Scout's 2024 Olympic Truck Camper Promises Off-Grid Living for $25K, but Is It Enough?

Folks, the name Scout Campers is bound to sound familiar. Considering this Washington State-based crew has been causing quite a stir ever since day one, it's really no wonder. Oh, not to mention that they're part of one of North America's most revered camper and travel trailer teams, none other than Adventurer Manufacturing.

Now, we've featured the Olympic camper before, but that was a couple of years ago, so I decided to check back in with Scout to see what they've been up to. Well, things have changed, and I'm not so sure if for the better. Let's see what's in store here.

For starters, back in 2021, these puppies we're starting at a base price of a tad under $22K. Well, three years later, and we're clearly paying a tad more for a new Olympic - it's currently starting at $24,990 (€23,200 at current exchange rates) - but aside from inflation, there have been some changes, so ready your truck, balance those checkbooks, and get ready to own a new camper, if only for the next few minutes.

To do that, I invite you on a little trip through imagination as to what a life lived with an Olympic camper may be like. Before you go in, be sure to check out the images in the gallery, place yourself in the center of the action, and listen closely.

Now, as you find yourself in the middle of nowhere or some park, you'll be doing it with up to five other family members or friends. That's because this puppy can accommodate that many tired humans. This is made possible only with a roof-top tent addition, so even if you're traveling with fewer guests, let's say, four, every couple and/or the kids will each have their own sleeping cabin.

But it's not the sleeping capacity of this camper that really makes it shine; it's the off-grid living readiness. At least, that's how the manufacturer sees it. Scout takes pride in considering this mobile habitat "has everything you need to off-grid camp in comfort and nothing that you don’t." But, in my opinion, there's some room for growth.

As standard, only 4.9 gals (18.5 l) of fresh water is available, but this can be extended with optional tanks. What is neat about this water tank is that it's mobile, and with the presence of an integrated charcoal filter, up to 2,460 gals (11,183 l) of water can be filtered. As long as there's a spring nearby, you'll always have fresh water. Since there's no bathroom for these babies, Scout places a portable toilet at our disposal, but it does cost extra.

Then there's the electrical setup, which, according to the manufacturer's website, includes nothing more than a 2,000 W inverter/charger, electrical sockets, and a 175 W solar panel. While there's no actual battery pack, you will receive a 3,000 W Goal Zero Yeti power bank to go along with your purchase. For everything else, there's Mastercard.

However, most other essentials are practically nonexistent in a standard Olympic. Sure, there's a 10 lb LP tank, but you'll need to pick up a cooktop as an option. Luckily, Scout offers a portable one, so you can enjoy indoor and outdoor cooking. The latter is the way to go, weather permitting.

So, what really makes this camper worth the buck? A lot of a Scout Campers' story has to do with the way they're built. For example, the Olympic is crafted with an aluminum exoskeleton frame. This means durability, the ability to fight off the elements, and it's light. How light? As standard, 1,145 lbs (519 kg) of dry weight is all you'll be loading onto your full-size truck.

Once that frame is in place, Scout goes to town with a completely composite (fiberglass) shell with the necessary insulation to give this camper a four-season rating. Yes, a gel coat has also been added, but I recommend looking into a heater if you plan on traveling into the season's colder months. Guess what? That's going to cost extra, too.

That said, I do need to express my opinion a little bit. I took the time to see what an Olympic decked out to my need would run me. With features like a roof-mounted gear rack, awning, diesel heater, cooktop, and fridge/freezer, I was looking at a price tag of around $32,000.

That said, by the time you really transform this unit into a complete mobile and off-grid habitat, you will clearly be looking at spending a tad more cash, especially if you've got a larger family and need the roof-top tent add-on; that's going to tack on a tad under 6,000 extra bones.

Clearly, there's a tad more that goes into an Olympic, but from the list of bare necessities, I have to ask you: is it worth it? Feel free to comment below.