As a food truck owner, there is some basic maintenance that you need to know.
Tires
Make sure you have high quality tires on your food truck to improve performance, gas mileage and safety.
You should be constantly testing and monitoring the air pressure in your truck’s tires. Testing your food truck’s tire pressure daily can help to evenly distribute your food truck’s weight on the tires, and it can help prevent tire blowouts when driving at higher speeds.
Filters
Don’t forget to change the fuel filters on your food truck on a regular basis. Water can collect in your fuel system when the temperature gets low. If your fuel filter is checked and replaced regularly it can help to avoid build up of particles and moisture.
Battery
Regularly check the level of your battery and ensure that it is secured and the connections are tight. You can often check the level of your battery at auto parts stores for free. You should also replace your battery every so often, ideally after every 72 months.
If your battery ever dies and causes you to run late or even miss a food truck or catering event, it can damage your credibility with clients and cause you to lose out on income.
Windshield
Monitor your windshield for any cracks or pitting that is beginning to form. This is especially important for food trucks in warmer climates, because as temperatures increase so can the stress on the windshield
Wipers
Consistently replace your wiper blades every 6 to 12 months, depending on wear and tear. As winter approaches, replacing your wiper blades becomes even more important, since ineffective blades will make driving in the snow very difficult and even dangerous.
Different climates call for different types of windshield wiper fluid, so if you are operating in a cold climate, be sure to use a wiper fluid that contains some level of antifreeze. Be sure to fill your windshield wiper fluid reservoir with proper windshield fluid that contains a concentrate of cleaning fluid, not just water.
Fluids
Remember to check the levels of your fluids regularly to ensure optimal performance of your food truck.
Fluids you need to check include:
- Antifreeze
- Windshield Wiper Fluid
- Transmission Fluid
- Power Steering Fluid
- Brake Fluid
- Engine Oil
Belts & Hoses
While you are under the hood taking a look at your fluids, don’t forget to keep an eye on your belts and hoses. These will not need to be replaced as often as your fluids, but it is equally important to make sure they are monitored for quality assurance. If you see any fraying, cracking, or leaking, get a new belt or hose immediately.
Emergency Kit
Assemble somekey items that you and your truck may need in case of emergency, and set aside some space in your truck for storing these items.
Some of these important items include:
- Road flares
- Fire extinguisher
- Reflective triangles
- First aid kit
- Water
- Solar blanket
- Jumper cables
Generators
Your food truck itself isn’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to oil. One of the most important things to do when it comes to extending the life of your generator is changing the oil on a regular basis. Consult your owner’s manual to see when the manufacturer recommends changing the oil.
Winter Considerations
Don’t forget to have de-icer on hand during the winter months, in order to prevent the nightmare scenario of having locks freezing up when you are committed to an important event.
Even food trucks that already have good tires can benefit from swapping out their regular tires with snow tires during the winter. The pattern on snow tires helps improve performance during the winter when the road is slippery.
Get Serviced Regularly
Even though the life of a food truck owner can be a busy one, you need to make sure to take your truck in for regular tune ups, especially if it’s been a while since your last one. This gives the mechanic the opportunity to spot anything that may be beginning to go wrong with your vehicle, and perhaps prevent something even worse from happening.
Think about it. If this prevents you from missing even one event due to a mechanical issue, it is well worth your time.
Make sure to check out our blog for additional maintenance and troubleshooting tips!
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The food truck industry is growing; it’s now over a 2 billion dollar industry. You’ll want to make sure you pass your health inspections so you can grab a piece of that [pizza] pie.
We’ve compiled a few tips to help you make the grade and keep your food truck grillin’ and rollin’. Feast your eyes on the facts below.