I’ve been on the hunt for a travel trailer that will get me further off the beaten path. One trailer that caught my eye was the Taxa Mantis. But what is a Taxa Mantis and what is the hype all about?
The Taxa Mantis is a travel trailer that is easily recognized by its unique shape and a pop-up roof that lowers to allow the trailer to fit in your garage. Inside, the Taxa Mantis trailer is designed to maximize living space and functionality. The new 5.2 has customizable features such as a wet bath, kitchenette, and fold-out bed.
In this article, we’ll go over the features of the Taxa Mantis and talk about the pros and cons of this trailer.
Design and Functionality of the Taxa Mantis
Taxa’s design philosophy is to provide a trailer that will get you off the beaten path or into a campground in comfort. It has several features that allow you to stay off the grid longer.
The Taxa Mantis features a modern design using eco-friendly materials. It is lightweight, compact, and easy to tow. The pop-up roof provides added headroom and ventilation. Inside, it maximizes living space with customizable features.
There is a wet bath, kitchenette, and fold-out bed. The trailer has innovative storage solutions including a gear closet and exterior cargo space. It is a great choice for sustainability-minded outdoor enthusiasts.
Physical characteristics of the Taxa Mantis Trailer
Taxa Mantis is low profile because of its pop-up ceiling. The unique design gives the trailer aerodynamic properties and turns heads at the campground. If it bothers you to have visitors to your campsite, don’t buy this trailer. If you do, you’ll have campground neighbors wanting to see the inside of your Mantis.
Layout and interior features of the Taxa Mantis
The Mantis has many unique interior features.
Kitchen
The kitchen has a large cooking area with a stove and sink. The stove has two burners. The 8000 BTU burner is for cooking and the 5000 BTU burner is for when you need a low-heat simmer.
There’s a nice-sized sink that has a flip-up faucet with both hot and cold water.
Both the sink and stove have flip-up glass covers. That way, when the stove and sink aren’t being used, you’ll have extra counter space.
There’s plenty of storage for items that you need for cooking like spices and oils.
The Mantis comes with a platform for a cooler and a 12-volt outlet. You choose and buy the cooler of your preference.
Mantis Sleeping Areas
You have the option of choosing either bunk beds or a couch that folds out into a bed. At 185 pounds each, the weight rating for the bunk beds is higher than most trailers. The bottom bunk is 77″ long by 26″ wide. The bottom bunk is slightly smaller at 77″ long by 22″ wide.
There is plenty of storage space under the bottom bunk and the bottom bunk flips up to allow even more storage.
For example, you can store two bicycles side-by-side in this space. If you choose the bunk beds, you’ll get a couple of cushions for your back. That way, you can have a comfortable place to sit during the day.
If you opt for the folding couch, you’ll have a comfortable place to sit during the day and room for one adult or two small children to sleep.
Like the bunks and folding couches, the main sleeping area has a firm foam mattress that is only about a couple of inches thick.
When not in use, the main sleeping area converts to a dining area. The bed is somewhere between a queen-sized and a full-sized bed.
Mantis Bathroom
A wet bath is also an option on the Mantis 4.1 but is standard on the Matis 5.2.
The wet bath of the Taxa Mantis includes a shower, sink, and toilet. The showerhead is adjustable and can be used both inside and outside the trailer.
The wet bath is compact and folded up inside a box. This is typical of a pop-up trailer. Normally, when you’re not using the wet bath, you’ll want to keep it stowed away.
When you get ready to use it flip up the wooden top, add the shower curtain, and it’s go time! When not in use, the wooden top can be utilized as storage or workspace. I don’t want to use the word, “counter space,” because that grosses me out.
The toilet in the wet bath is a cassette-style toilet. It holds five gallons, which is enough volume for a family of four for a long weekend or for a couple for 4-5 days.
The cassette toilet has its own water supply, so be sure to fill that up each time you fill the main water tank of the trailer.
One advantage to the cassette toilet is that it’s easy to empty. Pull the cassette out and take it to a toilet, outhouse, or dump station.
When we were in New Zealand, our van had a cassette toilet. It was easy enough to use and empty, but you really have to watch the volume to make sure you don’t overfill it.
Mantis Heat and Hot Water
The Mantis uses the Truma Combi system which heats both the air and the water. There is a snazzy panel where you adjust the temperature of either the water or the hot air. The Truma Combi holds two gallons of water. This is in addition to the 20 gallons in the freshwater tank.
Mantis Storage
One of the signature designs of the Taxa trailers is the milk crate storage system. Taxa uses milk crates that slide into cubbies. That way, when you pack your trailer, you can take the crates inside to fill them
In addition to the milk crates, there are open storage cubbies. These are handy because items are readily visible for easy access.
| GVWR | 4200 Lbs. |
| Sleeps | 4 adults |
| Closed height | 6′ 9″ |
| Fresh water capacity | 20 gallons |
| Grey water capacity | 22 gallons |
| Toilet capacity | 5 gallons |
| Length | 19′ |
| Price | $44,000 to $72,000 |
Customizable Mantis 5.2
Mantis 5.2
The Mantis 5.2 was conceived to allow for more flexible use of the trailer.
One key area that is different from the Mantis 4.1 is the seating area in the front of the trailer. Taxa added a Lagun table, that swivels out of the way when not in use. This makes for a good computer work area.
If you’re sleeping on the fold-out couch, the lagun table makes a good nightstand.
But there are some downsides to the 5.2. The biggest downside, in my opinion, is that Taxa removed the toilet in the trailer and replaced it with a Dometic Sanipottie.
The holding tank in the Dometic Sanipottie holds 2.5 gallons as opposed to the cassette toilet in the 4.1, which holds 5 gallons.
The advantage, they say, is that the Sani-potty stores in a box that can be easily moved. And, Taxa suggests that you can use this box as a table. Gross!
When the porta-potty is in use, the top of the box stores under the seat of the convertible couch. The Mantis 5.2 still has a removable curtain, so you can poop in privacy (somewhat).
Another advantage to what Taxa calls their “flex space” is that you can move the porta-potty box. Once you remove the box, four bicycles can fit in the space. In order to get them in there, you will need to remove the Lagun table, which is a simple process.
The 5.2 does still have a shower, but the design is changed. The new shower is a bit of a transformer in that the leg of the shower can be used as an extension of your counter. I know, crazy!
The shower pan detaches from the side of the counter and flips out. Voila! There’s your shower. It’s located in the same area as the shower in the 4.1, so the shower curtain fits the same way.
I’ll link a video of the Mantis 5.1 (precursor) below so you can see it for yourself. If you don’t want to watch the whole video, the bit with the shower is at 4:37.
Exterior design and features of the Taxa Mantis
One of the standout features of the Mantis is that, if you buy the Overland edition, you’ll get the Timbren Axleless suspension.
The Timbren Axle-Less suspension is a suspension system designed for trailers to replace the traditional axle and leaf springs with a rubber spring and spindle system. It provides for greater ground clearance and a smoother ride on rough roads.
Another unique feature that will get you off the beaten path is the plug-in-pay solar panel outlet. Unlike some RV manufacturers, Taxa allows you to use any type of plug-in solar panel. That way, you can buy what you want or use what you have.
The Mantis has an exterior shower for rinsing off your dirty dog or your kid’s sandy feet.
Taxa uses a standard home-type air conditioner. I think it looks a little hinkey. But they designed a nice cover to use when the trailer is in motion. The air conditioner sits inside on a little shelf so that you can pull it in when you get ready to leave then cover it with the shroud.
One of the three options for this trailer is to add a Kukenam Roof-top tent. This would give the ability to sleep six. Keep in mind that the trailer is over nine feet when open, so the roof-top tent is waaaay up there.
The door on the back of the trailer opens up to the outside to let in the fresh air and give you a great view. Next to the door, there is a ladder to get to the top. This is different from the ladder for the roof-top tent.
The top of the trailer has load bars so you can add your own rack. If you’re not using the back step, you can place a Nato can with water or fuel in that location.
Trailer comes standard with two 20 lb. propane tanks. You can upgrade to 30 lb. tanks, but I don’t know why that would ever be necessary. If you’re off grid, you’ll run out of water way before you run out of propane.
Overland Edition
The overland model has the Lock and Roll hitch. This is a fully articulating hitch.
It also has the Timbren axleless suspension. As I mentioned the Timbren suspension gives you more clearance and a smoother ride.
Pros and cons of the Taxa Mantis
As with any trailer, there are pros and cons to the Taxa Mantis
Pros of the Taxa Mantis
Mantis owners love that this trailer is easy to tow. Even though the trailer is long and weighs about 4200 loaded, the sleek design of the Mantis cuts down on wind resistance. This also reduces gas mileage.
Another nice feature is the wireless brake controller. This is a handy component if installing a wired brake controller is not in your skill set or you don’t want to pay to have one installed.
The awning provides cover for the door and gives a little extra living space for those times when you just need to get outside.
The interior of the trailer has plenty of storage. The items stay put and are easy to access. Plus, you can easily hang bungees in the bungee holes of the open frame to create endless amounts of storage.
Many travel trailers are limited on counter space. Not the Mantis. The trailer has a large amount of counter space where you can prepare meals and keep appliances.
The pop-up allows for plenty of light and ventilation.
Cons of the Taxa Mantis
One of the biggest problems that I’ve heard from owners is that the trailer leaks when it rains. One owner suggested that you close the pop-top during rain to prevent leaks. It’s important to note that the interior height, when closed, is 4′ 7″. So you won’t be having a dance party if you have to close the top when it’s raining.
One owner reported that the struts don’t have enough to raise the pop-up adequately, making it difficult to open.
Another owner reported that a wheel came off the trailer, shearing off all five lug nuts. Taxa told them that the lugnuts had been overtightened and, therefore, the issue was not under warranty. The owner said that they had never tightened the lug nuts and that they must have been tightened at the factory.
One camper said that they were disappointed by the size of the cassette toilet. As I mentioned, the cassette holds five gallons. This is fairly limiting for an off-grid situation. I would add that, for a family, a 20 gallon freshwater tank is limiting as well.
The textured floor is challenging to clean because small bits of dirt and debris stick to the creases of the flooring. Another owner reported that there is an obvious seam in the flooring of their new trailer.
If you buy the trailer and you really want to go off-grid, you can purchase an additional cassette for your toilet. You can also add a Nato can to the rear ladder, as I mentioned to hold additional water.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to get off the beaten path with a conservative budget, the Taxa Mantis could be your go-to trailer. While it does have its issues, there is no perfect trailer. There is only one trailer that is perfect for you.