How to Choose Concession Trailer Components
Food & Concession Trailer Components
Let the fun begin! Now that you’ve decided to take the plunge and purchase a new concession trailer for your existing business or startup, you can begin to think about the different components that you want on the interior of your rig. Depending on what type of business you have, the options for various pieces of food trailer equipment are nearly endless. As you start to consider the possibilities, be sure to consider your food safety, storage, cooking, and cleanup needs.
Refrigeration Requirements
Keeping your cold foods at the right temperature is essential for food safety, and whether you have several packages of ground beef, cartons of eggs, or gallons of milk, you want to ensure these items are stored properly at all times. Additionally, it’s beneficial to choose a refrigerator style that doesn’t take up more space than necessary. There are many types of commercial refrigeration specially designed for food trucks, including:
Because they are the same height as the counter in your trailer, these coolers serve a dual purpose between refrigeration and extra counter space for food prep.
Similar to the refrigerator you have in your home, these units are great for those who have large amounts of fruits, vegetables, and juices to store.
This type of cooler is especially great for maximizing the space of smaller food trucks, hiding conveniently under the counter.
Don't Forget Storage Space
In addition to refrigeration needs, it is important to consider your storage requirements for dry goods like flour, sugar, bread, as well as paper products like serving boats and napkins. Determining how many upper and lower cabinets you need prior to purchasing your unit will help avoid running out of room for the essentials. Choosing cabinets that can be secured and locked during transport is essential to prevent your supplies from spilling and becoming damaged as you move from one location to the next.
Understand Your Equipment Needs
Once you have determined what type of trailer is best suited for your current and future goals, it is important to consider what type of equipment you need to operate your business successfully. Depending on the needs of your business, the components inside of concession trailers can be customized in a variety of ways to streamline your daily operations and provide your customers with the efficient service they expect. At SDG Trailers, our team understands that no two businesses are the same, and because of that, we will speak with you to understand your food storage and prep equipment needs to deliver a trailer tailored to you.
Prep Surfaces and Warming
Whether you’re preparing mouthwatering gourmet burgers for your customers or delicious, frosty smoothies, the food prep and warming equipment in your trailer will be a vital aspect of your daily operations. For ease of cleaning and sanitation, many food trucks come equipped with several linear feet of stainless steel countertops for work space and food prep, but many manufacturers also offer prep surfaces that incorporate tools like cutting boards.
In addition to prep space, it’s important to consider whether or not you will need some type of warming oven or holding units. If you’re serving any type of cuisine that relies on hot goods being readily available at a moment’s notice, this equipment will be central to your efficiency. Depending on the type of food you are serving, you may need food truck warming equipment that provides dry heat, wet heat, or both. Having the right warming equipment will allow you to cook, hold, and store items with long cook times and warm and reheat foods efficiently.
Cooking Elements
If you’ll be preparing fresh, hot dishes for your customers, you want high-quality cooking components in your concession trailer. Just as you would approach outfitting your kitchen at home with all of the essential appliances, outfitting your food truck with the right pieces of equipment will allow you to cook food in a timely manner, meeting the needs of your customers who are crunched for time.
As you might expect, the types of components you require in your trailer will largely depend on the cuisine you specialize in. If your company is known for creating hot, crispy delicacies like corn dogs, french fries, or doughnuts, outfitting your unit with high-quality dual commercial fryers will be essential to your livelihood. Likewise, if you specialize in Philly cheese steaks or burgers, a char-broiler will be critical for your success as would a thermo-griddle for a specialty pancake food truck operator.
Determine Your Budget
Whether you’re the new kid on the block or a seasoned veteran in the industry, understanding your business’s finances is integral to your success. When you are preparing to invest your money into a large purchase like a concession trailer, you want to find a unit that strikes the right balance between style, functionality, and affordability. Need financing? No problem! You can apply for financing online today!
Finding a Quality Manufacturer
When you are ready to buy a concession trailer, you deserve a company that understands your business goals, equipment needs, and operational budget as much as you do. Here at SDG Trailers, we take pride in our manufacturing process, and our attention to detail results in a level of quality that is second to none. Each of our concession trailers is manufactured in-house, saving you the expense of third-party labor. We’re so confident that you’ll be pleased with the quality of our workmanship that we warranty every trailer that rolls out of our facility. We have the skills and expertise needed to deliver a finished product that exceeds your expectations.