Bar-Be-Que Concession Trailers

S

SmokyBear

Guest
Hello,
I'm thinking of building a Bar-Be-Que Concession Trailer and wonder how many people here have them? How did you build them and what would be the one thing they would do over again if they were to start from the beginning again? Photo's inside and out would be great!
Thank you,
Smoky Bear
 
SmokyBear said:
Hello,
I'm thinking of building a Bar-Be-Que Concession Trailer and wonder how many people here have them? How did you build them and what would be the one thing they would do over again if they were to start from the beginning again? Photo's inside and out would be great!
Thank you,
Smoky Bear
Click to expand...

Start with the HD first. They can give you the standards there, requirements, and rules around operation. That will determine what's best for you.
 
[quote=C Rocke;1009672]Start with the HD first. They can give you the standards there, requirements, and rules around operation. That will determine what's best for you.[/quote]
Thanks C Rocke. Yeah I could do that and have it built to what they are asking and when I'm living at a different place I should exspect the local HD bring in their view points to me? really asking if any of the membersio have them.

Thanks,
Smoky Bear
 
blues_n_cues said:
most things are pretty standard.
here's florida's state mobile food vendor's guidlines.
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/fs/mobile_guide.pdf
Click to expand...
This appears to be for a unit that goes back to a commisary each night and Potentially Hazzordous Food is not prepped in the unit. I think there's another guide for the good stuff.

If you don't have the trailer yet, expect about 15K to get started. Commercial fridge is over $1k alone.

If I had to do it again I'd have a trailer where I could mount all 3 FE's plus a grill under a roof plus the 16 foot enclosed kitchen.

Here's a link to the Michigan application. It's not as strict as a number of States. http://www.accesskent.com/Health/HealthDepartment/FoodServices/pdfs/FoodServiceEstPlanReview.pdf
 
SmokyBear said:
[quote=C Rocke;1009672]Start with the HD first. They can give you the standards there, requirements, and rules around operation. That will determine what's best for you.
Click to expand...
Thanks C Rocke. Yeah I could do that and have it built to what they are asking and when I'm living at a different place I should exspect the local HD bring in their view points to me? really asking if any of the membersio have them.

Thanks,
Smoky Bear [/quote]


I had ours built AFTER talking to the HD. You could of course just build and then have to tear everything out when it doesn't pass inspection. But to each his own.

You can do a search on trailers here and get a wealth of information but it doesn't sound as though you want to do any leg work.
 
I am building on now in a step van 15ft by 7 ft kitchen...........Have a big bank account.
 
it doesn't sound as though you want to do any leg work. WRONG

Roo-B-Q'N said:
Thanks C Rocke. Yeah I could do that and have it built to what they are asking and when I'm living at a different place I should exspect the local HD bring in their view points to me? really asking if any of the membersio have them.

Thanks,
Smoky Bear
Click to expand...


I had ours built AFTER talking to the HD. You could of course just build and then have to tear everything out when it doesn't pass inspection. But to each his own.

You can do a search on trailers here and get a wealth of information but it doesn't sound as though you want to do any leg work.[/quote]
Roo-B-Q'N, Wow where did that come from? You wrote "it doesn't sound as though you want to do any leg work" thats wrong. I'm just asking if I build it while I live here in Florida and it is according to not only Florida's and my counties HD Spec'd and in six months I'm living in somewhere in the Southweast! My question does one State HD dictate a different setup from each another. Give me a break here, thats the reason I'm asking here before I even build it. I want to hear from other members where they put their tanks.... Front or Back? Did they make it out of wood siding or a cargo trailer. I have seen many different varieties on the Net and wanted to see what the people say here. Another thing, my writting here is a part of my LEG WORK!
Smoky Bear
 
more counter space,bigger genset,and a awning these are the things in line on my stepvan and maybe some fancy flashin lights the go to the beat of music:icon_cooland about a 20,000 pound winch for when i go into the woods i know im going to get stuck sooner or later....
 
There are alot of pics of my rig in the roadside vending thread. I didn't build my I had it built but once you start working in you begin to see what you should have done differently. Go check out some at local fairs and see how they are set up and how they work while they are busy.
 
stillsmokintn said:
more counter space,bigger genset,and a awning these are the things in line on my stepvan and maybe some fancy flashin lights the go to the beat of music:icon_cooland about a 20,000 pound winch for when i go into the woods i know im going to get stuck sooner or later....
Click to expand...
Sounds like a plan to me. I'm thinking of making mine look like an Old West Store Front for the customers to pickup there foof along with a side window. With the tank on the backside in a sreen in area so the smoke can bring them to me. Lights would be nice too.
 
smokinit said:
There are alot of pics of my rig in the roadside vending thread. I didn't build my I had it built but once you start working in you begin to see what you should have done differently. Go check out some at local fairs and see how they are set up and how they work while they are busy.
Click to expand...
Yeah Smokinit, I can do that plus there are some who sell Ribs and Chicken at many different places around here. I can ask them how they built it and what they would do all over if they had the chance. Plus let us not forget to ask tham about their dealings working with the HD.
 
I built mine from a gutted camper. Not many creature comforts, but it's paid for. When I save enough, I will hope to pay for a nicer one with ca$h.
 
Go to your local HD and get an application for a plan review FIRST!

I built this myself...
 

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Thats a really nice trailer you built there. What do you cook your meats on?
 
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Smokey Bear: I'm building one using an old travel trailer as well. Waste tanks are already there, electric breaks and the shell of course.

I'm working closely with the local HD, seems many states are close in regards to there rules, but there are exceptions.

Most are similar in equipment requirements but vary on say counter surfaces, some will say a 3 compartment sink, some a 4 compartment sink, ours says 3 compartement sink big enough to immerse your largest pan in.

You can always remodel to suit if you should move. I've found just being up front with the HD makes a big difference, your not trying to hide anything from him that way.

PS: Guess I'm not the only one thinking of the old store front! Going to add that to the side of the trailer going above the roof line abit. Make a great place for signage!

Good luck.
 
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Bbq Bubba said:
Go to your local HD and get an application for a plan review FIRST!

I built this myself...
Click to expand...
Thats a nice looking rig you got there Bbq Bubba. Where do you have your smoker tank at?

I was looking and thinking of something like these. Not sure which way to go wood siding or just nice looking sheet metal siding??
BearsBarbequeTrailer1.jpg


224186848603_0_ALB1.jpg


OR

bbq20trailersidedoor.jpg






bbq20trailer.jpg
 
i like the yellow one at the end .clean looking,slick side easy to put graphics on overall nice looking rig.
 
i like the wood lookin ones also but if your going to be traveling weight would be a concern for me.if i was more at a permanent location and only moved around a little probally go with wood type.
 
Long answer

SmokyBear said:
I'm just asking if I build it while I live here in Florida and it is according to not only Florida's and my counties HD Spec'd and in six months I'm living in somewhere in the Southweast! My question does one State HD dictate a different setup from each another. Smoky Bear
Click to expand...

Short answer - each State is different. Within a State different county HD's can interpret differently but once you are State licensed here in MI that's it.

Long answer - a lot of the things will be the same. Here in MI your SOP's can dictate what extra equipment you need. If you use water for your cooking or vending (soda fountain as an example) then you have a whole different water setup costing a lot more. Just ask Bubba. I've heard Florida has a fairly tough code so meeting it will probably leave you in good shape for other States. Still you can't cross the State line and vend using your Florida certificate. You can however get an event permit that's cheaper than a full yearly permit. For sure you'll want to mount the smokers outside the vending area. Otherwise you be into a huge vent hood for smoke extraction.

The unit should have screen doors and a self closing vending window. If you plan to put in a stove or fryer figure on a range hood. If building from scratch get RV tanks for fresh and holding and have a 3 bay sink and hand sink. Here's a MI rule to consider. The largest thing you need to wash (cutting board maybe) must fit in the sink to be approved. Not just a corner. But my SOP's say I use only disposable cutting boards so the largest thing I have is tongs to wash. Means I could use a bar sink with smaller basins. That's important as you must adequately fill all 3 sinks plus the hand sink at the same time with hot water. Even turning my 6 gallon up to 150 barely got me there. Also need a mop sink but I can use a connection into the drain pipe with a plug I can remove to put in a funnel.

Walls need to be washable. Some States have lighting requirements but all require shielded lights or else NSF approved tubes ($25 per 4 foot and I have 4). Depending on what you install you’ll want propane (rules for that as well) and 30 or 50 amp box and a generator to run it when you can’t get adequate power. If the water heater is electric it takes most of a 15 amp circuit while heating up. Floor needs to be washable. All equipment and storage at least 6” off the floor for mopping under it. That’s pretty standard across all States from what I’ve seen. And they do measure it.

All tables, fridge and food prep and holding equipment needs to be NSF approved. And while not required I’d strongly recommend you insulate the trailer and put in AC. That’s a whole additional cost and running cost as it means a bigger generator and you need to use it rather than supplied 15 amp. So if you do decide to run AC then go to a qualified trailer guy who can add a generator bay and a gas tank that feeds it rather than using a portable one. Nothing like having to fill every 5 hours when you’re onsite for a week at a fair. And a generator to run all that is probably burning a gallon per hour so it’s a lot of gas in 5 gallon cans.

Now I’ve just begun to touch the surface of what you need to know. You can email me for my number and we can talk if you want.
 
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