Increase Traffic with the Right Hatch Opening
Upgrading to an Airstream for your food or concession business is almost a no-brainer. Airstreams are more popular today than ever. That iconic rounded & riveted aluminum panel look cannot be ignored. And while you’re stepping up your game from that typical mono looking square box on wheels, how about adding some conveniences to simplify your life.
Serving hatch, or serving window, can be configured to meet your needs AND your customer’s needs. The serving window structure and surrounding framework of the opening is tied right into the superstructure of the shell meaning you should expect years of problem free service from your hatch opening.
Here’s just a few options available for your Airstream conversion to give you ideas on what’s possible.
Side Serving Window
A side serving window for your vending trailer is where you’ll greet your customers and transact business with them. It’s your window on the world.
Straz Center bar SIP serves drinks from this 1966 Airstream Safari Land Yacht on Tampa Riverwalk. Located near the southern end of Straz Center’s Riverwalk expanse, SIP offers an array of cocktails and a rotating selection of local craft brews on tap, as well as smoothies, coffee, soft drinks and water.
One consideration on hatch placement is side. Which side of the trailer will you be serving your customers. Airstream entrance doors are usually located on the curb side of the trailer. Some vendors prefer the hatch on the opposite side (road side) so they can exit the trailer on the curb side without bumping into their customers. Others see this as a non-issue. Which way will the trailer be facing when you park it at different locations? Of course, if you’re in England, road side and curb side would be slightly different. 🙂
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Serving Hatches on Both Sides
This vendor wanted serving hatches on both sides of the trailer. The idea is to have a sort of ‘Drive-Thru’ service on the back, or curb, side of the trailer. We have more on ‘drive-thru’ Airstreams later in this article.
A Window in your Window
Since the serving hatch doors are very structurally stable, windows can be installed if so desired – thus maintaining the original look of the Airstream.
Another option to consider – a sliding window in the serving hatch so on cold days, the hatch could remain closed and your product could be handed out through the window.
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Hatches are normally equipped with gas cylinder lifting struts for easy opening. Handles are mounted for closing and a latch on both ends securely hold the hatch closed during transport.
Flush mounted LED puck lighting is another option that is pretty much a standard. Your customers don’t lose sight of their food when evening rolls around.
Double Serving Hatches
Sometimes one hatch is not enough. This crepe making trailer sports two hatches for a wide open side area. Customers get to interact with you and have a better view when watching their favorite food being made.
Drive Up Food Trailer
Don’t miss out on the drive-thru people. This 1972 31ft. Airstream Sovereign has 2 Drive Up windows on the road side and an 8ft. vending window on the curb side for walk up customers. Aluminum fabricated hoods over the windows keeps the rain at bay. Trailer is equipped with all new insulation and white aluminum on the interior.
Rear Loading Hatch
Airstream made rear hatches on several of their models for a few years offering space for ‘toy storage.’ An opening rear hatch can be created in nearly any Airstream.
These rear hatches, with lifting air cylinders, make for easy loading of product instead of having to carry large boxes through the side door. This 1972 Airstream Excella 500 is enjoying its new food vending life in Philadelphia, PA as the Air Grille at Dilworth Park.
Rear hatches are contoured to match surrounding aluminum of the trailer including rubrail trim and top drip edges. Hinges are also Airstream made so they ‘look’ like they belong – maintaining that beautiful Airstream design.
Because of the rear curvature on older Airstreams, a rear hatch will need to be smaller but can still be done. This is one of our favorites in the rear hatch department. Two ‘flat stack’ Airstream windows were added to this rear hatch. Also, because of the rear curvature, taillights were also placed on the hatch.
Porthole Windows? In an Airstream?
Check out the installed real brass ship porthole windows in this 22ft Airstream Argosy. Two of the windows were even installed in the hatch. This was a concept idea from a pizza guy that was turned into a reality for him. He is now happily serving pizza and waffles in Ireland from this yellow submarine.
Every Hatch is Custom
No matter your business; food service/mobile restaurant, event trailer rental, mobile spa, hair/barber salon, brand marketing promotion or coffee/expresso bar, an Airstream trailer may work for you. Many marketing firms have turned to Airstreams to help promote their customer’s wares. All the serving and rear hatches we’ve covered are basically custom made so the sky is the limit for the ideas you may have for your trailer. We hope this article and photos get your idea juices flowing for your Airstream.
Published: December 11, 2019 ~ Updated: December 27, 2022 ~ Author: Staff Writer
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