The History of Food Trailers (Yeah, Thank Food Trucks!)

When we think of the mobile food industry, our minds generally jump straight to food trucks. With over 25,000 operating food trucks in the US alone, the food truck industry is nothing short of booming.

But the trend isn’t new.

Food trucks have been around foreeeever; (seriously, since as early as the mid 1700’s) – but people rarely know that the history of food trailers actually has a much longer time span.

The two are totally similar, but the more prominent nimbleness of food trailers actually made for a better option during periods of long travel and less urbanization.

With that being said, the history of food trailers is actually really, really cool- and paves the way for a solid understanding of how food trailers have evolved to meet different stages of demand.

The First Food Trailers Started in NYC

1691. Yep- 1691 marked the first year that food trailers made an appearance on the streets of New York. Granted, they looked a whole lot different back then- somewhat mirroring push carts- and definitely no fancy trimmings and deep fryers.

Fun fact: Back in these days, NYC was actually called “New Amsterdam.”

The models were inherently basic, but they did the job of feeding the “working class” of these times. Very few had any means of actually cooking food on the spot; rather, they sold fruits, clams, oysters and other ethnic fares that were prepared at a home base and brought to the streets.

Chuck Wagons Stepped Up the Mobile Food Game

Chuck wagons are the perfect example of the early evolution of the food trailer Invented by Charles Goodnight, chuck wagons were designed to feed the cattlemen and wagon trains travelling within the Old West.

The much larger capacity of these chuck wagons, compared to food trailers/push carts available back then, allowed for both food prep and service in one go.

In the space of the “chuck box” was a fitted cooking space, which folded up and down to be used as a surface to cook and prepare food on. The same area of the wagon was also fit with shelving and drawers for storage of food and utensils.

Since they were being used to feed cattlemen during long cattle drives, these chuckwagons also sported water barrels attached to the wagon bed. They were really designed to support it’s purpose of being a completely mobile kitchen. The demand was completely derived from the need for food on the go during these crucial trips.

Still, the sophistication of these chuck wagons was as to be expected during the early 1800’s, so the menu whipped up from these kitchens remained simple- salted meats, bean dishes, potatoes, biscuits, coffee etc.

Moving On To The Freight Wagon

The year of 1872 marked the first full diner built on the back of a freight wagon. The first notable freight diner grew in Boston in 1873 was built by Walter Scott, who first designed the diner to meet the need for food on the go for journalists working late.

In fact, Scott began his mobile food business in a much more humble way years prior, serving sandwiches and baked goods out of his basket (on foot) in Rhode Island for many years.

After upgrading to a pushcart, he started “Night Lunch Wagons”- serving sandwiches, pies and coffee at all hours of the night. Originally planning to feed late night journalists, Scott found quickly that night shift workers, health care professionals etc. all benefited from food on the go.

Restaurants typically closed at 8, leaving dozens of customers visiting Night Lunch Wagons on a daily basis for fast grub.

Roach Coaches?

We know- the name is a little off putting.

Roach coaches are mini restaurants hoisted onto a truck chassis. Typical models have sides that open for easy access, and full kitchens within the space.

Started in the 1960’s, roach coaches were typically found on construction sites (the target market of the first roach coach operator), but were found pretty much everywhere within the next decade.

Roach coaches are pretty much the perfect blend between a food truck and food trailer, and really paved the way for some wicked modifications entrepreneurs could make to get into the mobile food industry.

The Ice Cream Truck Actually Began The Food Truck Movement

Ice cream has been around forever, but never became mobile until milk became pasteurized in the late 1890’s. Before this, ice cream was unfairly linked to scarlet fever, diphtheria and bovine tuberculosis.

By 1904, the hysteria of ice cream had lifted and several trends were born- including the famous ice cream cone. Technological advances during the same period saw fast paced advances in refrigeration options and the birth of portable electric coolers.

Couple this with the beginning of Prohibition of the 1920’s (where people sought decadent treats to replace banned spirits) and you can only imagine the soaring growth of ice cream trucks.

Fun fact: The first ice cream truck was started by Harry Burt of Ohio, who also first discovered chocolate covered ice cream bars. Thank you, Mr. Burt!

Now, it’s important to note that ice cream trucks were the starting point for “food out of a truck.” Following the invention of the ice cream truck, creative individuals saw mega potential- the first taco truck hit the streets of East LA in 1974, the first burger truck made it’s way outside colleges in the early 1980’s….. you get the point.