CDEF@PopularMechanics _ June 2019 43garage,” Finney says, “it’s already 80 per-
cent of the way to being aerodynamic.”
Next, Finney focused on the trailer’s
environmentally friendly construction. The
Mantis, below, which was on display at this
year’s RV Experience trade show, has birch
shelving, not particleboard. Which means
no formaldehyde. Instead of wood and
insulation, its walls are made of compos-
ite aluminum filled with highly insulating
expandable foam. Everything is rugged, too.
The floors, the doors, the bed pads—nothing
will fall apart as you rip down a bumpy dirt
road. Taxa vehicles are meant to last your
lifetime, then, when the day comes, “melt
into the earth,” Finney says.
A / The Mantis is
prewired for solar.
With a portable
panel, you can park
in the shade and still
collect sunlight.
B / A wireless con-
nection called the
Autowbrake gives
proportional braking
from your pedal to the
trailer’s brakes, with-
out having to dig into
your car’s dash.
C /Milk-crate draw-
ers are light, and can
be pulled out and used
to carry things to your
campsite.
D / The couch converts
to a bunk bed by hang-ing from a cutout in the
ceiling. “It’s straight-up
from NASA, where we
use every surface: the
walls, the floor, and the
ceiling,” Finney says.
E / To save space, the
sink and stovetop are
combined. And they
can be covered for
more counter space.
F / The 12-volt
refrigerator can be
pulled out of the
trailer and used at a
campsite (or in your
car, or house for a
little extra storage at
Thanksgiving). “We
tried to weave those
other systems of life
into it,” says Finney.After that he could focus on a familiar
element: habitability. With the pop-top up,
there is plenty of room in the interior of the
Mantis to stand and walk, and it sleeps four
adults. Windows in both the vehicle and the
tent walls fill the space with light and pro-
vide airflow on hot days. It holds 20 gallons
of fresh water. There is an indoor shower and
an outdoor shower. And behind every wall
and cabinet is extra storage.
The Mantis is easy to live in, feels big-
ger than it is, and, when you think of a good
place for something, you’ll find that Taxa
thought of it first. Just like you’d want in
space. Or the woods. And it’s much less of
a hassle to pee.