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Concession trailers (as well as food trailers and vending trailers) are mobile units designed for selling goods, food, or services in locations where people gather. You’ll often find them at events like fairs, festivals, concerts, sports, or farmer’s markets - but also at locations with significant foot traffic like parks, attractions, business districts, or near bars and nightclubs. Many cities have become known for their food truck scene and others are following suit - creating special food truck parks to cater to the increased popularity of this type of dining experience.
Like food trucks, concession trailers are typically equipped with the equipment and amenities to prepare, display, and sell a specific type of product or service. They provide a convenient and flexible way for businesses to reach customers in different locations.
Concession trailers are typically used to sell various goods, services, or food at different events or locations. As a result, they’re highly versatile and may serve different purposes, including food vending, retail sales, or service-oriented concessions. They are often customizable to your specific needs.
Concession trailers are a popular alternative to food trucks because they tend to provide more space and amenities at a lower cost. Though they do require a separate vehicle to tow them from location to location, this can often be beneficial because it allows the concession trailer to remain open while the tow vehicle is used to run errands (like resupplying the trailer). Moreover, if a food truck breaks down - the business is shut down until it’s repaired; by contrast, concession trailers can be hitched to a different vehicle and continue to operate.
Unlike other types of trailers where dealers keep significant inventory in stock, concession trailers tend to be built-to-order because of several factors:
As a result, don’t be discouraged if you see fewer products “on the lot” at trailer dealerships (and in TrailerTrader’s listings). Experienced dealers like those that TrailerTrader works with will be able to help you design a trailer that will meet your needs and comply with state and local regulations. Fortunately the lower overall cost of concession trailers means that they’re more cost-effective to customize than concession trucks/food trucks.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably (even by manufacturers), there can be important differences between concession trailers, food trailers, and vending trailers.
"Concession trailer" is a broad category that encompasses most trailers designed to offer various goods, services, or food at different events or locations. Concession trailers can be highly versatile and may serve different purposes, including food vending, retail sales, or service-oriented concessions. They are often customizable to suit the specific needs of the vendor, allowing for various layouts and equipment configurations. A concession trailer could be used for selling food, merchandise, tickets, or providing information services.
Food trailers specifically focus on the preparation, cooking, and sale of food items. They fall under the broader category of concession trailers but have a more specific purpose as food trailers are typically equipped with cooking appliances such as grills, fryers, ovens, refrigerators, and other tools necessary for food preparation.
One popular subset of food trailers is kitchen trailers, which are often used to add extra capacity for a restaurant or to make catering large events easier.
Vending trailers are often associated with the sale of goods, including snacks, beverages, or non-food items. While they can include food vending, the term is broad enough to cover various vending purposes. These types of trailers are more often focused on the sale of packaged or pre-packaged goods, such as snacks, drinks, or merchandise.
As mentioned, mobile concession businesses are subject to regulations from potentially dozens of governmental agencies. As a result, it’s absolutely critical that you learn the requirements for the area you intend to operate to avoid the costly mistake of buying a non-compliant trailer you may not be able to use, or that may cost more to operate because it requires special permits.
Here are just some examples of the complicated patchwork of regulations that affect concession trailers (particularly those preparing food):
One of the many advantages of working with an experienced dealer is that they can help you ensure you stay compliant with federal, state and local regulations.
Generally concession trailers can be anywhere from 8 ft. to 53 ft. long, and are usually from 7 ft to 8 ½ ft wide (making them 1½ ft wider than food trucks on average). Most commonly they tend to fall between 14 ft. - 24 ft. long and 8 ft. wide.
As the adage in the mobile food industry goes - food trucks or trailers are never big enough, and it’s better to have space and not need it than to need space and not have it. However, the larger your trailer, the harder it is to maneuver (in a big city, for example).
Another factor that can add to the length of a concession trailer is externally-mounted equipment. To free up internal space, often generators or fuel sources like propane tanks are mounted outside the trailer - so make sure you’re factoring that into your planning.
The right size trailer for your business will depend on factors like:
The weight of concession trailers is another important consideration because it will determine what kind of tow vehicle you need to move it around. Concession trailers can range from a tongue weight of 5,500 lbs. (actual weight 1,500 lbs.) for a smaller trailer up to 15,000 lbs for an extra large trailer.
Some of the most popular manufacturers of concession trailers, food trailers, and vending trailers include: (Internal Links)
Concession trailers tend to have one of two types of hitches: (1) a bumper-pull hitch, or (2) a gooseneck hitch. The type of hitch is usually based on the size of the trailer. Smaller trailers can use a bumper-pull hitch, but larger or heavier trailers will need a gooseneck hitch (also sometimes referred to as a 5th wheel hitch).
The price of a concession trailer can vary widely depending on whether you’re buying new or used, and what you intend to use it for. If you need more cooking equipment to prepare more complex dishes you could need $10,000 - $30,000 worth of equipment to build out your trailer.
A small trailer that will be used to sell a single product that is simpler to prepare, like coffee or shaved ice, could start around $10,000. As these trailers are smaller and lighter, they can typically be hauled with a car, SUV or half-ton truck.
For a mid-range 16 ft. concession trailer that can be used for a more complex menu could run you between $40,000 - $60,000. These trucks may require a three-quarter ton or one-ton truck to haul them around.
Extra large trailers that have ample space, multiple service windows, and amenities like air conditioning can cost $100,000 or more (and that doesn’t include the cost of a heavy-duty tow vehicle like a one-ton truck or semi that can haul them).
Concession trailers, food trailers, and vending trailers can be equipped with a dizzying array of equipment. Some equipment is required by law to get your trailer permitted to operate, while other equipment is optional (and improves your quality of life).
Equipment that is typically required to be present on a concession trailer includes:
Some of the optional add-ons for concession trailers can include:
Entrepreneurs looking to start a mobile food, concession or vending business are presented with the choice between (a) a food truck, or (b) a concession trailer. Each has its own pros and cons, and ultimately the best fit will depend on the type of business and where it will be operating. Below we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons of each option.
Some of the popular food businesses that entrepreneurs use trailers to operate have increased in variety over the years. It’s no longer just county fair food like nachos, soft pretzels and cotton candy. For example:
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