A fridge trailer in a field, (put your M&S advert voice on!) but it is not just any fridge trailer in a field, it’s a 1982, Gray & Adams, tandem spread axle fridge trailer in a field! On top of that if the farmers memory serves him correctly he says he acquired the trailer (for fresh poultry storage) in 1990, which implies that it served Christian Salveson for just 8 years prior to becoming parked up, which would explain it’s surprisingly great situation. Anyway, this trailer has been parked on the road between Hadleigh and Sudbury in Suffolk for as extended as I can keep in mind. So me becoming me, curiosity won and I went to discover it a year or so ago. I drove in the farm yard and appropriate through it and located the trailer. I had a contact around to attempt and locate an individual with no luck, so I took a couple of images and left. I do like to know exactly where these trailers are lurking incase any person desires a single. At Truckstar Festival this year a certain young man with a known collection of classic trucks, pointed out for the duration of a beery conversation that he had started hunting for a 2nd fridge trailer to turn into yet another caravan trailer. Luckily I hadn’t had as well numerous so I piped up and showed a photo of mentioned trailer. A positive response. So I volunteered to go and speak to the farmer.
Once again a optimistic response. It turns out that it was the perfect time to enquire as the choice had currently been produced to rid the farm of the trailer. I took a few newer photos of the trailer and it is common condition and identified the makers plate and photoed that also. I spoke cash with the farmer and that was that. I forwarded all information onto the interested party, he said yes to me straight away, so I put him in touch with the farmer and a deal was done.
Nowadays was collection day. I managed to get more than to see the very skilled farmer pushing the fridge up the ramps with a chain and a dolly, straight as a die and up she went. Fortunately the fridge had a folding rear bumper which helped with clearance both going up the ramps and also to clear the neck of the stepframe. Once on board it was all strapped and chained down and to beat the school targeted traffic via the tiny Suffolk village higher street, a quick exit was created. I ran ahead in my vehicle and just asked a few locals to remain still which the whole outfit gently weaved by way of the higher street. That was that and off to its new owners residence.
The program is to restore the trailer to its former glory and maintain the well-known blue and white livery then convert the inside into living accommodation.
As you can see this is a excellent discover and a great trailer that has gone to a man who wants to preserve it just as it began life. If you know of any old trailers that want rescuing please please let me know. In my book trailers are in as much need to have to be saved as the trucks that pull them. Most trailers have long rusted away or been chopped down so any that are still in one particular piece must be saved. Now I’m not suggesting that every trailer can be purchased and restored but at least if we know about them then probably we can assist a few which will make the likes of The Retro Truck Show at Gaydon all the much more enjoyable for us. Hopefully by Truckfest Peterborough next year this tiny restoration project will be total. Fingers crossed.
Lastly if anybody knows exactly where their is a Petter fridge unit, please get in touch.
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Retro Trailer Rescue
