5 Essential Tips You Can't Overlook When Building a Food Truck
Manufacturing food trucks involves many critical considerations. Some are obvious, but others are less so. One of the first things under consideration is cooking and food preservation equipment. Depending on the food being prepared, they could include grills, griddles, and ovens. Indeed, they’ll need some type of refrigeration and possibly even a freezer.
Space in a food truck is at a premium, and depending on how many people need to work at a given time and the space required for food and cooking equipment, it could make for a very cramped environment. How to make the best use of that limited space is always a top concern.
Marketing is also a top-of-mind concern. Specifically, the exterior design of the food truck and signage to indicate clearly what types of food and beverages are being sold and to help the truck stand out are obvious considerations.
However, some aspects of a food truck's build are often overlooked. Addressing these overlooked elements can significantly improve the truck's functionality, safety, and longevity. Here’s our list of 5 not-so-obvious considerations for food trucks.
Ventilation and Airflow
Just like any working kitchen, a food truck generates a lot of heat. Heat invariably leads to smoke and unpleasant odors, making proper ventilation in a food truck a critical consideration.
Every food truck where cooking takes place is outfitted with a hood system and exhaust fans. But that’s not enough. To help keep the food truck staff comfortable and safe, roof vents, wall vents, and louvered vents are also needed to supplement the exhaust system and promote adequate air circulation.
Ergonomics
It is vital to design the food truck workspace using ergonomic principles to prevent worker strain. Food truck staffers are on their feet for long hours and must reach continuously for items in drawers, cabinets, and storage compartments. Including fatigue-reducing floor matting that’s also easy to remove to allow for thorough cleaning is a great start. Also, today’s access hardware includes many ergonomically friendly options. Large grip handles, latches, drawer pulls, position control hinges, and more are now available to make your food truck as user-friendly as possible.
Accessibility
The layout of a food truck needs to be practical for efficient operation and safe movement. Ensuring all equipment is accessible and logically placed is a requirement for the fast-paced food truck to run efficiently and effectively. A food truck should be outfitted with top-quality ball-bearing drawer slides that can withstand constantly being opened and closed. Adding long-lasting gas springs that are easy to use and replace to lift and support awnings, counter windows, and more are also vital.
Durability
Using subpar hardware can lead to premature wear and tear, downtime, and high replacement costs. Choose well-built, highly durable stainless-steel locks, latches, hinges, and holdbacks that can withstand the rigors of food truck operation, including exposure to high heat and frequent cleaning. Use gas springs and drawer slides that have been cycle-tested to last. In addition, choose safe and environmentally friendly cleaning products for daily cleaning.
Storage Solutions and Ease of Maintenance and Restocking
Difficulty accessing and restocking products, as well as equipment maintenance, can lead to frustration, increased downtime, and additional costs. Insufficient or poorly designed storage can lead to clutter and inefficiencies.
Design storage for easy access and the ability to restock efficiently. Austin Hardware can help with a line of restocking cabinet frames and bin organizers that make access and restocking a snap.
By addressing these often-overlooked areas, food truck manufacturers can ensure a more functional, safe, and successful operation for their customers.
Austin Hardware offers many hardware, fasteners, and chemical solutions for food trucks. From access hardware to sealants and adhesives to industrial-grade, eco-friendly cleaning products, Austin is a one-stop shop for food truck manufacturers and end users.
To learn more about how Austin can help, we invite you to contact your Austin Hardware sales representative or your nearest Austin Hardware location.