HORSEBOX CONVERSIONS
A good horsebox conversion is not a trailer to easily say “neigh” to. Horse trailers are rugged and sport both a dual axle and a braked trailer system which is unusual for any other trailer their size and weight. This makes for smooth and easy towing on a stable (no pun intended) trailer chassis.
HORSEBOX CATERING TRAILERS
Designed and built to keep a prize horse or beloved four-legged friend safe and warm, not for transporting livestock, most horseboxes were used by enthusiasts and taken care of with love. This means there is very little wear and tear that is not purely cosmetic, making them a great base for catering trailer conversions that will last you years.
While no catering trailer will ever be more practical than a standard, rectangular concession trailer custom-built to order, a horsebox conversion offers something different: style!
Horsebox conversions offer a uniquely more classy model than rectangular concession trailers, with their style and design giving off a quirky, vintage, or retro charm. Even for new units! This gives a novelty factor to your food truck or catering operation, much like an Airstream conversion would, except the horse trailers can be converted for but a fraction of the cost. Having this novelty appeal is a great draw for crowds at events and festivals, and for being spotted on a booking website for private and corporate functions.
Measuring 11 by 5 in most instances, the horsebox is not a big trailer, so we would not recommend using it for a BBQ concept. There are many other uses though, with a horsebox conversion being greatly popular as a mobile bar for cocktails, wine, or even beer and prosecco with taps installed. Of course, you can also just repurpose them as a general-use horsebox catering trailer conversion.
Check out all the options on this page, or, if you already know what you want, jump straight to requesting a quote.
HORSEBOX CONVERSION OPTIONS
HORSEBOX CATERING TRAILERs
The UK has an enormous equestrian tradition and a great love of horses. It is evident from riding schools and the many Olympic medals in Dressage to the simple fact that “The Races” refers to nothing other than horse racing, and you would never need to specify that.
This had lead to a glut of horse trailers widely available and well-maintained at bargain prices, and as a result, most of our horsebox catering trailer conversions that are not built from scratch come from original UK horseboxes or occasionally Dutch or Belgian units.
Karpatia can source your horsebox for you, or you can do this yourself, and only contract us for the conversion. With prices starting from $56k, and most builds landing in the 60k-75k+ range, they offer great value for a quality trailer bed, braked trailer, and a dual axle setup.
Included in the conversion price are custom stainless steel work surfaces, basic cooking equipment, and custom cabinetry offering plenty of storage for dry goods.
HORSE BOX BAR
As 11×5 ft is not the most spacious concession trailer but it is more than ample square footage and storage for a good bar – be it cocktails, wine, or beer. You can serve from the bottle or we can kit out your horse trailer bar with a full beer tap system.
Which is not even restricted to beer! It just as easily holds prosecco or cider on tap. An advantage hidden in plain sight is that the older rice horseboxes make it very easy to add a second service counter on the diagonal of the front, or use this side of the trailer to split the cash register and bar to optimize your serving speed and flow.
You can and will be the life of the party and can certainly also expect to be popular for corporate events held out in the country. As a restaurant or vineyard owner, the horsebox bar can be a very cost effective solution to create an extra bar outside.
CUSTOM HORSE BOX CONVERSIONS
Most horse trailer conversion will use a Rice(-style) trailer as the basis, given the cute paneling and retro/vintage look, which fits right in with what customers tend to want out of their trailer’s design. However, nobody is stopping you or us from doing any other kind of horsebox conversion, custom fit to your business needs.
You can go modern with an aerodynamic polyurethane front that will outlast any wood or metal trailer, or go big and convert a two or even four horse larger trailers that has a sleeping area.
As these units are seen internationally as “British” they can be a great on-brand option to convert if you are considering doing UK cuisine outside of the isles, like Fish & Chips, Sunday Roast, British pub food, pies, or stews.
There are literally hundreds of food truck builders.
so why karpatia?
Karpatia provides the best quality-to-value ratio in the industry. From 100% made in the USA, to high end European classics and authentic conversions, we can do it all.
With Karpatia, you have an endless amount of possibilities. We will provide you with the best kitchen equipment and customizations such as full body wrap or painting. Working with us is fast and easy!
Our custom food trucks, trailers, and experiential vehicles are all made with passion but built for business. To keep your mobile business moving, we also offer a range of supporting services that aren’t limited to existing clients’ builds. These include food truck repairs, maintenance, winterization, and storage.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUTHORSEBOX CONVERSIONS
Learn more in our knowledge center ►Yes, all our used trailers are completely scrubbed of any horse-traces and will pass a health department or local equivalent inspection, however note that most horse trailers we make are built from scratch – never having transported a horse.
Yes, all our horsebox conversions are braked trailers.
Most horseboxes are made from wood, steel, aluminum, and various plastics.
An empty horsebox trailer weighs on average 3000 lbs. Converted, the weight is usually under 5000 lbs.
Prices start at around $56k, with most horsebox conversions landing in the 60k-75k+ range depending on size, equipment, and finish.
For a detailed breakdown of the price, please request a quote for your specific build.
No, US and Canadian customers do not need a special license for the horsebox trailer.
IS A HORSEBOX THE RIGHT CATERING TRAILER FOR YOU?
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