I have been following a little company called TAXA Outdoors since they first introduced their prototype Cricket Trailer. Then, one year ago, Amy and I finally bit the bullet and purchased our Cricket. One year and 26 trips later, TAXA introduced it’s new larger camper, the Mantis, and Amy and I couldn’t wait. After a year of learning about the world of camping trailers, we’ve had many new adventures and many new lessons. And so, I’ve finally decided it’s time to share some of that knowledge here. So I introduce a new category of posts that will feature the experiences we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned in this journey.
So let me begin by introducing you to TAXA. TAXA was founded by Garret Finney, a former NASA engineer who designed furniture for the international space station. Garret saw a gap in the Camping trailer industry for people who wanted to upgrade from tent camping, but still wanted to focus their energy on being outside. Thus was born TAXA.
Over the years, Garret has designed 4 trailers and a truck camper that is still in prototype. All his trailer focus on efficient use of space. Each minimal in their own right, they include underbed storage, clever designs. And make use of walls and ceilings for extra organization.
1. Mantis
This is the largest and most recent of their trailers, designed to sleep 4 adults. It’s 18 feet long and 8 feet wide, but still only 6 feet and 9 inches tall. It includes a wet bath with privacy curtain, 2 bunk beds, and one extended full bed. It has a 65L (2.3 cubic foot) fridge, combination stove and sink, Truma Combi furnace and water heater, and a 6000 BTU A/C. It has a pop top in the middle to allow for standing room.
2. Cricket
The Cricket was the original. It comfortably sleeps 2 adults and can include up to two optional bunks for children up to 130 pounds. It is 15 feet long, and though 7.5 feet at its widest, it is tapered, making it very easy to maneuver. It has the Truma Combi as well as the same sink/stove as the Mantis, and it can include an A/C in place of one of the windows. Like the Mantis, it has a pop up (on the Cricket the entire roof pops up).
3. Tiger Moth
The Tiger Moth is their second camper to be released. It is the no standing room bed of the family. Like smaller tear drops, it has a bed you can sit or lay in, and the kitchen is outside (on a rolling drawer). Unlike a teardrop, it has a boxier look with a swing wing door. The bed pushes in and out to allow for couch-like seating inside.
4. Wooly Bear
The third and smallest of their trailers. The Wooly Bear is their gear hauler. No indoor bed, it does have room for a roof top tent. Everything is accessible from the outside, and it has a well designed kitchen, room for Jerry cans, a roll out cooler or fridge, and lighting to make the perfect base camp.
5. Firefly (Prototype)
The Firefly prototype is their truck bed camper. Although the prototype was build before the Roger Moth was released, it has yet to be made available to the public. This truck bed camper is the smallest and most minimal. Since no units are currently in production, we can only speculate as to the final features, but the prototype has a flip up bed that again maximizes useful space.
Rumors Abound
In an interview Garret hinted at the possibility of a van, suggesting it was an idea they had tossed around. Whether that will become a reality is anyone’s guess, but getting into RVs versus just trailer sis a whole new level. We can only wait and see what TAXA is up to next.