Spare tire carrier optional on Traveler? Alternative locations for mounting spare tire?

[Stumpy]

Having wheel carrier be optional is a good move. Why not give customers the choice, it'd only helps sell more Scouts.

Unless they just like the look (that's me), most owners aren't ever going to need their spare, but requiring it has so many downsides: harder to access cargo area, harder to fit in garage, blocking rear visibility, adding more weight to vehicle.

I think best solution would be to make the spare tire carrier optional and also allow undermounting on the Traveler. Best of both worlds. Do it Scout

 

[Scout Fan]

I updated my post above with this:

Scout Motors has confirmed that the spare tire carrier on the Traveler SUV will be optional. is considering having the spare tire carrier be optional.

So it's not set in stone yet, but they're considering having it be optional. I bet this is soft speak for it'll likely be optional, but they don't want to go on record as confirmed... better to underpromise and overdeliver strategy.

 

[rfk]

requiring it has so many downsides: harder to access cargo area, harder to fit in garage, blocking rear visibility, adding more weight to vehicle.

I think best solution would be to make the spare tire carrier optional and also allow undermounting on the Traveler. Best of both worlds. Do it Scout

Absolutely yes to all of these points.

So it's not set in stone yet, but they're considering having it be optional. I bet this is soft speak for it'll likely be optional, but they don't want to go on record as confirmed... better to underpromise and overdeliver strategy.

Perhaps this reaction was unexpected? Yeah I want easy access to that split tailgate. Mandatory swinging-gate spare will absolutely alter my shopping list.

 

[GarageMahal]

As long as its removable mandatory doesn't bother me.

 

[Djbryan14]

The difference here compared to the competition is, they are all 1 or 2 steps to access the trunk. This is currently a 4 step process to open the trunk which is a bit much. Swing open the tire carrier, open the top lift gate, open the bottom tailgate, and lower the inner lower tailgate/ trim. That's the best placement for true off-roaders but there's no way most people will be able to get access to the trunk while the cars in the garage. A Defender 90 swing tailgate wouldn't open all the way with my garage door closed. I was able to halfway open it to access the trunk, but in the Scout, you'll have to swing the tire carrier all the way or at least most of the way open before you can open the lift gate. Moving it undermount is a pain in the rear to get to but you'll use the trunk way more than the spare.
I'm just not sure an under mount tire + the Harvester EREV engine will both fit back under there.

 

[Lucky Logan]

there's no way most people will be able to get access to the trunk while the cars in the garage. A Defender 90 swing tailgate wouldn't open all the way with my garage door closed. I was able to halfway open it to access the trunk, but in the Scout, you'll have to swing the tire carrier all the way or at least most of the way open before you can open the lift gate. Moving it undermount is a pain in the rear to get to but you'll use the trunk way more than the spare.
I'm just not sure an under mount tire + the Harvester EREV engine will both fit back under there.

Garage fit is a real practical concern that Scout should be focused on when it comes to deciding whether to make the spare wheel carrier optional. For example, they made the Cybertruck a bit too long and I know a couple of people that passed on their reservations because it was too big for their garage.

 

[Efthreeoh]

I have a tailgate-mounted spare on my Defender. One suggestion for Scout, if they are reading these posts - have the spare carrier swing the other way (hinge on the driver's side, not the passenger's side). Defender swings the same way the prototype Traveler's does - which means when you parallel park and open the tailgate, you have to manuver around the gate/spare just to get your groceries to the curb. Opening on the driver's side puts the spare out of the way, opposite where I'm about to walk, between me and oncoming traffic. I assume the Defender's tailgate opens to our passenger side because it's a British car, and works well when you drive on the "wrong" side of the road - it was probably too expensive to reverse the way they had to reverse the steering wheel to be able to sell the cars here.

But the Traveler is "American designed, American made, for American drivers" or whatever Scout keeps saying. Move the hinge on the spare tire carrier and it will work better in America.

The Traveler has a very large frunk. Just put groceries and such in the frunk. Problem solved.

 

[Mousehunter]

Generally, most vehicles I have had that had a swing open rear door - swing to the passenger side. My current LJ has the tire on a carrier rather than the gate - both swing passenger. The carrier locks at about 60 degrees. Only problem is I don't always close it all the way, and I go down the road taking out trash cans. But, I do already have 3 step opening the rear. Swing the tire, open the glass, open the gate. Only difference is the gap cover.

 

[Surferdude]

That ticks off one major concern my wife has. The other is the weird decision to put the power button on the steering wheel. I will 100% accidentally hit it in that location.

I'm just thankful they decided to have a power button.

 

[DriveAllNight]

I can't image any company could, would, or should consider how a tailgate opens inside of a garage with the garage door shut.

 

[MC242x]

Wranglers, Broncos ,even the Honda Ridgelines have tailgates that swing open... it's really not an issue slamming into an adjacent car.

It's not, but it's also a total PITA to deal with to access the rear cargo area. For me, having this as optional is a big plus and I'd even pay a bit extra to delete the rear spare carrier.

 

[DriveAllNight]

It's not, but it's also a total PITA to deal with to access the rear cargo area. For me, having this as optional is a big plus and I'd even pay a bit extra to delete the rear spare carrier.

I'm a huge fan of a full size spare that's not under the frame, plus I like the look.
I open my tailgate all the time, it's really not a pain for me. But I get it, everyone has their preferences.

 

[MC242x]

I'm a huge fan of a full size spare that's not under the frame, plus I like the look.
I open my tailgate all the time, it's really not a pain for me. But I get it, everyone has their preferences.

One thing that definitely helps is the large frunk - day to day stuff like groceries and such can go there without having to deal with the spare carrier. I'll still opt to not have it, but on an EV I guess it's not as much of an issue. But it will be more of a hassle than it was even on my Bronco (I could swing out the door and put stuff in there without even having to flip up the rear glass - but the Scout will require the tire to swing out, then flip the glass, then lower the tailgate, so at minimum it's one-two extra steps.