Today’s “Hot Dog Cart News Q and A”: Propane or electric?
HDCN reader Rick S. emailed to tell me about a cart he is purchasing. It’s a large cart with caster wheels, kind of a mall kiosk type unit. The cart is semi-stripped and Rick will be outfitting it with steam tables and other equipment.
Rick wants to know whether he should go with propane powered appliances or electric.
Here’s his email:
Steve, I have a question that might be a good one for ‘Hot Dog Cart News’.
I do not know if I will always sell near access to electricty hookup, and if I should get all electric equipment, or buy propane fueled equipment. And If so, what kind of propane fueled equipment is there?
I saw somewhere online that a propane fueled coffee maker (standard 5 cup size) cost around $1,000 through a certain site. But are there other propane run items such as:
Crock pot- for heating cheese to sell nachos.
Ice maker- for serving shaved ice.
fan- for on those hot summer days
etc
Just curious what kind of equipment exist, that would not require electricity hookup.
Thanks,
Rick
What do you think hot doggers? Should Rick go with all propane appliances? A combination of propane (steam tables and grills) and some electric (fan, shaved ice machine)?
Those propane appliances are a bit spendy…
I’m a big fan of deep cycle marine batteries to power some electrical appliances (radios, fans) but appliances with heating elements (crock pots, coffee makers) suck a lot of current. They will run down your batteries pretty fast.
What about generators? If you use ’em, how about some recommendations for a good quiet one?
What are your opinions of propane vs 12 volt battery vs 120 volt generator power? Let’s hear you in the comments…
-Steve
Go with the propane! You have the versatility of setting up anywhere. You don’t want to be in a position where you can’t set up because of power and some events want the really quiet (expensive) generators.
Shave ice machines do come in propane/electric and are almost the same price as electric only. Look at the ones that take “cubes” rather than the “blocks”. I saw someone using this and it produced great results!
There are also work arounds to the coffee urn thing I know a guy who brews before going out and has a big hot/cold type dispenser. I read where another guy brewed coffee in one of his steamtable pans.
Personally I divided my steam table up (two full pans) into sections. I was able to do one half pan, two quarter pans, two third pans and two of the pans most sinks are made out of. This gave me room for various dogs/sausages, buns, and chili and cheese. The steamtable does just fine no need for a crock pot. Just keep extra pans in cooler with cheese and chili if you need refill.
Just some thoughts….
Wow, a $1,000 bucks for a coffe maker..where have you been looking at there rick..i found you 1 for 160,00 and its a 8 cupper too….go here to look at it…nrsweb.com and search for the brunton brewfire coffee maker..it works on them 1lb bottles of propane..basically it’s a camping accessory but i guess you can use it for your purpose too..and last but not least try EBAY you never know what you can find there an cheaper to..good luck on your stand rick.!!
I agree with Paul…propane is the way to go so you can set up anywhere…it can last longer if you keep it on pilot most of the time and then when you put new dogs in turn it up for a few minutes to cook up fast and then keep them warm keeping on pilot.
I use both battery and propane. I have my water heater, three burners and two grills I use propane on. I can use my burners with dutch ovens and a converted chafing dish setup for dogs, sausage cheese and other sides. And I have the water pump I use a marine battery for it. that set up makes me far more versitle in setting up anywhere I am needed. using electric would make me less versitle and some spots charge fees based on the amount of electricity you need to operate your cart. The more electricity the higher the fees. I vote propane and battery. power
It depends on where you will be selling. Most fire codes don’t allow propane tanks inside a building. My cart is set up for propane, but I remove the burners and replace them with electric “hot plates” for indoor events. Purchased them at a Kohl’s store for $25.00 each. (on sale) They can also be found at Target or Walmart. They don’t heat as fast as propane, but will still do the job. They each have two burners and fit perfectly in the well. Both will run on the same receptacle without tripping a breaker.
Steve is right. The battery and inverter is great for lighting, but won’t last for heat.
Best of luck with your business!
I have an adapter bought on Amazon that allows me to run the 1lb camp stove style bottles on my cart if I do an indoor gig with fire code restrictions. (Also I always keep a couple 1lb’ers with my cart incase my 20’b runs out – has saved my day a few times.
Jonny
Me too. Keeps me from having to carry two twenty pound tanks.
Steve my cart is propane, using that for the hot dogs, chili, red sauce and bun, I carry along a 2000 watt Honda generator, uses very little gas but will operate my snow cone machine very easily and is super quiet, I am 60 years old and it is nice that the Honda is very light weight. Had not problems at all with the Honda, have seen other vendors with the loud cheap made generators and they wouldn’t start, made too much noise, or in one gas saw one run low on oil and blow up, Hondas won’t run when low on fuel.
I too am starting the process of outfitting a Hot Dog Cart. I will be going with propane. Could some of you please give a few resources to contact with regards to the hardware needed to build the steam box and the small sinks. Maine does not have much in the way of places to buy equipment. Especially smaller scale equipment. Thank! Frank’s Franks.
Propane! If you do big events you usually have to pay 10-25$ for electric. Make your coffee and hot chocolate and put it in air pump thermos’ they are cheap and work great. Put your cheese in a quarter pan next to your chili.
Frank,
My E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart Videos will show you how to build steam tables and sinks for pennies on the dollar using hardware store materials.
http://www.BuildAHotDogCart.com
Can I get a witness?
-Steve
Electricity! I goes indoors or out in the boondocks. I have been using the ultra quiet, dependable and portable Honda 2000 watt generator for 21/2 years. It runs virtually unnoticed by the customers. I love it’s features. I also run a 10lb propane tank for the fabulous, Ecco water heater. Electricity powers the steamer and the Flo-jet water pump. My cart also is hybrid in that it has a coffee drip-brew bar like you see in high end coffee houses. The electricity is available for hot water too. I also use and recommend the 5 gal. Cambro insulated containers to keep liquids hot or cold all day.
A little update on my electrical usage, now 10 years in business. I have continued to use, with good success, the Honda 2000i e generator. The business model changed from being a hot dog trailer, towed behind a 3 wheeler Tuk Tuk to simply a Coffee Cart. When I contract for an event, I always ask for an electrical outlet and more often than not, one is provided. When I go to the local beaches or a golf club, I use the Honda. The espresso machine at full load draws 1500 watts and can handle an all day event. I also use synthetic oil for longevity of the engine..still going 10 years later! For me LP gas is more of a hassle to find and it ain’t cheap either as I use OTHER PEOPLE’s electricity for free. If I was running a straight up HD Cart, I would build in an electrical coil as well as LP gas which allows a bit more freedom.
Thanks Roger!
For those interested, the cart this is for, that steve mentioned is
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e151/sanftner2003/cart3.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e151/sanftner2003/cart1.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e151/sanftner2003/cart4.jpg
I hope $400 was a good investment.
The $1,000 propane coffee maker was at a cart manufacturer’s website so i suspect those prices are a bit off.
I’m really excited to get this cart. My girlfriend and I are driving 503 miles (8.5hrs) from Oklahoma, to St Louis to pick it up. And since it is valentines day weekend, we will be considering it a mini vacation. But not only that, I also plan on proposing to her at the st louis arch, as well.
And sofar, it sounds like propane is what I want.
Amen on the Hot Dog Cart Plans, and your book, and this website.
I want to build your cart using a base cart from Lowe’s 48″ x 64″. Do you think this is to big??? Or a 48″ x 72″…
The HD says I need to use a refrigerator or freezer, so I will be using both gas and elect. thru the hot summer. No choice. But it will be nice for a microwave or bunn coffee pot later. I want to try to find a used Honda generator because of all the good reports that have been made.
I’m 63 and will be retiring within the next month or so, and I’m excited and scared at the same time about this adventure. I want to start out slow with just the perfect meal tho (smile).
Hello Friends.
I’d like to weigh in on this subject.
I have complete set-ups in both propane and electric. However, I’d like to offer a few suggestions as to how to equip yourself and save money.
As far as the propane is concerned, I use a 3-bay waterless system made by Wyott. No moving parts and I bought it used for $300.
It uses any combination of steam/hotel pans.
So I bought two half-sized perforated steam pans and cook my dogs that way. It works incredibly well.
I serve lots of coffee at different events and use a couple of 5-gallon Cambro insulated containers ($50.00 each used.) They will keep coffee and chocolate hot for at least 6-8 hours.
I make the coffee at home using an old 100 cup coffee brewer. there’s no need to make it fresh on site. I also use a 3-pot commercial coffee maker to speed things up. It takes one hour from beginning to completion to fill those insulated units.
When it comes to buying equipment, always look for the simplest piece that will accomplish the most.
Chuck
J.D.,
You can build it to fit any trailer. Afetr you watch the videos you will see how to do it. It’s really easy. Being nervous is normal. It means you care about succeeding. Which means you will.
-Steve
Chuck, Great tips as always, thanks!
-Steve
Ricky,
Tell your girlfriend to cross her eyes when she looks at the St. Louis Arch.
Makes it look like a heart…
Good luck Romeo!
-Steve
Rick, either fuel will limit your options. Without a small generator your outside venues will be harder to find. As was stated earlier, propane only will rule out many inside venues. Depending on your local firemarshal, you may be able to use the small tanks inside, there are adaptors available. I know of one cart in the southwest that uses sterno cans, an expensive option in my opinion. Good luck with the new cart. Steve, thanks for the link on the propane fridge. I’m considering adding one to my homebuilt cart. I hope with that my health dept will allow me to offer hazardous food as well as non-hazardous.
#1 choice=propane and battery
#2 choice=Honda generator
#3 choice=electric
If yer doggin outdoors, you gotta go with the gas. Ricky: you go dude!
Jim Seidler
GoodDog!
Amen!…Steve …also Hot Dogs are NON-hazardous……Correct? I appreciate the great input everybody, I am in cart designing stages right now.
KDog,
Correct. That means less rules to comply with.
Thanks for the links!
-Steve
Ricky, that’s really sweet, good luck to you both.
These are all very interesting and helpful bits of information. I have a question on a different subject.
I am from Florida, and they make it very difficult to get into this business, infact in my county they won’t let any vending at all. I’ll have to go to the next county to do it on an everyday basis. So, my question is, does anyone have any suggestions on how I would approach a business to become my commissary? So far very difficult for me. Thanks so much!
Connie (CT’s Pit Stop)
Most vfw, american legions, knights of columbus etc. Have up to code kitchens and if you’re a member and offer to rent or make a small donation to the club access can be aquired. Most clubs rarely use the kitchens ( bingo, fish fry, weekley dinners) . Don’t hurt to ask! Maybe offer your services at some of their functions as a bartering tool.
good luck
Right on Bob!
i wonder how much battery juice that 12 volt crook pot would take to run. $400 i’d would of jumped on that.
Connie,
I am having the same problem with my county HD. The C word!!!! Im in Chicago (burbs). good luck to you…….
RODGERDOG IS RIGHT ON HONDA MAKES A GENERATOR THAT YOU CAN’T HARDLY HEAR AND CARRYING CORD IS A LOT LESS DANGEROUS LEGAL WISE
ALSO YOU CAN AWAYS FIND AN OUTLET TO THE PUBLIC I DO
Here is a link to a drop-in three sink combo for those building a cart. A three sink combo PLUS a separate sink for hand washing is required here where I live.
http://www.instawares.com/polar-ware-yukon-stainless-steel-vending-cart-drop-in-sink-w-3-compartments-120653.pwa-120653.0.7.htm?LID=PRNT&srccode=cii_16776730&cpncode=21-45541445-2
Hey Steve, I’ll testify to that! Thanks to your hot dog plans, I’m in business and doing pretty well! I will say this though, I wish I had a two burner camp stove right about now, I would have set up inside my brother’s store today. The weather here in Texas was pretty darn cold with freezing fog so I decided not to set up the cart, which I hate because I’m losing money by having the cart just sit there. Oh well, thats Texas for you. Looking foward to great weather here though.
Esteban
Buddy,
I could have used that link when I was in the process of building my cart! That would have been an awesome thing to get. I used 3 quarter size pans for my sink but man, it was a pain trying to get the hole drilled through that stainless steel! It works fine though, but it would have been much nicer to have that drop in sink instead.
I don’t sell coffee. I’m a lunch crowd vendor myself, but since you’re using propane to heat your steam pan’s, why not use one pan to heat some water and use instant coffee grounds to make a pot of coffee in the morning?
Mike Croney
what do I get from the hardware store to refurbish the burning unit on cart? It will not stay lit and needs a knob and its attachment that goes to element.
How about propane, 12 volt and solar
Solar is a good back up and battery topper offer but I wouldn’t use it for my only power source.
Just thought I would pass this along to anyone building their own cart. I hope to get my own cart built this year so I’ve done a lot of research locating different parts before I start my build. Here is the best deal I’ve found on sinks. http://www.ebay.com/itm/280382084447?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Thanks everyone for all the great info!
That is a good price. Thanks Cruiszr!
some of the events I sign up for offer with the event fee, one that is three days long cost $500.00 includes 20×15 space plus 60 amps of power (they hook up) and water. I can clear close to $3000.00 on Sunday alone. Also since they try to only allow one type of food per vendor I am the only one(in theory) slinging dogs I have had repeat buyers for the last five years. Sunday is a big draw down and they get close to 30,000+ people. Last year four vendors sold out of food by 2( goes to 4). I guess what I am trying to say is see if where you set-up has free power source or low cost. “Sell em all”
Jerry
Awesome!
That is very, very cool!
We are in the research and locations part of this business right now, and we just wanted to thank everyone for all the great information. It’s great to know that there are people out there who have been there, seen it and are doing it! So, inspiring.
Diane and Dave
Northern Tools sell a 2000w Powerhorse generator for half the cost of a Honda and it is just as quiet. I have been using mine for 6 years
Thanks for the tip Greg!