Low elevation, about 3,580 feet
At roughly 3,580 feet there is no altitude adjustment for burners, ovens, or dish-machine water. Humidity and heat matter more, and we plan refrigeration and ventilation around them.
Open 24/7 · Emergency deployment
Columbus, Montana Mobile Kitchen Trailer Rentals and Dishwashing Trailers
Columbus began as a stagecoach station on the Yellowstone River, was once called Sheep Dip, and took its present name in 1893. The Stillwater County seat sits at 3,580 feet where I-90 meets MT 78. The area's platinum and palladium operations, a K-12 school district, and highway traffic drive meal and lodging demand.
We rent mobile kitchen trailers, dishwashing trailers, and emergency refrigeration trailers as short-term rentals or long-term leases. Call any hour or request availability and a quote for your Columbus site.
- County
- Stillwater County
- Elevation
- About 3,580 ft
- Typical January low
- 17°F
- Typical July high
- 88°F
Elevation from the Open-Meteo elevation model. Temperatures are averages for January lows and July highs in 2022 to 2024, from Open-Meteo reanalysis data.
What the conditions mean for a rental in Columbus
January lows near 17°F
Winter nights regularly drop below freezing, with lows around 17°F. We check water-line protection and heater capacity for rentals through the cold months.
July highs near 88°F
Columbus's July highs average about 88°F. That is a normal load for our equipment, but it is enough to expose an aging walk-in cooler, which is a common reason people call us.
Delivery from Helena
About 150 miles in a straight line from our Helena warehouse. That is a regional delivery: we confirm the road route, any seasonal limits, and the timing when we quote.
Where a mobile kitchen helps in Columbus
Flood recovery crews
Flooding on June 13 to 15, 2022 damaged roads and bridges to the Stillwater Mine, and operations were suspended for weeks. Columbus Fire Rescue opened a donation account for recovery. After a flood, road crews, utility workers, and volunteers need meals, showers, and dishwashing while local kitchens recover.
Mine and smelter work
Metals operations in Stillwater County include mines and a metallurgical complex at Columbus. Shutdowns, repairs, and construction can bring contractor crews that outnumber local lodging. Kitchen trailers, restrooms, and sleeper units let a contractor feed and house a crew near the work.
Heat and cold equipment failures
Columbus has recorded 109 degrees Fahrenheit and minus 45, and averages about 48 inches of snow a year. Those extremes strain walk-in coolers and freezers. A care facility, school, or restaurant that loses refrigeration can bring in an emergency trailer while repairs are made.
- Flood-recovery crew feeding and showers
- Mine contractor kitchen and sleeper support
- Emergency freezer trailer for restaurants
Delivery from our Helena warehouse to Columbus
We keep equipment in Helena, the Montana capital, and plan every delivery from there. Columbus is about 150 miles from the warehouse as the crow flies; the actual road route, timing, and any permits are confirmed when we quote.
Getting a trailer to Columbus
From Helena, head south on I-15 over Elk Park Pass, then east on I-90 over Homestake Pass and another pass at 5,760 feet. I-90 runs right through Columbus. Winter storms can affect the passes, so check MDT road reports before dispatch.
The closest towns we serve are Joliet (about 17 miles), Laurel (23 miles), and Fromberg (24 miles).
Open 24/7
Emergency deployment, any hour
The Yellowstone and Stillwater rivers flooded in June 2022, with roads and bridges damaged in Stillwater County. Flood response often needs hot meals and refrigeration for crews and residents, which an emergency kitchen or cooler trailer can support.
Kitchen trailers available for Columbus
Choose among nine trailers, 24 ft to 40 ft, by the number of meals and the equipment your menu calls for. Most run on 220V single-phase service. Each price is a monthly starting rate; the quote confirms price, term, and delivery.
| Trailer | Cooking equipment | Also on board | Power | Starting rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 ft Mobile Kitchen | Single-stack convection oven, Griddle / oven combination, 6-burner range / oven combination | Handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, Prep table, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer | 220V, single phase, 200A | $4,995 / month |
| 26 ft Baby Bulk Kitchen | Confirmed at quote | 3-compartment sink, Handwashing sink, Prep table, Mop sink, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer | 220V, single phase, 200A | Price by quote |
| 28 ft Mobile Kitchen | Single-stack convection oven, Griddle / oven combination, 6-burner range / oven combination | Handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, Prep table, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer | 220V, single phase, 200A | $4,995 / month |
| 38 ft Mobile Kitchen | Deep fryer, Single-stack convection oven, Griddle / oven combination, 6-burner range / oven combination | Handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, Prep table, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer | 220V, single phase, 200-220A | $7,995 / month |
| 40 ft Mobile Kitchen | Double-stack convection oven, Deep fryer, Tilting skillet, Griddle / oven combination | Handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, Prep table, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer | 220V, single phase, 200-220A | $7,995 / month |
| 40 ft Mobile Combo Kitchen | Deep fryers, Single-stack convection oven, Griddle / oven combination, 6-burner range / oven combination | Handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, Prep table, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer, Walk-in cooler | 220V, single phase, 200-220A | $7,995 / month |
| 40 ft Bulk Kitchen | Specifications by quote | Specifications by quote | By quote | $10,995 / month |
| 40 ft Bulk Combo Kitchen | Double-stack convection oven, Deep fryer, Tilting skillet, Griddle / oven combination | Handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, Prep table, Reach-in refrigerator and freezer, Walk-in cooler | 220V, single phase, 200-220A | $10,995 / month |
| 38 ft All Electric Kitchen | Specifications by quote | Specifications by quote | By quote | Price by quote |
Specifications come from the model descriptions supplied for each trailer. The unit assigned to your rental is confirmed at quote.
Dishwashing and refrigeration for Columbus
Add a dishwashing trailer and refrigeration to complete the temporary kitchen. Each card shows its monthly starting price. The same setup works for a school, clinic, or restaurant in Bridger, Red Lodge, or Big Timber, near Columbus.
22-26 ft Low-Temperature Dish Trailer
A push-through low-temperature dishwasher with a soil tray, scraping table, and three-compartment sink.
Starting from $4,995 / month
38 ft Conveyor Dish Trailer
A conveyor-type dishwasher with prep, storage, and a water heater, for the busiest dish rooms.
Starting from $6,995 / month
12 ft Refrigerated Trailer
A small refrigerated trailer for a restaurant or store walk-in that has stopped cooling.
Starting from $1,895 / month
20 ft Refrigerated Trailer
More cold storage for a hospital, school, or hotel that lost its walk-in.
Starting from $1,895 / month
How a rental works
Rentals run by the month, with short-term and long-term options. Delivery, setup, and pickup are coordinated for your site. An inquiry does not reserve equipment; a person confirms availability, delivery time, and terms with you. Hours: open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Setup usually takes about five hours for kitchens and dishwashing trailers and about one hour for refrigeration units, and an inquiry is the first step, not a reservation.
Why choose Simply Indians
A closed kitchen does not stop anyone from being hungry. Dependable Columbus mobile kitchen rentals, backed by people who answer the phone, keep meals on schedule while the permanent kitchen is out.
Accelerated Deployment
Delivery and setup of Columbus mobile kitchen rentals are coordinated around your schedule in Columbus, with timing confirmed at quote.
24/7 Emergency Service
(888) 385-5513 is answered all day and all night. If a cooler fails at 2 a.m., that is the number to call.
End-to-End Project Support
One team helps choose the trailer, plans the hookups, and collects it when the job is done.
Flexible Rental Solutions
Terms run from a single week to a long lease, matched to how long your own kitchen will be out of service.
Heavy-Duty Commercial Equipment
Commercial-grade cooking, dishwashing, and refrigeration equipment built for daily institutional use.
Experienced Logistics Coordination
Site access, placement, power, water, and wastewater are checked before the trailer is on the road.
Why clients trust us
Our customers run commercial and institutional kitchens, including hospitals, schools, government and military sites, hotels, correctional facilities, and caterers. What we promise is what we can confirm: someone answering the phone at any hour, coordinated delivery and setup, and a written quote that states terms before you agree to anything.
Emergency refrigeration and kitchen rentals in Columbus
Lost cold storage, a fire or flood in the kitchen, or a failed dish-room inspection can all call for a trailer fast. Phone us, and we start working out the replacement while you gather the address and power details.
Frequently asked questions
Who permits a mobile kitchen in Stillwater County?
Temporary and mobile food service in Montana is typically licensed and inspected by the county sanitarian or health department. Contact the Stillwater County health office before you plan a deployment to confirm which license, inspection, and water or wastewater plan apply.
Can you deploy during flooding?
We are open 24/7 and offer emergency deployment. During floods the main constraint is road access, since bridges and roads can be damaged. Share your site, road conditions, and what you need, and we will talk through a plan with you.
Can you deploy a kitchen to Columbus in an emergency?
Call (888) 385-5513 at any hour and we begin planning on that call. Trailers leave from our Helena warehouse, and the delivery time to Columbus depends on the equipment and the road, which we confirm in your quote.
Does an inquiry reserve equipment?
No. An inquiry starts the conversation only. Nothing is held until we have confirmed availability, delivery time, and terms with you.
Get a quote
Send what you know and a person will reply with availability and terms. It helps to have these ready:
- The job site city and state, and the delivery address if you have it.
- Your start date and how long you expect to need the trailer.
- How many people you serve per meal, and the type of service.
- Power available at the site (voltage, phase, amps) and water and wastewater connections.
- Where the trailer will sit, and any gate, slope, or overhead limits.
Emergency? Call (888) 385-5513. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.