‘Extinction-Level Event’ Camper Trailer: Mammoth Overland ELE Is Apocalypse-Ready

Pronounced “Ellie,” ELE is short for Extinction-Level Event, to give you an idea of the kind of serious situation the camper is designed to handle — the kind of disaster that took out the dinosaurs. Of course, in 2023, an ELE could be almost anything, which is why Mammoth Overland has made this rig ready for anything.

People ask me all the time if our trailers are bear-proof — and they are, technically. That got me thinking: ‘What if we made a trailer that’s truly bear — as well as apocalypse-proof?’ I grew up in Montana, and Montanans know a thing or two about bear-proofing and self-reliance. We designed ELE to aircraft standards. It can handle whatever campers might encounter, from bears to wildfires to social unrest, so overlanders can explore fearlessly.

— Scott Taylor, President Mammoth Overland

Mammoth Overland ELE Ready for Anything

The camper starts with double-walled aerospace-grade aluminum sheeting for the outside and high-density foam insulation. From there, the company’s engineers added submarine-style pressure doors that each have four pins that extend into the walls.

Why? It’s not just to keep bears from prying open the doors — it’s to keep air out. The solid construction lets the ELE sustain up to 0.25 psi of positive pressure. That keeps the outside air from sneaking in through gaps in the walls, doors, or insulation.

A medical-grade air filtration system from E.L. Foust filters the air that does get into the cabin. The system can completely purge the interior air in less than 3 minutes, and the system has the capacity to purify the air for its occupants for up to 6 months.

It’ll even filter out odors. Then there’s the real party trick that the pressurized air system allows.

Bear Spray Defense System

Push a button and the ELE will douse a 25- by 10-foot wide cloud of bear spray. That’s enough to send the most aggressive bear (or annoying neighbor) packing. The system uses replaceable spray canisters so you can reload. Thanks to the cabin’s positive pressure and air purification, you won’t end up soaking yourself down with that spray, either.

Lockable weapons protection is standard, and ELE can secure handguns as well as rifles. Mammoth Overland says it’s for additional self-defense, but secure storage is great for sportspersons as well.

ELE has a hatch on top that gives you access to the rooftop observation platform. From there, you can use your roof-mounted drone launch system. Or you can raise the boom-operated night-vision camera that displays on the 32-inch TV inside.

From that TV, you can watch your drone’s footage and the night-vision camera feed, or you can monitor weather conditions. Or, if things have really hit the fan, you can check radiological conditions. It has a Geiger counter as well as an onboard weather station. AC, heat, an Icom dual-band radio, and Starlink Internet hardware are also standard.

Solar, Battery, and Gas Powered

The front of the ELE is made from steel armoring, though in this case, it protects the rig from getting bashed against rocks, trees, and other trail obstacles. The underbody has steel skid plates for the same reason.

A 100aH battery system from Renogy gives campers or survivors up to 20 hours of electricity. The batteries can be recharged while driving or using the two 100W solar panels. A WEN gas generator gives you power when the solar system can’t.

ELE Is Limited Edition, Made to Order

Now for la pièce de résistance. Yes, you can really get it made bulletproof. Ticking the options box for the extra armor and paying an extra $25,000 gets you Level 3 ballistic protection. Mammoth Overland didn’t mention specifics, but National Institute of Justice Level III means it will stop 7.62mm lead core rifle ammunition. Or .357 and .44 Magnum rounds fired from a long-barrel handgun. Serious business.

The trailer comes fully loaded (except for the armor) for $67,000. It’s small, but it has a king-sized bed. Which is good, since you might end up as king in it.

Mammoth Overland says that the production run will be limited, but, like all of its trailers, each ELE will be built to order. The Mammoth Overland ELE will go on display at Overland Expo West starting May 19.