Many people have asked me for tips on buying a mobile catering trailer
So I have compiled a few things to look for, including which basic equipment you will need to start your business
Basics First Impressions
The most important thing that I have to stress is when buying a mobile catering trailer is to make sure that the unit is clean and presentable. This will promote your business instantly and send a strong message out to your customers telling them that you're a professional that is clean and tidy and your food is safe to eat.
Long gone are the days when people will eat out of a unclean looking trailer, don't get me wrong there are still plenty about, but how many of them loose business automatically through people not stopping to eat, or who keep on walking after having a closer look at the trailer
Personal Experience
Having the experience of using both an old catering trailer and a new one, there was a definite advantage (the financial kind) of using a cleaner, newer looking catering trailer.
You also have the advantage of getting more work in different locations when your trailer looks the part. Don't forget it's not only the trailer that needs to look clean and tidy your appearance is also vital, clean uniform, hands, nails etc.
What Equipment Do I Need on My Catering Trailer?
The basic cooking equipment that every catering trailer should have to get started is a tea earn, griddle, baine marie and a fridge, freezer
Tea earn is used to boil water for your teas, coffees and other hot drinks.
Griddle is used for cooking bacon, eggs, sausages, burgers, onions, toast and nearly anything else you want. This is by far the most important piece of equipment and probably the most used.
Baine Marie is used for keeping cooked food hot (and at the right temperature) this is mainly used when you are cooking for many people. You can use this piece of equipment to keep many different types of food hot, including eggs, bacon, sausages, burgers,
onions, beans etc.
Fridge/Freezer is vital to store your food prior to cooking and a good fridge/freezer will hold its temperature all day. You also need an outside temperature gauge that tells you the fridge temperature at all times. This is vital for making sure that your fridge is operating at the right temperature and that chilled food stays chilled
Important Things Your Trailer Should Have
o a gas safety valve to cut of the gas in case of a gas leak
o adequate air vents around your trailer,
o fire extinguisher,
o fire blanket
o Clamp (stop someone stealing it)
o Hot food probe (check food temperatures)
Important Things Your Trailer Must Have
o a gas safety certificate (lpg)
o a electrical certificate if electric is installed
If your trailer does not come with these certificates don't buy it, until the test has been completed and you have a certificate. A properly qualified lpg gas/electric engineer will test all equipment to make sure that it is operating properly and not a hazard to you or your customers.
Well this is the basics you should look for when buying a mobile catering trailer. For a range of trailers, equipment and my story on how I started my own mobile catering business please visit my site
