We are soooo near our decision and it's pretty much Arkto for us! We've seen one and were just at the overland expo seeing if we missed anything that might be an option for us (nothing came close given our random constraints with garage size, towing, etc). But this thread is SO HELPFUL, so thank you everyone!
I've got a few "ask the audience" type questions as we try to navigate upgrades, etc.
1. Was there anything you upgraded where you didn't think it was necessary? Any upgrade you wish you would have done?
2. For those that shoulder season camp (specifically mountains/desert), how many days can you use your power assuming you're being conscious, but not uncomfortable and what power package are you running?
3. What's the one piece of advice or tip you'd tell a new owner (FWIW, the lights are dimmable on the current iteration)?
Awesome!
1. When we got ours, 400AHr was the most battery power he had and AC wasn't an option. As much as Virginia sucks, that would've been a nice option, but that's unique to any use case...and once we move to WY in a couple years will, hopefully, be a nonissue! An upgrade we should've done? The Wrappon toilet. We opted for the default cassette...and...nope. It's out of the camper ne'er to be used, again. I just have our folding Cleanwaste toilet in there now and will stick with that.
Get a 30-lb propane tank...that'll be an "upgrade" on ours at some point.
Unless he's changed what's going in there as far as USB ports, they were all low-power Type-A connectors. If you want fast-charge, 65W Type Cs you may have to ask him to put those in. He found some from the same manufacturer, so was able to put those in for me with the requisite wiring.
2. We spent 3 nights and 2.5 days in ours the day we picked it up. It was stationary after the 4.5 hour drive to the river, so we were starting from a full charge on 400AHr of batteries. Partly cloudy days and shading from trees at various points. We have 400W of solar on the roof. Using water and hot water as much as we wanted (no showers as it was chilly), using lights only when inside, one fridge compartment running, charging phones and drones, and running the heat all night long and into the morning we never dropped below 80%. Granted this was June when the sun would be more overhead making the trees less of an issue. But I'd just break out my 200W solar suitcase to chase the sun around if needed. Other than replenishing food and propane, we could've stayed there indefinitely until winter blotted out the sun.
3. Aaron gave us an incredibly detailed walk-around complete with "tips" on the best orientation of the carabiners for the awning cords. I can't really think of any gotchas or tips we've discovered. If it matters...the only steel in it are the two roof braces. We got some small, magnetic, carabiners for hanging jackets and such on the front brace.
Oh...and go buy an inexpensive 1/4"-drive battery-powered impact gun that can live in the trailer for the corner stays. You'll be provided with a hex bit for them. Necessary? No. Time saver and nice to have? Definitely.
For reference we have 400AHr heated batteries, 30A BCDC system with supplemental solar to plug our suitcase in, 400W solar on the roof, 2000W inverter, heated water tank, upgraded Ark XO corner stabilizers (that's a must-have, IMO), and the insulation. I also added the walls to the awning after the fact.
