Snapped some pictures of the light. I wasn't sure where I wanted to mount the light so I made the harness kinda long. I have a couple other lighting projects so I will trim that up and work on some better routing.
Arkto G12 Review and Discussion
- Thread starter ruadhrigh
- Start date
Snapped some pictures of the light. I wasn't sure where I wanted to mount the light so I made the harness kinda long. I have a couple other lighting projects so I will trim that up and work on some better routing.
We couldn't find a convenient place for a paper towel roll. Usually just tucked it in the cabinet and pulled it out as needed.
Realized that I never use the handle on the fridge, just pull out that slide by the tray. So I removed the handle and match drilled a paper towel holder. Worked out really well for us on our last trip. While driving the roll likes to unravel so I just wrap a bungee cord around it.
Realized that I never use the handle on the fridge, just pull out that slide by the tray. So I removed the handle and match drilled a paper towel holder. Worked out really well for us on our last trip. While driving the roll likes to unravel so I just wrap a bungee cord around it.
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Nice. I have a Ranger and thinking about switching to an F150 for a variety of reasons including longer range gas tank which would be better.
I was pretty set on getting a F150, but was worried about payload with two dirt bikes and the trailer tongue weight.
I wish I could have made a Ranger work but the bed is a bit short for our extra curricular activities. Does the Ranger have different motor options like the F150?
I wish I could have made a Ranger work but the bed is a bit short for our extra curricular activities. Does the Ranger have different motor options like the F150?
350 is understandable.
My Ranger is the 2.3L 4cyl turbo ecoboost. To my knowledge, that's the engine available in the Tremor. At least, everyone that I know of has that engine. Plenty of power and a great vehicle to take long trips in. Perhaps not the best at towing but that isn't the main function of the truck.
Finally got around to moving the BT receiver. Arkto sent out an email describing the issue and fix with a video link. The hardware came shortly after that and in typical Arkto style, everything was well documented and easy to follow.
Of course I deviated a bit from the instructions to better suit our uses. In the second part of the video Aaron mentions relocating the AC Inverter remote panel. Instead of modifying my power distribution panel I relocated the 3D printed block the remote panel was installed on. Everything else I just followed along with the instructions.
I was having intermittent connectivity issues with the BT controlled accessories so hopefully this alleviates that.
New placement of the inverter remote:
BT Link tucked up into the boot cubby:
Of course I deviated a bit from the instructions to better suit our uses. In the second part of the video Aaron mentions relocating the AC Inverter remote panel. Instead of modifying my power distribution panel I relocated the 3D printed block the remote panel was installed on. Everything else I just followed along with the instructions.
I was having intermittent connectivity issues with the BT controlled accessories so hopefully this alleviates that.
New placement of the inverter remote:
BT Link tucked up into the boot cubby:
Arkto
New member
Lookings good! Let us know if any questions pop up. Happy to help out.
Hey guys I just wanted to post regarding a cool mod for you bikers. I pretty much exclusively use my camper for mountain biking. Really wanted to be able to use my rack but alas it was too long and extended the bikes and weight way out towards the truck.
So I came up with an idea and had my buddy who owns Alta Racks design it for me. This is designed specifically for the G12 but will work on any receiver. The vertical bar runs right into the adaptor and can secure with a pin or a bolt. The bikes will tuck up right up to the camper without touching. You need about 1.5" from the aft edge of the receiver to the surface of the camper (the G12 has the proper clearance).
This makes it possible to carry multiple bikes. depending on weight of bikes I have no issue with up to 4. The whole rack system weighs maybe 50lbs and my 4 bikes come in at 96. That weight is tucked so far aft that is almost like it's sitting in the front cargo bin. I dont notice any tongue weight related bad towing manners at all. Best of all I can jackknife almost a full 90 degrees without the bikes making contact with the truck. Big bikes may have to have the seat post loosened but this is a game changer for me. The awning puts out over the top of the rack no problem which is a bonus.
If anyone is interested in this you can contact Alta Racks. Kudos to them for making this out of the jumbled mess of an idea that I brought them. They make awesome racks and accessories so this is a perfect fit. Aaron at Arkto also told me he may want to make it an option for new builds as well. Anyhoo...enjoy!
So I came up with an idea and had my buddy who owns Alta Racks design it for me. This is designed specifically for the G12 but will work on any receiver. The vertical bar runs right into the adaptor and can secure with a pin or a bolt. The bikes will tuck up right up to the camper without touching. You need about 1.5" from the aft edge of the receiver to the surface of the camper (the G12 has the proper clearance).
This makes it possible to carry multiple bikes. depending on weight of bikes I have no issue with up to 4. The whole rack system weighs maybe 50lbs and my 4 bikes come in at 96. That weight is tucked so far aft that is almost like it's sitting in the front cargo bin. I dont notice any tongue weight related bad towing manners at all. Best of all I can jackknife almost a full 90 degrees without the bikes making contact with the truck. Big bikes may have to have the seat post loosened but this is a game changer for me. The awning puts out over the top of the rack no problem which is a bonus.
If anyone is interested in this you can contact Alta Racks. Kudos to them for making this out of the jumbled mess of an idea that I brought them. They make awesome racks and accessories so this is a perfect fit. Aaron at Arkto also told me he may want to make it an option for new builds as well. Anyhoo...enjoy!
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Obsessed2findARuggedHybid
Well-known member
Thats a nice rig! I used to run my Alta 4 place on the back like that and it worked well enough but I didn't like how much the bikes were bouncing and whipping around even strapped. I also noticed a bit of sway with my old camper as it added 200lbs so far aft. This is one of the reasons I liked the G12 with Aarons front receiver design. But I still needed the 4 bikes.
The 4th pic shows me at about a 75 degree turn with room to spare. Can open the tailgate and shell door with no issues. And can park the bikes there locked up overnight. Best of all I can keep an eye on them down the road. The 4 bikes are worth almost as much as the dam camper after all...
The 4th pic shows me at about a 75 degree turn with room to spare. Can open the tailgate and shell door with no issues. And can park the bikes there locked up overnight. Best of all I can keep an eye on them down the road. The 4 bikes are worth almost as much as the dam camper after all...
Obsessed2findARuggedHybid
Well-known member
Thanks it works well for me. Huge fan of Arkto and A-Aron. I do have a rear camera to keep an eye on the bikes. I am pushing the tounge weight on my gx. Looking at the Alta bike repair stand. Do you know why Ali says not to travel with it mounted?
Yes! The design of the stand at the point where it mounts into a receiver isn't engineered to withstand the forces it would be subjected to. The weld would likely fail. He told me its just designed to be stationary.
K9LTW
Active member
Wanted to breathe some more life into this in case someone perusing the forum for trailer ideas sees this.
Buy. An. Arkto!
I, my wife, and our two dogs got home a couple weeks ago from our month-long trip to go pick the trailer up from Aaron (@Arkto ) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Took off from Virginia, hit up Montana for a bit, then worked our way up the Forestry Trunk Road camping in the truck. Met Aaron, who then accompanied us for the first two nights along the Saskatchewan River outside of Jasper where we stayed for a third night ourselves. Then we high-tailed it back into MT and on to Lander, WY. Finally spent our last night outside of Badlands before the interstate and hotel slog home.
The experience in dealing with Aaron 1-on-1, spec'ing the trailer out, to pick-up, to first use has been nothing but incredible! The trailer ticks every box we had...simply NOTHING comparable from US manufacturers; particularly for the price. Hooray exchange rate!
We needed something we'd be comfortable in year-round, and had the space to live and work out of with our bed-hog dogs. The massive selling point for us was the insane amount of interior storage. It's amazing how roomy the camper feels despite its moderate footprint. I mean...it's no go-absolutely-anywhere Turtleback. But it's insanely capable for the length and pulled comfortably behind our not-exactly-nimble Power Wagon.
We opted for 400W solar, 400AHr heated batteries, heated water tank, 2kW inverter, RedArc BCDC, insulated canvas (absolutely must-have and so well-built), Ark XO corner braces, and the quilted door cover. Only add-ons we've done are just putting a rug down and getting a BlackoutEZ cover for the large window. My Dutch Shepherd likes to cram himself against the window and/or flops and kicks in his sleep. I didn't want him damaging the window blind, so I went that route instead. Bought the walls for the awning and a basin for the shower. Done.
Absolutely enamored with it, and my wife just hasn't gotten over having hot water on demand.
Honestly dunno that I'll ever get her to camp in the truck, again, though the OVRLND camper is staying on it just due to the trailer limiting access to some of the tighter places we like to go.
Little did I know when I took this shot, that the property we'd luck into buying just 48 hours later was within sight!
Havoc approves of his new bed and is thankful to not be relegated to the floor as he is in the truck.
Buy. An. Arkto!
I, my wife, and our two dogs got home a couple weeks ago from our month-long trip to go pick the trailer up from Aaron (@Arkto ) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Took off from Virginia, hit up Montana for a bit, then worked our way up the Forestry Trunk Road camping in the truck. Met Aaron, who then accompanied us for the first two nights along the Saskatchewan River outside of Jasper where we stayed for a third night ourselves. Then we high-tailed it back into MT and on to Lander, WY. Finally spent our last night outside of Badlands before the interstate and hotel slog home.
The experience in dealing with Aaron 1-on-1, spec'ing the trailer out, to pick-up, to first use has been nothing but incredible! The trailer ticks every box we had...simply NOTHING comparable from US manufacturers; particularly for the price. Hooray exchange rate!
We needed something we'd be comfortable in year-round, and had the space to live and work out of with our bed-hog dogs. The massive selling point for us was the insane amount of interior storage. It's amazing how roomy the camper feels despite its moderate footprint. I mean...it's no go-absolutely-anywhere Turtleback. But it's insanely capable for the length and pulled comfortably behind our not-exactly-nimble Power Wagon.
We opted for 400W solar, 400AHr heated batteries, heated water tank, 2kW inverter, RedArc BCDC, insulated canvas (absolutely must-have and so well-built), Ark XO corner braces, and the quilted door cover. Only add-ons we've done are just putting a rug down and getting a BlackoutEZ cover for the large window. My Dutch Shepherd likes to cram himself against the window and/or flops and kicks in his sleep. I didn't want him damaging the window blind, so I went that route instead. Bought the walls for the awning and a basin for the shower. Done.
Absolutely enamored with it, and my wife just hasn't gotten over having hot water on demand.
Honestly dunno that I'll ever get her to camp in the truck, again, though the OVRLND camper is staying on it just due to the trailer limiting access to some of the tighter places we like to go.Little did I know when I took this shot, that the property we'd luck into buying just 48 hours later was within sight!
Havoc approves of his new bed and is thankful to not be relegated to the floor as he is in the truck.