The Road that Led Us Here
On our coast-to-coast (and back) journey last year (you should totally check out our YouTube series documenting it), Hanna and I attended the first Overland Expo Pacific Northwest event. We love the Overland Expo events and have been to all four locations, but this time, there was more to our visit than simple enjoyment.
First, we were introducing our Oregon friends to the wonderful world of overlanding (some of the rigs definitely blew their minds). Second, we were scouting (pun intended) possible setups for the future. We weren’t sure what we were looking for, only that our four-year allegiance to rooftop tents was coming to a close.
This isn’t a blog pondering the merits of rooftop tents (we love them), so I’ll be succinct—we believed it no longer fit our lifestyle and travel needs. So, we begrudgingly decided to move on.
As a result, we found ourselves in unfamiliar territory, searching for the next iteration of our home-on-wheels. We went to Overland Expo hoping to gain some insight. We had relatively open minds, considering everything from van life to teardrop trailers to Alu-Cab campers.
We came away from the event feeling relatively confident in our conclusion—a truck bed camper would give us the space and security we need while remaining somewhat nimble and off-road worthy.
Among the slide-in campers we viewed, a handful stood out. When sorting through those, only a few fit our budget. Even fewer met Hanna’s criteria of having solid walls—no canvas if she was to feel comfortable traveling in it solo.
Of the remaining options, one truly impressed us—Scout Campers.
Picking Up Our Scout Camper
I’m not going to dive too deep into the factors that led us to choose Scout—that’s for another blog. Here, I want to focus on our journey to pick up the camper and the role that played in kicking off an epic exploration of the American West.
Once we decided on a Scout Kenai and worked through the ordering process with the team at Scout, we were given a choice—have the camper delivered to a nearby dealer or pick it up at Scout’s headquarters in Yakima, WA. Being the wildcards that we are, Hanna and I chose to drive from the East Coast of Florida to Washington State.
The Wait
Unless things have changed, Scout only builds to order. Sometimes, you can find one at a dealer where the buyer backed out, but it’s pretty rare. So, we had to wait several months for our camper to be built and prepared for pick up.
Once it was near completion, we were notified, and a pick-up date was arranged. May 16th would be the big day, and that meant that Hanna and I needed to plan our westward trip. With around two months of notice, we had plenty of time to plot our path.
The Journey
For the last several years, we have not been people who stay in hotels as we travel. Sure, we’ll book an occasional hotel or rental to grab a shower or catch up on work, but the majority of our travels revolve around camping.
This time, for the first time since 2018, we were tent-free. So, contrary to our preferences, we limited ourselves to hotels as we traveled from Florida to Oregon (where we’d stay with friends and recharge for a few days before completing the journey to Yakima).
It was largely uneventful, save for the horrendous traffic in Atlanta, GA. We did manage to stay in some amazing places, such as Silverthorne, Co, Hays, KS, and Park City, UT. Overall, though, it was a trip dedicated to driving.
Picking up the Scout
Upon arrival at Adventurer Manufacturing (the parent company of Scout Campers), we were instantly greeted by our brand-new camper placed front and center before the facility. After ripping our eyes away from this beautiful sight, we entered the building and were welcomed by our contact, Catie.
She was just as bubbly and friendly as she had been on the phone in the months leading up to this moment. She made us feel comfortable, walked us through the paperwork and pick-up process, then took us outside for a tour of our new camper.
After running through the main features of the Scout Kenai, Catie and another Scout team member helped us get the truck in position and demonstrated how to load and unload the camper. From there, we plugged in our seven-pin harness, ensured all the electronics were working correctly, and tightened the straps that secure the camper to the truck bed. It’s that easy!
It was all smiles at our first camp with the Scout.
Touring the Adventurer Manufacturing Facility
With time running short, Catie took me on a brief tour of the manufacturing facilities where they make Scout Campers and the other product lines that Adventurer Manufacturing produces, including motor homes.
Seeing the process firsthand was fascinating. It’s clear this company knows what they’re doing and runs a tight ship. Everything was clean, organized, and efficient. Throw in the element of American production, and I feel very positive about our purchase.
It’s fair to say that Hanna and I are hyped. This build and camper combo has been in the works for nearly a year. Now, we get to test the setup and enjoy our new home-on-wheels. I can’t wait to take you on that adventure with us!
-RW