Roll Your Own

By Gary Matos September 2026 

Gretchen and I have been a part of the Four Wheel Camper (FWC)  community for over 15 years. In that time, we have traveled beyond our northern and southern borders and a whole lot in between the west and east coasts of the United States. Wherever we go, we always end up meeting other FWC owners. It may be while we are boondocking, at a  campground or park or an adjacent pump at a gas station. Like magnets,  Four Wheel Campers tend to find each other. Some of our closest travel partners today are campers that we met on the road and continued our friendship over many miles. 

One benefit of the camper community is the annual rallies, RV shows, expos, and boondocking events where like-minded people gather. Quartzsite Arizona has been host to a myriad of snowbirds for decades, seeking a warmer climate. Overland Expos are another venue that has grown in popularity for campers looking to upgrade their rigs, equipment or knowledge by attending a class. Camper manufacturers have also joined the party.  

We always make a point to attend the FWC Owner Rally’s and reconnect with friends. Our first rally was at Ocotillo Wells near   Borrego Springs, California. That was seven years ago and we have attended one each year since. I remember our surprise at seeing 120 similar campers parked in the desert.  

In addition to meeting like-minded campers, Rally’s provide an opportunity to learn about new products and enjoy some group activities and great food. At a recent rally, a show and tell of your favorite camping accessory was bookended by cornhole games and tequila tasting in the afternoon. A  BBQ and live music kept things rolling into the evening. The only downside is that 12 months can be a long time between another fix of rally fun. 

Several years ago, good friends of ours decided to purchase some ranch property, outside of Helena, Montana, and build their dream home. It was not long before they had a small guest house and had  groomed the property enough to welcome visitors. There was just one good problem: Brett and Cheryl  have a lot of friends that all wanted to share in their excitement and Big Sky Country adventure. So, to kick off an ‘open house,’ they decided to host a get-together on their property. The format was simple.  

Bring your camper and some food and drinks to share. They would provide a group dinner and games. Good people always find a way to make good things happen. Three days passed by too quickly. Upon departing, everyone agreed to do it again next year. That was 5 years ago. Since then, ‘The Rendezvous’ has been enhanced and expanded significantly. Attendees have doubled (40) or about 25 rigs. There are now group sized sun canopies, outdoor toilets, an annual cornhole contest (with prizes), whiskey sampling, antique shopping,  hikes, group breakfasts and dinners, campfires, games and more. Brent has also organized overland trips following The Rendezvous for several of the attendees – especially those that are heading in the same home-bound direction.

Each August, Gretchen and I have traveled the Magruder Corridor or followed the Salmon River en route to The  Rendezvous. This roving recipe primes us for the group gathering while extending our travel experiences. This year, we took a little different spin on our path to Montana. We made loose plans to meet up with good FWC  friends (somewhere near the Dakotas) who were heading to the Rendezvous for their 2^nd year. Our route was circuitous to say the least. As our friend Michael would say, ‘put some zig and zag into your journey’. We could not have taken a more indirect route to Montana from Oregon – which turned out better than we could have expected. One backroad seemed to meld into another. We saw real diversity in geography, wildlife, and the small towns and ghost towns that dotted the dashed roads. Once we met our friends in Glendive Montana (on  the North Dakota border) we decided to trace the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark travels to the head waters  – which turned out to be a visual history lesson. Within our 5-day travel window before The Rendezvous, we spent 300 miles on remote gravel roads, crossed the Missouri River twice by ferry boat and visited Fort Peck and  Fort Benton. We took in museums, soaked in hot springs and encountered moose, bear, elk and countless varieties of birds. It was a perfect prelude to The Rendezvous, where our rigs would finally be grounded for several days. Next August we will have to flip a coin. Heads, we head out before The Rendezvous. Tails, we tag a trip onto the end. Either way we win!

If you enjoy camper rallies, have you ever considered organizing one? You do not need to wait for an  annual owners event. Just round up some friends and Roll Your Own. The following are a few tips we have learned along the way.  

Just Set a Date: Set a date that works for the organizer and a few helpful friends. Otherwise, you can spend countless hours trying to coordinate a time when everyone can attend. We have found that the people who most value a Camper Rally or Rendezvous will find a way to attend. If possible, schedule your rally (6) months in advance. 

Build Momentum: A Zoom or Facetime meeting is a great way to get a group excited about the rally and build some momentum. We typically host two ‘Happy Hour’ video calls. In no time, ideas begin to unfold and volunteers for meals and activities raise hands.  

Select a Fun Location: Pick a location where there are outdoor activities. (Sitting in a camp chair hour  after hour gets old quick.) If the location has some fun natural features like a river or open field, attendees will find a way to maximize them. There is nothing like a dunk in cold water on a hot summer day to feel like a kid again.  

Have a Few Games Planned: Campfire games are great ice-breakers for a large group. These can be as  simple as introductions or challenging like a relay race. Does anyone remember passing an egg on a  spoon that is held in the mouth? In the past, we had everyone write something about themselves that no  one else would know. The host then randomly picks about 5 people, mixes up the cards and then reads  the ‘facts’ out loud. The attendees must try and match the fact to the person. Cornhole, bocce ball, volley  ball are also great games that do not require a lot of equipment. We have even held ‘dog races’ where two  dogs are held side-by-side while their owners call for them 50 yards away. This year, we had stickers  made to commensurate the event.  

Gretchen and I host an annual campout for our church each year. There are typically 50 attendees. One  activity they really like is sharing a favorite camping accessory. It is a great way to get a lot of group participation and garner a few nuggets too. A few of the items can be given away as prizes. At previous  FWC Rally’s we have held tequila and bourbon tastings. This is easy to do for big and small groups and always delivers a smile.

Plan a Few Outings: Mid-mornings tend to be a good time for an organized or spontaneous hike.  Afternoons work well for vehicle trips that may include some exploration or a trip into the local town for antique shopping or an ice cream.  

Host a Few Meals: This can require a little more work and expense but is always appreciated. Some  people simply enjoy cooking and sharing meals with others. At Brent and Cheryl’s Rendezvous in  Montana, they always provide a Saturday night meal for the entire group. (This year it was BBQ pork,  baked beans, corn and a salad.) Other attendees teamed up for a hot dog lunch, taco dinner and a full breakfast spread. Who does not enjoy having a meal off from cooking? 

Rally’s can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be open to one brand of camper, any type of camper or any form of camping. They can start out with a group of a dozen friends or burgeon to multiple dozens. The key is consistency. Making a point to have a Rally each year. It is also important to recognize that the first couple of Rally’s will require a little extra effort by the primary host to make the time special and memorable. If done right, momentum will soon build, and the Rally will [almost] become self-sustaining. 

So why wait? Invite some friends, load your camper and ‘Roll Your Own’.