Rear serve hot dog cart or side serve hot dog cart. Which one is better?
More pictures at the end of this article…
Two E-Z Built Hot Dog Carts – A Rear Serve and a Side Serve
Today’s question is from Hot Dog Profits Premium member Robert M.
Robert is about to start building his E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart. But first he needs to decide which layout would be better for his needs.
Robert writes…
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Steve, which design worked better for you, side serve or rear? Is there a particular situation where one would be preferred over the other? maybe pros and cons of each. Thanks, Robert.
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Excellent question Robert! There are pros and cons to each, and every vendor has his or her own preference. I’ll try to outline the pluses and minuses so that you and the rest of our E-Z Builders can make an informed choice.
For those who are thinking about buying a manufactured cart this will help you too.
Rear Serve Hot Dog Carts
Rear serve allows you to set up in narrow areas such as on sidewalks (where that is allowed), and in smaller spaces in general.
Rear serve also works better if you are setting up on the street next to a sidewalk. You can stand behind the cart which keeps you out of the traffic and off the sidewalk.
Storage space is somewhat limited as is the amount of equipment that you can install on it.
Side Serve Hot Dog Carts
Side serve carts are great for festivals and special events where size is less of a concern.
Side serve carts also give you more space for additional equipment and storage.
Unlike a rear serve hot dog cart, a side server requires more room to set up in and it takes up more space in your garage or storage facility.
I have owned both and I would say that I like my rear serve just a bit better simply because it allows me to get into places that a larger side serve wouldn’t fit. If you can only have one cart, a rear serve is the most flexible platform. It lets you set up pretty much anywhere that a hot dog cart is allowed.
If you can have both, that would be best. Don’t laugh – that is very practical since you are building it yourself. In fact, a large percentage of our E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart owners build more than one!
How about you dear reader? Side serve or rear serve, and why? Let us know in the comments.
-Steve
The following photos are all E-Z Built Hot Dog Carts built by our customers using the videos and plans available at HotDogProfitsPremium.com. Click on the picture for a larger image.
I built my rear serve cart in 2009 so im extremely partial to the rear serve cart. It has served me well and it continues to be my workhorse! Now I do like the look of the side serve cart though, and if I do decide to build another one I might build it side serve.
Maybe build it a bit higher accounting for the curb height.
If that was where you were vending every time, then sure – you could do that.
Steve,
Yes, I travel 26 miles each way to my location. Almost all highway (65MPH). I bring the cart every night. And I back the cart into my driveway(10 yards). Leave the cart attached to my P/U truck.
I have to agree with Steve on this one.I do a lot of street vending and on the sidewalk our city allows 3ft x 7 ft that includes space for me so a shorter rear serve lets me vend in places my bigger side serve cant fit. with that said my side serve is 3ftx7ft and I stand beside it so it works in parks,parking lots and festivals and fairs.so to start off go with a 3ftx4ft and you can vend anywhere. if you do events set up a table with side burners now you can serve dogs by the hundreds and most of all have fun and it will all workout.
Right on Joe!
I have a rear serve cart but keep a table on the side with my condiment tray and ketchup, mustard, etc for easy access by the customers. When I get super busy, it is a lifesaver! I even keep a large jar for self serve pay. Customers leave their $1’s and take the 50 cents change when necessary! I don’t have to keep taking off my gloves when it’s a simple transaction….I even have the customers swipe their own cards on my Square or type in their card # when it won’t swipe! They love being part of the action and it helps me in the long run….oh by the way, Did I tell you that I HAVE GREAT CUSTOMERS!
Sandy aka Sandy’s Hot Rod Dogs
Best of both worlds Sandy!
Ahoy matey !!
Get yer self a pontoon boat & serve from both sides.
Plus the pool is always open !!
Arrrr har har !!
1St Mate Jim.
Nice!!
Also with a side serve, if you are parked next to a raised sidewalk you have to bend over that much more.
1St Mate Jim.
I used Steve’s plans to build a rear serve cart in 2009. My cart has served thousands of people both indoors and outdoors. It was easy to build, met all the requirements of the health department in Washington state and every season it fires up like a champ! Like Esteban, I like the look of the side serve carts but the cart I have has worked so well I haven’t contemplated changing what I’m doing. I know my cart will easily fit in a 10×10 space with lots of room left over…
Glad you like your E-Z Built Mary Jane. You did a nice job on it too!
I had both and prefer side serve. At the store I work at I have a wall behind me, coolers to the left and a table over the hitch. I like having customers in front of me and not standing on the sides and behind me. like any fast food place with a counter seperating worker and customer.
It is more restaurant-like.
I started with a rear serve cart that I built with Steve’s plans, & am returning to a factory built one on bicycle wheels. My only complaint when doing festivals under a tent was tripping over the tongue when working around the tent. I’d love to find a source for a trailer frame similar to the one Steve recommends, with a removable tongue. Anyone know of one?
Any local fabrication shop would be able to make the tongue removable. Pretty simple job.
I have a drop down piece that covers the tongue and tanks on plus side great for custies to put on condiments. how about a card table over the tongue?
“sell em all”
jerry
Great idea Jerry. Keeps folks from tripping over the tongue too.
MINE IS A SIDE SERVE EVERYTHING IS RIGHT WHERE I NEED IT THE FRIDGE SERVING TABLE AND STEAM TABLE WORKS GREAT
I do like the layout possibilities that a side serve gives you.
I’d add one more point; rear serve means never having to turn your back to the public. Seems important to me, especially in major metro.
Also important from a customer experience standpoint Mark. Good comment!
I’ve found the rear cart is much better balanced for highway travels. Backing-up is easy. One has to be careful with the side carts. Weight does’nt seem to balance evenly. Especially when backing-up. I’ve looked out many used side carts and have seen where the tounges have been repaired,because of flipping. Either from highwinds whuile traveling or from backing the cart.
Interesting. Thanks Larry!
Form Follows Function!
Can you do 60 – 100 dogs every 1/2 hr. ? then thats the cart for you…AMEN
joe
Amen brother Joe!
Mine works both ways! I have a it setup so I can work solo off the back of the cart but everything is movable if I have a person helping me. Another reason it’s so great to make it yourself, you can make it exactly how you want it!
That’s awesome Matt!