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Mammoth Overland ELE - a trailer ready for the end of the world or the ends of the earth

Mammoth Overland ELE - a trailer ready for the end of the world or the ends of the earth

Today’s RV review is of the Mammoth Overland ELE trailer, a unique teardrop-style trailer that has absolutely made a big splash due to the unique features that include a built-in bear spray system. Mammoth Overland trailers are built by the same people who build Vashon airplanes in Washington state and this trailer carries a lot of the thinking that also results in the airplanes they build. 

But the reason this has been so much in the news is the focus on supporting you after society completely implodes including a pressurized cockpit air system that uses medical-grade air filtration. In fact ELE stands for Extinction Level Event. So what’s the story here? 

Extinction-Level Event

Let’s all look at the elephant in the room, the Extinction-Level Event. I have been working on building an RV out of a cargo trailer or potentially making a pickup camper starting from a blank canvas. As such the things I would need to create this are the same things a lot of “peppers” are buying, so the advertising YouTube and Facebook thinks I’m interested in is odd, to say the least. 

Our story about creating a custom camper using a Project M pickup topper

Our thoughts about creating a custom trailer conversion using a cargo trailer

The idea behind this camper is to be prepared in case something really bad happens and we all have to fend for ourselves. The cabin of this features submarine-style doors that can be completely sealed so the outside air stays out and the inside air stays in. 

A multi-band radio including ham radio are part of the Mammoth Overland ELE trailer

To keep the inside air as clean as possible there is an E.L. Foust air filtration system that can provide up to six months of purified air. That system is powered by the four lithium batteries mounted in the front compartment which can also operate the on-board air conditioner. With those tight seals around the doors the cabin is designed to be positively pressurized - in other words the outside air stays out. 

In order to communicate with others, assuming there are others, there is a dual-band ham radio included. Oh, and I shouldn’t neglect the geiger counter that’s also part of the package. I’m not sure what the buyers would be concerned about, but it would seem that they’re covered. 

There are windows along the top of this trailer that are built of one-inch-thick bulletproof glass and you can actually option a bulletproof layer as part of your custom build. Some folks claim that their products are bulletproof but Mammoth Overland can build one that truly is. 

Bright lights are incorporated so you can see what’s going on outside while you’re safe inside. There’s also a camera on a mount that you can observe using a laptop computer. The camera can be raised on a boom arm and moved around so you can truly get a picture of what’s going on outside. 

If there are bear, bigfoot or two-legged foe that shouldn’t be out there the ELE also comes equipped with a bear spray feature. Yep, you can be inside your camper and pepper spray people outside the camper. 

There are a number of hidden compartments as well as a gun rack and gun safe, of course. 

Less end of world features

An observation hatch, molle panels and even a mount and case for a Starlink antennae are usable features

Some of the features built into this trailer that seem to be less end-of-world in nature include a hatch where you can pop the hatch and stand up inside this trailer. This is meant so you can get a good look-see at the surroundings from a somewhat protected status but I can see it making sense even if the world is still in its dysfunctional present condition. 

In other words, kind of like being human prairie dog except inside a tiny tank. 

Heck, you could pop the hatch and just enjoy the scenery. Imagine that? 

You can use the hatch to get up onto the roof of the trailer and it is able to support up to 500 pounds of load in motion and 1,000 pounds when it’s stationary. 

I also like the fact that there’s a compartment on the roof specifically set-aside for storing your drone. You can be inside and enjoy nature, or look for Bigfoot, with your drone. 

If you do see something you’ll wanna say something and there’s a well-thought-out provision to store a Starlink dish in a compartment on the front. When it’s safe to pop your head out there’s also a mount for the dish on the roof. Neat. 

There are molle racks all over the exterior of this trailer which really makes it convenient to bring things you might need for a regular, old-fashioned off-grid adventure even if there’s still a civilization and you just want to get away from it. 

The swing-out kitchen in the Mammoth Outdoor ELE affords more counter space

Off-grid kitchen

You might best describe the Mammoth Overland ELE as a teardrop-style trailer or some folks call them square drops. But whatever you call it, the kitchen is at the back of the trailer under a compartment. 

Mammoth Overland puts the two-burner propane cook top and 12 volt refrigerator on a swing-out arm type arrangement. This places those items on one leg of an “L” shape and affords you a lot of counter space on the section that stays in place. 

That swing-out section also incorporates a sink and there’s an on-demand water heater here as well powered by propane. The water system includes a tap on one side of this swing-out section where you can put a shower head. 

A water tank in this trailer includes 12 volt heat pads so you’re pretty well situated for even shoulder season camping and I know there are some who have no issues with standing outside in the dead of winter preparing their burritos. 

There is also a water purification system, of course, which incorporates a charcoal filter and UV germ killing system. 

Check out our review of the BKLES portable water filtration system

Build quality of the Mammoth Overland ELE trailer

Whether you’re reading with with legitimate curiosity or a bit of skepticism there are some things about this trailer that truly are class-leading. 

Mammoth Overland is owned by a company that still makes small airplanes in the U.S., Vashon Aircraft. As such this is built more like a small plane than a typical RV. 

First and foremost, there is no wood in the construction. The company starts with a welded steel frame and then builds both inner and outer walls of sheet aluminum. Between those layers is insulation for both noise and temperature. 

The suspension on this is a Timbren axle-less system and tires are massive 33” donuts. There are two of these that touch the ground but two spares as well. Even if society remains in place these trailers are meant to go overlanding in places that are barely places and having a couple of spares isn’t such a bad idea. 

The pieces and parts used in this trailer are of very high quality and are rather substantial. For those who think there might be a tomorrow tomorrow Mammoth Overland also makes a trailer more for the adventurer who might not watch horror movies. 

Who is Mammoth Overland? 

"One of the best things about Mammoth Overland is the team that designs and builds these trailers,” Mammoth Overland President Scott Taylor added. “ELE is an example of how this team works. They are tough and determined. They can take on any environment and they have fun while they do it — just like ELE." 

“ELE is essentially a safe room on wheels. Like all Mammoth Overland trailers, ELE’s exterior structure is shaped from double-walled, aerospace-grade aluminum sheeting and high-density foam insulation, including optional ballistics rating Level 3 bullet-proofing,” said company president Scott Taylor via a press release. 

There are actually a lot of features in this that would make sense for people going into the back woods. I love the materials used in the build, the molle racks all over the top, even the drone storage and Starlink accommodation. 

Heck it may not even be a bad idea to have a ham radio, quite frankly. And, well, maybe the camera isn’t such a bad idea either in case something goes bump in the night, especially if that something bumps that bump into this trailer. 

The bones of this design are actually pretty solid and I would say that the normal version of this is a very good design. I also applaud Mammoth Overland - when you think about it being a manufacturer of teardrop trailers doesn’t always make you newsworthy but the ELE variant of their product was all over the media and that’s quite a feat in and of itself. 

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