|
Catering, Vending and Cooking For The Masses. this forum is OnTopic. A resource to help with catering, vending and just cooking for large parties. Topics to include Getting Started, Ethics, Marketing, Catering resources, Formulas and recipes for cooking for large groups. |
|
Thread Tools |
05-19-2016, 11:05 AM | #1 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 05-20-13
Location: Reno, NV
|
Smoker on truck/trailer question
I've been looking into getting a food truck/trailer to expand on some catering I've been doing recently and possibly turn it into something a little more full time, and to use for the couple of competitions I do a year.
I've seen the trailers with space to mount a smoker on the back, and I was wondering if any of you guys had any set ups like that, and if that was your primary cooker or if that smoker was the equivalent of having the "show smoker" out in front of the restaurant, when it came to catering/vending. I know in a competition it would get used. But is it worth taking up space on the trailer? |
05-19-2016, 01:14 PM | #2 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 09-08-15
Location: Stamford, CT
|
I mainly do comps but I'm hoping to do some vending and catering. My trailer has an 8' porch, 12' box and 3' V nose. So far it is working out very well. You can see photos of it on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/backdraftbarbq
__________________
Myron Mixon V33 Rec Tec RT-680 Rec Tec Stampede Rec Tec Mini Gateway Drum 24' Freedom Enclosed Porch Trailer Flame Boss Mike's Hot Honey Grill Grates |
Thanks from:---> |
05-19-2016, 02:11 PM | #3 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 05-20-13
Location: Reno, NV
|
That's kind of what I'm thinking of. I may do an open back version, since in Reno we have over 300 sunny days a year. I'm just don't know how much the on board smoker would get used on site, not wanting to drive around with a fire burning
|
05-19-2016, 07:56 PM | #4 |
Banned
Join Date: 04-11-16
Location: Fayetteville, AR
|
I have a very small catering trailer that I use for comps. I am wishing I had gotten a bigger trailer and left the porch off. At the comps I have plenty of room for my cookers, so I could use the porch, but I don't need to. 90% of my catering jobs are not prepared on site, so the porch is not used, but I sure could use the extra space. Just my two cents, and I am sure every set up is a little different. Backdraft's set up is way nicer than mine. I wanted something very small so I could zip in and out of places (and to minimize the expense) and I am wishing I had left the porch off and gotten more enclosed space.
|
05-23-2016, 12:53 PM | #5 |
Got rid of the matchlight.
Join Date: 02-17-14
Location: Fort Worth
|
I'm about to light the fires and kick the tires here in Fort Worth. I've got about a $35-$40k budget and I thought of getting a rig much like the one Backdraft has but the comment Pharp about doing 90% of his cooking offsite has me thinking. I'd love the flexibility to do competitions as well as sell at weekend/multi-day events. Where do you do your smoking/prep work? Brisket is going to be the centerpiece of my business because...well, Texas. That means anywhere from 9-12 or more hours for a cook, depending on which smoking philosophy you adhere to. This leads me to several questions.
1. If I cook on my trailer, does it have to be parked at a commissary when I do so? I seem to recall the rules were different for trailers vs true concession trucks here in the DFW area. 2. How can you cook quality BBQ at a commissary? Part of what makes BBQ special is the way it's cooked and most commissary setups don't have the type of smoker I use. As a matter of fact, I'll be smoking on a custom insulated vertical upright that I'm building right now. 3. How about paying for kitchen time at a restaurant? I've got a potential partner who owns a gormet grilled cheese restaurant. He's interested in an arrangement where I provide him with smoked meats to incorporate into his creations in exchange for kitchen time. |
05-23-2016, 01:01 PM | #6 | |
Banned
Join Date: 04-11-16
Location: Fayetteville, AR
|
Quote:
|
|
05-27-2016, 03:24 PM | #7 | |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 11-04-08
Location: Houston, Texas
|
Quote:
Find out what is required to get a BBQ Truck or Trailer approved in the DFW area. Once you know that you'll know all you need to know. Typically, you can cook where ever you want to, on whatever you want to as long as your rig meets the local authorities approval. How and when you have to go to a commissary are totally city / county dependent. Best of Luck! |
|
05-27-2016, 06:28 PM | #8 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 10-04-10
Location: Ventura CA.
|
Smokers on the back of a trailer (although I think its great) are not allowed in Ventura Co CA. If you use a smoker, you have to have it inside the truck, or trailer. There are only 2 that are approved, a fast eddys 160, or a CTO
|
05-29-2016, 05:21 PM | #9 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 05-20-13
Location: Reno, NV
|
Sunrise, that's good info, I hadn't thought about it not even being allowed. I've seen another trailer or two in my area with a smoker on the back. I'll make sure I check with the health department on this area before making my purchase
|
06-12-2016, 08:34 AM | #10 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 03-05-14
Location: Cumberland, RI
|
We have a Very successful BBQ FoodTruck that is going on it's 3rd year and does catering and very large (including KCBS) events all over New England! We do operate from a commercial Kitchen/Commissary which is required but have 4 commercial smokers that we can use.
The Foodtruck has a CookShack FEC 120 pellet smoker which we use for Butts, Briskets, Chicken, Ribs and sausage. The Big meats are cooked overnite the nite before an event, wrapped and put into hot hold early morning and Chicken & Ribs are loaded to cook while we are driving to the events. Onsite we once again wrap, pan and hothold the meats and put in the sausage. During the event we can cook another load (30 racks) of Ribs or more chicken as needed and have fresh product as the earlier batch runs out! You're welcome to contact me if you want help moving forward! Mike
__________________
2 FEC 120s, Cadillac Cookers4872, SmokinTex 1500,CyberQ WIFI, GMG "Davy Crockett" |
|
|