Buying a Compact Camping Trailer With a Rear Galley Kitchen: What to Look For
A buyer's guide to compact camping trailers with the kitchen at the back: what a rear galley gives you, what to check, and a real example sold in Lebanon, the BIJANCO Micro SS.
Ask a camper what they miss most when they downsize, and the answer is often the same: the kitchen. In a compact camping trailer, the galley decides whether a weekend feels like a holiday or a chore. That is why so many buyers look for a rear galley, a kitchen built into the back of the trailer where cooking happens next to a window and the gas, water and storage are close to hand.
This is a buyer's guide, not a basic introduction. If you still need the fundamentals of small trailers, start with our beginner's guide to teardrop trailers. Here we focus on one question: what should you look for when you buy a compact trailer with a rear kitchen? We also use a real model sold by Lebanon Caravans, the BIJANCO Micro SS, as a worked example, with photos from its gallery.
A Quick Honesty Check: Rear Galley vs Outdoor Kitchen
Classic teardrop trailers famously hide an outdoor kitchen under a lift-up rear hatch. It is a lovely idea, but it is not the only way to get a good rear galley, and it is not what every buyer in Lebanon needs. Wind, dust, summer sun and winter rain all make a fully open-air kitchen less practical here than in mild climates.
Many small trailers solve the problem differently. The galley sits inside the rear of the trailer, under an opening rear window, with a hob, sink and fridge on one worktop, while gas bottles and water containers live in an outside rear locker. You cook sheltered, you can open the window for ventilation, and you can still set a camping table under the awning for a barbecue-style meal. That is the layout of the Micro SS we look at below, so we will be clear: it is a compact trailer with an indoor rear galley, not a teardrop with a pull-out outdoor kitchen.
What a Rear Galley Gives You
- Cooking away from the bed and the door. With the kitchen at the back, the entrance and the lounge stay clear while someone cooks.
- A window right where you need it. Steam and cooking smells go straight out of an opening window, which helps with condensation (see our guide to ventilation and condensation).
- Gas and water close to the stove. Short hose and pipe runs are easier to inspect, and they are easier to keep safe.
- A natural place for outdoor access. An outside locker means you can change a gas bottle or refill a water container without climbing past the sofa.
The Micro SS Kitchen, Close Up
According to the product page on lebanoncaravans.com, the Micro SS is a travel trailer for 2-3 people, about 3.5 m long, 2.25 m wide and 2 m high, with a bathroom and kitchen, fresh and waste water tanks with a pump, a fridge, air conditioning, solar power, a water heater, a TV and an outdoor awning.
The photos show how the rear galley is arranged. A worktop runs across the back with a two-burner gas hob on one side and a round stainless-steel sink with a tall swivel tap on the other. Above it, a window with a pleated blind lets light in, and overhead cupboards add storage.
Below the worktop you can see a built-in fridge with drawers beside it, so everyday food stays cold and tools stay out of sight. For longer trips on solar power, read our comparison of 12V fridges so you understand what the fridge will draw from the battery.
The Outside Rear Locker
The detail we like most is outside. At the very back sits a lift-up locker with a cushioned lid. Open it and the gallery photos show a gas bottle held in a wooden frame with a hose to the trailer, and, in another view, a water container and gas bottle together. A small external water inlet sits on the side of the body, so you can fill the tank without going inside.
This matters for safety as well as convenience. Keeping the gas bottle in an outside compartment means leaks do not collect inside the living space. When you inspect any trailer, ask the seller to show you where the bottle sits, how the compartment drains and ventilates, and how the regulator and hose are secured. Our off-grid camping checklist has more on gas, water and power for small setups.
Cooking Outdoors With an Awning
A small trailer with a rear galley still gives you the pleasure of outdoor cooking. The product page lists an outdoor awning, and that is where a folding table, a portable stove or a grill belong when the weather is good. Cook the fish or the grilled meat outside, and keep the indoor hob for coffee, eggs, pasta and anything you prefer to make with the door shut. Always keep a fire extinguisher within reach and never run a grill or gas heater inside a closed cabin.
Beyond the Kitchen: Is the Rest of the Trailer Right for You?
A great galley is only part of the decision. Here is the rest of the Micro SS, as shown in its gallery.
Lounge and bed
An L-shaped sofa with a folding table sits opposite the kitchen. According to the product page, the sofa turns into a double bed, so it sleeps two comfortably or seats three for a meal. Ask the team to demonstrate how the table drops into place and how long the conversion takes, because you will do it every day. Our guide to choosing a bed layout explains the trade-offs of convertible sofas.
Bathroom
Yes, a trailer this small has a bathroom: a shower cubicle and a toilet. Not every buyer needs one, but if you camp at wild spots or travel with family, it is a real comfort. See our guide to campervan toilets before you decide how you want to handle waste.
Compact Trailers for Sale at Lebanon Caravans
If you like the idea of a rear galley trailer, these are the models worth comparing. Prices and delivery times come from the product pages and can change, so please check the page or ask the team.
| Model | Size and sleeps | Origin and price shown | Kitchen and outdoor features |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIJANCO Micro SS | About 3.5 m, 2-3 people | Local build, about $15,500, 30-60 working days | Rear galley with hob, sink, fridge; outside rear locker; awning |
| Micro FS | About 3.5 m, 2-3 people | Imported, about $25,500, 90 working days | Same family of layout with the kitchen at the rear and an outside rear locker; awning |
| BIJANCO Puma SS | About 4.7 m outside, 900 kg gross weight | Local build, about $18,500, 30-60 working days | Two-burner hob, 50-litre fridge, kitchen with a folding sink, 2.5 x 2 m awning, outdoor shower |
The product pages also point out that a local build does not look exactly like the imported model, but it has similar contents. Ask to see both if you cannot decide between them.
What to Check Before You Buy a Rear Galley Trailer
- Weight and your tow car. Ask for the real gross weight and compare it with your car's rated towing capacity. Read our first-time towing guide before you sign.
- Hob and gas safety. Check the gas bottle location, hose, regulator and flame-failure protection. Confirm you can reach the bottle from outside.
- Ventilation. Check the rear window opens wide and that there is a roof vent or fan. Cooking in a sealed space is how condensation and odours build up.
- Worktop space. Two burners and a sink fit, but ask yourself where you will chop vegetables. A fold-down extension or a camping table under the awning helps.
- Water. Ask for the exact size of the fresh and waste tanks, where the pump is, and how you drain and flush them. Our water system guide shows what good looks like.
- Power. Confirm the solar panel wattage, battery capacity and what the air conditioner needs. Our solar and electrical basics will help you ask the right questions.
- Build quality and after-sales. Look at hatch seals, hinges and the locker lid. Ask about warranty and spare parts, and follow a maintenance schedule. Our buying checklist works for new units too.
- Your trips. A compact trailer is a base camp. Think about where you will park it, from coastal stops to mountain terraces, and read about the best mountain roads for vans and caravans and camping and road trips in Lebanon.
Who Should Buy a Compact Rear Galley Trailer?
It suits couples and small families who want real cooking facilities, a comfortable sleeping place and an easy tow, but do not want a motorhome. If you need beds for four or more, compare larger options in our caravan vs campervan guide, or look inside a Class C motorhome. If you want an even simpler layout with a dinette and a bathroom, see the BIJANCO M330 tour.
Buy a Compact Trailer in Lebanon
Lebanon Caravans, based in Bekhaoun, Dinnieh, in North Lebanon, sells caravans and motorhomes, imports models to order and converts vans for Lebanese roads and seasons. See all the photos on the Micro SS product page, compare the Micro FS and the Puma SS, then visit the showroom and sit inside before you decide.
- Website and full catalogue: www.lebanoncaravans.com
- Blog: blog.lebanoncaravans.com
- Camping gear and accessories: store.sayahlan.com
- Trip planning app: app.sayahlan.com
WhatsApp:
+961 78 880 003
Final Thoughts
A rear galley turns a small trailer from a place to sleep into a place to live. The BIJANCO Micro SS shows one practical way to do it: a hob, sink and fridge under a rear window, a gas bottle and water in an outside locker, and an awning for cooking outdoors. Look closely at gas safety, ventilation, weight and power, and the kitchen you choose will pay you back on every trip.
Gear for This Trip
From the Say Ahlan store:
- EcoFlow River 2 portable power station
- Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon water container
- Surviveware premium first aid kit
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