Great to hear. I had a G12 and absolutely loved that camper but had to sell it due to some medical issues that have been resolved. Canvas was never an issue. The heated water lines were great. Towed it with a 2021 Ranger which pushed the vehicle a bit. I would purchase the C10 in a millisecond if I was ready again and tow it with the Ranger. Arkto and Aaron are top shelf. Tell him that EPO sent you.
Kimberley Kube, BRS Sherpa, or ...? Which to get and why?
- Thread starter Sid Post
- Start date
I don't believe that a DO 35 is an option. Aaron at Arkto has the chassis galvanized and would have to retool entirely to change over. The Max Coupler isn't my absolute favorite but it did the job just fine.
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I've been in Arkto, Mission Overland, TetonX, Boreas and Off Grid. I would pick the Arkto every single time unless I wanted a teardrop/square drop and then would probably pick Boreas.I am not super impressed with Mission Overland and Off Grid Teailers. To many owner changes and not the best QC. I would definitely take Arkto over Teton X but they are worth a look. Bean s seem like a sold build but maybe a bit over priced. Boreas are in the same boat. I had some intrest in thier new stand up but they ghosted me. Maybe business isn't so great for them. I hope not as maybe they don't like my winning personality
Part of the open issues for me is the Cruisemaster Suspension and DO 35. In terms of galvanizing, it is hot dipped, so they can weld up whatever they want and dip it the same as existing frames. Different suspension mounts are needed, so how much that will be versus the Timbrens mounts is an open issue. Cost differences for the suspension itself are an open issue, like air ride versus spring ride options.
I don't recall what Aaron told me in the past but it didn't seem like the DO 35 was possible...vague memory. Maybe I'm thinking the Cruisemaster not being an option. I never had any suspension issues with the Timbren or hookup issues with the Max Coupler. Let me know though cuz it's possible I might be purchasing a C10 once things are taken care of on my end.
Obsessed2findARuggedHybid
Well-known member
That CM upgrade has to be expensive
CM air ride is ~$2500 more than Timbren's air ride based on initial discussions. Updated pricing is still pending, so things could definitely change.
Considering the Kindom Campers option has CM suspension at ~$40K, it should not be super expensive, assuming a like-for-like change.
CM has a lot of options, though, so yes, some of them are SUPER EXPENSIVE.
Are you saying that CM can be put on the Arkto? How about the DO 35?
Yes! Waiting on the change in costs from the Timbren. Suspension mount points are different so, a bit of work is needed to accommodate that change. Regarding the hitch, that is a relatively simple swap.
Also looking at an all-electric Truma Kombi for travel areas without LP access and an induction cooktop.
The CM suspension is also expected to accommodate the tires on my Tacoma (315/70R17) for a big win due to common spares.
Cheapskate'sParadise
New member
Retail for a complete CM XT Freestyle airbag system in 2022 all in was $2300. Purchased from the importer at the time (located in CO; Sloop?). Attached the CM kit to a subframe, then simple mating of frame and subframe. Makes transfer to another rig straightforward and isolates stressors so that frame never sees them. Once an owner of airbags/swingarms, always an owner.
K9LTW
Active member
Curious as to how you've found the hitch to be a simple swap.
I'm not a huge fan of the Maxx Coupler and was noodling the idea of trying to retrofit a DO35. But those are designed for Aussie-style tongues, not a 2x2 steel tube. The bolt pattern is too wide. The "easiest" solution I could come up with was having someone weld up an appropriately sized piece of steel onto a 2x2 tongue to insert. Do you have a different solution in mind?
As far as tires...the limiting factor we (Aaron and I) found there was the size of the wheel well. Granted I was trying to stuff 35s on it. When he mocked it up, the concern was that everything was danger-close; particularly if there was any mud/etc. packed onto the tires. Not sure how switching to a CM suspension is going to remedy that, but you're also in a, slightly, smaller tire. Interested to see what the CM conversion may run you. I had considered something as the Timbren is a bit bouncy given the lack of any rebound damping, but the CM may be OVERdamped. At this point I've just adjusted driving style/speeds on the trail. But for an Arkto 2.0 in the future for us, it may be worth it as it's always less expensive to have done at the time of manufacture. I asked about retrofitting to have AC added (wasn't an option when we ordered ours) and the general consensus was...just order a new one.
Curious as to how you've found the hitch to be a simple swap.
I'm not a huge fan of the Maxx Coupler and was noodling the idea of trying to retrofit a DO35. But those are designed for Aussie-style tongues, not a 2x2 steel tube. The bolt pattern is too wide. The "easiest" solution I could come up with was having someone weld up an appropriately sized piece of steel onto a 2x2 tongue to insert. Do you have a different solution in mind?
As far as tires...the limiting factor we (Aaron and I) found there was the size of the wheel well. Granted I was trying to stuff 35s on it. When he mocked it up, the concern was that everything was danger-close; particularly if there was any mud/etc. packed onto the tires. Not sure how switching to a CM suspension is going to remedy that, but you're also in a, slightly, smaller tire. Interested to see what the CM conversion may run you. I had considered something as the Timbren is a bit bouncy given the lack of any rebound damping, but the CM may be OVERdamped. At this point I've just adjusted driving style/speeds on the trail. But for an Arkto 2.0 in the future for us, it may be worth it as it's always less expensive to have done at the time of manufacture. I asked about retrofitting to have AC added (wasn't an option when we ordered ours) and the general consensus was...just order a new one.
I have a local specialist who fixed my Taxa TigerMoth. After bending/breaking two axles with a 4-cylinder Honda Accord, I took it to him. He cut off the factory stuff and put a Dexter axle custom-built for this trailer (his other trailers had different dimensions) and he extended the hitch by 18" with a better 2" coupler. Worlds of improvement in basic road manners and trailering ease.
Regarding the DO35 hitch, when the frame is made and before it is dipped, a simple weld-up of the "plate" to fit a DO35 is about as easy as it gets. In your case, an adapter plate is what I would do.
And yes, we talked about the 35" tires.
Mine are slightly less than 35", 34.5" if I remember correctly. Aaron was concerned that an unexpected bad blow-out could damage things though the CM suspension will add 2" of lift. With those new mounts, adding a couple of extra inches would be easy as well.
My remaining concern is regarding tire width and wheel well coverage, so I don't throw rocks and mud on the side of the trailer.
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