6 Places to Buy a Food Truck
Food trucks are fun and have proven to be more than a fad. More cities are allowing pop up food truck rallies and the public can’t seem to get enough of the mobile culinary creations.
There are food trucks that specialize in pizza, sandwiches, barbecue or hot dogs. If you can name the cuisine, there is probably a food truck that sells it. One thing most food trucks have in common is a catchy name and a food “shtick.” And yes, there is a food truck whose “shtick” is food on a stick.
If you are looking to enter this restaurant frontier, there is no shortage of options for food trucks. The fun of food trucks is that each one is different. There are food trucks made from custom vans, airstream trailers and small do it yourself, solar powered mobile kitchens on trailers.
The opportunities are endless, and you are only limited by your creativity.
If you’re not really into a DIY food truck, don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities to buy a new or used food truck. Here are a few places to begin looking for your perfect rolling restaurant.
RoamingHunger.com
Roaminghunger.com is a website dedicated to all things food truck. You can search for available food trucks in your city, vendors can advertise their menu and location and customers can set up catering.
The site also has a marketplace section where you can buy, sell or even lease a food truck. There is no shortage of listings. Thy include everything from the generic white food truck you must often see at construction sites to a “cup cake truck” van with a custom cupcake paint job on the exterior.
Tried and true online food truck sellers
Almost anything can be purchased on some tried and true online retailer sites. These sites are for sale by owner, so you must be diligent in making sure you are getting what you pay for.
Craigslist
Craigslist is one of the oldest online classifieds site available. The nice thing about Craigslist is you can filter down to food trucks for sale in your city, so you see the truck in person before you commit.
Don’t be shy about asking a lot of questions and inspecting the truck well before you purchase. Used equipment sales are usually “buyer beware” deals so be sure you know what you’re getting.
Ebay
Ebay is an online auction house. They have more than 30 food trucks listed for sale in their Restaurant and Catering Equipment section. Ebay is a great place to get a good deal on a used food truck.
Read the sellers listing carefully as most will require you are local to pick up the food truck.
Prestige Food Trucks sells new and used custom food trucks. They bill themselves as the leading custom food truck builder / manufacturer in the country.
The company is based in Elkhart, IN but ships worldwide. Some of their clients include The Salvation Army, Dunkin Donuts and Applebee’s.
If you are in the market for a food truck, Prestige Food Trucks is worth a look. They offer financing and have great FAQ videos on their web site.
This site is operated by Vending Trucks Inc. The company manufactures in East Brunswick, NJ and potential buyers are encouraged to make an appointment to tour the facility and view the inventory.
You can choose your truck from the models they offer or supply your own truck for the buildout. Their online portfolio shows a variety of food trucks as well as customized trucks for florists and veterinary care.
Food Truck Empire
Food Truck Empire is an online resource that provides information about starting a food truck business. They also help fund startup food trucks. According to the site, their mission is to “be the ultimate resource for food truck entrepreneurs.”
The site lists food trucks for sale and provides a dealer directory so you can locate a food truck dealer near you.
Buying a food truck is one of the first steps to starting a food truck business, and it will most likely be your largest investment. New or used, van or box truck, whatever your food truck dream, one of these resources can help you find it.
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