There isn’t a big enough market in the US for the off-road only truck you are looking for. This fits in as a retro utility vehicle that should be pretty nice to drive and handle snow and dirt roads. There are more buyers for that. Truly, a proper off-roader should be trailered there if it is going to be great and do well in all off-roader categories.
Too bad they couldn't keep the old 100 inch wheelbase I had on my '72 Scout II. Very nice for offroading. Everything has gotten too big. My 22 Ranger has a 126 inch wheel base and man can I feel it. Doesn't turn as tight but my buddy with a Tundra thinks the Ranger turning circle is tight.
I watch people in town with their giant F250s or more drive down the middle of the street because they think the thing is going to scrape a parked car. How does anyone offroad when you can't see over the hood? Front camera I suppose.
Don't get me started on four-door pickups with full length beds. :)
I’ve been an EV owner for a while and it’s exiting to see momentum by makers in the direction of this segment. It will be fun to see how it shapes itself in response to the opportunities electrification brings (as you’re highlighting!).
Ninety nine percent of my needs are just getting safely and efficiently to/from the outdoors in all weather conditions, as opposed to traveling in them. But that could change! Maybe when we decide to buy some land…
Your analysis seems unbiased. You should see the surrounding area where the SCOUT plant has been located. It is a triathlete’s dream. Good weather most of the year.
With the range extender being a late add to the program, I won't be surprised if the architecture changes a bit once they select the engine from the VW parts bin. A rear mounted engine presents many challenges related to packaging, thermal, rear crash performance, etc. so they may choose to just mount the engine in the front, in place of the frunk.
I think the RE-EV is going to be a big game changer and it’s the main reason I placed a deposit. Having the ability to be an EV for my daily life but not have “range anxiety” for longer drives or events like Sinuhe described is huge. In my limited research, RE-EV is what most of the domestic manufactured cars in China are and it’s the fastest growing segment there.
When I don’t see is if the rear cargo area folds flat in the Traveler. I’d love the ability to use that as a storage/sleep platform on quick camping trips.
Ha, I hear that. I'm too precious to deal with the condensation, uneven surfaces, and need to crawl inside like a mole digging a tunnel. Nevermind putting all my stuff outside in the rain.
This is how I camp in my 22 ranger 6ft bed with SmartCap. All my shit fits in the cab while I go i the back if I am in bear country. The camping gear is in plastic tubs that can be left in the rain. It is a lazy man's way of of pulling up and hitting the sack.
After evacuating during the Eaton Fire, I can confidently say an all-electric vehicle is possibly the worst idea anyone could have. Seriously, picture it: flames closing in, the sky an apocalyptic shade of orange, and you’re watching your battery percentage tick down like it’s the plot of some Netflix thriller no one asked for.
We evacuated at 7:30pm, what if I had just gotten home from my commute? Power was out all over LA, there was no getting a charge.
There’s no infrastructure for this—not in the real world, not when it counts. Power’s out, charging stations are either nonexistent or jammed with Teslas driven by people who still think they’re saving the planet. Meanwhile, gas stations? They’re everywhere, running on generators, fuel cans stacked in the back of someone’s truck. There’s a safety net, a system that works when everything else doesn’t.
The whole EV dream unravels when you’re staring at a dashboard warning light with no guarantee the next charger isn’t in a mandatory evacuation zone. It’s not sleek, it’s not cool—it’s a death trap. And sure, in a perfect world, EVs make sense. But the Eaton Fire wasn’t perfect, and neither is reality. You need reliability when trying to save yourself and the people you care about. As second car sure, great...
I actually think an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) like this one could prove an ideal vehicle in emergencies, especially in 4x4 pickup truck from like the Terra. You get the flexibility of two different forms of energy (resolving the very real infrastructure and range issues you identify), the extreme capability of a triple-locked 4x4 on 35s, plus the ability to generate loads of power without carrying a separate generator plus fuel cans. So you could power fridges, work lights, power tools, etc etc.
One of my use cases is traveling to and from that cabin northern Montana, which is very far from any charging infrastructure, and which can't practically be reached by any existing EV as a result. The power situation there is also pretty unreliable, something the vehicle itself will be able to help with. That, plus some solar on the roof of a GFC, and you'd have a very significant amount of flexibility and longevity off-grid.
There's an optional range extender on these. Just add gas, and you get all the benefits of an EV, with all the easy extra energy available at gas stations.
I suppose if you are unlucky enough to have your vehicle out of charge when the fire hits you are right. Personally I would drive as far away as I could from the disaster and find a place to stay and charge.
I have been in a traffic jam watch my fuel guage tick down as well when an accident tied up a freeway for hours. No way off, just hoping I could eeck what fuel I had left.
We can all create frightful scenarios but EV range-phobia has been shown generally to be just fear.
There isn’t a big enough market in the US for the off-road only truck you are looking for. This fits in as a retro utility vehicle that should be pretty nice to drive and handle snow and dirt roads. There are more buyers for that. Truly, a proper off-roader should be trailered there if it is going to be great and do well in all off-roader categories.
Eh, im not asking for an off road only truck. Look at my current rugs, I just want something I can really use hard like those.
Too bad they couldn't keep the old 100 inch wheelbase I had on my '72 Scout II. Very nice for offroading. Everything has gotten too big. My 22 Ranger has a 126 inch wheel base and man can I feel it. Doesn't turn as tight but my buddy with a Tundra thinks the Ranger turning circle is tight.
I watch people in town with their giant F250s or more drive down the middle of the street because they think the thing is going to scrape a parked car. How does anyone offroad when you can't see over the hood? Front camera I suppose.
Don't get me started on four-door pickups with full length beds. :)
I’ve been an EV owner for a while and it’s exiting to see momentum by makers in the direction of this segment. It will be fun to see how it shapes itself in response to the opportunities electrification brings (as you’re highlighting!).
Ninety nine percent of my needs are just getting safely and efficiently to/from the outdoors in all weather conditions, as opposed to traveling in them. But that could change! Maybe when we decide to buy some land…
Your analysis seems unbiased. You should see the surrounding area where the SCOUT plant has been located. It is a triathlete’s dream. Good weather most of the year.
Bias isn't really an issue in gear reviews, so much as expertise is. More here: https://wessiler.substack.com/p/lets-talk-about-ethics-in-gear-reviews
With the range extender being a late add to the program, I won't be surprised if the architecture changes a bit once they select the engine from the VW parts bin. A rear mounted engine presents many challenges related to packaging, thermal, rear crash performance, etc. so they may choose to just mount the engine in the front, in place of the frunk.
Is the roof-rack light bar even supposed to be lighting the way ahead, or is it just taking the place of traditional marker or clearance lights?
Probably just clearance.
I think the RE-EV is going to be a big game changer and it’s the main reason I placed a deposit. Having the ability to be an EV for my daily life but not have “range anxiety” for longer drives or events like Sinuhe described is huge. In my limited research, RE-EV is what most of the domestic manufactured cars in China are and it’s the fastest growing segment there.
When I don’t see is if the rear cargo area folds flat in the Traveler. I’d love the ability to use that as a storage/sleep platform on quick camping trips.
I really don't understand the desire to sleep inside a car while camping. Can you explain the appeal?
Honestly, I'm too lazy to pack a tent sometimes. I can just grab my down blanket and put the seats down for a quick overnighter.
Ha, I hear that. I'm too precious to deal with the condensation, uneven surfaces, and need to crawl inside like a mole digging a tunnel. Nevermind putting all my stuff outside in the rain.
This is how I camp in my 22 ranger 6ft bed with SmartCap. All my shit fits in the cab while I go i the back if I am in bear country. The camping gear is in plastic tubs that can be left in the rain. It is a lazy man's way of of pulling up and hitting the sack.
Why not just use a tent?
Oh I can see you are unacquainted with the meaning of the word lazy. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lazy
;)
After evacuating during the Eaton Fire, I can confidently say an all-electric vehicle is possibly the worst idea anyone could have. Seriously, picture it: flames closing in, the sky an apocalyptic shade of orange, and you’re watching your battery percentage tick down like it’s the plot of some Netflix thriller no one asked for.
We evacuated at 7:30pm, what if I had just gotten home from my commute? Power was out all over LA, there was no getting a charge.
There’s no infrastructure for this—not in the real world, not when it counts. Power’s out, charging stations are either nonexistent or jammed with Teslas driven by people who still think they’re saving the planet. Meanwhile, gas stations? They’re everywhere, running on generators, fuel cans stacked in the back of someone’s truck. There’s a safety net, a system that works when everything else doesn’t.
The whole EV dream unravels when you’re staring at a dashboard warning light with no guarantee the next charger isn’t in a mandatory evacuation zone. It’s not sleek, it’s not cool—it’s a death trap. And sure, in a perfect world, EVs make sense. But the Eaton Fire wasn’t perfect, and neither is reality. You need reliability when trying to save yourself and the people you care about. As second car sure, great...
I actually think an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) like this one could prove an ideal vehicle in emergencies, especially in 4x4 pickup truck from like the Terra. You get the flexibility of two different forms of energy (resolving the very real infrastructure and range issues you identify), the extreme capability of a triple-locked 4x4 on 35s, plus the ability to generate loads of power without carrying a separate generator plus fuel cans. So you could power fridges, work lights, power tools, etc etc.
One of my use cases is traveling to and from that cabin northern Montana, which is very far from any charging infrastructure, and which can't practically be reached by any existing EV as a result. The power situation there is also pretty unreliable, something the vehicle itself will be able to help with. That, plus some solar on the roof of a GFC, and you'd have a very significant amount of flexibility and longevity off-grid.
There's an optional range extender on these. Just add gas, and you get all the benefits of an EV, with all the easy extra energy available at gas stations.
I suppose if you are unlucky enough to have your vehicle out of charge when the fire hits you are right. Personally I would drive as far away as I could from the disaster and find a place to stay and charge.
I have been in a traffic jam watch my fuel guage tick down as well when an accident tied up a freeway for hours. No way off, just hoping I could eeck what fuel I had left.
We can all create frightful scenarios but EV range-phobia has been shown generally to be just fear.
This YT video digs into this issue if you’re interested in additional information. https://youtu.be/r82W2eYLc3o?si=T3p72JJ_gnV8V5fI