The $180,000 Del Popolo Pizza Food Truck

[DNA Dan]

I suppose if that is the goal then I understand the design better. I guess for me part of the WFO experience is the cooking. With those big 10 foot doors closed and a little slot to exchange money and food, it would really take away from the experience for me.

[Grimaldi]

I don't have pics to post yet, but here is a link to trailer with the vending windows/awnings like mine.

http://www.cargotrailersales.com/webyep-system/data/68-gl-Gallery_Name-8491.jpg

Mine is a Pace American Midway with a V-nose. It was special ordered with 8' interior ceilings, widest legal width, fully insulated, AC's, electrical package, and heavy axles.

I've been very busy with a house remodel and have not been able to put much time into the trailer the last few weeks. I did manage to weld a stand for the oven and and get the oven in the trailer (which was a task in itself - I had get a friend with a backhoe that had fork attachments on the front end loader, it went smooth but was not easy).

In regards to the 180k rig - I think in terms of the right tool for the job. Coming to the conclusion that your need a tall box truck to carry the weight of the oven begins a cycle of overcoming so many problems that it leads to an expensive exercise. I'm not impressed by big trucks for the sizzle factor - I have a 20k lb motorhome and have operated 65 ton cranes and D-7 dozers in refineries and the oilfield among other equipment and trucks - but I am very impressed by that Stefano Farara oven!

(RV is 20k lbs - not tons!)     

[TXCraig1]

I have a 20 ton motorhome and have operated 65 ton cranes and D-7 dozers in refineries and the oilfield among other equipment and trucks      

But have you driven a 50 ton vibrator?

[TXCraig1]

In case you're wondering, yes, that's actually what it is called...

[Grimaldi]

No, I haven't operated one of those! You think that might make a good pizza rig? ;]

[TXCraig1]

Not sure where you would put the oven, but it could certainly get their attention if you started shaking the ground.

[Tscarborough]

Ahhh, Doodlebugging, never again!

[TXCraig1]

Ahhh, Doodlebugging, never again!

Tell me about it...

[tinroofrusted]

Here's another article about this beheamoth. 

http://www.urbandaddy.com/sfo/food/18005/Del_Popolo_Pizza_From_a_14_Ton_Big_Rig_San_Francisco_SFO_Food

[BrickStoneOven]

http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2012/06/behind-the-scenes-in-the-epic-del-popolo-pizza-truck.html?ref=pop_slice

Craig I think you can add another name to your list of people who said they were going to buy your oven but didn't.

[TXCraig1]

http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2012/06/behind-the-scenes-in-the-epic-del-popolo-pizza-truck.html?ref=pop_slice

Craig I think you can add another name to your list of people who said they were going to buy your oven but didn't.

I read the article, but I guess I missed that? Who?

[dmcavanagh]

But have you driven a 50 ton vibrator?
[
/quote]

Sounds like some girls dream come true!

[weemis]

Well, you gotta admit, if he didn't go with a totally over the top build, we probably wouldn't be talking about it. nor would anyone else, for that matter.

[BrickStoneOven]

I read the article, but I guess I missed that? Who?

"In case you're not impressed with this tale of perseverance, let us add that the Stefano Ferrara oven that Darsky ultimately installed in his truck wasn't actually his first purchase. He initially bought an Acunto oven, only to discover that the oven didn't have all of the certifications required to ride on board his truck. In a neat little twist, that first oven got purchased by prominent Slice'r TXCraig1, while Darsky moved on to his current set-up."

It's the second to last paragraph under the "The Complications of Building a Pizza Truck" headline.

[TXCraig1]

OK, I'm a little slow today I guess. Jon originally bought and imported the oven. Then I bought the oven from Jon like it says in the Slice article. Who is the other person he almost sold it to?

[BrickStoneOven]

OK, I'm a little slow today I guess. Jon originally bought and imported the oven. Then I bought the oven from Jon like it says in the Slice article. Who is the other person he almost sold it to?

Oh, the way I read it was differently. I thought he was buying it from the original owner. I didn't realize he was the original owner.

[TXCraig1]

Oh, the way I read it was differently. I thought he was buying it from the original owner. I didn't realize he was the original owner.

Yes, he was the original owner. Lucky for me, he brought it in through the Port of Houston. I really doubt I would have persued it if it wasn't here locally where I could go see it and move it myself. Ironically, after it cleared customs, he moved it to a warehouse where a friend of mine does business. They were a big help in letting me borrow some equipment. I'm not sure I could have moved it without their help. It would have been a lot more difficult and expensive anyway.

CL

[tinroofrusted]

And as I recall it was pretty difficult even with your friend's assistance. 

[TXCraig1]

And as I recall it was pretty difficult even with your friend's assistance. 

Yes for sure. I'm talking about a different friend. And the equipment the warehouse let me use is a set of extensions that fit over the forks of the forklift to make them longer. The forks of a 5000lb lift barely go past the center of the oven. It would have been scary not to have the extensions - which I had never seen before or knew existed - or knew I needed...

CL