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For those who enjoy more rugged adventures in their RVs, a truck camper can be the perfect match, providing shelter in off-the-beaten-path locations. Adventurer Manufacturing has created three great options in their Scout Camper line.
Each has just what you will need to explore any destination but nothing frivolous to get in your way. They are built to handle off-road bumps and jarring without skipping a beat, and they do it in style.
Here’s an inside look at the Scout Camper lineup.
About Scout Camper
Scout Camper is just one of four brands built by Adventurer Manufacturing to meet the need for campers that will fit in almost any size truck bed. The Olympic model was the first to debut this new line of campers. It was built with the idea of disrupting the truck camper world. Scout intended to allow owners to add only the equipment they needed.
This while designing an ultra-lightweight camper that runs on solar energy stored in a portable power station. It has succeeded in producing a truck camper line unlike any other.
Where Are Scout Campers Built?
Built in Tacoma, Washington, the Scout Camper brand follows a long line of popular brands constructed by Adventurer Manufacturing. These include Overlander, Adventurer, and Eagle Cap.
What started as a Canadian company in 1958 became an American success story. This happened when Adventurer moved its production facilities to Washington State in 2008 to expand its truck camper lines.
Today, with more than 50 years of experience, they continue to create durable campers at reasonable prices.
Do Scout Campers Have Bathrooms?
The Scout Camper doesn’t have a bathroom built into its design. However, the top-of-the-line Kenai model does have a closet designed for use with an optional port-a-potty and overhead shower. The Yoho and Olympic models do have under-counter storage for the optional toilet.
Are Scout Campers Top Heavy?
All three Scout Camper models are lightweight. The center of gravity in the Yoho and Olympic models is 26 inches and 27 inches, respectively.
The Kenai is a taller unit. With the added weight of a pop-top on the roof, the center of gravity is at 35 inches. The ratcheting system helps secure the camper to the truck. This keeps the COG on the low side will alleviate any worries about tipping.
What Makes Scout Campers Unique
All three models in the Scout Camper line have single-piece construction. The exterior consists of reinforced aluminum and composite walls as a truly frameless exoskeleton, then lined with polyurethane foam. This makes each camper lightweight and leak-free.
The overall appeal of Scout Campers is their bare-bones approach to camping, which allows each owner to customize his unit with specific equipment. Add to that the fact that all modules are detachable, making them useful in the field and the camper.
Some examples are the portable Gerry can for water supplied and a countertop cookstove you can use for outdoor cooking. Other examples are a 12-volt portable refrigerator and a port-a-potty.
Keep in Mind: Before purchasing a Scout Camper or any truck camper, check out these Top 5 Regrets of a Truck Camper.
The Scout Camper Lineup
There are three models of truck campers offered by Scout Camper. Let’s dive into the starting cost, features, and other details about each!
Scout Camper Yoho
MSRP: Starting at $21,980
The smallest model in the Scout line, the Yoho, has just what you need without the extras. It fits midsize trucks and weighs only 958 lbs, with an interior height of 78 inches.
The Yoho has a comfortable cab over a double-size bed, a large dinette that breaks down into a bed, and a stainless steel sink with gravity-fed water. It also has a complete power system with a 175-watt solar panel and a 1000-watt Goal Zero power station. The floor size is 69.75 in x 39.5 in.
Scout Camper Olympic
MSRP: Starting at $23,990
Built for full-size trucks, the Olympic is the signature model for Scout, with sleeping space for up to six because of a rooftop pop-up. The truck camper comes with a double bed over the cab, a single dinette that becomes a twin bed, and an oversized bed in the hatch.
Like all Scout campers, the Olympic has a solar-powered electrical system with a 1,000-watt power station you can remove for outdoor use.
This model weighs 1,133 lbs with a floor size of 74.25 in x 47.5 in and an interior height of 78 inches. There’s plenty of storage inside and out, and the model comes with an extension ladder for outside access to the pop-up.
Scout Camper Kenai
MSRP: Starting at $26,990
The Scout Kenai is one step up from minimal camping, with luxuries like a mudroom and shower kit and a port-a-potty. The model has a little more headroom at 80 inches and sleeping berths for up to six with a pop-top hatch. It comes with a 1,500-watt inverter power station to direct electricity from the 175-watt solar panel.
Weighing in at 1,370 lbs, the Kenai is a little more top-heavy with a center of gravity at 35 inches. Floor space measures 92.25 in x 47.5 in.
The Benefits of a Scout Camper
Scout Campers are unique in their hands-off policy of construction. Off-road adventure is at the core of every design. That’s why providing a base product to which owners can add equipment specific to their needs is important. Here’s a shortlist of the components that assist in that endeavor and make Scout truck campers so useful.
Lightweight
Each model is considered ‘ultra-lightweight,’ a feat that is hard to accomplish in an industry that still thinks taking along everything but the kitchen sink in a camper is a good thing.
In off-roading, that mantra is not conducive. Less is more if you want to explore hard-to-get-to places, and with the Scout line-up, no camper weighs more than 1,370 lbs.
Cost
With prices ranging from $22,000 to $27,000, Scout Campers are considered an introduction to truck camping. They are extremely reasonable in price but keep in mind that optional equipment can add up pretty quickly. But at least you won’t be paying for extra appliances and amenities you won’t need.
Minimalist
Having a basic layout to work with is attractive to many, as they can add only the equipment they will use in their truck camper. This minimalist approach allows all to customize their unit to exactly their liking while saving money (and space) on the items they don’t add.
Keep in Mind: We found the best truck tents, so you don’t have to. Here Are 5 You’ll Love!
The Disadvantages of a Scout Camper
As with any RV, there are some trade-offs regarding what you can take along on the trip and how luxurious your camping experience will be.
Limited Storage
Truck campers as a whole aren’t known for their immense storage space. The Scout line is no different. Although this is some outside storage, equipment you might add will use the interior spaces available, like a refrigerator, stove, or port-a-potty. But Scout also came up with an innovative storage system on the ceiling you can add as an option.
Lack of Amenities
There is no official bathroom or full kitchen in any of the Scout models, but you can add the equipment and appliances used in those facilities to your camper. Water for the kitchen or bath comes from an optional Gerry can that is gravity-fed, so the stream will not be quite as powerful without a water pump. It doesn’t have a furnace, but you can add an optional flame fireplace.
Is a Scout Camper Worth It?
If you enjoy camping in its unadulterated state, a Scout Camper can give you that “back to nature” feeling while providing a comfortable shelter. No hookups are necessary, and you will have the freedom to camp wherever the mood strikes you. These budget-friendly truck campers are a great fit for those who like to customize their camping experiences and are well worth the investment.
Will you buy a Scout camper?
How much is an Olympic Scout with all available options?