- Winnebago’s new Arka combines Ram 5500 toughness with off-grid living tech.
- Arka seats six, sleeps four and can survive for up to two weeks without hookups.
- It costs $331,901, and the toilet is still behind a curtain at the foot of the bed.
Winnebago’s new Arka is designed to disappear into the wilderness for up to two weeks, carrying six people and enough hardware to tackle some seriously unfriendly terrain. Unfortunately, when nature calls, those occupants might find themselves getting rather more familiar with each other than they’d planned.
The Arka joins the Revel and Ekko in Winnebago’s Backcountry Series, but takes things up several notches. It’s built around a super-tough Ram 5500 chassis, can tow 15,000 lbs (6,800 kg) and uses a four-point mounting system designed to let the camper body and truck chassis flex independently over rough terrain.
Related: Winnebago Built A Compact Motorhome For People Who Dread Motorhomes
It’s properly equipped for extended escapes too. Winnebago claims up to 14 days off-grid without using air conditioning, helped by a 48-volt electrical system offering up to 16.8 kWh of battery capacity, 800 watts of expandable solar and auxiliary alternator charging. There’s also a 60-gallon (227-liter) fresh water tank.
And weather shouldn’t provide many excuses for staying home. The Arka is engineered to operate between minus 10 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit (-23-49 C), with hydronic heating, heated floors and tanks, substantial insulation and a heat recovery ventilation system controlling moisture and condensation.
Seats For Six, Beds For Four
Inside, the rear lounge converts into a double bed, while the cabover sleeping area can be configured with twin beds, a queen or a king. A full-height rear garage handles bulky gear, and the truck‘s crew cab means six people can legally ride aboard, although only four can sleep inside.
The one stinking, I mean sticking, point for some would-be buyers concerns the bathroom, as News Atlas points out. Rather than being a separate compartment, it’s sandwiched between the living area and bedroom. A privacy curtain separates bed from bath, but anyone sleeping nearby and unable to avoid unwelcome sounds and smells might suddenly discover how strong their relationship really is.
Other Winebago campers have dedicated bathrooms, as does rival brand Storyteller’s similar Ram-based GXV Wild. The Wild is also more than $30,000 cheaper at $299,898, and has a cool fold-out balcony the $331,901 Arka lacks. The catch is that the Wild sleeps four but its single-cab Ram 3500 can only transport two, making Winnebago’s six-seat Arka considerably more useful for families on the move. As long as they’ve sorted a bathroom rota.
