Why I Ordered A Scout Terra Electric Pickup Truck

And how I plan to option and build my next adventuremobile

On October 24, at precisely 6:30 PM (Eastern), I logged on the just-live website for Scout Motors, and placed a $100 deposit for a Scout Terra, with the gasoline range extender. That should have been one of the very first orders placed, and I hope to take delivery of the vehicle sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

At this point, we have only a ballpark for the final price, and know very little about the specs. So why did I pull the trigger? Let me explain.

Why Am I Buying An EV Truck?

Have you driven one yet? Last time Ben Moon was in town, he picked me up in his R1T, and we immediately got on the highway. I’d told him I hadn’t driven a Rivian yet, so he smashed the throttle on the on-ramp, and we were doing over 100 MPH in less time than it would have taken most of the high power exotic cars I used to drive back when that was my job.

That same vehicle is also quiet, has an amazing, very spacious interior, and numerous storage locations that add a lot of organization and space to a truck that’s otherwise about the same size as my Ranger. It handles as well as most sport sedans, a considerable feat given that it weighs over 7,000 pounds.

This decision isn’t really about the environment, at least for me. The entire idea of a personal carbon footprint was created by an ad agency working to rehabilitate and protect an oil company’s public image. And even if EVs create about half the cradle-to-grave carbon pollution of equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and trucks, I don’t personally believe that we’re going to be able to consume our way out of this crisis. Instead, this decision is simply about buying a better, more advanced vehicle.

But while the Rivian, GMC Hummer EV, and Ford F-150 Lightning all genuinely feel like the future, none has yet combined the off-road capability, range, and capacity for modification I need in my admittedly bizarre life. The Scout Terra does.

What Vehicles Does The Scout Terra Compete With?

At 229.2 inches long and 91.6 inches wide, with a four-door cab and 5.5-foot bed, the Terra is about the same size as a similarly configured Ford F-150, and a full foot longer than a Rivian R1T.

I’ve had two of the new Rangers now (here’s why), and I’m just ready for something larger.

Why not just get an F-150 Lightning? Range, and off-road capability. Like the R1T, the Lightning uses fully independent suspension, which massively restricts articulation. Why not get the Hummer? Complexity, cost, weight, range, and (this may come as a surprise), because I neither have nor am willing to get any tribal tattoos.

What Does A Scout Terra Do That No Other Electric Pickup Can?

• Live rear axle: increases payload (allegedly “up to 2,000 pounds”), and allows for much greater articulation. Reduces mechanical complexity.

• Mechanically locking rear differential: Reliably and predictably increases traction, only when you activate it.

• Sway bar disconnects: sadly not as simple or effective as KDSS, but still a best possible second place finish.

• Body-on-frame construction: reduces repair costs, adds ability to easily mount a winch.

• Coil springs: no failure-prone, geometry-compromising, poor-riding air suspension here! This will also facilitate the addition of higher quality dampers, and should make lifting the truck straightforward, should that prove necessary.

• Range extender: Like the upcoming Ramcharger, the Scout is a purely electric vehicle that can be equipped with a gas-powered generator (dubbed “Harvester”) that serves only to charge the battery pack. There is no mechanical connection between the gas generator and the wheels.

Together, all that stuff may sound pretty simple. And all of those are the kind of oily parts that most of today’s drivers fail to understand and appreciate. But each of them represents a significant upgrade over their alternatives, and in sum represent a simple, unique value proposition that really elevates Scout above any existing alternative.

How I’ll Option My Scout Terra

While there’s no full list of optional equipment yet available, Scout is teasing some really appealing stuff, like a retractable roof, bench front seat, and even 35 inch tires.

• Fixed roof: I’ll skip any glass or fabric roof stuff in favor of the dead-certain nature of a fixed, metal roof. Not only does this reduce potential points of failure in the long term, but it should also reduce weight, and allow for roof racks or camper cabovers as easily as possible.

• Bench seat: EVs don’t need a giant tunnel running down the middle of the cabin to accommodate a transmission or drive shaft, so why not take advantage of the extra space? Depending on configuration, I’ll probably end up removing or semi-permanently folding up the rear seat to accommodate dogs. A bench will add a little human passenger flexibility, and allow me to throw my arm over my wife while cruising lonely dirt roads here in Montana. I can’t imagine a better driving experience than that one.

• 35s: they’ll reduce the range, performance and handling, but larger tires more easily roll over large obstacles, and aired down, the extra sidewall improves ride quality on unpaved surfaces while lengthening the contact patch for massively improved traction. I will almost certainly stop at 35 inches, fitting giant, heavy 37s or larger might look cool, but would also really compromise the rest of the vehicle.

• Suspension: Scout is promising “robust suspension options,” which hopefully includes truly high quality, large diameter bypass dampers. Such a choice would massively benefit ride quality, articulation, and the ability to resist overheating, and would eliminate the need to change the suspension around with aftermarket components.

Yes, that’s a button for a front locker. I believe that will operate virtually, through software given the dual motor, independent front suspension configuration.

Stuff I’d Like To See Scout Offer

While the stock formula is enough to justify a purchase, I hope Scout will offer a robust accessories program. Stuff developed to original equipment standards and designed to fully integrate with the vehicle is almost always a better choice than third party equipment, if it’s high performance enough.

• Protection parts: while I’m under no impression that an OE will be able to get around liability and sell a pedestrian-crunching bumper like the ARB Summit I run on our current fleet, it’d be nice to see some real, functional bumpers and sliders available from the factory. These would add protection against off-road bumps and scrapes, and hopefully be able to shed something like a deer or donkey without a disabling amount of damage. Lightweight aluminum, with OE-quality coatings would be the ideal choice.

• A winch: I believe Scout has said one will be available. No 4x4 that ever gets used off-road should ever be without a winch. While they are used rarely, they’re also essential backup in an emergency.

• 12 Volt accessory integration: Rivian has been really good about providing a lot of 110 outlets backed by inverters. Adding 12V accessories to that truck has become notoriously challenging. And this prevents the efficient use of a fridge or powered camper accessories, and makes adding additional lighting a challenge. It’s my sincere hope that Scout will address this concern, and make the addition of stuff like driving lights, air compressors, campers, fridges, et al as easy as possible.

• An external tire carrier: The Traveler SUV includes a tailgate-mounted carrier for tires of up to 35 inches. The Terra’s under-bed location only makes room for a 33. In a 5.5-foot bed there is no room for a spare tire, Scout must figure out a rear bumper with tire carrier option if a 35 is going to work on the Terra pickup.

• Real neutral: pushing or towing an EV in the event of a failure is notoriously difficult. Providing an easy-to-use neutral feature would benefit both owners and emergency workers.

• Solar panel integration: while tiny roof or camper-mounted solar panels could never provide a meaningful level of drive battery charge in a reasonable time span, they could offset accessory use while camping. I’d pay extra for the easy ability to make up charge I use with camp lights, fridges, and similar.

• Real recovery points: these are heavy vehicles. Winching or snatching them out of deep mud or snow will be dangerous. Appropriately rated, easily accessible recovery points front and rear will save customer’s lives.

• A variety of rear spring weights: again, if your’e going to offer “robust suspension options,” you need to give customers the ability to set the truck up to work optimally with the amount of load they plan to carry. Doing this from the factory would be a major boon.

How I’ll Build My Scout Terra

The entire hope here is that Scout will offer enough optional capability and features from the factory that you won’t need much from the aftermarket. Still, there is stuff no OE is able to provide.

• A GoFastCamper: Look at how slick the integration is on GFC’s new camper for the R1T, only reducing range between 7 and 10 percent in real world conditions. That should work even better on the larger Scout, which has much more square cab and bed shapes. This will double secure volume in the bed, while adding a standing-height shelter and a comfortable place to sleep, plus a roof rack for carrying long, heavy objects like lumber.

• An aerodynamic awning: These do not yet exist, but I’m hoping an awning maker will package a 270 into some sort of aerodynamic shape. Such a solution would reduce wind noise on any vehicle, and minimize lost range on an EV.

• Lighting: Hopefully any front bumper Scout offers will include the ability to add a pair of nine-inch round driving lights, and hopefully the 12V architecture will be strong enough to power such. I’m talking about something like a pair of Ultravision Nitro 180 Maxx’s, which project 1 lux of illumination all the way out to 2,200 meters, but also draw 27.5 amps to do that. I’ll also want to add scene lighting on the sides and rear of the truck, plus more powerful reverse lights mounted in the rear bumper/tire carrier.

• An air compressor: I’d like to include one of ARB’s new twin-piston brushless compressors for the fastest, most reliable air-up possible. I do not want to rely on some low power OE solution like the bullshit Rivian supplies in its bed.

• Drawers: I’ll add a Decked system, as soon as that company comes out with one. It probably makes sense for Scout to partner with Decked on this, so they can be sold installed from the factory.

All the above should add up to to the first viable electric truck for hard use, long distance travel, and just generally being a practical, no-compromise one-vehicle solution to all possible truck problems. I had planned on buying a new vehicle next year, but am excited enough for this thing that I’ll instead do a light refresh of the current Ranger, then hang onto that until the Scout arrives, if not forever.

Have you seen anything on the Scout Terra that I’ve missed? Are there any concerns or questions that you or I should have at this early stage?