Finding the Ice Cream Truck That Felt Right

The day we first saw the truck

Skye’s first road trip home

After the idea of starting our own ice cream truck business took hold, we didn’t waste much time — but we also knew we couldn’t rush this part.

We looked at several trucks. Some were too small, some weren’t set up the way we needed, and others just didn’t feel right. We were learning quickly that buying an ice cream truck isn’t just about mechanics — it’s about vision.

Then we started messaging with someone who had an ice cream truck they no longer used.

It wasn’t close.

It was about three hours away.

Still, we decided it was worth the road trip.

When we pulled up, I’ll be honest — I was immediately underwhelmed. The tires were flat. Paint was peeling in multiple places. Stickers were coming off. My first instinct was to turn around and head back home.

But we had driven all that way, and my husband was still excited.

We knocked on the door, and the owner came out with the keys.

The truck wouldn’t start.

Thankfully, we had come prepared. The owner had told us ahead of time that we’d need a new battery and a passenger-side mirror, so my husband got to work right there. He swapped out the battery, installed the mirror, checked fluids, and looked over the wiring.

Good thing I have a handy husband who can work on vehicles — and pretty much any problem life throws at us.

Even after all that… the truck still wouldn’t start.

So off we went to buy a gas can. A tiny three-gallon one. Back and forth to the gas station we went — four or five trips later — and finally, the truck started.

When my husband drove it around the block and came back, he had the biggest smile on his face. And then something magical happened.

Kids and adults started coming out of their houses, asking if they could buy ice cream. He had to explain that he was just test-driving the truck and didn’t have any ice cream yet.

In that moment, we knew.

We negotiated the price and decided to stay the night in Abilene, Texas, since the tires were flat and there was no way we were driving three hours home like that.

The next morning, we got up early, went for an oil change, then dropped the truck off to get new tires. While the truck was being worked on, we decided to walk around the mall.

And that’s where life surprised us — again.

There was a dog adoption event going on, and we were both immediately drawn to one sweet, crazy 10-month-old girl. Her name was Iris, but we renamed her Skye.

Our dogs at home — Elsa and Chase — had absolutely no idea we were about to come home with a puppy.

We took Skye to PetSmart, picked up a leash, a bed, puppy food, and of course… way too many toys. Then we went back, picked up the ice cream truck, and headed home.

We only stopped once on the drive so she could stretch her legs, and she did amazing. She rode in the backseat with me the whole way.

The ice cream truck made it home safely.

And now, the real work could begin — transforming that underwhelming, worn-down truck into what we had envisioned all along.🍦🚚🐾