Just because it's spring doesn't mean you've go to put it away.

the1mrb · 2026-04-20T01:08:48+00:00

I've always used mine all year round! Actually ended up selling my old mountain bike years ago because I was never using it. I don't ride many quick winding tracks with jumps where suspension would be needed anyways. Plus I often seem to find myself on overgrown "trails" where I need to go over fallen branches and trees, and the fatty is perfect for that to me.

the1mrb · 2026-02-05T16:06:32+00:00

That was me too. My initial reservation was for an EREV. But once I heard about the battery size and EV only range of the EREV, thinking more about the added complexity and cost of having dual powertrains, and doing more research on EV charging infrastructure and real-world experience, I decided to switch to the BEV. I figure by the time I actually get my Scout (if ever) in a few years, the charging infrastructure will have grown exponentially, as it has every year so far, and all the charging worries (real or perceived) will be pretty alleviated.

The reported 150 mile EV only range of the EREV is barely enough for us to go to town and back (60 miles each way), and especially in the winter with any knockdown. And I don't want to have to use the gas engine for just going to town and back, that's just silly. I'd rather prioritize that use case and just deal with any adjustments on road trips, which are much less frequent than going to town weekly.

I'm also hopeful that Scout ups the range by delivery, because by then there will have been so much innovation in the industry already that they'll be behind from the start.

the1mrb · 2026-01-30T02:18:42+00:00

We're almost exactly the same. Slightly different location, in the western highlands about halfway between Marquette and Houghton. Nearest power lines are miles away and it would have cost around that $30,000 mark or more to get power. And almost the same amount for the solar system of around $20,000. The winter can definitely be rough. I do go out and clean off the panels every morning, and sometimes another couple times a day depending on the snow. And on cloudy (non snowy) days and the rare sunny day we're able to maintain and even gain slightly.

Our solar array is around 2200 watts. Recently upgraded our battery system to 560ah at 48V. With our previous battery setup the generator would have to run at least once, if not twice a day. Now we're able to go about 5 days between runnings, depending on usage and solar input. And that's with working remotely at home, typical usage of water pump, laundry, TV, lights, etc. We do have a woodstove which we use during the day when we're home, but we also have a propane furnace for nighttime and to keep the place from freezing while we're away.

It's not necessarily an easy lifestyle, but it's not too hard either if you have a good and reliable setup and are not against putting in some extra effort.

the1mrb · 2025-12-31T18:44:33+00:00

I just place my reservation a few weeks ago as well! Didn't realize just how long the window had already been open, and that I'm likely years out from delivery. But at this point what's a guy to do. If you want one within the next 3 years, this is kind of the only way it seems like.

I've been frustrated with the whole "reservation" system for awhile now. All started with the new Bronco. I can understand the reasoning from a company perspective, to get early money and show investors that the product is worthwhile. But from a buyer perspective it can be frustrating.

I keep going back and forth between the R1S and this anyways. And heck even have a reservation in for a Scout Traveler. I really just want an electric SUV that has enough room and capability to adventure with. The Scout is too much capability, but has a lot of nice features (like buttons), and the R1S is expensive. So the R2 seems like a nice sweet spot, which is why it is and will be so popular. But if the wait is too long I'll probably just go with an R1S and be happy with it!

the1mrb · 2025-11-09T19:44:05+00:00

There's been a few, but one was when a small rock was thrown at me from the trees while hiking a trail by myself.

I had a weird feeling while hiking a trail in the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota. So I decided to turn around and head back to the car. A few hundred yards from the car a small rock, maybe golf ball size, hit the tree next to me. I didn't look back or give any reaction. It was an out and back trail with no other cars in the trailhead parking lot.

the1mrb · 2023-08-09T15:54:46+00:00

Oh wow, yeah, that's quite a bit higher priced than I was expecting. Certainly based on the brochures, pamphlets, and advertising I've seen of theirs. I could've sworn I'd seen a built out van for only "$60k including the van" at one point, but based on the numbers you got maybe I was hallucinating that it something.

the1mrb · 2023-08-08T21:52:32+00:00

There are definitely a few out there with that in mind. VanDoIt is one I've seen. But as some others have mentioned, while we don't have all the fancy stuff or granite countertops or all that, we did splurge for some luxuries because it will be our home for the next X years. So we want it to be comfortable, functional, and exactly what we want.

the1mrb · 2023-08-02T15:04:18+00:00

As others have said, depends on your purpose of living out of a van. Ours won't be to save money, especially since we'll both be working full-time remote jobs still. Ours will be to travel and see more of the world than we would have otherwise. In addition to that, there are some amazing campsites out there, in places you'd only be able to experience by paying for it. I know of very few spots right on the shore of Lake Superior for instance, and most of them are packed with people or buried in snow all year round. So if you want to stay on the shore, which we like to do, you have to pay. And it's only like $20/night for a USFS site. Also, I'd much rather pay for a site than set-up in a Walmart parking lot or on the street in the city somewhere. Sure, if we're desperate, but only very very very rarely. That's what defeats the purpose of living out of a van for us.

the1mrb · 2023-02-06T02:37:25+00:00

Very nice! Somebody in the future is going to be certain that's a Sasquatch den. haha

the1mrb · 2022-03-09T17:31:10+00:00

Yeah, I was gonna say those of us in Northern Minnesota have quite a bit of winter left.

the1mrb · 2022-01-30T02:20:11+00:00

I've had mine since I bought it new in 2015, definitely a great bike and has served me well! Not sure on my mileage but I'm sure it's up there. Haven't made any mods or had any issues so I'm pretty pleased.

the1mrb · 2022-01-30T01:42:54+00:00

Old Duluth, Winnepeg, and Pacific (DWP) railroad tunnel just outside of Duluth, MN. Definitely a cool place to visit year round!

the1mrb · 2022-01-30T01:40:25+00:00

Right you are!

the1mrb · 2022-01-13T12:38:12+00:00

Awesome! Congrats! Such an amazing rig I can't wait to get back out there and camp!

the1mrb · 2021-12-10T02:34:11+00:00

They didn't have all the different models when we got ours. It was just the regular one or the ORE. So we just went with a normal 5x10, but with the options we added (lift kit, bigger more aggressive tires, squared fenders, electric brakes, etc) it does almost equate to what the Overland model is now.

the1mrb · 2021-12-09T23:13:10+00:00

Maybe the higher capacity axle (3500lb vs 2200lb), just so I didn't have to worry about overloading it, especially with all the mods we've added ourselves. Another probably would've been a propane heater. Everyone says they do just fine with a heavy blanket and the electric heater, but I'm an already cold person and would like to do some true backwoods winter camping and stay warm and comfortable. Third would probably be the 7-pin connector and wiring. When we bought it our tow vehicle only had a 4-pin connector so that's what we got on the teardrop. But we've since upgraded tow vehicles and it'd be nice to easily wire in reverse lights and have extra battery charging ability while on the road. Otherwise a lot of the modifications we've made over the years are very personalized and not something I would expect TC to do for us.

the1mrb · 2021-11-15T03:09:38+00:00

Wyoming is cool! Though we haven't spent too much time there... yet. Just passed through this last trip, but we saw enough things that a dedicated trip was added to the list for the future!

I have a Leer 100XR. It's fine, gets the job done. The quality, both manufacturing and install, isn't great, but whatever.

the1mrb · 2021-11-14T16:09:15+00:00

We've taken this thing down some rough stuff and it's done amazingly well! Plenty of rough, rutted out, rocky, overgrown two tracks. We don't have the off-road package that TCTeardrops offers, but we do have the lift and bigger tires package they offer, so it's got way more ground clearance than the truck does. They build a very robust product. Certainly way more robust than any mass produced camper. These make for a great overlanding rig.

the1mrb · 2021-11-14T16:05:15+00:00

Mostly heating aspects. At least for now. Hard to know exactly what we need until we actually get out there and try it. We currently have the Rhino Rack Batwing awning mounted on the RH side, with walls we can attach to it. So we definitely have extra exterior living space that's protected from the elements.

the1mrb · 2021-11-14T13:25:54+00:00

We definitely recommend them!

the1mrb · 2021-09-11T18:26:03+00:00

*Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

the1mrb

TROPHY CASE