Short answer: 6 to 8 weeks from a signed contract to keys in hand for a standard build at our shop. Custom or oversized builds (24+ ft trailers, full multi-cuisine kitchens, casino-grade trucks) run 8 to 12 weeks. Sourcing time on rare equipment can add 1 to 3 weeks. The clock starts when the design is locked, not when you first call.
That is what we quote and what we hit on most builds. Here is what is happening during those weeks and what makes a timeline slip.
The four phases of a build
Week 1 to 2: Design lock and sourcing. Once you have signed the contract, we finalize the kitchen layout based on your menu, service flow, and equipment list. We finalize the wrap design. We order long-lead-time items: the chassis (if not already in inventory), the generator, the hood, refrigeration, propane tanks, and any specialty equipment. Most stainless equipment ships within 7 to 10 days. The hood and suppression system, if custom-sized, can take 14 to 21 days.
Week 2 to 4: Chassis and structure. The chassis goes through structural prep: subframe reinforcement on the trailer side, floor prep and underbody welding for trucks. Insulation is installed. The cooking wall is stainless-clad. The propane lines are routed and pressure-tested. Water plumbing is installed. The electrical service panel and wire pulls happen.
Week 3 to 5: Equipment installation and finish. Equipment is set in place and bolted down. Hood is installed and the suppression system is charged and tested. Refrigeration is wired and started. Generator is mounted, fueled, and tested. Floor (aluminum diamond plate or epoxy) is finished. Walls and ceiling are finished.
Week 5 to 8: Wrap, final wiring, inspection prep, and delivery. Vinyl wrap is applied (3 to 5 days for a full wrap). Final electrical commissioning. Plumbing pressure test. The kitchen is photographed for the build record. Pre-delivery inspection by our shop with the documentation packet (manifold drawings, equipment specs, hood and suppression certs, propane test results) ready for the customer’s health inspector. Truck or trailer is loaded for delivery.
What slips a timeline
Late design changes. If a customer wants to swap a 24″ griddle for a 36″ griddle in week 4, we can usually do it but it might add 1 to 2 weeks because the hood was already cut for the original equipment width. We try to lock design at the start of week 1 and stick to it.
Equipment back-orders. Specialty equipment (Spanish plancha, custom stainless prep tables, certain refrigerated pizza prep models) can have lead times beyond what manufacturer quotes initially. We stay close to our distributors but a Garland or True Refrigeration delay we cannot fix on our side.
Chassis delays. If the customer is sourcing their own used truck, that timeline is on them. We do not start build-out until the chassis is at our shop and the keys and title are in our office. If we are sourcing the chassis, we have suppliers we trust to deliver within 1 to 2 weeks of order.
Wrap design. The wrap art is the part of the build that customers most often delay. We have an in-house designer and a wrap shop that can turn art around in 5 to 7 days, but if the customer is using their own designer and is slow with revisions, that shifts the back-end of the build. We typically set wrap installation in week 6, which means art has to be approved by week 4.
Health department reviews. A few states (California, Washington, parts of Texas) require pre-build plan review by the health department. If a customer is going into one of those jurisdictions, we add 2 to 3 weeks at the front of the build for the plan review approval. We do this work for the customer and submit the as-designed drawings, but the agency clock is the agency clock.
What does NOT slip a timeline
Weather. We build indoors. A snowstorm in Woodland Park is normal for us and does not affect the schedule.
Holidays. We hold a build week of holiday spillover in the schedule each quarter. Christmas, New Year, and Independence Day each add a few days but they are baked into the quoted timeline.
Most equipment substitutions. If we cannot get the exact True T-49F freezer the customer wanted but a Beverage-Air HBF49HC-1 is on the shelf and dimensionally identical, we substitute and keep building. We tell the customer about the swap and they sign off.
Sample timeline for a 16ft truck
| Week | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Week 0 | Contract signed, deposit received |
| Week 1 | Layout locked, equipment ordered, chassis received |
| Week 2 | Chassis prep, insulation, cooking wall installed |
| Week 3 | Plumbing, propane lines, electrical pulled |
| Week 4 | Equipment placed, hood installed, generator mounted |
| Week 5 | Wiring complete, suppression charged, plumbing tested |
| Week 6 | Wrap installed, final detail and clean |
| Week 7 | Pre-delivery inspection, photos, customer walk-through |
| Week 8 | Delivery to customer |
Can it go faster?
For an in-stock chassis, off-the-shelf equipment, no specialty plan review, we have done 4-week rush builds. The customer pays a 12 to 15 percent rush fee because we have to pull resources from other builds. We will do it but we tell customers honestly that 6 to 8 weeks is better quality, less stress on the team, and the truck reflects it.
What about used food trucks?
Buying used can be faster (the truck is already on the road) but it is also a different conversation. Used trucks usually need work to bring up to current code in your jurisdiction. Re-permitting a used truck in California, for example, often costs $8,000 to $20,000 in upgrades. The timeline savings get eaten up. New build is usually the better long-term play.
How financing affects the timeline
Most of our customers finance the build through SBA loans, equipment financing, or commercial truck financing. Lender approval typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. We can begin the design and equipment sourcing once the deposit is in and the contract is signed, so financing approval and the early build phase can run in parallel. A customer who starts the loan application the same week they call us is usually closing on financing about week 3 of the build.
Talk to us about your timeline
If you have a deadline (event season, lease commitment, location opening), tell us at the start. We can prioritize or rush if needed, or we can be honest if it is not realistic. Get a free quote or call 719-722-2537.
Related: how to start a food truck business, recent build videos.
Ready to build your truck?
We design and build custom food trucks and trailers compliant with the regulations on this page. From a single phone call to keys-in-hand in 6 to 8 weeks for most builds.
Built in Woodland Park, Colorado. Delivered to operators in CO, AZ, NE, MT, and WY.