It’s a sad fact that truly great free camps in NSW are becoming more and more rare in the modern day. But the thing is, there are still some absolute crackers out there that you need to experience while you still can! You’ll find one of the absolute best free campsites in NSW along Armidale Road where the mighty Macleay River meets Georges Creek, the appropriately named George’s Junction.

Georges Junction: One of NSW’s Best Free Camps

This sensational campground is found between Kempsey and Armidale in northern NSW along the rough and unsealed Armidale Road. Nestled along the banks of Georges Creek and the Macleay River, stunning mountains surround this open and grassy campsite. In the mornings you’ll be treated to the spectacular sight of the morning sunlight hitting the rock walls of the surrounding mountains while light mist rises from the valley. 

There’s plenty of space at Georges Junction, so you’ll find it easy to stake your campsite claim and make it your own. Because this campsite is a designated Free Camp NSW TSR Camping Area, you can bring along your four-legged friends, and fires are permitted. There’s plenty of opportunity to collect firewood from the surrounding areas too! 

One of the best parts of Georges Junction is the choice you have when it comes to setting up your camp. There’s the Top Area campsite with its open green-grass fields and odd gumtree to provide shade, or there’s the Point Campground which is sheltered by casuarina trees and situated down closer to the water if you prefer to be more sheltered.

The Top Area features bins and well-maintained pit toilets which makes it a favourite spot for families, and because the campsite is on a travelling stock route, there’s a good chance you’ll get to see herds of cattle or horses being moved through the area!

Things to do

One of the things that makes Georges Junction such a perfect spot to free camp is the activities that are on offer.  

1. Kayaking Down the River

For those who like to glide above the water, the Macleay River is the perfect place for you to enjoy some quality time with your kayak or canoe. Indeed, some of the best campsites provide easy access to the water for you to launch from! There’s really something special about exploring the river with its towering rock walls and peaks on either side!

2. Swimming and Water Play

Both Georges Creek and the Macleay River offer plenty of swimming opportunities, and there are a number of safe child-friendly swimming holes. Just remember that this is a truly remote campsite with no phone reception so you’ll want to ensure the tin lids are properly supervised while they swim!

3. Wetting a Line

If you enjoy a spot of freshwater fishing, then you’ll find Georges Junction a treat. The Macleay River is home to the mighty Macleay River Bass – there’s even a nearby Bass Lodge, so you know you’re in for a good shot at landing a beauty!

4. Tackling the 4WD Tracks

If you’re a keen 4WDer, then exploring the tracks around the region will scratch that itch! The 10km long River Drive is a moderately difficult track that features six river crossings of varying difficulty that will see you exploring the banks of the Macleay River. The Track will take you to the spectacular Peach Trees Lookout which will give you some sensational views of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

5. Take it Easy!

Georges Junction offers you the opportunity to do something we all need to do from time to time – Relax! It really is a serene spot that allows you the chance to kick back and take it easy, whether that’s enjoying a chat around the campfire or kicking it back in the shallows of the water with a cold one in hand.

Bring Your Portable Power Supply and take your Free Camping to the Next Level!

We mentioned above that Georges Junction is a truly remote campsite that is hours’ drive from any town and has no mobile phone coverage – let’s be honest, that’s one of the attractions to the place! The thing is, sometimes, you need access to power for a variety of reasons. Maybe you just want a way to keep your food and drinks cold so you can enjoy an extended stay in the wilderness.? Perhaps you want to enjoy some powered creature comforts at camp? Or maybe you need to power a CPAP machine or other medical device?

Regardless of your reason, having a campsite powered by a portable power supply will add a level of comfort to free campsites like Georges Junction that will take your free camping NSW experience to the next level.

One of the best options when it comes to a Portable Power Supply is an ArkPak. While many people choose to install a 12V power setup and second (or third) battery in their 4WD, camper trailer or caravan, an ArkPak features all the benefits of such a system, plus more, while proving to be a properly portable option that’s not fixed to a vehicle or trailer. The ArkPak is the only battery box on the market that has a built-in AC-DC and DC-DC charger as well as an in-built inverter, so it is a truly versatile option.

Here’s a look at just some of the benefits an ArkPak can provide you during your free camping trip to Georges Junction:

1. Keeping the Food and Drinks Cold

Trust us when we say that once you’re at Georges Junction, you’re going to want to stay there for as long as possible! The last thing you want is for your food to spoil or your drinks to get warm, so powering a portable fridge-freezer with an ArkPak will increase the amount of time you’re able to camp off-the-grid at Georges Junction. Couple your ArkPak with a solar system, and you have free power that will last almost indefinitely!

2. Keep the Music Playing and the Camera Batteries charged!

Everyone loves a tune or two at camp, and having a portable power system allows you to keep the music going without the risk of your speaker or music player’s batteries dying. Also, when you come to George’s Junction we guarantee you’ll want to take a snap or two, and an ArkPak will mean you can keep all your camera and phone batteries charged for the duration of your stay!

3. Creature Comforts

For many people, there’s nothing better than relaxing with a cold one at camp and watching a game of sports! An ArkPak means you can bring along a TV and keep it and a satellite receiver powered so you can enjoy the creature comforts of home right at your free campsite!

4. Medical Needs

There are many sufferers of conditions like sleep apnea and asthma who rely on powered medical devices such as CPAP machines and nebulizers to get through the day or night. For these people, free camping can be a little daunting. The beauty of having a portable power setup like an ArkPak is that you can visit remote free camps like Georges Junction with the confidence that your medical needs will be met.

Looking to up your Free Camping Game?

At ARK, we love nothing more than putting out money where our mouths are and experiencing free camps in NSW like Georges Junction for ourselves! We’re camping and off-road enthusiasts just like you who test all of our products, including our popular ArkPaks in real-world settings! We’ve been leaders in trailer parts, towing gear, and 4WD accessories for over 40 years, and are 100% Australian-owned and independent. So you can be sure that when you buy a product from Ark, you’re getting something that has been properly tried and tested in real Aussie conditions!

When it comes to setting up a canopy on your ute, there’s a load of information available out there on the internet. Just about every 4WD or camping website or blog has written a guide to setting up the ultimate touring canopy… but there’s a huge shortage of information when it comes to setting up your canopy as a tradie!

The thing is, having a functional canopy setup as a tradesperson is a must. Your ute is essentially your office, which makes your canopy your workplace, and equipping it with the gear you need to get the job done is essential. So we’ve decided to put together this ultimate guide to setting up your ute’s canopy for work. Read on for all the best ideas to take your tradie office to the next level!

Function, not Form

The first element to consider is what gear you’ll be housing in your canopy, which will determine how you set it up. For example, if you’re a chippy, the tools you need are going to be very different compared to those carried by a landscaper.

Unlike a touring canopy, designing your tradie canopy will come down to function, rather than form. Where a touring canopy is set up to look good, and provide easy access to things like a fridge or kitchen gear, a good tradie canopy needs to focus less on the looks and more on the functionality. For example, installing drawers that only become accessible once certain tools have been removed is not going to make your life easy!

When planning out your tradie canopy, make sure you list down all the gear your canopy will be housing. Consider housing tools and gear that you use regularly in an area where you can easily access them with minimal effort. On the flip side, it becomes less of a chore to move a few things to access a specific tool if it’s something you only use on occasion.

Power isn’t a “want” – it’s a “need”! 

It used to be that having a power setup in your canopy was desirable, but not essential. If you ask us, those days are long gone. With petrol and wired tools becoming more obsolete every day, keeping your battery gear charged and ready to use at a drop of a hat is important. The last thing you want is for a couple of dead batteries to bring work to a standstill.

Setting up your canopy with a top-notch power setup will make sure the batteries for your tools are always charged, but there are additional benefits. You can install lighting in your canopy to make it easier to see on those early morning starts. You could install a fridge to ensure your lunch and energy drinks stay cool throughout the hot summer days. 

The reasons why a decent power setup will benefit you as a tradie are practically endless. Let’s take a look at some of the power options you should consider for setting up your canopy.

Power Distribution Hub 

Being able to control and monitor your power usage is essential when it comes to setting up a tradie canopy, as there is a wide range of power-hungry items that will draw from your setup. That’s where a 12V power management system like Ark’s SEMA award-winning XO Tech Power Distribution Hub is so essential.

The Power Distribution Hub is an all-in-one power management system, unlike any other 12V control box on the market. Firstly – and this is a key consideration when space is at a premium in your tradie canopy – it’s compact. It’s been specifically designed to fit just about anywhere, and because it’s  Bluetooth features, you don’t need to access it to monitor your power usage – you can do that, straight from your smartphone. 

Secondly, it has outputs galore! With four 10A controllable relays, a 50A Anderson connector, a 10A cig. socket, a 10A engel socket, a 15A merit socket, and dual 2.1A USB sockets, your power options are plenty. Plus, all outputs are protected with internal self-resetting fuses and an electronic controlled main relay for peace of mind. 

Lastly, the Power Distribution Hub allows you to monitor a HUGE amount of information. Monitor in real-time battery voltage, current, power, time to discharge, total consumption, maximum current, total watt-hours, and used battery capacity. It even has the ability to monitor a water tank level! How smart is that!

Battery Box… or better!

Okay, so a battery box is good… but an ArkPak is better! 

The ArkPak is essentially the ultimate battery box and the only one on the market that has a built-in AC-DC and DC-DC charger. It also features a 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter which means you can plug in your corded power tools directly. Other features include:

• 4 X 2.1A USB socket
• 1 X USB Type C
• Two 12V accessory sockets
• 50A Anderson socket
• Low voltage cut-out
• Manual isolator Relay
• Time tracker technology
• Battery management system
• 20 Amp smart charge system

The ArkPak is the ultimate power source for your tradie canopy, without the need for an extensive dual battery system!

Harness the Power of the Sun

Sometimes when you’re on-site, accessing power can be difficult, especially if you often work in remote locations. 

That’s why having a solar power option is a smart idea. Tradies can often be deterred from setting up solar panels due to the space they take up – we’ve already spoken about how important functionality is for a tradie’s canopy. Let’s face it, the last thing you want is to install delicate solar panels on the roof of your canopy and lose the ability to carry a ladder or other long gear.

There is a solution, however. Ark’s Amorphous Foldable Solar Panels allow you to charge your batteries on the go without taking up the space of rigid panels. Available in both 30W and 60W versions, they provide up to 4.2A per hour of charge, and work in low light and partial shade. Plus, because they fold up as small as 40cmx15cmx3cm (30W version), they don’t take up much space at all!

Additional Build Considerations

In addition to power, there are a few other considerations you should make when setting up your tradie canopy. Let’s take a look at four elements that are key to having the ultimate tradie canopy. 

Drawers 

Drawers are a no-brainer when it comes to setting up your canopy for trades purposes. There are also a number of options available. If you’re looking for a quick and relatively inexpensive option, then many off-road and camping retailers sell single and double drawers which can be adapted to your specific needs. Of course, because tradies needs are very different to those of campers, having custom drawers set up to suit your specific needs is an even better option.

Lights 

Installing 12V LED strip lighting in your canopy will ensure you have plenty of light available to find what you need in your ute – regardless of how early you start, or how late you finish. LED strip lighting is an inexpensive way to provide lighting and draws very little power ensuring you have power on hand for what you need most.

Fridge 

A 12V fridge/freezer isn’t just a great option for campers. Let’s face it, as a tradie burning a lot of calories every day and needing to remain hydrated in hot weather, chances are you’ll be bringing a lot of food and drink to site each day. A 12V fridge is the best way to store your food and drinks, and while it may take up a fair bit of space, we definitely put it on the “must have” list rather than the “like to have” list.

Awning 

It’s a simple fact of being a tradie – you’re beholden to the weather. Whether it’s heavy rain or scorching sun, you’ll be glad to have a place where you can get out of the weather and take a breather while you’re on site. Installing an awning or two on the side of your canopy is a smart and relatively inexpensive way to provide you with a little bit of shelter should you need it.

Ark Understands the Needs of Tradies

100% Aussie-owned and independent, ARK have been the leaders in trailer parts, towing gear, and 4WD accessories for over 40 years. 

Whether it’s 12V power systems and battery packs to power your worksite or towing gear to ensure your trailer can get to any site, the team at ARK have you covered. Get in touch with us today to learn how our expertise can help you set up your rig to suit your needs!

The jockey wheel is one of the most important components of any trailer, and that is especially the case if you’re heading bush in a camper trailer or caravan. The thing is, not all jockey wheels are the same, and getting one that suits your specific needs is really important – after all, the last thing you want to ruin your trip away is a failing jockey wheel!

Here’s a look at some of the considerations you need to take into account when purchasing a new jockey wheel for your trailer.

Trailer Type

The biggest influencing factor to the type of jockey wheel you buy is the kind of trailer you’re buying it for. Obviously, a small single-axle boat trailer isn’t going to have the same needs as a large dual axle caravan. For example, a standard jockey wheel, such as the Ark Economic Jockey Wheel features a 250mm maximum height extension, a solid rubber tyre and is rated for up to 350kg making it perfect for lightweight towing. On the flipside, a 10” Heavy Duty Jockey Wheel is available in either fixed or swivel options and features a high 500kg load capacity and sealed bearings that protect the wheel in an off-road environment making it perfect for larger towing such as a big caravan.

Where You’re Planning to Travel

Your destination, or wherever you plan to take your trailer is another contributing factor to the type of jockey wheel you purchase. For instance, if you’re planning to head off road, then a standard wheel just won’t do the trick. Instead you’ll want to consider purchasing an off-road specific jockey wheel. An off-road specific jockey wheel, such as Ark’s XO Series, are specifically designed to handle anything the Aussie bush can throw at it. They’re super tough, but they’re also highly versatile with multiple height options, a highly maneuverable trailing yoke design, different yoke locking positions and are available in many sizes, weight ratings and cover most of the styles mentioned above. Alternatively, a pneumatic jockey wheel, such as Ark’s 10″ Pneumatic Jockey Wheels, feature a large 10in inflatable tyre specially designed to cope with difficult ground conditions. That makes them great for off-road use and even towing and camping on sand or other soft sites.

The Need to Maneuver Your Trailer

If maneuvering your trailer while it’s unhitched from your tow vehicle is something you need to do regularly, then this is another contributing factor to the type of jockey wheel you purchase. Your reasons for needing to maneuver your vehicle will vary. Maybe the location you store your trailer at home is difficult to get to, or the campsite you’re traveling to has limited maneuvering room. Either way, a jockey wheel suited to unhitched maneuvering is worth considering. Again, for off-road use Ark’s XO Series is a good option, as its trailing yoke design makes it highly maneuverable. Alternatively, a ratchet jockey wheel such as the Ark Ezi-Mover Ratchet Jockey Wheels is designed to easily maneuver trailers weighing up to 2 tonnes on an even surface with minimal effort. They’re easily operated by rotating the controls and feature four functions: forward, reverse, neutral and stop/lock.

Where to go for more information?

With extensive skills and experience, Ark are the experts when it comes to jockey wheels for your trailer.

Give the experts a call at Ark today to find the right Jockey Wheel for your trailer!