Starting a mobile food business feels like a dream come true—you get to share the dishes you love, set your own hours, and skip the crazy high costs of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. But there’s one big choice that can make or break your success: picking the right food trailer. The wrong one might leave you crammed for space, drowning in repair bills, or tangled up in local rules. The right one? It’ll make your days smoother, keep customers coming back, and help your business grow.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. We’ve been helping food entrepreneurs find their perfect trailers for over a decade at ETODEVICE, a leading custom food trailer manufacturer based in China. We build trailers that fit your exact needs—whether you’re slinging hot dogs on a city sidewalk or serving gelato at a summer music festival. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to pick the best food trailer for your business—no jargon, no fluff, just real advice from people who’ve been there.
Step 1: Start with Your Business Plan (Seriously, Don’t Skip This!)
Before you start scrolling through trailer photos, ask yourself three simple questions. They’ll shape every other decision you make:
1. What Food Will You Sell?
Your menu is the backbone of your business—and it tells you exactly what kind of trailer you need. Let’s break it down:
If you’re selling coffee or ice cream, you need something small and compact, with space for a fridge (for milk or frozen treats) and a spot for your coffee machine or ice cream scoops.
If you’re grilling burgers or smoking BBQ, you’ll want a bigger trailer with room for a grill, fryer, and an exhaust hood to clear the smoke.
If you’re serving full meals (like at weddings or corporate events): You need a large trailer with a full kitchen—think ovens, prep tables, and plenty of storage for ingredients.
At ETODEVICE, we’ve built trailers for every kind of menu. We made a gelato cart for Arthur’s Mullet Ice Cream in the Netherlands that’s perfect for outdoor events, and a tiny 8-foot coffee trailer for HERBARIA KAFFEE in Germany that fits right into organic food trade fairs. We design every trailer around your dishes, so you never have to tweak your menu to fit the space.
2. Who Are Your Customers, and Where Will You Sell?
Think about where you’ll park and who’ll be buying your food—this matters more than you think:
Busy city streets or sidewalks: Go small to medium. You need something easy to move and that fits in tight parking spots. Our Hot Dog Cart with Grill is a hit here—lightweight, portable, and perfect for foot traffic.
Large events (festivals, weddings, fairs): Go big. A trailer 20 feet or longer gives you space for multiple staff and enough food to serve crowds. Our Airstream Food Trailer or Catering Trailer can handle 100+ customers an hour—we built one for MAD MACK’S that serves pizza and fries to festival-goers nonstop.
Farmers' markets or local pop-ups: A medium trailer (12-20 feet) is your sweet spot. It’s big enough for gear but small enough to tow to different spots. Our Small Food Trailer or BBQ Trailer works great here—they’ve got room for a grill, prep area, and storage for buns and condiments.
Pro tip: Check local rules first! Some cities (like Denver or Hampton, Virginia) have limits on trailer size or on where you can park. ETODEVICE knows the ropes—we’ve built trailers for customers in the US, Europe, and Australia, so we’ll make sure your trailer checks all the boxes.
3. How Much Can You Spend?
Your budget isn’t just about the upfront cost of the trailer. You also need to plan for:
Maintenance: Cheap trailers might save you money now, but they’ll break down more often. Trust us—you don’t want to be fixing a fridge in the middle of a festival.
Towing costs: If you’re pulling a trailer, you’ll need a truck that can handle its weight. Small trailers work with SUVs; big ones need heavy-duty pickups.
Permits and insurance: Most places require licenses for food trailers—add those fees to your budget so you’re not caught off guard.
ETODEVICE has options for every budget. Our basic food carts start at affordable prices, and we build high-end custom trailers for businesses ready to scale. We’ll even share financing tips—just ask our team.
Step 2: Pick the Right Size (Size Matters More Than You Think!)
Food trailers come in three main sizes, and each fits a different business. Let’s break it down so you don’t overbuy (or undershoot):
Best for: New businesses, simple menus (coffee, hot dogs, ice cream), or tight spaces.
Pros: Super easy to tow (you can use a small truck or even an SUV), low fuel costs, and cheap to maintain.
Cons: Limited space—you’ll probably only fit 1-2 people and a few pieces of equipment.
ETODEVICE Picks: Our 8-foot Coffee Trailer or Ice Cream Cart. They’re compact but packed with what you need: a fridge, prep table, and a serving window that’s easy for customers to reach.
Medium Trailers (12-20 Feet Long)
Best for: Growing businesses, menus with 5-10 items (burgers, tacos, salads), or farmers' markets.
Pros: More space for equipment (grills, fryers, extra fridges) and 2-3 staff. They’re still easy to move, but you can serve way more customers.
Cons: You’ll need a pickup truck to tow it (not a tiny car).
ETODEVICE Picks: Our BBQ Trailer or Hot Dog Trailer. We add custom shelves to save space—you’ll have room for a grill, prep area, and storage for all your supplies without feeling cramped.
Large Trailers (20+ Feet Long)
Best for: Big events (weddings, festivals), full menus, or teams of 3+ people.
Pros: Enough space for a full kitchen—ovens, multiple grills, big fridges, and even a pantry. You can serve hundreds of customers a day without breaking a sweat.
Cons: Harder to tow (needs a heavy-duty truck) and more expensive to maintain.
ETODEVICE Picks: Our Airstream Food Trailer or Container Kitchen. They’re spacious, durable, and look awesome—perfect for making a statement at big events.
Pro tip: Don’t buy a bigger trailer than you need! A 30-foot trailer sounds cool, but if you’re only selling coffee, you’ll waste money on fuel and storage. ETODEVICE’s designers will ask about your menu and staff size to help you pick the perfect fit—no pressure to upsell.
Step 3: Focus on Layout and Functionality (Make Your Work Easier!)
A good trailer layout saves you time, stress, and sore feet. You don’t want to be running from one end to the other to grab a spatula or a napkin. Here’s what to look for:
1. Workflow: Think “Prep → Cook → Serve.”
Your trailer should have a clear path for making food—no backtracking allowed.
Prep area: Put it near the fridge and storage so you can grab ingredients fast.
Cooking area: Keep it close to the serving window—this cuts down on time carrying food.
Serving window: Make sure it’s easy for you to hand over orders and for customers to pay.
At ETODEVICE, we customize layouts for every business. Our Hot Dog Cart has the grill right next to the serving window—you can cook a hot dog and hand it to a customer in 30 seconds. For our BBQ Trailer, we put the prep table right next to the grill so you can season meat and cook it without moving far.
2. Equipment: Only Get What You Need
Don’t cram your trailer with gear you’ll never use—it’ll just make the space messy and slow you down. Start with the essentials:
Cooking equipment: Grill, fryer, or oven (depending on your menu). We use commercial-grade stuff that’s built to last—perfect for long days at events.
Refrigeration: A fridge for perishables (milk, meat) and a freezer for ice cream or frozen buns. We use under-counter fridges to save space.
Cleaning supplies: A sink for washing hands and dishes (required by health rules almost everywhere!). We add hot water systems too—no more cold hand washes on winter days.
ETODEVICE can add extra gear if you need it—like a pizza oven or shawarma machine. But we’ll never push you to buy something you don’t use. Our goal is to make your trailer work for you, not the other way around.
3. Storage: Don’t Forget the Small Stuff
You’ll need space for way more than just food. Think:
Ingredients (flour, sauce, condiments).
Disposables (napkins, plates, cups).
Cleaning supplies (soap, towels, trash bags).
We add shelves, drawers, and cabinets to every ETODEVICE trailer. Our Coffee Trailer has a small shelf above the serving window for napkins and sugar—easy to reach but out of the way. Our Large Catering Trailer has a built-in pantry for dry ingredients—no more stacking boxes on the floor.
Step 4: Check Compliance (Follow the Rules to Avoid Trouble!)
Every city and state has rules for food trailers. Ignore them, and you could get fined or shut down. Here are the most important ones to know:
1. Health Department Rules
Nearly every place requires:
A hand-washing sink with hot and cold water.
A separate sink for washing dishes.
Proper food storage (fridges at 40°F or below, freezers at 0°F or below).
Ventilation (exhaust hoods for grills or fryers).
ETODEVICE builds trailers that meet these rules. Our trailers have 3-compartment sinks (required in places like Virginia and Denver) and exhaust hoods that pass health inspections with flying colors. We even give you compliance certificates so you can show local officials your trailer is safe.
2. Towing and Parking Rules
Towing: Make sure your truck can handle the trailer’s weight. A small trailer (8-12 feet) might only weigh 1,000 kg, but a large one can hit 3,000 kg or more.
Parking: Some cities say you can’t park a food trailer within 10 feet of another truck or a building. Others have time limits for parking in one spot.
Our team at ETODEVICE can help you check towing requirements—just tell us what truck you have, and we’ll make sure your trailer is a good match. We also know parking rules in many countries, so we’ll design your trailer to fit within size limits.
3. Permits and Licenses
You’ll need:
A food service permit (from your local health department).
A business license (from your city or state).
A towing license (if your trailer is super heavy).
ETODEVICE doesn’t issue permits, but we can give you tips on how to get them. We’ve helped customers in the US, Australia, and Europe navigate the process—we even work with customs brokers to help you import your trailer (check out our blog post: “Ultimate Guide on How to Import a Trailer into the US & Get Licenses”).
Step 5: Choose Between New, Used, or Custom (Why Custom Is Often Best!)
Now you have three options: buy a used trailer, a new standard trailer, or a custom trailer. Here’s how they stack up in real life:
Used Trailers
Pros: Cheap upfront cost.
Cons: You’ll probably need repairs (old fridges, leaky sinks), no warranty, and you can’t change the layout. It’s like buying a used car—you never know what hidden problems you’ll find.
Who it’s for: Only if you have a tiny budget and know how to fix things yourself.
New Standard Trailers
Pros: No repairs needed, comes with a basic warranty.
Cons: One-size-fits-all. You’ll have to change your menu to fit the trailer, not the other way around.
Who it’s for: Businesses with super simple menus (like hot dogs) who don’t need extra features.
Custom Trailers (ETODEVICE’s Specialty!)
Pros: Built exactly for your menu and needs, durable, comes with a warranty (we offer 1-2 years on all our trailers), and you can add branding (like your logo or colors). They save you money long-term—no repairs, no need to buy a new trailer when you grow.
Cons: More expensive upfront than used or standard trailers—but worth it if you want to stand out.
Who it’s for: Any business that wants to grow and make a name for itself.
At ETODEVICE, we’ve built over 3,500 custom trailers. Our customers love them because they don’t have to compromise. For example:
Andie from New York wanted a trailer for her sandwich business. We built her a 16-foot trailer with a fridge, prep table, and a side-opening serving window (perfect for city streets). She said, “The trailer came exactly as promised—even better in person. They helped with shipping and customs too!”
Monika from Slovakia needed a fast food trailer for her new business. We built it in just 15 days! She said, “The design is unique, and it’s won me so many customers. The customer service after delivery was amazing too.”
Custom trailers help you stand out. Your trailer is your moving billboard—if it looks cool and has your logo, people will snap photos and tell their friends. ETODEVICE does custom paint jobs and vinyl wraps—we even made a bright pink Ice Cream Trailer for a customer in Taiwan that’s gone viral on social media.
Step 6: Why Choose ETODEVICE for Your Food Trailer?
We know there are lots of trailer manufacturers out there—but here’s why our customers keep coming back:
1. We Build High-Quality Trailers
We use top-notch materials: stainless steel for tables (easy to clean!), strong aluminum for the body (lightweight but tough), and commercial-grade equipment. Our trailers can handle rain, snow, and 12-hour days at events—we test every single one before it ships.
2. We Offer Free Design and Quotations
Not sure what you need? Our designers will chat with you about your menu, budget, and goals—then create a free layout and quote. You can tweak it as much as you want—no extra cost, no pressure.
3. We Have 24/7 Support
If your fridge breaks or you have a question about setup, just call us. We’re here 24/7—whether you’re in Los Angeles, London, or Sydney. We even have local agents: Mr. Dave Brewer in New Zealand/Australia and Josef in Austria to help with delivery and setup.
4. We Help with Everything—From Design to Delivery
We don’t just build your trailer—we help with:
Customization (add a pizza oven, change the color, add extra shelves). - Shipping (we work with reliable carriers to get your trailer to you safely).
Importing (we handle customs paperwork for the US, Europe, and more).
Post-purchase support (we’ll answer questions about maintenance or permits).
5. Our Customers Love Us
Don’t just take our word for it—here’s what real customers say:
“Delivery was fast—only 1 month! The quality is great, and they sent me videos of the trailer being built.” (Tyran, Alabama)
“No damage during shipping to Los Angeles. The product was exactly what I ordered, and the support was super responsive.” (Mircea, California)
“Customer service is top-notch—Emma helped me from start to finish, even with the shipping details.” (Elodie, Belgium)
Final Tips to Make the Right Choice
Test before you buy: If you can, visit a manufacturer’s factory to see trailers in person. ETODEVICE welcomes customers to our factory in China—we can also send you videos if you can’t make the trip.
Think long-term: Buy for the business you want in 2-3 years, not just today. A custom trailer from ETODEVICE can grow with you—add equipment or expand the layout later.
Ask for references: Talk to other business owners who bought trailers from the manufacturer. We can put you in touch with our happy customers—they’ll tell you what it’s really like to work with us.
Choosing the right food trailer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your business. It should make your work easier, keep you compliant with rules, and help you serve amazing food to your customers. At ETODEVICE, we’re here to help you every step of the way—from your first design idea to your first day selling food.
Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free design and quotation. We can’t wait to help you build the perfect trailer for your business!
