G&A's aero fridge kit
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• Scottish reefer builder Gray and Adams has developed a stylish aerodynamic body kit for its refrigerated semitrailers. It is currently being tested by Lincolnshire-based TIR operator Hargrave International.
The wind cheating tri-axle reefer was jointly designed by Gray and Adams and Hargrave as part of HI's tenth anniversary celebrations. It features lifting alloy side skirts which extend from behind the trailer's landing legs back to the rear doors.
Two panels, on either side of the trailer, cover the underslung 20 metric pallet storage cage, and there is a further panel on each side of the trailer immediately in front of the rear doors which can be raised to give access to the twin spare wheel carriers. Each lifting panel is lockable and raised by gas-operated struts.
Although the side skirts on the prototype trailers are made from aluminium, the full production package is likely to be based on GRP panels. Hargrave will evaluate the new trailer on TIR reefer work and, if it proves successful, Gray and Adams will offer the aerodynamic kit as a regular option on its current reefer models.
The 12.5m-long reefer is based on a conventional 24pallet capacity Gray and Adams chassisless design, with PVCinsulated body panels. With a full aerodynamic kit and a Thermo King Super Boss II fridge fitted, it has a kerb weight of 9.5 tonnes. Internal width is 2.44m and internal height is 2.3m.
Gray and Adams has equipped the prototype with the latest SAF air-suspended Series 9000 tubular axles on the bogie, saving 280kg which helps offset the additional 200kg of the side skirts.
Hargrave International will run its new reefer coupled to a 6x2 Leyland Daf 95.350 twinsteer tractive unit with the whole rig costing £92,000. Although the Gray and Adams aero kit is still at the prototype stage it is already being seen as a challenger to the joint Kassbohrer/Norfrig fridge trailer. El Following the recent launch of York's Thermostar 250 highvolume reefer, Gray and Adams will be revealing its own high-cube refrigerated semi-trailer at this month's IRTE show at Solihull. It will
have a 2.5m internal height but within an overall 4m height limit when running at 38 tonnes on the Continent. Although few details are available, Commercial Motor understands that it will be based on an existing Gray and Adams reefer design, but with a revised neck area.