What to Think About Before Buying a Van for a Food Truck
It’s easy to fall in love with the nostalgia of a retro van, or be enamoured with a shiny new van, imagining it serving your signature dish at a packed festival. But before you start signing papers, here’s what to consider so your dream doesn’t turn into a money pit.
1. Budget – and the “surprise” costs
The van’s price tag is just the start. By the time you add the conversion, kitchen equipment, branding, licences, and insurance, you could easily be spending double or triple the purchase price. Keep a bit of budget aside for the unexpected. Issues like rust repairs, new tyres, or replacing electrics are things we see (and fix!) more than you’d think.
2. Size & layout
Start with your menu, then work backwards. A pizza oven, deep fryer, or espresso machine all need different space and power setups. More space might sound great, but it can also mean higher fuel bills, heavier vehicles (which may need additional licences) and trickier parking.
3. Weight limits
Every van has a legal weight limit (Maximum Authorised Mass). Go over it and you risk fines and safety issues. Don’t forget your food, water tanks, gas bottles, and even the staff count towards that weight. If you want to keep things simple, make sure it’s under 3.5 tonnes so you can drive it on a standard UK licence. This doesn’t only affect you from a legal point of view, some locations may only be accessible by smaller or lighter vehicles, so it’s crucial to research your potential pitches when shopping for your first van.
4. Reliability first, looks later
Check the service history, MOT, and signs of regular maintenance before falling for a paint job. You wouldn’t believe the amount of vehicles we’ve converted that have needed to be completely stripped out and started from scratch. We can help make your van function and look great, but the base vehicle still needs to be roadworthy and reliable!
5. Power & water supply
Decide early whether you’ll run fully self-contained (with your own generator and water tanks) or rely on plugging in at events. It’ll affect your layout and equipment choices from day one. Obviously we can advise on what will work best for your needs, but it’s always good to come to the table with an idea of what you need!
6. Ventilation & safety
Cooking inside a van creates steam, heat, and grease. You’ll need proper extraction to keep things safe and legal, as well as ensuring it’s comfortable for your team to work in all seasons without overheating or getting soaked through. Also, make sure you’re thinking ahead about UK food hygiene rules and council requirements for gas and electrics.
7. Storage & access
Will you have enough room for stock, utensils, and packaging, or will you need an extra vehicle to carry supplies? Ensure all things are stored correctly in a food safe way, whilst also ensuring there’s space to store everything whilst operating. Also, check the height, some vans can’t fit into certain car parks or city streets with height restrictions.
8. Brand personality
Once the practical boxes are ticked, think about the van’s look. Retro? Sleek and modern? Quirky and colourful? We’ve worked on them all! Just check out our Instagram feed to see the varied range!
Just remember, older vans may have character, but they can be expensive to keep roadworthy, however we can help find the right one.
9. How will you finance your catering van?
Remember you don’t have to put all your hard-earned money in upfront. There are a few good options when it comes to financing, see our blog on how you can finance your conversion for more info!
💡 Quick tip: Here at Catering Van Conversions, we can help you design the perfect vehicle for your bespoke catering van, as well as guide you through the process of branding, building and even financing the project.
Can’t find the right van? Let us help you source one!
