Greetings everyone. I haven't added myself to the reservation list yet-- but I'm in the active research phase trying to decide if the Terra is the best option for me.
For the past 20 years, I’ve driven the same reliable 1997 Toyota Tacoma, a 1st generation 4 cylinder 2.7L extended cab that I purchased when I was 18 years old-- a 1997 model year that was new to me in 2005. It’s been my trusted companion through dense old-growth forests, salmon-bearing river valleys, and coastal watersheds across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. That truck has helped me show up, day after day. I work in the environmental nonprofit world, focused on salmon recovery, forest protection, and community led conservation efforts across the region.
I've never imagined myself leaving Toyota, but after 20 years of ownership, and almost 340,000 miles I have been starting to think about my next vehicle. I recently test drove the 4th generation Tacoma, and looking at all the manufacturing problems they've had, combined with design compromises and increasing costs, I started looking at alternatives-- and nothing seems to fit my use case better than the Scout Terra!
The two things I've always wanted are a front bench seat, and a rear sliding window-- which I was very happy to see that scout is bringing back. The all electric model with the optional gas harvester seemed like an elegant solution to push past the fossil fuel era in a smart way for folks that also need off-road capabilities can utilize. I often spend multiple days/ sometimes weeks living out the back of my pickup throughout the Pacific Northwest -- so I need a mobile base that I can trust-- and I also want to build out a vehicle that will serve my young family (3 year old boy, 2 month old boy, + loving wife of 8 years!).
A few questions I have that still remain after combing through the forum-- has there been any conversation about moving away from tires that contain 6PPD? The organization I've work for has been researching the problem this rubber preservative has been causing for years-- and found that it is lethal to spawning salmon. The EPA has initiated rule making at the request of some Pacific Northwest tribal communities: https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/6ppd-quinone . I'm not sure what alternatives exist yet, but I hate the idea of leaving fine particles of very toxic chemicals throughout the watersheds I work hard to protect.
The other question I have revolve around integrating a camper/cap -- like the Tune outdoors M1-- I know the published payload capacity for the Terra is right around 2000lbs -- but I'm wondering if that is for the all electric version. I'm assuming the harvester will reduce the payload due to the increased weight, but does anyone know by how much? If it can remain in the 2000lbs range with the harvester-- it could be the best of all worlds for me to build out my mobile workstation for another 20 years of salmon recovery work. I also would love to see what others have mentioned about a heat pump being able to be added to the rear of the vehicle bed. In cool humid environments, it is absolutely critical to dry out gear to prevent mold, mildew, and rust. and could save on adding additional heater to the rear of the camper.
Lastly-- does anyone have an idea of what the maintenance and life expectancy is like for this new technology? Will the battery be able to be recycled once its lifespan is exceeded? Any guesses on how many miles the vehicle will go? I know some of those details are scant in this initial phase, but it would awesome if I could glean some idea from the more experienced EV enthusiasts in the community.
And... thank you to Scout for the community based model for this new company-- I remain impressed with the vision, and hope I can add myself to the reservation list soon!
For the past 20 years, I’ve driven the same reliable 1997 Toyota Tacoma, a 1st generation 4 cylinder 2.7L extended cab that I purchased when I was 18 years old-- a 1997 model year that was new to me in 2005. It’s been my trusted companion through dense old-growth forests, salmon-bearing river valleys, and coastal watersheds across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. That truck has helped me show up, day after day. I work in the environmental nonprofit world, focused on salmon recovery, forest protection, and community led conservation efforts across the region.
I've never imagined myself leaving Toyota, but after 20 years of ownership, and almost 340,000 miles I have been starting to think about my next vehicle. I recently test drove the 4th generation Tacoma, and looking at all the manufacturing problems they've had, combined with design compromises and increasing costs, I started looking at alternatives-- and nothing seems to fit my use case better than the Scout Terra!
The two things I've always wanted are a front bench seat, and a rear sliding window-- which I was very happy to see that scout is bringing back. The all electric model with the optional gas harvester seemed like an elegant solution to push past the fossil fuel era in a smart way for folks that also need off-road capabilities can utilize. I often spend multiple days/ sometimes weeks living out the back of my pickup throughout the Pacific Northwest -- so I need a mobile base that I can trust-- and I also want to build out a vehicle that will serve my young family (3 year old boy, 2 month old boy, + loving wife of 8 years!).
A few questions I have that still remain after combing through the forum-- has there been any conversation about moving away from tires that contain 6PPD? The organization I've work for has been researching the problem this rubber preservative has been causing for years-- and found that it is lethal to spawning salmon. The EPA has initiated rule making at the request of some Pacific Northwest tribal communities: https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/6ppd-quinone . I'm not sure what alternatives exist yet, but I hate the idea of leaving fine particles of very toxic chemicals throughout the watersheds I work hard to protect.
The other question I have revolve around integrating a camper/cap -- like the Tune outdoors M1-- I know the published payload capacity for the Terra is right around 2000lbs -- but I'm wondering if that is for the all electric version. I'm assuming the harvester will reduce the payload due to the increased weight, but does anyone know by how much? If it can remain in the 2000lbs range with the harvester-- it could be the best of all worlds for me to build out my mobile workstation for another 20 years of salmon recovery work. I also would love to see what others have mentioned about a heat pump being able to be added to the rear of the vehicle bed. In cool humid environments, it is absolutely critical to dry out gear to prevent mold, mildew, and rust. and could save on adding additional heater to the rear of the camper.
Lastly-- does anyone have an idea of what the maintenance and life expectancy is like for this new technology? Will the battery be able to be recycled once its lifespan is exceeded? Any guesses on how many miles the vehicle will go? I know some of those details are scant in this initial phase, but it would awesome if I could glean some idea from the more experienced EV enthusiasts in the community.
And... thank you to Scout for the community based model for this new company-- I remain impressed with the vision, and hope I can add myself to the reservation list soon!
