Convert your own vehicle – all the pros and cons and how it works
We regularly get asked whether you can supply your own vehicle for it to be converted. The main reason is generally to save cost. The main question is will we still build it with the same meticulous attention to detail and quality?
The short answer is yes. What we will help you to do is make certain the vehicle you already have or have in mind will get you the best possible return on investment.
Let’s take you through what we see as the pros and cons of used V new vehicles for a vehicle conversion, the type of vehicle you might want to choose, how the design process works and how we make sure you get the optimum solution for your catering business.
There’s a lot of information here, that’s because we take the design and build of your vehicle very seriously – get this right and you make more money. We hope that means you’ll come back again, and you’ll recommend us.
What are the main advantages of converting your own vehicle?
- A new vehicle may break your budget
- When you save cost on the vehicle you can invest your budget elsewhere in the unit to make you more money
- A 3 to 4-year-old vehicle will save you around 50% compared to a new one (if you can source the right one)
- If you don’t travel lots of miles you may not need the reliability of a new vehicle
So it all really comes down to cost, or put another way, your priority for where you invest your money.
What are the main disadvantages of converting your own vehicle?
- You’ll probably have a wider choice if you go for new, meaning you can find exactly the right vehicle to suit your business
- While it’s not so difficult to find second-hand vehicles for a two to three-person operation (i.e. 4m body length and 3.5 ton gross weight limit), if you require something bigger those vehicles are harder to find
- Older vehicles are more likely to break down and the cost of your vehicle being off the road is all about lost takings
- It’s obviously slightly more expensive to maintain
- It won’t last as long (reliability and appearance will be the issues) so you’ll have to replace it sooner
What do we advise? A new catering van or a used catering van?
Here’s how we advise you approach this.
First, we make certain we understand how your business works, the food offering you have and how much output you want to achieve. Then we discuss budget with you and make sure the return on investment works at the level you’re looking for.
Then the decision is much easier. We find the economics of a new vehicle work better over the long-term but have to be balanced with your budget and potentially the availability of finance in the short-term.
Please make sure speak with us before you go and buy anything second hand. We’ll check that specific vehicle can be converted for what you want to do and at a price that does work with your budget. You’ll appreciate different vehicles work better for different markets. The cheapest van on the market may not be the cheapest way of creating your finished catering van project.
“When they see the picture of how it was before and how it turned out everyone is shocked at how brilliant it is.”
Charlene Deacon owner of The Steaming Mug
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What types of vehicles work well for conversion?
Here’s what we’ve found from years of experience and feedback from customers. Luton style, generally ex delivery/removal vehicles – 3,500 kg gross weight – are popular as you can drive them on a standard car driving licence. (a ‘Luton style’ is a vehicle which has a bespoke box body fitted to it which is normally aluminium single skin panels or thin timber/GRP panels with a roller shutter fitted at the rear)
Some popular models which will appear when you search online are:
- Vauxhall Movano
- Peugeot Boxer
- Fiat Ducato
- Renault Master
These are vehicles with a low floor that have 3,500kg gross carrying capacity.
Then there are medium and long wheelbase panel vans which have a high roof – 3,500 kg is the preferred size again.
Some popular models are:
- Mercedes Sprinter
- VW Transporter
- Fiat Ducato
- Peugeot Boxer
- Citroen Relay
- Vauxhall Moxano
- Iveco Daily
Here’s how we design your vehicle to give you the very best solution
Let’s take you through the basic steps we go through on every vehicle conversion we do:
- You tell us exactly how your business works, what food you sell, what type of events you will go to or where will you be located, how much output do you want, the flow you require (service per hour at peak times), how many people do you expect to have working in the vehicle?
- We agree on the size of kitchen you need, the display area that works best and the number of till points you require. This will be based on your knowledge and experience of your business and our experience in design and build plus what we’ve learned from extensive feedback from our customers
- We turn those requirements into an outline design that takes into account the size of the service hatches required, the space you need for food preparation and cooking, the best combination of kitchen equipment including your storage requirements
- Then we check you’re happy about the size of the service hatches as that relates to how many queues you want to have and the best way for you to display and sell more of your product
- We’ll agree the need for regulated temperature, hot and cold pumped water systems, so your team have constant, correct temperature hot water for hand washing, everything to keep the team safe and satisfy environmental health officers
- You tell us your main needs around cleaning the vehicle – we have many standard features that make cleaning easy, equipment on raised plinths, wipe clean work surfaces, non-slip easy clean food safe flooring
- We discuss your branding and menu display requirements to make sure that works around the service hatches etc.
At that stage we’ll also incorporate into the design:
- Electrical systems to be installed properly and certified by our in-house qualified NICIEC members to give you peace of mind – our wiring systems are positioned in the best way to prevent damage, make cleaning as easy as can be and keep appliances working and you safe
- LPG pipework and systems for you to know that when you switch the appliance on – a) it will work and b) you’ll have comfort knowing your team and your clients are operating safely. As you probably know LPG safety must be taken very seriously, there are already too many horror stories on this subject.
- A fire rated gas box to suit the amount of gas bottles needed to operate safely as required by specific guidelines in the regulations CoP24:part 3
- Ventilation to extract dangerous gases and cooking grease etc – you should never underestimate the amount of ventilation needed
- Vehicle security, so the correct locks for the serving hatches and the personnel door to keep your team and your unit secure
- If you prefer to collect a finished unit, the great branding and signwriting you want
“All the paperwork and training that we received before we took the vehicle away was really helpful and meant that we could start trading as soon as we wanted.”
Michael Sladden, Operations Director, MOB Kitchen, London
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In summary there are four key goals in our design process:
- Make sure the output of your unit can meet your targets
- Provide you with an efficient unit that is easy to use to keep your time and costs as low as possible
- Attract the maximum number of customers through great branding
- Keep you and your team safe and your operation legal
Once the detailed design is ready, here’s what happens next
- We walk you through the detailed plans so you can understand, agree and approve the detailed look, feel and operation of your new unit
- You agree the timescale for delivery
- We build your unit to your exact specification
- Your unit goes through our extensive quality control process
- You take delivery, normally that means your unit is sign written, branded and ready to go
“The entire end to end process from the initial design discussions, the build quality/finish & the after sales service has all been very seamless.”
Garry Young, Ops Director of Healthy Yummies Ltd
Read more testimonials
Here’s some of the features we consider to make 100% certain you’ll get the right vehicle for your business
The kitchen must be super-efficient and super reliable
You want your kitchen to be set up so it’s easy to use and easy on your team. Efficiency is vital and so is a happy team. After all, mobile catering can be very hard work. And you want your kitchen to be super reliable – equipment problems can easily translate into lost revenue.
- We select and recommend equipment manufacturers who give you the best balance between value, reliability and efficiency to work in a mobile unit. That comes from years of experience and our customer feedback
- When we install your kitchen appliances, we make sure they are simple and easy to remove for servicing
- The attention we pay to every aspect around how the equipment is fitted and where it’s located also means wear and tear is minimised – small details can make a big difference
The all-important ventilation, gas and electrics.
- Once we understand the output you plan for, we can design the exact specification of the vital ventilation and extraction equipment to make sure you are legally compliant and your team are safe
- It’s the same for gas and electricity supplies, we’ll design everything to be safe, secure and the installation allows for easy cleaning
- We have NICEIC electrical certification and we bring in the right level of mobile catering safety certification expertise. So we make sure both gas storage and all aspects of the electrical installation will be safe and will pass inspection
Get the branding right and you’ll get more business
We’ll talk to you about branding and other messages you want to get across early in the design stage. There are two ways we can help you with getting your brand message across.
Firstly, we need to make sure the external design of the unit will work with the branding you already have in mind. You are relatively limited in what you can change, the serving hatch isn’t likely to move too much, but we can make some subtle design changes that can help you display your branding to the best effect.
Secondly, we can arrange for all the signwriting and branding you require to be carried out before you collect your vehicle. We find when it’s us who brief the sign writers then less is likely to go wrong. Specifically everything goes where it should be, out of harm’s way, which lessens the potential for wear and tear to degrade your all-important image.
The complete unit, all designed, built and sign written in one place
We can take care of everything for you, or as much as you want us to. Our customers generally find they like being able to pick up a unit that’s 100% finished and ready to go. And if you need training on any aspect of care or operation of your “new” catering van, that’s part of the service.
What you need to do next
Just give is a call now on 01536 202 944, we’re here and happy to help with all the questions and advice you need. Our initial design service is free and we’d love you to come and visit our premises.
Here’s what we promise we’ll do for you
The 4Sure 11 point Rock Solid Guarantee
(You’ll love No 11)
- If you’re not happy with your design when it’s finished, whatever you’ve paid at that time, just ask and we’ll refund it.
- Our products are always easy to operate, with no sharp edges or poor workmanship. If you don’t agree or you find sharp edges, we’ll fix what’s wrong for free.
- Our design process will always identify more money-making opportunities than you planned for.
- Your safety is our No 1 concern (actually it’s our No 1 concern only just ahead of you making profits from your unit). You’ll have every relevant safety certification when your unit is ready to leave our workshop.
- You’ll always benefit from talking to us, even if you don’t buy from us. We’ll always give you our best advice and we won’t be too salesy (but we don’t mind if you decide to buy).
- When we agree a completion date, it’s a drop-dead date.
- We never skimp on the quality of materials we use. Never.
- If you want your unit to be ready to go when it leaves our workshop, that’s what it will be, ready to go, straight to the pitch.
- Our support doesn’t end when you get your hands on your finished product. We’re there for any help, advice or guidance you need. Just call, we’ll help.
- You’ll realise we have to put a time limit on our guarantee against defects in parts or workmanship but we give you an industry leading no quibble full 2 years (we ask that you return the unit to our workshop)
- We always stand behind points 1 to 10, but here’s my personal guarantee, from Gary Wagstaff, owner of the business:
“If you order a catering unit from 4Sure and there’s anything you’re unhappy about, at any time, just call me and we’ll fix it.”