Buying an Ice Cream Truck

The purchase of an ice cream truck is an important investment. You're buying a storefront on wheels!

Your vehicle needs to attractively market your business, provide economic transportation, and pass safety and sanitary regulations.

Without your vehicle, you would not have a business. Don't buy impulsively. Do your research. Inspect the vehicle carefully. Know what features you want.

This page overviews ice cream truck features, types of ice cream vans, considerations when buying an ice cream vehicle, and additional considerations for buying a used vehicle.

Features

• Truck Equipment
• Awning/Canopy
• Bubble (High) Top Roof
• Ballast: helps provide lighting, necessary for night time serving
• Inverter: gives power to items on truck that need electricity
• Sink/Holding Tank
• Safety Equipment
• Swing Arms: red or yellow (follow regulations for your city)
• Back-up Alarms
• Safety Lights: revolve, flash, strobe, colored
• Large Convex Mirrors
• Safety Stickers/Decals/Signs
• Serving Window Features
• Sliding Window: can slide vertically or horizontally
• Third Track Window System: includes screen panel and movable or removable glass panel
• Talk Through System: provides security while making communication easy



• Music Equipment
• Music Box
• Microphone
• Loud Speaker
• Ice Cream Bells
• Electric Gong
• Ice Cream Freezers
• Cold Plate Freezer
• Chest Freezer
• Dry Ice Freezer
• Food Equipment
• Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine
• Snow Cone/Shaved Ice Machine
• Frozen Drink Machine
• Popcorn Machine
• Concession Warmer
• Toaster Oven
• Coffee Maker

• Custom Made
• Step Vans
• Converted Vans
• Converted Pick-Up Trucks
• Converted Buses

Considerations When Buying a Vehicle

• Know the regulations for vending vehicles in your area.
• Know the truck features you need.
• Shop around, looking at several different models and suppliers.
• Research the make and model of the vehicles you are considering in resources such as Consumer Reports.
• Inspect the vehicle during the daytime on a clear day. This will allow you to inspect the car more carefully and will prevent blemishes from hiding.

Additional Considerations for Used Vehicles
An inspection provides insight on how well the vehicle was maintained.
A trusted mechanic should check the vehicle for any major problems.
Minor problems can be used to negotiate a lower price.

• Maintenance and Repair Records
  What types of problems does this vehicle tend to have? How often does the vehicle have problems? What is the average cost per month you can expect to pay on maintenance? Has this vehicle ever been in an accident?
• Oil Change Records
  How often was the oil changed? When was the last oil change?
• Mileage
  How many miles are on this vehicle?
• Gas Mileage
  What is the gas mileage in the city? Highway?
• Exterior
  Are there any dents? Rust on the body or underneath? Ripples in the metal? Is the paint job still good?



• Tires
  How old are the tires? Are the tires in good condition? Cracks? Uneven wear?
• Interior
  Is it clean? Is it in good condition?
• Equipment
  Does the vehicle come with any equipment? Does it work?
• Freezer
  Is it in good condition? How big is it?
• Music Box
  Does it work? How many different tunes does it play?
• Underneath Vehicle
  Fluid leaks?
• Under Hood
  Cracks or wear in belts or hoses?
• Test Drive
  Brakes firm? Engine relatively quiet?
• Safety Features
  Do they work?

An ice cream vehicle of any kind is a big investment. If you do your research and know exactly what you're looking for - you'll be happy with your choice for years to come!

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