How Often Should You Service Your Food Trailer (and What's Involved)?
- Bistro Trailers
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Running a food trailer isn’t just about great flavours and fast service. Behind the scenes, your trailer is working just as hard as you are, braving all weather, tackling bumpy roads, and operating for hours on end. With so much going on under the hood (literally), it’s no surprise that regular servicing often gets overlooked… until something breaks.
If you’ve ever asked yourself “How often should I get my trailer serviced?” or “What exactly gets checked during maintenance?”, this article is for you. We’ll break down how frequently you should service your food trailer based on how and where you operate, what’s typically involved in a full service, and what you can do between check-ups to keep things running smoothly.
Why Regular Servicing is Critical for Food Trailers
Servicing your food trailer regularly is a must if you want to keep trading safely, legally, and without unexpected setbacks. Let’s look at the bigger picture.
Protecting Your Investment
A food trailer is one of the biggest investments in your business, so it makes sense to look after it. Just like a car, wear and tear adds up over time. Brakes weaken. Seals deteriorate. Gas hoses perish. Without routine check-ups, small issues can quickly turn into costly repairs, or worse, a total shutdown. For example, a simple leak in a gas line could not only put your team at risk but also lead to a full equipment replacement if left unattended.
Meeting Health and Safety Standards
Environmental health officers inspect your hygiene practices and also look at equipment condition and safety features. Faulty gas systems or broken extractor fans could land you with a failed inspection or even a trading ban.
Quick tip: In the UK, most councils require valid LPG gas safety certificates renewed annually. If your trailer uses gas, this isn’t optional.
Ensuring Smooth Day-to-Day Operations
A fully booked weekend ahead? Great. But a trailer with a flat tyre or a broken water pump can ruin everything. Regular servicing helps avoid the panic of last-minute breakdowns by spotting problems early. Staying on top of maintenance means you can trade with confidence, whether it’s a quiet weekday or a packed festival.
How Often Should You Service Your Food Trailer?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to servicing frequency. It really depends on how you use your trailer, but there are some solid benchmarks you can work from to stay ahead of trouble.
General Frequency Guidelines
Here’s a quick breakdown to guide your service schedule:
Full service: Every 6 to 12 months, depending on usage and age
Mid-season check-up: Ideal for traders operating year-round or attending back-to-back events
Weekly/monthly DIY checks: Things like tyre pressure, light checks, and general cleanliness should be part of your routine
For many traders, an annual full service in the off-season (often winter) paired with a mid-year health check keeps things in top shape.
Factors That Influence Servicing Frequency
How often you should service your trailer depends on how hard it’s working. Ask yourself:
What kind of setup are you running? A full hot kitchen with fryers and grills will need more attention than a coffee-only unit.
How often are you out trading? Daily use means faster wear. Weekend-only setups might stretch longer between services.
What’s the age of your trailer? Older units (5+ years) tend to need more frequent care.
Do you operate in winter or off-season? Cold, damp conditions can take a toll, for example salt on roads can lead to rust on undercarriages and brakes.
Let’s say you run a gourmet burger trailer 5 days a week, all year round. In this case, a 6-month full service plus monthly checks is essential.
What’s Involved in a Standard Food Trailer Service?
A proper service goes beyond a quick visual check. It’s a top-to-bottom inspection of everything that keeps your trailer safe, functional, and compliant. If you've never booked one before, here’s what’s typically included.
Chassis and Exterior Inspection
This is essentially the MOT for your trailer’s body and roadworthiness. Key checks include:
Brakes, bearings, and tyres – are they safe, legal, and balanced?
Suspension and tow hitch – vital for smooth (and safe) transport
Exterior panels and seals – any signs of leaks, rust, or structural damage?
Tip: Trailers exposed to coastal areas or salted winter roads are more prone to corrosion. A quick underbody inspection could save thousands in the long run.
Kitchen Equipment and Gas Appliances
If your trailer runs on LPG, this section is especially important:
Gas regulators, hosing, and connections checked for leaks
Gas safety certificates issued (required annually for UK compliance)
Equipment performance tested: fryers, ovens, griddles, coffee machines, etc.
A technician may also clean burners or replace worn-out parts. This helps maintain fuel efficiency and avoids hazards like uneven heating or flare-ups.
Electrical and Power Systems
Power issues are some of the most common culprits behind event-day stress. Servicing includes:
Checking onboard batteries, converters, and fuses
Testing plug sockets and lighting
PAT testing of plug-in appliances (if applicable)
Whether you’re plugged into mains or using a generator, keeping your power system tested and labelled can help you pass inspections quickly.
Water, Waste, and Ventilation Systems
It’s not glamorous, but it’s critical:
Cleaning and flushing water tanks
Checking wastewater containers and plumbing connections
Testing ventilation systems to make sure fans and extractors work properly
Poor airflow can lead to uncomfortable working conditions and even food safety risks.
Health and Safety Checks
Finally, a service will look at the essentials that often get forgotten:
Fire extinguisher validity and pressure checks
Slip-resistant floor condition
Working emergency lighting and first aid kits
It’s also a great time to restock consumables (gloves, wipes, blue roll) and double-check your signage is up to scratch.
By the end of a full service, you should receive a report or checklist detailing what’s been checked, repaired, or needs monitoring and you can use this as your trailer’s maintenance record.
DIY Maintenance vs Professional Servicing
Not everything needs to be left to a mechanic. In fact, regular DIY maintenance can go a long way in keeping your trailer running smoothly between professional check-ups. That said, knowing where to draw the line is just as important.
What You Can Safely Check Yourself
Here’s a short list of tasks you can and should do yourself, some as often as weekly:
Tyres: Check for pressure, tread depth, and visible damage
Lights: Ensure all indicators, brake lights, and interior lights work
Gas bottles: Check for dents, rust, and make sure they're stored upright and secured
Surfaces and seals: Look for water damage or peeling edges that could lead to hygiene issues
Clean filters and fans: A build-up of grease can reduce ventilation and increase fire risk
When to Bring in a Professional
Some tasks should only be handled by qualified engineers, especially those involving safety certifications or specialist tools. Book in a pro for:
Gas safety checks and certification (must be done annually by a Gas Safe-registered engineer)
Electrical testing and troubleshooting faulty sockets or power trips
Axle, brake, or suspension issues, these are too risky to DIY
Generator or solar system faults, if applicable
Keeping Your Trailer Running Smoothly
Servicing your food trailer is about protecting your livelihood, staying compliant, and making sure every trading day runs without a hitch. Whether you’re trading full-time or just on weekends, having a clear servicing plan helps you avoid costly surprises and builds trust with customers, inspectors, and event organisers alike.
Looking to invest in a trailer that’s designed with durability, compliance, and ease of servicing in mind? Our team at Bistro Trailers build fully customisable food trailers that are made to last, giving you the confidence to trade all year round.