Fulfilling a dream

[Roamers]

Maybe a “prune smoothie” would be a good choice for your “regular” customers!!

Better for irregular customers.

 

[Roamers]

Years ago, my wife and I enjoyed going to different food trucks. Many different trucks would gather at a large parking lot, on particular days, and we have a feast. Something from each truck. We would “follow”(on social media) trucks that we liked and meet them at their next location. They are so fun! Don’t ever judge a food truck, some of the best food I’ve had came off a food truck. It was a $8 corn on the cob! Little crispy bits of lamd, drizzle of yogurt, spices, mmmmm.

Years ago when food trucks were getting started around here, we loved hitting the trucks and never had bad food.

These days "everybody" is getting in on it and there is a lot of yuk; you do you screw up BBQ? The best "sterotype" we have found for good vs. bad food is a smile on the person at the window. No smile, we don't patronize; if you're not happy to be there, the food will suck.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Years ago when food trucks were getting started around here, we loved hitting the trucks and never had bad food.

These days "everybody" is getting in on it and there is a lot of yuk; you do you screw up BBQ? The best "sterotype" we have found for good vs. bad food is a smile on the person at the window. No smile, we don't patronize; if you're not happy to be there, the food will suck.

Theres a lot of BBQ out there, much of it bad, some of it, meh, some good. I won't make my own sauce, too much work to get each batch right. I have found some very good locally made though. But my focus isn't going to be BBQ. There's a boneless rib BBQ slider I'm planning though. Topped with some grilled pine apple.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

This truck we went to served ice cream. They had a karaoke machine. If you sang a song, you get a free kids scoop of ice cream. I love how creative the trucks get. That was fun times.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

My wife and I have been working towards starting our own food truck for about 15 years. Of course, this is a difficult thing to do considering kids, school, and all the other things that crop up in life that just get in the way of fulfilling your dreams.

We originally were looking at trucks, but it's tough finding them, that they'll work with our menu, and at an affordable price. Then I hit some horses and killed our Suburban. We had never thought of getting a trailer because I knew the suburban wasn't gonna wanna pull a heavy trailer. When we got the Sierra, suddenly getting a trailer was a possibility. Last tuesday, one came up that suited our needs and was well within our price range.

Like most things that I buy, it needs work, but it's completely outfitted already and originally cost $26,000. We bought it for $3000. It is a salvage because it was in a crash, but a minor one. It currently doesn't have an axle, and the compressor unit for the fridge is nearly ripped off. The skylight is broken and there's glass everywhere. All of that is easily fixed.

We didn't know anything about the damage though when we contacted the guy. Wednesday and thursday I was out so I left it up to my wife to contact the guy. She talked to him several times over those days, and apparently charmed the hell out of him. Original price was $3500, he sold it to us for $3000, which is what he paid for it. Helluva a nice guy. I called him on thursday evening to ask him some questions that she didn't. First thing he said was that my wife was so nice and sweet and that I'm lucky to have her. I thanked him and told him I know. I asked him if we came down tomorrow could I leave him with $500 cash to hold it until we could get the rest of the money. He said he couldn't do that because he had two other guys coming on friday afternoon to potentially buy it. That got me down because I knew we didn't have $3000 cash laying around anymore due to some other things we had to pay for recently.

Got home and told my wife, that he wouldn't take a partial payment to hold it. Then she surprises me, she's been squirreling away money just in case something like this came up. We called him back and said we'd be down on friday morning to take a look.

Friday morning we get up bright and early, go to the bank and get the money and then head down to Aberdeen, MD. We sat down with him for a while and made small talk, just to get to know each other, he's a man of morals and conviction and runs a salvage yard. Very nice and friendly, but I could tell he's also not someone to mess with, he's gotta be tough being in the tow and salvage business. We go out back and there it is, sitting up on cinderblocks.

We spend about 45 minutes going through it, taking pictures and talking about things we could do and what we'd need to do to fix it, and how do we get it home with it having no axle. We decide that we'll work it out, we have enough friends that we'll figure out how to get it home. Head back inside to talk to the guy and tell him we're buying it. He's happy because the one guy that was coming in this afternoon was a real asshole and he's happy it's going to us.

While he's doing the paper work, I'm already on the phone with a friend to get him working on how we get it home. Initial idea was to drag it onto a flat bed trailer, but then the problem of getting it off came up. We'd have to drag it off onto blocks or stands, something we couldn't really do with the layout of our driveway. Nevertheless we knew we'd come up with something. Money and title are exchanged and we own it. He's ok with us keeping it down there until we can figure out how to get it home. Super nice guy, told him we'd invite him and his employees up for the grand opening.

We head off, wife is giddy, and I'm excitofied (combo of excited and terrified). Meanwhile, we have to get back home, and get packed for our weekend in woods for my birthday. We spend the hour drive home braining storming ideas. This dream went from on tuesday night being "how are we going to get this done" to "it's happening RFN" We had a couple months worth of work to get it ready. We do already have suppliers lined up for our menu. Our focus is on local suppliers, nothing will come from Sysco.

The kids are all on board, #1 and #2 will work with me in the kitchen taking turns from day to day. #3 is marketing and scheduling. She's very good at that. She'll also work the front taking orders and money. #4 will also be working front, but also running his own venture at the same time, selling fresh popcorn.

Pictures of the outside

Other than the axle missing, this is the only real damage on it. The corner where the fridge compressor sits got ripped off. The compressor is still attached by the copper lines. My question is, if I cut those lines so that this compressor can be removed and the trailer hauled home, can they be reattached somehow? Can the compressor be recharged with coolant? I know I'd need a professional HVAC guy to do the job, but can it be done?

Our cabin in the woods was a lot of fun, and you couldn't really find a more secluded spot.

After we backed the truck 1/2 mile down the trail, I had to back it up the trail after getting down there and finding there was no way to turn around.

Earlier this week we had pulled the trailer hitch off the truck because it was rusted through, I had actually pushed my finger through it. When we got home today, #2 helped me install a new one in about 20 minutes.

I have a brake controller on the way to install because eventually I'd like to put an axle with brakes on.

That's it, we've been working on this for years, and we're very excited.

Congrats on the dream come true and best of luck in your new venture!

Downtown San Diego is apparently full of top-notch food trucks. Near the top of our ebike to-do list: Throw the bikes on the train, do some serious food truck tours, and wish we hadn't eaten so much on the 30-mile train ride home.

The good news: Home's only a mile from the Carlsbad station. The bad news: It's all uphill. But hey, that's why the universe gave us ebikes!

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

New axle is here, the one my friend found fell through, no biggie, it wouldn't have worked anyway. I went to a local trailer shop, told them what I was looking for, front desk guys eyes crossed and said, lemme take you back here to one of our mechanics.

Within a few minutes, he figured out everything we needed and got it in a pile while we ran to the bank to get some more cash. We'll have to weld new axle seats on, because the trailer frame is an odd size, not that big of a deal. The yard where it's at said we can use their welder. 3500# axle, with brakes, shackles, springs and seats and all the bolts came home. I'll find a place down there to get wheels and tires.

#2 and #4 are currently out moving firewood to another spot so we can have a clear place to park the trailer. We had about 7 cords uncut or split sitting out there. We're moving it closer to where it gets stored until next year.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Dinner tonight. We had some wings left over from our trip.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Went to my buddy's shop today and dug out a pair of trailer tires that will work to drag it home. He and I are going down on monday to try to mount the axle.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

We had Buffalo wings on super bowl weekend and it was very good.
I wouldn't even put brakes on the trailer if you have a heavy truck pulling it. What you need is the light kit that plugs into the
truck and wheel stoppers when you park the food trailer. Just saying

No brakes on the trailer, means more wear of the brakes of the truck. Plus, legally, I have to have brakes on it, it's more then 3000lbs. I got the 7pin wiring kit in today, and I have all the wire to build a harness that I just need to string up when we get the axle on. It has lights on the back already. Kit includes a breakaway switch. If the trailer detaches, it applies the brakes to on the trailer.

Most of the time, the trailer will stay attached to the truck during operation. When it can't, the wheels will be chocked, and I intend to put leveling feet on all four corners.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Ran some errands today. Stopped by The Restaurant Store, it's a place that caters to food related businesses, I'm a regular shopper there because they sell bulk food. When you buy 50lbs bags of flour and other goods on a regular basis like I do, it pays to know where to get it cheap.

I made friends with the manager a couple years ago, and last year I told her we were working towards this. Not only do they sell but they're also willing to consult with owners on how to get started. I told her we finally bought one, she's excited for us, and reaffirmed she's willing to help us get going. This isn't your typical store that you see these days. The staff is very friendly, without being pushy. If you buy enough stuff that you need a cart to get it out, the person checking you out walks out to your vehicle and helps you load. They like to greet their customers and be on a first name basis with them.

You have to really work to leave there in a bad mood. We bring them Christmas cookies every year. My family likes to back 30 to 40 dozen cookies every year and we deliver them to businesses that we deal with. Barbershop, mechanic, grocery store, auto parts store lots of locally owned and run places. Great way to cultivate a friendly relationship.

After that we went to my auto parts place. This is not an autozone or similar, but a locally owned chain where I made friends with the manager because I was in lots of time buying parts for my dearly departed Suburban. I didn't need anything, I just wanted to tell him the good news about the trailer, cause these guys like food. He gladly gave us permission to setup near their shop for lunches. There are 16 businesses within walking distance.

While on our way there, we passed a drum style drink cooler, something you'd see in your local 7-11 or similar stop and rob shop. We stopped, it didn't have a sign on it, so I knocked on the door and asked the old lady that answered if it was free. She said "I think it is" I said thanks we'll take it, and threw it in the truck.

I bring it home and tell the kids there's stuff in the truck to bring in, 20lbs of pasta, gallon of balsamic vinegar and 6lbs of nutella. One of them brings in the cooler and my daughter gives me the "what's the hell wrong with you look?" I get that a lot from her, mostly because of my amazing dad jokes. She asked where it came from, "It was there, along side the road, and I have a truck" I get the look again. But hey, we have a free drink cooler that we can use.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

I got my brake controller installed today with the help of #2. Also picked up a couple of parts that I didn't get on monday when I got the axle.

Late yesterday afternoon I got a text from my neighbor that he was going to drop of firewood. We've been burning wood in our woodstove for about 10 years or so. He supplies us with firewood when he cuts trees down for his business. Normally he just backs up the driveway dumps it and then we process it, cut, split and stack. We burned 3+ cords this year, and we have about 8 or so cords left to cut and split. But our driveway is full, and the kids have been spending their free time moving it behind the work shop so we have space for the trailer.

I told him I can't take anymore right now because of the trailer coming home, but I had already made arrangements for him to dump it. If he doesn't have someone willing to take firewood, he has to pay to dispose of it, so he would rather give it to someone. My Amish friends have a big woodstove that heats their workshop, and their wood supply is getting low so I asked him if he wanted me to get some dropped off. He was happy to take it. I told my neighbor where his farm is and that he's welcome to drop all that he needs over there behind his barn.

This morning little girl and I were on our way to the grocery then home when he called and said he was on his way to the farm. I told him I was only a couple minutes away and I'd meet him there. Mostly because I knew the husband wasn't at home, and his wife was there with the kids, and her being Amish and him being Vietnamese there might be a language issue because of the thick accents on both of them and me being used to talking to both. I got there first and talked to her about where the wood needed to be dumped. Just that quick he comes driving down the lane. I direct him back behind the barn and he dumps a nice cut oak tree, not a big one but maybe 4 cords worth or so.

Done with that, I took him down to meet her. Had a nice talk, he got to meet all the kids, he loves kids, just a good time. She offered us some butter that she made this morning, and was milked from their family cow that morning before the oldest boy went to school. They mostly raise A2 cows, but they have a family A1 cow that this butter was made from. She also offered some eggs because she had an abundance. My neighbor said he'd take all the eggs, 8 dozen and then insisted he pay for them. She didn't want to take the money seeing it as a trade for firewood, but my neighbor always insists on paying his way.

I took his eggs home for him since he was still banging around in his work truck, my kids too them over to his house with his 2 pints of butter. I made my wife some raisin bred with the butter for my wife, and she loved it. We got to talking, we're going to ask them how much it would cost for them to supply us with butter for the trailer. They already grow popcorn, we could get butter from the same farm. Truly, farm to table, we even know the name of the cow that it came from and the kids that milked the cow and churned the butter.

 

[Rich W.]

Great story and ot seems to be coming together. Not sure if you got your answer on the compressor yet, but the short answer is yes, you can cut the lines, release all the refrigerant (probably not a popular idea with some folks), then get an HVAC guy to silver solder the lines back together with couplers, evacuate the system (with a vacuum pump) to remove any moisture, and recharge. But you would be much better off securing the compressor in place temporally with ratchet straps or whatever, and rebuilding the corner and remounting the compressor at home. Either will work, I’d try the latter if at all possible.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Great story and ot seems to be coming together. Not sure if you got your answer on the compressor yet, but the short answer is yes, you can cut the lines, release all the refrigerant (probably not a popular idea with some folks), then get an HVAC guy to silver solder the lines back together with couplers, evacuate the system (with a vacuum pump) to remove any moisture, and recharge. But you would be much better off securing the compressor in place temporally with ratchet straps or whatever, and rebuilding the corner and remounting the compressor at home. Either will work, I’d try the latter if at all possible.

Securing it is going to be difficult because the entire structure that was there is gone, it's basically hanging on a couple of rivets and the hardline. There's no where to attach straps to without wrapping them around the entire trailer. Then the concern is them slipping loose on the way and losing everything before I can stop.

We don't know if the compressor even runs, but we're going to test that on monday. If it doesn't run, it doesn't matter, it'll need to be replaced. I've found a source for them, and I know a few people that do HVAC work that can join the lines and recharge it. It's a small unit so the refrigerant shouldn't be too terrible.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Today I worked out a deal where a farm will be exclusively supplying us with fresh grown popcorn. It's being raised by a 12yr old farm boy and we're paying him directly for it. It's his first cash crop.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Today I worked out a deal where a farm will be exclusively supplying us with fresh grown popcorn. It's being raised by a 12yr old farm boy and we're paying him directly for it. It's his first cash crop.

That’s awesome! He will always remember this. Super cool!

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

That’s awesome! He will always remember this. Super cool!

We told them we'd pay them for the crop, they're not growing a lot, 6 rows, which will probably turn out to be 300 or so pounds. Problem is figuring out how much to pay the boy. They wouldn't give us a price, or even a clue for one and said "just pay what you can". I found a similar product from one of my other suppliers for $56/50lb bag. Which comes out to about $1.12/pound. We'll pay a little more than that. We want to be fair.

His eyes got real wide and had a huge smile when we told him we'd pay him to grow it for us. We also asked if they'd make butter for us, but they said they might not have that cow past spring, and their other cows, the milk from those is too much of a commodity to turn into butter. They have one A1 cow and the rest are A2, and they get a lot of money from the A2 milk.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Truck is loaded and ready to go. My salvage guy was going to go with me, but he's not feeling well, told him to stay home and rest. Called another friend that's mechanically inclined, and he's flying in tomorrow morning with another friend and we're going to head down. Hopefully it goes smoothly, but I don't expect it to.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Cinnabon is what I'm craving now with my coffee

I can't really do any baking. I don't have space for it. But I do make an amazing candied bacon topped cinnamon rolls though.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

I don't eat pork many people does.

But you're in Hawaii, that's like a staple out there. I keep trying to convince an Amish family to move to Maui to farm and raise pigs. So far, no takers.

One of the kids and I were just out working on the truck and the area where the trailer is going to live when it gets home when a neighbor comes over and asked if I wanted another project as if I don't have enough projects already. He gives me a Honda generator that needs to be reassembled. If I can get it running I don't need to buy a generator for the trailer.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I don't eat pork many people does.

what you don't eat spam? not sure if thats pig or roadkill though.