Camper Built Like a Plane…Will it Last or Fail?

We saw these at Overland Expo East. Interesting, not for us. To me the advantage of a trailer is you can load your trailer, not your vehicle. I too thought the propane could be a pain. Maybe you can get a Y. I run a Y on our propane tank to run two things at once. We have ex NASA people building campers (Taxa), might as well have an airplane builder. 😜

Magnetic blackout shades on aluminum?

Too much moving the tank. IMO

Having owned everything from a $12,000 overland trailer to a $65,000 small overland trailers, I can tell you there isn't much difference in what you get. Sure layouts are important and that is the major differences. Materials on most of these small overland trailers are just fine at all price points. The more I look at these the more it makes buying a small cargo trailer, (made for abuse usually) throwing some timbren axeless suspension on it, and building it out (or have it built out by a local place) the way you want it. You can do this all for around $15,000 (stove, heat, water, shower, beds, etc.etc..) and have the same if not more capability as this trailer. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these trailers, they are "cool", they are just not made for your everyday overlander/camper IMO.

Not for me, but still interesting..

This was interesting, I’m not a overlander, so this trailer isn’t for me. But it does look kinda fun, I didn’t like the kitchen, the moving propane tank, and the windows! I had just thought that’s going to be hot in there when you said greenhouse windows! I think I’m going to stick with something a little more simple. Thank you, Drew, for a interesting video 🩷

Thanks Drew! That trailer has a plethora of rivets! I love the fold down step to get on the roof. I feel like the angled roof line is more form than function but does give the trailer its on definitive look. I like the heater they used. This trailer might benefit from two 20lb propane tanks which might line up more with the target audience. One change I would make is have a swing out gear box on the back that would swing out to the driver side that give ability to store gear and create more work surface area as well and would perfectly compliment the swing out kitchen to the passenger side.

Christine noticed the heater vent/chimney is under the awning. Wonder if that is an issue. I could see the heat melting the fabric or even worse, catching it on fire.

I know that’s there… but what about HERE?

Needs a Propex furnace instead of that furnace!

Drew, even a splitter and two long hoses would work for the propane. Definitely an oversight. I wonder now insulated it is? Looks like an oven in warm weather to me. I am not the demographic for this trailer but I wish them well.

The lack of fenders over the entire tire would make this illegal for road use in some areas, if not in most. Magnetic curtains would not work on the aluminum; you would have to use hook-n-loop fasteners. The high mounted cooler would hard to access, and very difficult to lift up or remove a loaded cooler, meaning you would have to load it after you put it in the rack. The "greenhouse" window style would make this a hot trailer indeed. Is air conditioning available? Overall, well constructed but expensive (but cheaper than I would have thought). Great review, Drew.

I don't know maybe im jaded .
My family owned a motor home dealership in the 80s. I worked there through high school.
After the bad economy we went back into diesel mechanic shop.
Anyway I know how these are built even with modern upgrades the markup is ridiculous and has gotten worse.
Most motorhomes and trailers are only designed to last 5 to 10 years before stuff starts falling apart.
I really don't understand paying 20,000 for a bed.
Teardrop trailers were designed for people that couldn't afford a trailer but had skills and liked camping. Now they cost the same. Really believe a suspension cost $10,000.
Just don't understand

Not a fan of the lack of storage. We like to keep trailer things on/in the trailer, not in the tow vehicle.

Is the heater vent venting right into the roof tent?

Thanks for the video Drew. This is for a very narrow market, they won't be flying out the door. Also a bit of puffery from the people pushing them. Not for me. I appreciate what you do so I don't have to go and look at one.

One thing over looked on almost all "over land trailers is wheel travel! torsion axles suck . short little leaf springs suck. if you plan to travel down a wash board for 100 miles (Death Valley), you need long travel pliable suspension with shocks or your gear will be beat into dust

Drew, at the beginning of this video you state that you have held onto this video for over a year. The person talking in the video makes a joke about some people claiming they have worked at McDonalds (a very recent AND POLITICAL influenced statement - obviously referring to the US democratic presidential candidate). I am very disappointed in myself for having followed and trusted you for years after watching this video. Additionally, for those considering this product, rivets are NOT the modern tech in aerospace, replaced by space grade adhesives and sealants (far outperform vibration and temperature fluctuations- look it up)… so disappointed in the direction you have chosen Drew. Honestly shaking my head right now.

Groovy ... I bet this cost more than $1,500.00 dollars

Some folks need a "hey! look at me" trailer, some don't. There has to be a market for both. I'm not in the market for such a trailer but I hope those who are have as much fun out there as I do.

When these first came out on the market they were actually cheap compared to competitors but they have significantly increased in price. The value is no longer there.

If I recall the first to market ones were $11k and topped out at $18k.

I can see why you held onto this video. Total head scratcher. Like a nascent AI design. Chalk it up to claustrophobia but gave up at the submarine doors.

I remember having a conversation about this trailer during last year.
I can see many of your highlights in this video now and some other extras under Drew’s spy glass.
Thanks again for bringing another good stuff, compa.

So, when is the compostable toilets video coming? Please don’t make us wait a year! 😅

Abrazo, amigo.

I am sure these guys make great airplanes, but off-road trailers are a different animal.

I did a deep dive into the new standup called the TL. I lot of the issues that this HV has were carried on to the TL. If anyone is interested in those issues, let me know.

So here are some of the problems folks have mentioned on the Mammoth FB group.

1. The beefy carbon steel chassis, rock sliders, tounge box, and rack are not even powder coated. HUGE rust issues.

2. The winows leak like crazy and along with all the aluminum structures, help create big condensation problems.

3. The furnace is rated to 5,000 vertical feet elevation. I would have to go downhill to camp that low.

4. Gaskets falling off and leaking

5. The rear hitch needs an extended draw bar, which limits carring anything back there.

6. Cooktop stove flame king is $80. Water heater. has many issues $140 on Amazon. One owner had a $20 solar charger on his trailer.

To be continued...

7. Camber and aliment issues. Mammoth initially did not even install the cross members on the Timbren. One customer had a bent frame do to this.

8. Roof leaks.

9. Door latch issues

10. Spare tire rear mounts not beefy enough

11. Shoddy wiring.

I will say that most folks seem like the customer service is decent.

Saying “I can’t get through a night with the heater on” is an interesting statement. Haha. Hopefully there is a thermostat to control that…

Saw one in person and it’s very cool, particularly the kitchen, but my main issue with it is that the doors were tiny. Would drive me crazy getting in and out and loading and unloading.

Drew can you please review the Vistabule line of trailers, many of us would value your opinion.

Who is this trailer for? ...well I have a real life story that provides one answer to that question...was out with the family this past summer in my homemade 5x8 on a 15 night trip exploring the northwest. On one of our last days we pulled into a lake/recreation area in Oregon somewhere. There sat the Mammoth trailer. It caught my eye looking as robust as it does. I parked and went to talk to the owner. We exchanged highlights from our respective adventures, his having been what sounded like a weekend trip. He told me about some of the bells and whistles. Speaking of bells, I remember asking him, "whats that bell looking thing on the side." (The heater vent) As we finished talking I asked where he and his family were headed next...the answer..."oh we are going to go hit up a hotel tonight so we can shower and get a good night sleep." The End. 😊🙃😉

Should've lost this footage, very confused trailer! Not ur fault!

Like Drew, think I’ll give this trailer a little while to digest. I’m skeptical and intrigued at the same time. They spoke of an inner shell and outer shell that is insulated in between, but nothing on what the insulation material actually is…I would like to know what any camper is insulated with exactly. Also, I noticed since the rear hitch is recessed underneath the trailer, it looks like actually utilizing a rack to carry bikes may prove cumbersome given the spare tire(s) would be right in the way potentially. I could see having to extend your 2” receiver out more, causing more overall damage to whatever you’re transporting over time. Need to move the bike racks to the tongue in my opinion. Thanks again Drew for the great video and info!!

I have always really liked (irrationally so) this trailer. My wife on the other hand took one look at this trailer and said no thank you. I think
you really highlighted the trailers problems very well. The lack of storage and propane tank swapping would drive me nuts. The heater also looks like it would be great for small hands to become burnt hands. I appreciate you finally highlighting it!

Lots of blind rivets. Airliners use solid rivets with limited interior exceptions.

Intriguing and lots of things to like. But probably a better build than actual design. Needs a thoughtful 2.0 rev. Lack of storage shouldn’t need to be explained away. And for a massive swing-out kitchen, you end up with a smallish fridge and semi-useless second burner. And plumb the damn propane for gosh sakes!

Thanks for the video. And thanks for sharing when you did. This trailer clearly isnt for me. Not sure who it is for. A $40k trailer that you have to move propane tanks around, zero storage, and a kitchen that slides out beyond the galley canopy into the rain. I think this is made for doomsday preppers. Or for guys that hate their wife and kids. Oh a 1 ft wide bunk bed, how comfy. This video only confirms I made the right choice ordering a VTW XTR. Much better trailer for the price. Something useful by humans, which this isnt.

Lastly, what was with the NOS tank in the trailer? Seems as gimmicky as these trailers

It's small and nitpicky but I hate the location of the the interior bunk shelf. It's a simple shelf spanning two walls, why not make it so you can move it up or down (that way you can swap out the mattress for something thicker and sill have plenty of feet space)? This one is going in the "not for me" file for most of the issues you noted.

He’s really not talking about airplanes in general, he’s talking about airliners. Most aluminum airplanes are single wall, leak, are easily bent, rattle, and you’d never build a trailer that way.

This is probably my least favorite trailer I have seen on this channel... The kitchen might as well be built into the back and just a table to prep food, then add in the walmart led strip attached above? The spare tire just swings freely (we know how that'll go on those windy days). Not too mention the swing out puts the stove out in the weather... Then we move onto the roof fold out step with no handles what so every to climb up on, are we supposed to just jump up on that step or grab the solar panel? The cooler rack... What a very odd place for this... That's either the tundra 45 (24.6lbs empty) or the Tundra 65 (30.3lbs empty)... Please explain how that makes any sense what so ever! Who's lifting a loaded cooler up there (not too mention sitting right in the sun)!? Propane tank mounted on the front of the tongue with no protection at all from rocks etc. Why in the world is the propane line not connected in a system with cut off valves to allow the tank to stay in place at all times and cut off what's not needed? Who wants to keep carrying a tank around and choose "Do we have heat in cold weather or do we cook"?

Could you do a review of an Encore rog 12bh ss or 12rk ss if you have a chance? We are looking at these squaredrops and like the aspect of having no wood in the build. A family of 4 can easily fit in the bh model but lose on a bigger fridge because of space. So our deli a is do we want a bunk for the kids or larger fridge and a rrt

You use pop rivets to build an airplane? I was an A&P mechanic and we never used pop rivets, we used FAA approved rivets only. Does the FAA approve pop rivets nowadays? I have been out of the business for a lot of years so I don't know.

Great video, Drew! I couldn’t see this ever being the right choice for my set up, but I’m glad that there’s something for everyone.

Thank you

I want a night vision camera system on my camper! Your end assessment was probably right… it’s an overlander’s camper. My camper needs storage since I’m in a two door Jeep, but I’ve been thinking about a different tow vehicle. If I got an LJ or 4 door Jeep towing vehicle, I wouldn’t need much storage. Man, I wish I could design an overland camper tho… there is a flip in design that should probably happen.

Nice camper but that propane needs to be plummed in to the camper. Moving and connecting would be annoying. And the exhaust for the furnace is under the sleeping area tent. Bad idea. Co2

Way too much moving around of the propane tank for the different functions. It is a nice camper but that’s a deal breaker for me.

Useless

Not very well set up for frequent moves and everyday use. Doesnt seem very ergonomic either. No way do i want to take that much time setting up and taking down and moving things around from the tow vehicle. Not remotely interested at even half the price. Sorry.

Revcon Ford better

They make boats with rivets that don’t leak so I doubt some rain will get through there. This is definitely for an overlanders. They already have a couple propane tanks already. Magnetic sun shades won’t work, it’s aluminum

Looking good! 🙌