This week’s Wild Wednesday brings us the perfect combination of comfort, durability, and winter performance. Built on a 2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty King Ranch, this rig was purpose-built for Zach Wilson, a Friends of Berthoud Pass avalanche instructor, splitboarder, and photographer who spends a good chunk of his winters in remote, snowy mountains. We met Zach at Front Range Splitfest, where we first talked about how Scout Campers could be adapted to serve as a true four-season basecamp. Now, that idea is a reality.

From the beginning, the goal for this build was clear: make it reliable, livable, and self-sufficient in deep winter conditions. Zach needed something that could keep him warm, hold up to the harsh alpine environment, and function as both a sleeping space and gear basecamp during long backcountry trips.

The Camper Platform: Scout Olympic

We dropped a Scout Olympic into the bed of Zach’s F-250—a camper that’s already known for its four-season performance thanks to its fully composite, insulated construction, hard walls, and no wood to rot or warp over time. It’s a smart, rugged, and modular camper that thrives in mountain conditions.

Zach took advantage of Scout’s Power Up Promo, which included a free second lithium battery, slide-out bunk extension, and an upgraded Sage interior fabric—a subtle but stylish upgrade that adds to the refined yet rugged vibe of the Olympic.

One of the standout features of the Olympic is its simplicity and flexibility. All major components—cooking, refrigeration, water storage, and power—can be removed or relocated, giving Zach the freedom to configure the space around his gear and his season.

Heating: Simplicity Through Propane

Instead of going with the standard diesel heater offered by Scout, we installed a Propex HS2000 propane heater. Why propane? Because simplicity matters in the cold. Zach already runs propane for cooking, and by sticking to a single fuel source, he eliminates the need for carrying and maintaining diesel separately.

The Propex delivers dry heat, meaning there’s no condensation build-up like with some heaters, and it runs clean and efficiently off of the same bottles used for cooking. Plus, it recirculates cabin air, making it both effective and quiet—ideal when you're parked up at 10,000 feet in a snowstorm.

Power System: The New Scout Power Tower

Zach’s Olympic came with Scout’s newly released Power Tower, a lithium-based power system that integrates multiple charging sources. It includes:

• Built-in solar charge controller

• Shore power input

• Alternator charging

• Inverter-ready design

Combined with the dual lithium batteries from the Power Up promo, this setup gives him a simple but expandable power system that can keep up with his needs—charging his camera gear, running lights, fans, and eventually powering the Starlink system we’ll be hard-mounting later.

Cold-Weather Water: Our Signature Kit

Running water is one of the first things most people lose access to in winter campers—but not in this rig. We installed our Juniper Overland 7 Gallon Water Tank Kit, fitted with a 12V tank heater to keep the water from freezing, even during cold spells.

Why this matters: Zach won’t have to constantly empty or winterize his water setup when the temperature drops. With the tank tucked inside the camper and insulated, and the tank heater keeping it above freezing, he can continue using his Dometic faucet and sink for daily use—even on those long, frozen missions.

Storage and Recovery: Built-In Confidence

This build also includes dual Scout hanging storage bags, which keep essentials like gloves, headlamps, and avalanche tools accessible and organized. The slide-out bunk extension gives him a more spacious sleep area, especially valuable when he's sharing space with heavy gear or wet layers.

To keep him prepared when the road (or trail) gets tricky, we installed an ARB TRED Pro recovery board system with a quick-release mount on the exterior of the camper. In deep snow, recovery boards can mean the difference between a quick extraction and a long wait for help. With the boards mounted outside and easy to grab, Zach has a solo recovery tool ready at a moment’s notice.

Future Upgrades: Comfort + Connectivity

Zach’s not done yet. He’ll be back in the shop soon for the next phase of the build:

• A Joolca instant hot water system, mounted inside a weatherproof AluBox outside the camper for easy access to hot showers.

• An Alu-Cab Shower Cube, providing privacy and shelter during outdoor wash-ups.

• A hard-mounted Starlink Mini to stay connected from anywhere, whether he’s working, teaching avalanche classes, or uploading photos from the field.

Final Thoughts: The Beauty of Function-First Design

This rig is a reminder that when you build around real-world use, you end up with something far more powerful than a spec sheet. Every part of this setup was selected for simplicity, reliability, and performance in real mountain environments. Zach’s camper isn’t flashy—but it’s smart, comfortable, and resilient. And when you’re trying to sleep at elevation in the middle of February, that matters.

We’re stoked to be part of Zach’s journey and can’t wait to see where this F-250 and Olympic camper take him next.