Diego customers pair them with a refrigerated trailer so they can cook, serve, and clean up while permanent equipment is repaired.
What should I do before heat wave season in California?
Know your site's power and placement details, keep our number ((888) 385-5513) handy, and call early if a forecast puts your walk-in at risk. Heat wave risk in California is highest June to September.
Sources for local facts
Sources
Local facts on this page come from public sources. Population is the Census Bureau's 2023 estimate.
What to send for a fast quote
- The city and state where the unit will sit
- What failed and how much product is at risk
- Cooler (32°F) or freezer temperature needed
- Power available at the site: voltage, phase, and amps
- Access: gate or door width, surface, and where the unit will be placed
- How long you expect to need it
Prefer to talk? Call (888) 385-5513 any time.