Thread: Who makes catering trailers?

I've a friends who is looking at getting into mobile catering. Not your hotdog/kebab caravan but a real mobile kitchen to rent out or to be used for on site catering functions.

A quick internet browse turns up lots of trailer manufacturers but few list an enclosed trailer designed for catering or capable of being easily modified for a catering role.
Are there specialist manufacturers of this sort of thing or is it something that most trailer makers can do?
No details on what's needed yet as it's just an idea but something about 5 or 6 metres in length would be required.

At this stage, any comments welcome.

Probably the trailer body can be made by almost any trailer manufacturer. Then you would have to approach a specialist for the fit out. Presumeably that would involve extensive use of stainless steel. You would have to get advice on what was required from your local dept of health. It gets pretty expensive I suspect.

Regards
Paul

Thanks Paul,

I've not examined one of these things that closely but the shell seems to be constructed as is a cool-room i.e. foam cored aluminium panel, or caravan (monocoque?) construction. I can't see the trailer construction requirements being any different than for a similar sized trailer in the same weight class.

Interior fit-out would typically be stainless steel for easy of cleaning and (possibly) health regulations.
From what we've been able to tell from trailer prices is that fit-out would likely cost as much as the basic trailer price.

Other factors contributing to cost are whether you have dual fuel (electric/gas) appliances, low voltage or 240V wiring (or both), water storage capacity etc.
All of these will also contribute to weight which affects trailer construction and the size of vehicle necessary to tow it.,

Narre Warren catering trailer - CFA Connect

This is the closest I've come up with, without just being a BBQ on wheels.

However, I assume you mean an enclosed trailer to serve from the inside.

A couple of problems with hiring it out;

• Appropriate tow vehicles to cart it around.
• Cleaning when returned.

Originally Posted by Yonnee

Narre Warren catering trailer - CFA Connect

This is the closest I've come up with, without just being a BBQ on wheels.

However, I assume you mean an enclosed trailer to serve from the inside.

A couple of problems with hiring it out;

• Appropriate tow vehicles to cart it around.
• Cleaning when returned.

That one looks pretty good if a little specialised.

What my friend is looking for is basically a kitchen on wheels, a servery is not necessary as long as there is good access for the waiting staff - which in most cases will be the chef/driver/cleaner.
A suitable vehicle is part of the plan but its choice will depend on how big a trailer can is available/affordable. I'm not sure on that side of things, I just offered to pose the question here knowing there is no shortage of expertise .
As far as cleaning goes, you charge a large, refundable cleaning deposit, enough to cover the cost/inconvenience of having to do it your self if required.

Geoff

It wouldn't surprise me to you say the fitout was twice the basic trailer price.

I did a very quick search and there seemed to be many American sites such as this

Custom Concession Trailers : Custom Catering Trailers for Sale : BBQ : Barbecue Smoker : Tailgate Trailer : Trucks : Vending : Mobile Kitchens : Food Concession Trailer

It may give you some ideas at least. "Mobile kitchen" may bring up some results. If it is self propelled you probably need to restrict the size of vehicle to a car license (4.5T ?). Trailers up to 2T can use overide brakes so small 4WDs and large cars can cope. Once you are over this weight brakes have to be electric and the towing vehicle will need to be equipped with a brake controller. This limits your potential market as not everybody has one!

Regards
Paul

Paul,

Thanks for that US link, they certainly do things on a whole different scale over there don't they?

Braking capacity and towing vehicle limits are yet other things to consider. I think my friend had planned that if there was a rental of the trailer only, no catering staff, then she would do the delivery and pickup. This would limit your possible client base but would get around the problem of someone coming to pickup your valuable trailer but having no experience at towing one (there's no license requirement is there?)

As your friend would not be a direct competitor, she might be able to get some information from the various movie site catering firms, and find out who does their fit outs.

Most of them use trucks with a built on shell, under body water storage & diesel power generators - film catering sites are often 'on location' without regular power or water access. Some of the trucks have their own cool room/freezer, for bigger 'events' they have separate trucks which are all coolroom/freezer.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Paul,

Thanks for that US link, they certainly do things on a whole different scale over there don't they?

Braking capacity and towing vehicle limits are yet other things to consider. I think my friend had planned that if there was a rental of the trailer only, no catering staff, then she would do the delivery and pickup. This would limit your possible client base but would get around the problem of someone coming to pickup your valuable trailer but having no experience at towing one (there's no license requirement is there?)

I don't think so with the exception of learners and P platers. I have it in the back of my mind that they may be restricted, but I doubt that your friend would have to allow for that as it would be too small a section of the driving population.

Regards
Paul

Several of my friends went to the Government Auctions and purchased the Army Field Kitchens.....comes with everything ones heart could desire. Feed an entire regiment out of one of these

Originally Posted by RobHay

Several of my friends went to the Government Auctions and purchased the Army Field Kitchens.....comes with everything ones heart could desire. Feed an entire regiment out of one of these

Welcome RobHay

Regards
Paul

All the usual disclaimers. Just had a Quicksilver trailer in the shop that is used as a catering trailer for his tour company. US built. All up the owner recons it was a cheaper option (in as far as ally trailers ar concerned) than having the equivalent made here in OZ. From there some internal mods were done in OZ (partitian wall etc..) to suit his purposes. Freedom Off-Road Had a quick look inside and underneath as my task was only to make up walls to suit his roll out awning. Seemed to be put together quite well. Good luck with it

Oh yeah if u are gunna pick up an ex Army kitchen, beware of the Choofa!!!! Anyone who has done any time in the OZ military will understand that one.

I dealt with a sheet metal firm a fair bit when I was fitting out boats and they actually branched out into off road camping trailersand then dropped the sheet metal work. I spoke to the boss a few years ago and they were also making trailer and truck based commercial kitchens for movie catering and special events. No affiliation etc go here.

Mick

Paul
some options to consider

Years ago I, along with 2500 other cyclists, went on a fully catered week long bike ride -- one of the Bike Victoria rides
The caterer used a commercial kitchen in Melbourne to prepare all meals which were then transported to "site" and only reheated in the site kitchen. A reheating kitchen would have a different fit-out compared to a kitchen. I think most film caterers use this option.

an alternative to a trailer would be to fit out a "standard" site shed (donga) as a kitchen -- there probably already is a standard width donga fitted as a kitchen.
My understanding is that the donga could be "temporarily" mounted on a 2.5m wide trailer with the combination classed as a wide vehicle -- your friend will need to get a permit everytime they want to move it, but if it's only used for largish events that shouldn't be too much of a hasel.


one more thing for your friend to consider
a true mobile kitchen will be self contained, that might mean
• separate hot, cold and waste water tanks, plus a grease trap -- at a guess, when full, there might be 2 or 3 tonnes of water on the trailer
• a silenced generator plus two G size gass bottles
• oven, gas top, fume extractor, fridges, freezer, SS counters, etc plus crockery and stuff
• a chasis and suspension capable of delivering the whole lot to site in one piece with minimal shaking

what I'm getting at is once fitted out and stocked for an event (or full of waste from an event), the whole thing might weigh upwards of 10 tonnes -- more like a heavy combination than something to be towed by a 4WD.
Ther wont be too many chefs with a HC licence!