Food Truck & Trailer Outfitting in Colorado
Outfitting is the middle ground between a full custom build and a DIY project. You already have a truck, trailer, or van — we turn it into a permitted, inspection-ready mobile kitchen. That means interior fabrication, equipment installation, electrical, plumbing, gas, ventilation, and health code compliance. Same quality as our ground-up builds, applied to your existing vehicle.
Get a Free Quote Now!
Already have a vehicle? We turn it into a kitchen.
What Food Truck Outfitting Includes
- Interior Fabrication: Wall paneling, ceiling, flooring, serving windows, fold-down counters, and custom cabinetry. We build the interior shell that turns your vehicle into a functional commercial kitchen space.
- Equipment & Kitchen Systems: Commercial cooking equipment, refrigeration, prep stations, sinks, hood and ventilation systems, fire suppression — all installed, connected, and positioned for efficient workflow.
- Electrical, Plumbing & Gas: Full electrical panels, generator hookups, hot and cold water, grease traps, LP gas lines, and ventilation — all built to meet Colorado health department requirements.
Why Outfitting Makes Sense
- Lower Cost Than a Full Build: Outfitting reuses your existing vehicle, which typically saves 30-50% compared to a ground-up custom build. You get the same commercial kitchen quality without paying for a new chassis and exterior.
- Health Code Compliance Built In: We design every outfitting project to pass Colorado DDPHE and county health inspections. No guessing about requirements — we know the codes and build to them.
- Same Team, Same Standards: Our outfitting projects are handled by the same welders, electricians, and fabricators who build our custom trucks and trailers from scratch. You get builder-level quality on your existing vehicle.
Health Code & Inspection Compliance
If your truck or trailer needs to pass a county health inspection before you can operate, we build to those standards from the start. We know what Colorado DDPHE and county inspectors look for — proper sink setups, ventilation, grease management, NSF-rated surfaces, and handwash stations. If you’ve already failed an inspection, we can retrofit your unit to pass.
Recent Outfitting Projects
Browse photos and videos of trucks and trailers we’ve outfitted for Colorado operators.
What Outfitting Actually Means
Outfitting means taking an empty or partially converted vehicle and installing everything needed to run a commercial food operation. That includes wall and ceiling paneling, flooring, serving windows, kitchen equipment, electrical panels, plumbing, gas lines, hood and ventilation systems, and fire suppression. The vehicle provides the shell — we build the kitchen inside it.
Common Outfitting Projects We Handle
We see a wide range of outfitting projects: bare cargo trailers being converted into full kitchens, used food trucks that need a complete interior rebuild, step vans being converted for the first time, and existing food trucks that need a new kitchen layout for a different menu concept. If it has wheels and you want to cook in it, we can outfit it.
Bringing a Used Truck Up to Code
Buying a used food truck can save money upfront, but many used units don’t meet current health codes. Common issues include outdated plumbing, undersized electrical panels, missing fire suppression, improper ventilation, and surfaces that aren’t NSF-rated. We assess what needs to change, build a scope of work, and bring the truck up to current Colorado standards.
Equipment Installation & Kitchen Layout
Whether you’re installing a single piece of equipment or building out a complete kitchen line, we handle the full scope: equipment selection guidance, mounting and securing for road vibration, electrical and gas connections, plumbing hookups, and hood system integration. We design the layout around your menu and your crew’s workflow — not the other way around.
Outfitting Timeline & Costs
Outfitting timelines depend on the scope. A basic equipment install might take 1-2 weeks. A full interior build-out on a bare trailer runs 6-10 weeks. Costs are typically 30-50% less than a ground-up custom build because you’re reusing the vehicle and potentially some existing infrastructure. We provide detailed quotes before any work begins.
Outfitting vs. Building From Scratch
Outfitting is the right choice when you already have a vehicle in decent mechanical condition and want to save on the cost of a full custom build. Building from scratch is better when you need specific dimensions, want to start with a brand-new chassis, or have a concept that requires non-standard engineering. Not sure which path fits? We’ll assess your vehicle and give you an honest recommendation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Outfitting
Most cargo vans, step vans, box trucks, and enclosed trailers can be outfitted as food trucks or trailers. We’ll assess your vehicle’s condition, dimensions, and weight capacity to determine if it’s a good candidate. Some vehicles need more prep work than others, and we’ll give you an honest assessment of what makes sense financially.
Outfitting typically costs 30-50% less than a ground-up custom build, depending on your vehicle’s condition and the scope of the kitchen. A basic outfitting project might start around $15-25K, while a full commercial kitchen build-out in a bare trailer can run $40-70K+. We provide detailed quotes after assessing your vehicle and requirements.
Yes. We build every outfitting project to meet Colorado DDPHE standards and county-specific health codes, the same way we build our custom trucks. That includes proper sink setups, ventilation, grease management, NSF-rated surfaces, handwash stations, and fire suppression where required.