After owning two Toyota Tacomas carrying Four Wheel Campers, my wife and I decided it was time to move up. We had logged thousands of miles exploring backroads, mountain trails, and remote campsites, and while those rigs served us exceptionally well, we had reached the limits of what a mid-size truck could comfortably carry. Between the camper, gear, supplies, and all the little extras that come with extended off-grid travel, we were asking more of the Tacomas than we wanted to.
As much as we loved the simplicity and maneuverability of our pop-up campers, we found ourselves wanting a little more comfort without sacrificing the ability to explore remote places. Our wish list wasn’t complicated: a lightweight hard-side camper with excellent insulation, a practical layout, true four-season capability, and a design that would be easy to maintain for years to come. We weren’t interested in luxury for luxury’s sake—we wanted a camper built for adventure.
To make that happen, we purchased a used 2020 Ford F-250 extended cab with the dependable 6.2L gas engine and a 3,500-pound payload rating, then ordered a Scout Kenai, a hard-side camper designed specifically for long-bed trucks. After spending considerable time researching the available options, the Kenai kept rising to the top. Its lightweight composite construction, modular design, and refreshingly simple philosophy checked nearly every box on our list. Now, after traveling extensively with it, I can confidently say we’ve learned both what it does exceptionally well and where it could be improved.
We ordered our Kenai through Apache Camping Center in Tacoma, Washington, and took the time to configure it exactly the way we wanted. Rather than settling for the standard layout, we selected a few factory options that would make a real difference during extended trips.
The two must-have upgrades for us were the Clear View front windows and the Portaledge bed extension, which transforms the cabover into a true north-south sleeping arrangement. In my opinion, the bed extension is one of the best options Scout offers. Not only does it eliminate the awkward climb-over that comes with an east-west bed, but it also makes getting a good night’s sleep much easier. As I like to joke, it’s good for your marriage. When you’re living in a compact camper for days or even weeks at a time, thoughtful features like these have an outsized impact on comfort and everyday livability.
After taking delivery, I made several modifications to better suit the way we camp. I installed an Anderson plug in the truck bed, ran dedicated wiring from the truck battery, and added a DC-DC charger connected to the Goal Zero Yeti 1500X supplied with the camper. Combined with the factory 190-watt solar panel, the charging system now works exceptionally well. The factory setup relied on charging through the seven-pin connector, which simply wasn’t adequate for our style of camping. Those upgrades gave us the confidence to spend longer stretches off-grid without constantly worrying about battery capacity.
One of the biggest reasons we chose the Scout was its simplicity. If something does fail, it’s most likely a replaceable component rather than a major structural repair, which means less time waiting at an RV dealer and more time exploring. Weight was our next priority. The camper starts at just 1,578 pounds, and even fully loaded with two people, camping gear, tools, food, and about 20 gallons of water, our entire rig weighs only 9,040 pounds. That still leaves us with roughly 2,000 pounds of unused payload. As a result, the truck handles beautifully, corners with confidence, and feels more like it’s carrying a lightweight pop-up than a traditional hard-side truck camper.
Despite its compact footprint, the Kenai is well-equipped. It features a north-south cabover bed, diesel heater, refrigerator, sink, indoor shower, and a cassette toilet, proving that you don’t have to give up comfort to enjoy a lightweight, minimalist camper. The layout is efficient, functional, and makes excellent use of every inch of available space. After several seasons of travel, we’ve come to appreciate just how thoughtfully the interior is laid out.
We’ve since tailored the camper to better match our style of travel even more. We added a Dometic portable water tank and faucet for additional water capacity, a RinseKit Pro for reliable hot showers, extra water storage, RotopaX containers, another 150-amp-hour lithium battery, and a MOLLE panel for additional exterior gear storage. Scout even included a dedicated spot for the RinseKit with a nearby 12-volt outlet to keep it charged and ready to go. Together, these upgrades let us spend extended periods off-grid while staying true to the camper’s lightweight philosophy.
One thing prospective buyers should understand is that Scout campers are intentionally simple. They aren’t packed with luxury amenities, and that’s exactly what attracted us to the brand. Scout’s composite construction means the camper itself won’t rot, and virtually every major component is designed to be removed and replaced individually if it ever fails. That modular approach is intentional, making repairs and long-term ownership far less complicated. It’s a completely different philosophy from traditional RV construction—and, in our opinion, one of Scout’s greatest strengths.
And yes, things have failed.
We’ve replaced the Goal Zero Yeti twice under warranty, the Dometic refrigerator once, the Maxxair fan, the diesel heater fuel cap, and the rear entry door lock. While that sounds like a long list, almost every issue involved components supplied by outside manufacturers—not the camper’s composite shell itself. That’s an important distinction because the camper itself has remained solid and structurally trouble-free.
My biggest frustration has been obtaining replacement parts while traveling. Scout’s customer service has always treated me well and genuinely tries to help, but they simply aren’t set up to prioritize travelers who are stranded on the road. More often than not, I’ve found it faster to contact the individual component manufacturers directly. That approach has consistently gotten me back on the road sooner.
To Scout’s credit, the company has taken these issues seriously. As the brand has grown, it has expanded its field support team and made customer service a major priority, with the goal of providing more responsive and timely support. Scout has also continued to refine the camper itself. One of the most significant improvements has been replacing the original Goal Zero power station with a far more robust integrated power tower built around Victron Energy components and an Expion360 132-amp-hour lithium battery bank.
Would I buy another Scout?
Absolutely.
In fact, I probably won’t have to. The beauty of this camper is that it isn’t designed to be disposable. If a component wears out, you replace the component—not the camper. The shell won’t rot, it’s well insulated, the diesel heater sips fuel while keeping us warm, and the overhead bed has proven surprisingly comfortable over many nights of camping. It feels like a camper we can continue upgrading and maintaining for years instead of replacing every decade.
If you’re looking for luxury, this probably isn’t your camper. But if you’re looking for what I consider the Swiss Army knife of truck campers—a lightweight, durable, highly functional camper that can follow the same backroads as a Tacoma with a pop-up, without having to crank up a roof every night—the Scout Kenai hard-side camper is hard to beat. It’s a camper that encourages you to spend less time worrying about your equipment and more time enjoying the places it can take you.
To learn more about Scout Campers or to get a quote, contact the company directly at sales@scoutcampers.com.
Have a truck or truck camper of your own that you would like to review? Contact Truck Camper Adventure at tcadventuremag@gmail.com and we will get you on the publishing schedule.
MPG 14, 6.75 bed, The Scout Kenai has a shower pan at the entry. I use a Rinse Kit thast plugs into the 12vb socket. Plug it in before you start driving and after 8 hours you have perfect hot water. Grey water goes on the ground or into a bucket. I have camped below freezing. The heater runs often at that temperature. We just don’t use it very long. With that technique it will run for weeks. If you use it 24/7 I would guess it would last for multiple days. The cassette will last for days. We pee outside when possible. Need even more capacity then buy a second cassette. We always find a porta potty, wayside toilet to dump the cassette. Comparing the Scout to the Outpost is like comparing a Toyota to a Lexus. If you want simple and relatively cheap the Scout is the one. If you want all the amenities then the Outpost should be considered.
Thanks for the great review Charles. I have a few questions: What’s your approx highway MPG? The F250 is a 6 1/2 ft bed? Does it have an indoor wet bath? Does it have a grey tank or where does grey water go? Have you camped in snow? What’s approx consumption rate of the diesel heater? Thanks again, Mike A
I agree with Mike A., Thank You Charles for your review. I have an F-250 but with the 6.7 diesel engine. Mike A. has a lot of the same questions I have.
Also, did you compare the Scout to an Outpost truck camper ?
Is there any way to get in touch with charles? I’d love to hear more about his experiences with the cassette toilet. I am continuing to research our first TC. I love the composite and simple design. But I can’t get past a cassette toilet and the need to empty it every 2-3 days. That seems like a major inconvenience when boondocking nowhere near a dump station. And I’m struggling to think that wheeling it full into a bathroom toilet to dump would be considered convenient.