How to Get the Best Scout in SnowRunner: TUZ 420 Tatarin
SnowRunner has completely devoured my spare time as I’ve hauled cargo and battled through thick mud to help rebuild local industries. There are some formidable obstacles out there, but there’s an even more formidable scout vehicle waiting to be unlocked: the TUZ 420 Tatarin. This beast shrugs off terrain that leaves other vehicles stranded. It pulls trucks from deep mud as if they weigh nothing and doesn’t seem to care whether it’s driving on roads, through swamps, or carving its own path across the wilderness, thanks to its incredible off-road capability. The best part is that you can unlock this monster surprisingly early in the game. This guide assumes you’re playing the base game with no DLC and uses only early, easy-to-obtain vehicles. With around one to two hours of preparation, you can add the TUZ 420 Tatarin to your garage almost from the very beginning of your SnowRunner journey. Let’s dive into the mud and get it.
Before You Start
To unlock the TUZ 420 Tatarin, I used just two easy-to-obtain vehicles. The first is the Scout 800, which I used to explore Taymyr before starting the required contracts. This preparation is optional, but it makes the rest of the journey much easier. The second is the Royal BM17, a powerful truck you can recover for free from North Port, the first map in Alaska. I fitted the Scout 800 with additional fuel and repair supplies and equipped both vehicles with mud tyres. While there are plenty of other vehicles that can get the job done, this setup is inexpensive, easy to acquire, and more than capable of reaching the Tatarin. If you’re reasonably prepared and avoid unnecessary recoveries, expect the entire process to take around 2 to 3 hours.
Your Journey to the TUZ 420 Tatarin
Step 1: Prepare your vehicles
Step 2: Scout Taymyr
Step 3: Complete Geological Exploration
Step 4: Complete Looking Beyond the Horizon
Step 5: Unlock the Quarry
Step 6: Reach Zimnegorsk
Step 7: Recover the TUZ 420 Tatarin
Scout Taymyr Before You Begin
While you can jump straight into the required contracts, I’d recommend taking 20 to 30 minutes to scout Drowned Lands first. Using the Scout 800, visit as many watchtowers as possible to reveal the map, discover fuel stations, uncover upgrades, and identify the routes you’ll be driving later. Having the map revealed makes planning deliveries much easier and helps you avoid nasty surprises. SnowRunner rewards patience far more than speed, so keep these tips in mind while exploring:
Use Low Gear on uneven roads. If you’re driving across a road with a steep camber, selecting Low Gear reduces wheelspin and helps prevent your vehicle from rolling over.
The long way is often the faster way. A longer route on solid ground is usually quicker than trying to force your way through deep mud or flooded shortcuts.
Slow and steady wins the race. Rushing often leads to getting bogged, tipping over, or needing to recover. Taking your time will usually get you to your destination faster.
Use your winch before it’s too late. If your vehicle starts to lean or lose traction, don’t wait until you’re upside down. A quick winch to a nearby tree can save a lengthy recovery.
Watch your fuel. Refuel whenever you have the opportunity. Running out of fuel halfway across Taymyr can turn a short trip into a major rescue operation.
Once you’ve revealed most of Drowned Lands and have a good understanding of the terrain, you’re ready to begin the contracts needed to unlock the Quarry.
Unlocking the Quarry
The first major objective is unlocking the Quarry. The TUZ 420 Tatarin isn’t actually located here, but you’ll need to pass through the Quarry to reach Zimnegorsk, the third map where the Tatarin can be found. To unlock the Quarry, you’ll need to complete two contracts. Both can comfortably be completed with the Royal BM17.
Stage 1: Geological Exploration
Accept Geological Exploration from the Taiga Oil contract list, then equip your truck with the free Seismic Vibrator Module. This contract requires you to survey three locations across Drowned Lands. Most of these survey points are off the beaten track, so there’s a higher chance of rolling your truck. Once you leave the road, engage Low Gear, keep your speed under control, and don’t be afraid to use your winch to steady the truck if it begins to lean.
Survey Point 1
The first survey point is near the radar tower. Leave the garage and follow the main road towards the watchtower. When you’re within roughly 100 metres of the objective, you’ll hear the seismic sensor begin to beep. Leave the road and drive into the field until you reach the marker. Open the Functions menu and press X (on Nintendo Switch 2) to deploy the Seismic Vibrator Module.
Survey Point 2
The second point is near the ruined warehouse. Drive through the warehouse gates before turning right and passing through the gap in the fence. From there, follow the right-hand side of the river until you reach the objective. This route avoids some of the deeper mud and gives you plenty of trees to winch from if needed. Deploy the seismic module once again before moving on to the final survey point.
Survey Point 3
The final survey point is near the Fallen Rocks task in the south-west corner of the map. If you’re playing with recoveries enabled, this is a good opportunity to recover back to the garage before making the trip south. Otherwise, continue from your current location. If your truck needs repairs or fuel, there’s a service trailer in the factory area that can help you top up before the final leg of the journey. Once you reach the wooden bridge near the objective, leave the road and make your way across the field to the survey marker. Deploy the Seismic Vibrator Module one last time to complete the contract. With Geological Exploration finished, recover back to the garage and prepare for the second contract needed to unlock the Quarry.
Stage 2: Looking Beyond the Horizon
Thankfully, the hard part is now behind you, and Looking Beyond the Horizon is a much simpler delivery contract. First, remove the Seismic Vibrator Module from your Royal BM17 and equip a low saddle. If you’re looking to save some money, there’s a free sideboard semi-trailer waiting at the log station, so there’s no need to buy one. Using the free sideboard semi-trailer at the log station adds only a few extra minutes to the journey and saves you from purchasing a trailer early in the game. It’s an easy way to keep more cash in your pocket for future upgrades. Your first stop is the warehouse near the Farm Swim task, where you’ll collect a load of Metal Beams. Deliver these to the radar tower before returning to the railway station behind the garage to collect the Cargo Container and Service Spare Parts. Once all three deliveries have been made to the radar tower, the contract will be complete, and the gateway to the Quarry will finally open. The toughest part of the journey is now behind you, and you’re one step closer to unlocking the TUZ 420 Tatarin.
Crossing the Quarry
Head back to the garage, selling the trailer along the way if you picked up the free one. Refuel, repair your truck, and get ready for the final leg of the journey. The Quarry is one of the roughest areas you’ve driven through so far, so I recommend sticking with the Royal BM17. Its wide wheelbase gives it good stability, making it a solid choice for navigating the uneven terrain. From the Quarry gateway, follow the main road towards Zimnegorsk. When you spot a flooded village on your right, drive through it rather than continuing along the main road. This detour lets you avoid the fallen rocks blocking the direct route and is the easiest way to reach the next gateway. Once you reach the end of the road, you’ll enter Zimnegorsk.
Finding the TUZ 420 Tatarin
After entering Zimnegorsk, continue along the main road until you reach a large farming complex where the road loops around the buildings. Leave the road here and head up the nearby hill. As you approach, the TUZ 420 Tatarin will appear on your map. Drive alongside it, switch to the Tatarin, and congratulations, it’s yours! From here, simply recover both vehicles back to the garage and prepare to outfit your new scout. With its incredible off-road capability, you’ll soon be wondering how you ever explored SnowRunner without it.
Equipping the TUZ 420 Tatarin
The great thing about the TUZ 420 Tatarin is that there’s very little you need to do before putting it to work. Unlike most vehicles in SnowRunner, its unique tyres are already among the best in the game, so you won’t need to spend hours hunting for upgrades before it becomes incredibly capable. I recommend fitting a roof rack for some extra fuel and repair supplies, along with a more capable winch if you have one available. Other than that, you’re ready to start exploring. Whether you’re uncovering watchtowers, recovering stranded trucks, or venturing into maps with deep mud and snow, the Tatarin is more than up to the task.
Enjoy the TUZ 420 Tatarin
Congratulations! You’ve just unlocked one of the most capable scout vehicles in SnowRunner using only base game content and a couple of easy-to-obtain vehicles. While it takes a little preparation to reach, the payoff is well worth the effort. The TUZ 420 Tatarin will make exploring new regions, collecting upgrades, and tackling difficult terrain far less intimidating for the rest of your adventure. If this guide helped you unlock the Tatarin, I’d really appreciate your support. Leaving a comment below lets me know the guide was useful, and if you’re watching on YouTube, a like and subscription help me create more SnowRunner guides, reviews, and tips for the community.
Happy trucking, and I’ll see you out on the trails!
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