Other "mainstream" RV companies have proven you can build pretty close examples to earth roamer, story teller etc without costing $950,000. They basically just add liquid spring suspension to their 4x4 super C, super singles and a lift.
I am shocked its actually being made under the Winnebago brand and not Grand Design.
Yes, beautiful rig. They just seem to be wishy-washy on what they are doing with actual Winnebago these days. I see they are grouping the Arka in with the Ekko in the marketing material.
Current Sprinter EKKO owner and I'm considering an overlander for my next rig. There are many things I like about the ARKA but I see several show-stoppers:
RAM chassis. No thanks.
Timberline Heater. Never again.
Cassette toilet. I'm not opposed to a cassette toilet (both my rigs have them), but I'm concerned about the capacity for the ARKA. Looks like the ARKA is designed to keep you camping for 7-10 days, but we find that a cassette gets filled in 1.5 days if we're both using it full-time. Unless you have access to somewhere to dump the cassette (like a pit toilet), the cassette capacity will be the limiting factor. And carrying spare cassettes is not viable.
No sink for the toilet?! So after you use the toilet, you're supposed to wash your hands in the kitchen sink?! Like, the same sink where you cook?!?!? GROSS!!! I guess the workaround is to put hand sanitizer by the toilet, to use after the toilet but before you actually wash your hands with soap and water. Who at Winnebago thought this was a good design?!