Made in USA
CUSTOM BBQ FOOD TRUCKS FOR SALE
Get a barbecue food truck that’s customized to your business.
We build each custom BBQ food truck to address your specific needs and local health department requirements so you can do what you do best: barbecue.
Karpatia USA is based out of Middlebury, Indiana with delivery nationwide, to Canada, and beyond.
YOUR TRUSTED CUSTOM BBQ FOOD TRUCK BUILDER
MIDWEST FABRICATION AND NATIONWIDE DELIVERY
A custom barbecue truck is a big investment, with your truck and barbecue being the dynamic duo that drives your entire operation. You deserve a partner who understands the unique challenges of designing and building custom BBQ trucks who will guide you in making the best decisions for your business.
Great barbecue is a combination of your skills and preparation, the meat you source, and the equipment you use to cook it. A low-mileage or brand new step van can add to the look of your business and the reliability of the operation but doesn’t necessarily determine the deliciousness of your cooking. What’s more important to your hungry customers? Quality barbecue is what builds your reputation and earns you repeat customers.
The biggest investment you will make for your barbecue business is your truck and its equipment. It can be tempting to buy a used unit off of a secondhand site because it was within your preferred driving radius. It’s equally tempting to splurge and over-plan your first BBQ truck build. Keeping in mind that your barbecue food truck is the foundation of your business, our advice is to plan for what you need now with some room to grow. When you’re just starting out, you don’t need to invest in operating a successful truck at the scale of where you hope to be in five years. Equally, you don’t need to cut corners on your base vehicle just to feel like you found a deal.
The right custom BBQ food truck builder for your business will advise you on what’s best for what you’re looking to accomplish, not simply upsell you on your base model or equipment. Your builder should understand the weight of this investment and have the expertise to be able to provide trustworthy advice.
We can’t wait to hear about what you want to build! Tell us about your dream BBQ truck and we’ll provide you with a custom quote.
custom bbq food truck options
If it’s cooked over fire or hot coals, it falls under the definition of barbecue! Smoked brisket, pulled pork, kebabs, sausages, shawarmas, and other grilled meats all technically fall under the definition of BBQ–although there are many arguments to be had over the many nuances within this category. When Americans think of barbecue, they think of “low and slow” smoking of ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket. However, a lot of BBQ food truck operators in the U.K. and Germany would disagree with that cooking method. Bratwurst, anyone?
With the use of commissary kitchens, both step vans and mini food trucks can be a great option for reheating meats in the oven and preparing sides. If your method of barbecuing involves meat rotating on a spit, a doner kebab food truck will address those needs. If your idea of barbecuing doesn’t include walls, we also fabricate custom BBQ trailers and porch trailers that draw a crowd.
A BBQ smoker truck allows you to smoke meat from start to finish on board your vehicle, but the tight confines of a truck don’t make this easy. Of course it’s entirely possible, and we can make it happen if that’s what you’re looking for. The meat is the star of the meal, but don’t forget about the side dishes! From potato salad to cornbread, side dishes are key players when choosing your BBQ food truck equipment and layout.
Whether you’re looking to cook kebabs on your grill truck, smoke barbecue onboard your food truck, or serve pre-made dishes prepared in a commissary kitchen, we have options that address the needs of your business.
GRILL TRUCK AND DONER KEBAB TRUCK
Smoked meats reign supreme in the American BBQ scene, but the possibilities are truly endless for serving meat on your grill truck. The wide range of custom BBQ food trucks we build is a testament to that variation in the market. Arguments about the definition of barbecue aside, cooking gyro meat, chicken shawarma, bratwurst, kebabs, or burgers is an entirely different beast than smoking brisket or ribs and deserves its own special consideration.
Equipment like vertical rotisseries, grills, stoves, regular and combi (steam) ovens, gas fryers, panini presses, and more can be incorporated into your BBQ truck’s design. Grill trucks and kebab food trucks are great for both public and private events like festivals, farmers markets, and weddings, making them an effective option for serving your barbecue to a wide audience.
We’ll design a custom layout for your BBQ truck that optimizes workflow and addresses local health department requirements–then it’s up to you to follow through with some amazing barbecue.
PREP AND COOK BBQ TRUCK
Preparing a great amount of barbecue requires a lot of space, and even the largest step van or truck does not have square footage close to a BBQ pit restaurant. A great compromise can be to have a regular-sized step van or box truck, do all the mise-en-place in a restaurant or commissary kitchen, and simply finish plating when doing service.
You can reheat brisket and other meats perfectly fine in a regular oven, or even better–a combi steam oven. Include a deep fryer, stove, griddle, and hot plate in your build for reheating meats and preparing sides. If you’re going to make space for a piece of equipment in the limited footprint of your BBQ food truck, it has to pull its weight.
ONBOARD BBQ SMOKER TRUCK
Cooking barbecue live on board your smoker truck is a juggling act. You have to manage ticket times, make sure you have enough food at the right time, and do this all with limited surface area in your smoker and overall space in your truck! For these reasons, we only recommend this kind of build to the most experienced of operators.
Every BBQ smoker truck we build is highly customized to each client’s cooking style and menu. Everything is cut, fit, and measured just for you, your preferred cooking methods, and your menu. Because of this level of customization and quality, our BBQ food truck builds may take up to a month of extra design consultation time along with extra build time too.
Popular base models for custom BBQ food trucks include:
- Large step vans
- IVECO and MAN trucks
- Go huge: converted semi trucks
Custom BBQ Smoker Food Truck: Starting at $100k+
BBQ FOOD TRUCK EQUIPMENT ESSENTIALS
When determining the overall value of your food truck, it’s helpful to separate the value of three main aspects of your build:
- The base vehicle for your BBQ food truck
- The build-out cost
- The kitchen equipment installed
Different fabricators will vary in the build-out cost, which includes the materials used, skill level of the craftsmen working on your food truck, and the quality of the work and finishes.
When choosing your finishes, you’ll want to ask for specifics so you can accurately compare quotes between fabricators. For example, there are many varieties and quality grades of stainless steel, diamond plate and aluminum siding materials, and vinyl wraps. These items may look identical online but can look, feel, and perform differently in person.
For these reasons and many more, kitchen equipment should be quoted transparently. We’ll always be honest with you about the investment you’re making in your custom BBQ food truck. We list every single item separately with individual pricing and the equipment vendor so you can feel confident in your decision. A package deal may look good on the surface, but you should check each individual item on the list–and check it twice–before making a decision.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED FOR MY CUSTOM BBQ FOOD TRUCK?
BBQ Truck
For the truck itself, consider the materials and features you'll rely on every day.
Common options include:Worktables: Do you want stainless steel like a restaurant kitchen or stained oak like a coffee shop?
Fridge and Freezer: Which models do you want, and how much space do you have?
Water Tank and Heaters: What do you need, and what is mandated?
Triple Sink and Hand Wash Sink: What are the size requirements?
AC / Heating: Which options are necessary?
BBQ Food Truck Equipment
Beyond the onboard smoker, other important considerations for your BBQ truck equipment are:
Storage Space: How much space will you need for dry and cold storage? The more you prep off-truck the less you’ll need onboard.
Blast Chiller: Food may have to be cooled back to a certain temperature quickly to meet health department guidelines.
Steam Table: What size is necessary?
Prep Station Cooler: What size and brand would work best?
Oven: Convection or combi (steam) oven?
Stove Top: Do you need more than four burners?
Flat-Top Grill/Griddle: What size? Electric or propane?
BBQ TRUCK VS. GRILL TRUCK VS. BBQ SMOKER TRUCK
CHOOSING BETWEEN WOOD, PROPANE, OR CHARCOAL COOKING METHODS
How do you choose between barbecuing, smoking, and grilling? Between wood, propane, and charcoal cooking methods? Most experienced pitmasters have been cooking with their preferred methods for a long time, and they’re not changing it for anybody. What matters most is finding the perfect balance between enabling yourself to serve the best possible barbecue and meeting your local food truck licensing requirements.
When choosing between charcoal, wood, or propane cooking methods for your BBQ truck, two deciding factors are:
- Your desired output
- The surface area for cooking you would need to achieve your desired output
The amount of surface area you have for cooking will determine your output. The amount of meat you’re able to cook at one time will determine what you sell each plate of BBQ for.
A smaller surface area for smoking various cuts of beef, pork, and chicken leads to higher prices per plate. Preparing dishes in a commissary kitchen with large equipment and finishing them on your BBQ food truck can enable you to have more accessible pricing for a wider audience. The choice is entirely yours, with no option being right or wrong compared to the other. It’s all down to how you want to cook your BBQ, local licensing requirements, and what you need to sell it for.
If you want a real fire, wood, or coals and a food truck license, our design process will include strict verification of every decision before we start building your custom BBQ food truck. Requirements vary from state to state and city to county, which is why we’ll diligently review your business plan and compare it against all local requirements so you can feel confident heading into your inspection.
An Eye-catching Custom BBQ Truck Food Build
This Mercedes-Benz box cargo van was transformed into a bright yellow custom grill truck that grabs attention anywhere it goes. It features a Kamado Bono grill, stove with two burners, and gas fryer. This custom BBQ food truck proves that you can fit an ample amount of equipment in a small vehicle footprint!
What can we build for you?
LOOKING FOR CUSTOM BBQ TRAILERS?
We also build custom BBQ trailers that support your preferred style of barbecuing, smoking, or grilling while also adhering to local requirements. We build each trailer to your exact specifications, whether you prefer charcoal propane, or wood cooking methods. Tell us about your dream BBQ smoker trailer, and we’ll provide you with a custom quote.
Partner with Karpatia Trucks on your custom BBQ food truck build and receive all the perks of a turnkey business solution that’s…
Made with Passion || Built for Business
FAQs: Still have questions about custom BBQ food trucks?
Have additional questions we didn't answer on this page? Contact us ►How much does a custom BBQ food truck cost?
The price of a custom BBQ food truck with an onboard smoker typically starts around $100k. The price of each custom build varies based on the chosen vehicle type, equipment, customization options, and more. We would be happy to provide a custom quote that addresses the needs of your business.
What customization options are available?
The customization options are truly endless when designing and fabricating your BBQ truck! We can customize everything on your food truck, including the signage, layout, power systems, equipment, HVAC systems, and so much more.
Do you sell custom BBQ trailers?
Yes, we also build custom BBQ food trailers! Tell us about your build, and we’ll provide you with a custom quote.
Do you have any used BBQ food trucks for sale currently?
We do not carry a large used inventory of BBQ trucks. Please contact us to ask if we have any units available.
What is the design and fabrication timeline?
Timelines change based on sourcing options and fabrication schedules. We don’t add your project to the fabrication schedule until the bid is confirmed and a deposit has been made. If you’re on a deadline for an upcoming event or business launch, we recommend you contact us ASAP to confirm your bid!
Where will you fabricate my BBQ truck or trailer?
Projects are primarily fabricated in Middlebury, Indiana. We ship throughout the United States and internationally.
Is a BBQ food truck a profitable business?
If you do it right, yes. Food trucks and concession trailers are some of the most profitable small businesses you can operate. Note though that a lot of food trucks can be operated without very specialized skills, but not BBQ! No sir/ma’am. Don’t try it. Unskilled BBQ is bad BBQ.
You really need to know your way around a smoker or grill to operate a successful BBQ food truck much more so than an ice cream bar or espresso machine.
A BBQ food truck can be a rewarding venture, but it comes with challenges that require careful planning and adaptability. Drawing lessons from experienced BBQ food truck businesses, here are some key insights:
- Don’t buy the most expensive truck we can build right out the gate! Prove your business model first using a small porch BBQ trailer before going all out.
- A streamlined menu is crucial for efficiency and cost management. Stick to 2-3 proteins, a couple of sides, and drinks or desserts. A smaller menu reduces complexity, minimizes waste, and ensures you can maintain high-quality food while operating in limited kitchen space. Leave larger menus to restaurants.
- BBQ businesses face higher operating costs than other food trucks, especially for proteins, supplies, and equipment. Regularly evaluate your pricing to ensure profitability – yes your product is already more costly to purchase before you get started, but it’s also laborious and it has higher spoilage than other trucks.
- BBQ food trucks often experience slower sales during colder months. Plan ahead by diversifying revenue streams, such as catering. BBQ winter events can keep you afloat.
- BBQ truck profitability is hiding less in the regular / fixed location, but moreso in catering, festivals, and events for local businesses.