Buy a food truck · Buying advice from walkingboxes

Buy a food truck.
Let your concept decide.

Ready to take your kitchen on the road? Compare food trucks and food trailers to find the right foundation for your food business. walkingboxes designs and builds bespoke food trailers with professional stainless steel kitchens and a distinctive shipping container look.

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Food truck or food trailer? Compare the options

Looking for a food truck? Consider a trailer, too.

Whether you serve burgers, coffee, ice cream or your own street food creations, your mobile kitchen needs to suit your menu, team and locations. A food truck combines the kitchen and motor vehicle. A food trailer separates the two, opening up different possibilities for your business.

01 Design

Distinctive shipping container look.
Individually designed to match your brand and concept. 

02 Kitchen

Professional commercial kitchens made to measure.
High-quality stainless steel construction and powerful equipment.

03 Trailer

Built for real food-service operations.
TÜV inspected, robust and reliable – for everyday use.

Food truck vs. food trailer

Buy a food truck or choose a food trailer?

The right solution depends on your locations, how often you move and the vehicles you already have. Compare the full costs and the practicalities of your day-to-day operation.

Food truck: kitchen and vehicle in one

Pros

  • One unit: Kitchen and engine are permanently combined; no separate towing vehicle is needed.
  • Frequent moves: You can change locations without hitching and unhitching.

Cons

  • Paying for a motor vehicle: Your purchase includes the engine and vehicle as well as the kitchen.
  • Dependent on the base vehicle: Vehicle repairs can also put your mobile kitchen out of action.
  • Fixed vehicle layout: The cab and vehicle geometry limit your kitchen planning options.
  • No separate use: Shopping trips and other journeys mean taking your kitchen along, too.

Food trailer: kitchen and towing vehicle separate

Pros

  • Invest in your kitchen: No built-in engine is needed. If you already have a suitable towing vehicle, this can make getting started more affordable.
  • Everyday independence: Your trailer stays on site while you use the towing vehicle for shopping and other trips.
  • More flexibility during vehicle repairs: The kitchen is not tied to a particular engine. Another suitable towing vehicle can handle the transport.
  • Space for your concept: Worktops, equipment and storage can be planned around your menu within the trailer body.
  • Make your brand visible: The distinctive shipping container look and individually designed exterior give your concept its own identity.

Cons

  • Towing vehicle required: Towing capacity, weights and driving licence must suit the combination.
  • Plan for a vehicle and trailer: Manoeuvring, parking space, hitching and unhitching are part of changing locations.

A food trailer offers clear advantages for a flexible kitchen operation – especially if you already have a suitable towing vehicle.

Space and payload always depend on the specific vehicle and fit-out. For a trailer, you also need to check the towing vehicle, towing capacity, vehicle-and-trailer combination and the appropriate driving licence.

Read the guide: buy a food trailer or a food truck (in German)

Sizes & prices

How much does your mobile kitchen cost?

If you are looking to buy a food truck, you need a realistic budget. walkingboxes offers three base prices for its food trailers. These do not indicate the price of a motorised food truck.

S

COMPACT & EFFICIENT
3.25 m container length
Ideal for 1–2 people
Perfect for smaller concepts and a quick start.

Base price from €38,000 net

incl. basic interior fit-out · excl. project-specific equipment & customisation

M

THE ALL-ROUNDER
4.45 m container length
Ideal for 2–3 people
Versatile – suitable for almost any food concept.

Base price from €46,000 net

incl. basic interior fit-out · excl. project-specific equipment & customisation

L

MAXIMUM KITCHEN SPACE
5.65 m container length
Ideal for 3–4 people
Maximum space for ambitious concepts and high-volume service.

Base price from €55,000 net

incl. basic interior fit-out · excl. project-specific equipment & customisation

All prices exclude statutory VAT. The container length is not the overall length of the trailer.

Plan your total budget

Depending on your fit-out, equipment, additional electrical installations, a gas installation and individual design are added to the base price. Where necessary, also allow for a towing vehicle, as well as transport, running costs and the costs of your location. The specific fit-out and its price will be agreed for your project.

Plan your equipment

Explore leasing and hire purchase

Einstellwanne mit Geräten im Foodtruck

Every movement matters inside

Your menu shapes your kitchen.

A good professional mobile kitchen starts with your menu: what do you prepare in advance, what is cooked fresh and how many orders do you want to handle during service?

Equipment, refrigeration, worktops and storage follow from these decisions. Water, power supply and extraction are also part of the planning process.

The right trailer size also depends on your concept: equipment, team size, workflow and storage determine how much space you need. Together, we match the size and kitchen layout to your requirements.

The result is a stainless steel kitchen that suits your concept and the available space. We discuss which equipment makes sense and is technically feasible for your individual fit-out.

The photo shows an individual fit-out. The equipment pictured is not automatically included in the base price.

Before you decide

Buying a food truck: your planning checklist

  1. Define your concept: Describe your menu, preparation, service and expected order volumes.
  2. Clarify how you will operate: A permanent pitch, weekly markets or changing events? Check space, access and utility connections.
  3. Plan the space: Consider team size, equipment, stock and workflow together.
  4. Arrange transport: For a trailer, the towing vehicle, weights and driving licence must suit the planned combination.
  5. Agree the details before ordering: Discuss what is included, technical documentation, scheduling and requirements at your location.
walkingboxes-foodtruck-anhaenger-kaufen_DSC08194

From an idea to your walkingbox

Together, we create your professional mobile kitchen.

01 Consultation

We discuss your menu, planned use, budget and your team’s requirements.

02 Planning

Size, kitchen equipment and design are coordinated for your individual project.

03 Production & handover

Once your trailer is custom-built, we carry out inspection and approval, followed by a personal introduction to your kitchen.

View projects
Explore production

Step inside your professional mobile kitchen.

Take a tour of a walkingbox L – explore the kitchen, equipment and space.

Configure now

Good to know

Frequently asked questions about buying a food truck

Can I buy a food truck from walkingboxes?

walkingboxes designs and builds bespoke food trailers: trailers with professional kitchens and a shipping container look. They have no engine of their own and are transported using a suitable towing vehicle. If you are looking for a food truck, it is worth comparing the two vehicle concepts first.

How much does a walkingboxes food trailer cost?

Published base prices start at €38,000 net for S, €46,000 net for M and €55,000 net for L. These include the basic interior fit-out. Project-specific equipment, customisation and statutory VAT are additional. The final price depends on your configuration.

Is a food trailer cheaper than a food truck?

It can be, particularly if you already have a suitable towing vehicle. If you also need to buy a towing vehicle, the calculation changes. Compare vehicles with suitable equipment and the full costs for your operation.

Which size suits my concept?

S has a container length of 3.25 m and is intended for 1–2 people, M is 4.45 m for 2–3 people and L is 5.65 m for 3–4 people. These are guidelines. The right size depends on equipment, workflow, storage and team size.

Can I customise the equipment and design?

Yes. walkingboxes plans the mobile kitchen and design around your concept. Equipment, stainless steel worktops and storage are coordinated within the technical possibilities. The scope of supply is agreed for your project.

What do I need to consider for transport?

You need a suitable towing vehicle. Towing capacity, actual load, permitted weights and your driving licence must match the specific combination. Check these points against the vehicle’s technical data before ordering.

Is financing available?

walkingboxes provides information on leasing and hire purchase. The available solutions and terms are discussed individually. More about financing .

How do I start planning?

Choose the foundation for your walkingbox in the food trailer configurator . Have your menu, intended team size, locations and budget ready so we can develop your project in detail.

Your next step

Your food. Your brand. Your walkingbox.

Looking to buy a food truck, and a food trailer fits your plans? Choose the foundation for your mobile kitchen now. We will agree the individual fit-out together.

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