It's easy to assume this is like buying a car, but it is completely different. From financing, to design, to ordering, buying a food truck is more like having a custom home built. You cannot walk onto a lot somewhere and choose from 100 available units and take it home. Instead, you'll need to understand your menu, the equipment needed to execute it, efficient work

So, you’re ready to open up your own mobile kitchen business. You’ve got the business plan laid out, secured the loans to finance your new project, and now you’re looking for the best trailer to get things off the ground.

How much, exactly, does a new food trailer cost? Let’s dive deep into some of the factors that go into the cost of a new food trailer.

How Much Does a New Food Trailer Cost?

The short answer? It depends. The cost of a food trailer in the United States can vary wildly from state to state for a number of reasons.

State-Specific Regulations

Each state has its own set of food service regulations that your food trailer must be compliant with in order for your business to remain viable and up to code. This means that the cost of outfitting a food trailer that meets those standards depends on exactly what regulations you are [...]

When searching for a food trailer that best fits your needs for your new business, it can be tempting to get a brand-new trailer that’s already outfitted. The problem is that often, these new trailers aren’t exactly what you need.

So, what can you do to get the right trailer for you? We’ve outlined a few tips below.

The Pros of Customizing Your New Food Trailer

Here are some of the reasons why customizing your new food trailer is a good idea.

One Size Does Not Fit All

You may be looking to save a bit of money without having to risk the chance of costly repairs down the road, so a new trailer is the best idea. But what you need for your business may not be what someone else needs for their business. Customizing your trailer to your exact specifications gives you that piece of mind that everything will be in working order [...]

You may know exactly what sort of mobile kitchen you want to create, or maybe you want to open a food truck. Regardless of the reason, you’ll want to make sure that your food trailer is tailored to fit your needs (and the menu you plan to present).

To help you start brainstorming, here are some of the custom food trailers for sale based on region.

Most Common Trailer Specifications by Region

Outlined are some of the most common food trailer customizations by region and types of food to help you figure out exactly what type of food truck is popular in your area. This guide will help you track down your own custom food trailer to get your mobile kitchen business rolling.

Region-Specific Barbeque

Common customization for food trailers are ones that will allow you to smoke and serve barbeque. These trailers are most popular in the cities where barbeque is famous, like Kansas [...]

Are you ready to get that food trailer business off the ground? When you’re looking to buy used food trailers for sale, there are a few things that you want to remember as you browse your local listings. Here are a few things to consider when looking for used food trailers for sale by owner.

Tips When Looking for Used Food Trailers for Sale by Owner

So, what should you look for?

1. Have a Discerning Eye When Shopping Online

Before you even head out to see a food trailer in person, you want to make sure that the listings you add to your shortlist are high quality. Look for online listings that have clear photographs of both the inside and outside of the trailer and avoid any listings that don’t offer enough information. You can avoid wasting time on potential scams or shady deals by being selective and finding the most promising listings before [...]

It’s easy to see the endless opportunity of owning and operating a food trailer.  One of the biggest questions that many potential entrepreneurs may face when entering the industry is: what are the differences between purchasing a used food trailer and buying a custom-built food trailer?

Here we break down the differences you can expect to encounter as you decide if purchasing a used food trailer is worth the investment for your business. 

Price

One of the biggest factors in making any purchase.  The lower entry price is tempting.  It’s important to keep in mind that when you are purchasing a previously owned food trailer, though the cost is initially lower, it is likely that you will have to put money into the mechanical work or customizing the trailer to fit your needs. These fixes can add up quickly and the lure of the initial price tag will start to fade. The cost of a [...]

Whether you’re looking to open a profitable BBQ trailer business, feed the hungry or connect with your community, Custom Trailer Pros has a BBQ trailer to suit your needs.

Check out these full-featured mobile kitchen options with everything you need to prep, cook, serve, clean and pave the way for your success.

8.5×24 Black-Out BBQ Trailer

This turn-key trailer was built to perfection with a full kitchen interior and one of a kind built-in porch.  Starting at just $41,995 this big-daddy is a full-fledged commercial kitchen on wheels. With its 16′ Interior Kitchen and 8′ Enclosed Porch with three full-height gull-wing doors, this trailer is able to get ahead of the massive crowds at an event and maximize food sales.

Keep your perishable items at safe temperatures in any outdoor environment in the 19 Cubic Foot freezer and 23 Cubic Foot fridge.  And get cooking with the 6-burner range with oven and 36” flat top griddle.  [...]

With BBQ season quickly approaching it’s time to seek out the best BBQ concession trailer to show off your smokin’ skills.

While fully enclosed concession trailers are great for preparing and selling food at events, a BBQ concession trailer with porch access accommodates that requirement plus sets the stage for showmanship.

Custom Trailer Pros has a variety of BBQ concession trailers with a porch that is sure to impress your customers and competition.

The porch area on each of these trailer options allows you to interact and engage with your guests, show off your smoking style, offer samples and provide demos.  The best part is that you can still prep, cook and sell from the indoor part of the BBQ trailer.  Your BBQ trailer porch will be the focus of your customer’s attention, so you can customize the interior to best suit [...]

If you’re starting your own mobile food business shopping for a used concession trailer is a good place to start. There are so many things to consider when looking for the best-used concession trailer that it can be overwhelming. Prices on used trailers can be significantly lower, which means you may be able to find one you can afford without a bank loan. Used trailers often come with equipment already installed – another money-saving benefit.  Once you’ve determined your budget, use these tips to keep track of the factors you should keep in mind in your search.

Space and Configuration

It can be challenging to navigate the various types of used concession trailers available – there are so many options and configurations.   Really think about the space and storage that you’ll need for your particular food trailer. The last thing you want to do is purchase a concession trailer that doesn’t meet your specific needs.  Visualize an [...]