Things to consider for when purchasing an Ice Cream Trailer or Ice Cream Truck:
1. What is your budget?
Depending on your budget, you should focus on the type of ice cream equipment, machine or cabinet that you may acquire. For example, soft serve ice cream machines are the most expensive ones. They also require you to have (2) air conditioners and a more powerful generator. Therefore, your overall price for the ice cream trailer or truck will be much higher.
2. What type of ice cream do you want to serve?
There are many options when it comes to ice cream types such as soft-serve ice cream, hard scoop ice cream, homemade ice cream, pre-packaged popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream blended with toppings, shakes or sundaes, novelties. There is also gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, frozen custard, mochi.
3. What equipment layout will you need for your ice cream trailer or truck?
Depending on the ice cream that you will serve, you may require one or more of these: chest freezer, ice cream dipping cabinet, ice cream soft serve machine, flip lid ice cream cabinet, sliding doors ice cream cabinet or open ice cream cabinet with a glass display. You must have air conditioning, two units, if possible. We recommend adding an exterior awning. A high power generator will be required on soft serve machines, due to its high electrical consumption. Will you need a display cabinet to see the ice cream or gelato selection from the outside? Will you need soft serve machines inside or outside? Will you need an ice cream topping station?
Types of Cones: Sugar Cones, Waffle Cones, Waffle Bowls, Flavored Dip Cones or Gluten Free. If you are going to be making your own waffle cones, you will require waffle maker machines.
4. Why should you buy an ice cream truck or ice cream trailer?
An ice cream truck or ice cream trailer offers you many advantages that most others food-based businesses do not because there is no culinary experience or special recipes required. It typically has a low start up cost. It is always in demand, and you will not be short of customers, which means you will always be in business! Unopened and not melted ice cream can be stored for 8 to 12 months, if kept at the proper temperature. Therefore, your product does not go to waste as fast as it would if you were selling food items.