1953 Great Dane refrigerated trailer
mobile museum
Follow our 1953 refrigerated trailer mobile museum as it travels across the country showcasing our 125-year history.
track the trailer’s journey
Our restored 1953 vintage trailer serves as a museum commemorating 125 years of Great Dane’s history, highlighting iconic designs, milestones, and innovations that shaped our company and led the transportation industry. Follow its journey as it travels to Great Dane manufacturing plants, dealer and customer events, trade shows, and communities across the country.
Map brought to you by FleetPulse
thank you to our Sponsors
We’re proud to recognize our trusted industry partners who have donated their time, expertise, and materials to help preserve this piece of Great Dane history.
TKO Graphix brought the story to life visually, supplying the printed graphics that capture our 125-year story.
Bridgestone helped keep history rolling by donating brand-new tires, ensuring the trailer is road-ready for its next chapter.
Hendrickson strengthened the trailer’s foundation with a new axle, providing modern stability while honoring our trailer’s original design.
Prolam completed the transformation by supplying a new floor that delivers durability and an authentic finish.
attend an event
TOUR SCHEDULE
Our vintage trailer will be showcased at events across the country. Check out the tour schedule for your chance to explore the one-of-a-kind mobile museum in person as it travels to Great Dane manufacturing plants, dealer and customer events, trade shows, and communities.
| Date | Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 – 8, 2026 | Utah Trucking Association Conference | St. George, UT | |
| May 12, 2026 | Great Dane of Utah Open House | Salt Lake City, UT | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm GMT |
scad partnership
Great Dane partnered with students from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to help bring our vision to life. SCADPro is a collaborative design studio that connects current and future art and design professionals with business leaders to find creative solutions.
a groundbreaking innovation
ABOUT THE TRAILER
Our trailer was built at our Lathrop Avenue location in downtown Savannah where we built the first factory-finished refrigerated trailers in the 1940’s, using a blower system to circulate air over blocks of ice. This groundbreaking innovation transformed the industry, allowing thousands of Americans to enjoy fresher food.
Today, our Everest refrigerated trailer is built for advanced thermal performance with industry-leading temperature control to protect perishable cargo.
did you know?
Original great dane brand elements can be found in 16 places on the outside of the trailer.
the serial number on our vintage trailer is only four digits. Today, VINs stretch to 17 digits.
Ice blocks used in a 1953 reefer weighed around 300 pounds each.
Grote lights, featured on the 1953 trailer, remain standard on today’s Champion and Everest models.
