The Original Spare Tyre Fire Pit: The Story Behind the ArcPit
If you’ve spent time travelling around Australia in a 4WD or caravan, you’ll know that space is one of the biggest challenges when packing camping gear.
Most portable fire pits are:
- bulky
- difficult to pack
- awkward to transport
- or require complicated assembly with bolts and screws.
When you're heading off on a long trip, every bit of space inside the vehicle matters.
Campers began looking for a spare tyre fire pit because it solves a simple but important problem — using space that already exists on your setup.
The Idea Behind the ArcPit Spare Tyre Fire Pit
The ArcPit was designed by ArcMate co-founder Michael, an Australian camper who wanted a more practical way to travel with a fire pit.
Instead of designing another fire pit that needed to be packed into the back of the vehicle, Michael started asking a different question:
“Where is there unused space on a camping setup?”
The answer was right in front of him.
Every 4WD, caravan and off-road camper already carries a spare tyre — yet the tyre is considered dead space.
Michael began prototyping a fire pit that could securely mount over the spare tyre, allowing campers to carry a fire pit without sacrificing storage space.
The result became the ArcPit spare tyre fire pit.
Registering the Spare Tyre Fire Pit Design
After refining the design and testing the concept through real camping trips, the ArcPit design was officially registered with IP Australia in May 2024 - design #202413447.
The design right granted by IP Australia has a statement of newness and distinctiveness
"newness and distinctiveness resides in the overall shape and configuration of the visual features shown and unique shape of an arc, a portable fire pit which fits perfectly over a spare tyre for easy transportation".
This registered design protects the overall shape and unique configuration of a fire pit designed specifically to store on a spare tyre.
For ArcMate, this was an important milestone — protecting the innovation behind the original spare tyre fire pit concept.
The Launch of the ArcPit Spare Tyre Fire Pit
ArcMate opened pre-orders for the ArcPit spare tyre fire pit in September 2024.
The response from the camping community was immediate.
The first production run sold out within just two days.
Campers quickly saw the value of a fire pit that could travel outside the vehicle instead of inside it, freeing up valuable storage space for other gear.
Built by Campers Who Actually Use a Spare Tyre Fire Pit
One of the reasons the ArcPit gained traction so quickly is because it was never designed as just another camping product.
It was designed by people who actually spend time around the campfire.
Every element of the ArcPit spare tyre fire pit was developed with real camping situations in mind:
- quick setup at camp
- durable construction for heat and travel
- simple storage on the spare tyre
- practical campfire cooking options.
The focus has always been on simple, practical design that makes camping easier.
From One Spare Tyre Fire Pit to a Full Campfire Cooking System
When ArcMate first launched, the business started with just three products.
The ArcPit spare tyre fire pit was the foundation.
Since then, the brand has expanded to 23 camping products, including:
- BBQ cooking plates
- campfire grills & grates
- rotisserie cooking systems
- campground compliance
- charcoal cooking accessories
- camping accessories designed to work with the ArcPit.
Every product is designed with the same philosophy that started the ArcPit:
solve real problems that campers face.
The ArcPit Spare Tyre Fire Pit Is Now Stocked Across Australia
What started as a small startup has grown rapidly.
Today ArcMate products are stocked in over 40 retailers across Australia and growing, alongside a rapidly growing community of campers who use the ArcPit on trips around the country.
The ArcPit spare tyre fire pit remains the product that started it all.
The Original Spare Tyre Fire Pit
As more campers search online for a spare tyre fire pit, the ArcPit continues to stand out as the design that introduced the concept to the camping community.
Created by Australian campers, tested on real trips, and now used by thousands of travellers, the ArcPit was built with one simple idea:
make it easier to bring the campfire with you.
