Ork Rocked: The Wild Enjoyable of the NW Truck Camper Rally

What occurs whenever you pack fifty truck camper rigs onto a foggy Oregon peninsula with breakfast burritos, large Jenga, and a wiffle ball match? Welcome to the Northwest Truck Camper Rally—half island journey, half rolling feast, and all truck camper magic.

“The Northwest Truck Camper Rally is on Ork Rock this year. We should go,” stated Angela.

Ork Rock? Is that subsequent door to Modor? I puzzled, contemplating a correct response.

We had already been considering a visit west this yr to go to Overland Expo Pacific Northwest, tour just a few camper producers, and moochdock with associates up and down Oregon and California. Attending the Northwest Truck Camper Rally would lastly put that plan excessive.

“Let’s call Jesse and Anca and see if they have any spots left,” I replied. Jesse and Anca of Rugged Mountain RV had been inviting us to attend the rally they co-founded with StableCamper for years. The location and timing of this yr’s rally had been fortuitous.

Above: The Northwest Truck Camper Rally Group 2025, photographs courtesy of TCM and members of the rally

Two months later, we pulled onto Ork Rock, simply one of the crucial picture-perfect group campsites we’ve ever seen. The 100,000 sq. foot peninsula provides panoramic views of Salmon Harbor, the Umpqua River, and—evidently—glimpses of the Pacific Ocean.

I say evidently as a result of we had been all however fogged in once we arrived. There had been moments we couldn’t see a lot previous our personal shorelines, a lot much less the Pacific. We’re speaking some critical Scooby Doo fog. Thankfully, the fog ultimately lifted, revealing teasing patches of blue sky. We don’t name it sunshine, but it surely was all we wanted.

Attendees parked across the perimeter of the Ork Rock peninsula making a pure focus of truck camper rigs not often seen. This focus gave the setting a singular and intimate really feel—like a secret gathering of truck campers.

Various rally goers ventured on and off the peninsula every day to go fishing, crabbing, or Jeeping on the close by Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. We largely stayed on the 100,000 sq. foot patch of truck camper heaven for the period. It was like dwelling on Truck Camper Island. Arrr!

Each morning, there was a sponsored group breakfast. Day one, we had breakfast burritos and fruit courtesy of Apache Camping Center. Day two, we had biscuits and gravy courtesy of Rugged Mountain and SecureCamper. Day three was some severely tasty pastries and low courtesy of Icon and RecPro. If there’s anybody on the market who desires to know the way you collect numerous truck camper house owners collectively, simply put out some espresso and breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy, or pastries. Done.

Before, throughout, and after breakfast, there was continuous hobnobbing, breeze taking pictures, and blast having with new and previous truck camper associates from so far as Florida (we weren’t the one ones that loopy) and as shut as Ork Rock (when you’re full-time, you reside the place you’re). Having been to a rally or two, these moments and conversations are at all times the good things. Add infinite espresso and that campground was virtually auctioned off every morning with all of the fast-talking truck camper chatter. Not good occasions. Great occasions!

On day two, the rally schedule I evidently did not learn referred to as for a ‘Gilligan’s Island Themed Camper Crawl with a Power Run Twist’. When we stepped exterior in our weather-appropriate denims and sweatshirts, people had been carrying Hawaiian shirts and leis.

Casey Inman of Expion360 was in a brief sleeve ship’s captain outfit for goodness sake! Evidently, this Northwest Truck Camper Rally group takes its themes severely.

The ‘crawl’ was half an open invitation to see inside everybody’s camper, and half an excuse to drink a number of grownup drinks earlier than doing so.

Oh, and some of the camper tour and drink pour members supplied a deck of playing cards to drag from. Choose one card from every deck to make up a poker hand. Why? We had no thought, however did it anyway.

That night, the video games got here out, and Angela made a beeline for a towering Jenga recreation. Now you would possibly assume this may be good for a spherical or two, proper? Wrong! A gathering of a half-dozen adults arrange that big Jenga and took turns pulling out wood blocks after wood block till the entire wobbly stack fell not as soon as, not twice, not thrice—however at the very least a dozen occasions.

Just watching them take a look at poke and punctiliously take away blocks spiked my cortisol ranges, however this steely-nerved gang wouldn’t stop.

Of course, there was loads of ribbing, daring, and celebrating happening. That is, till the entire stack crashed with a laughing crescendo!

Day three had that almost all well-known of camper rally meals—the potluck. Admiring the feast gathered earlier than us, somebody requested an excellent query. How is it that, with out assigned dishes or planning, there’s such a unbelievable number of meals? It’s a thriller how potlucks don’t find yourself as ten variations of meatballs, potato salad, and brownies (which might be fabulous, by the best way).

Whatever the rationale, the potluck magic was in full impact on Ork Rock. We all ate ourselves foolish.

Then one thing occurred on day 4. The fog dissipated and the clouds dissolved, revealing a vibrant, heat, and glossy circle within the sky. Fueled by copious donuts, eclairs, and cinnamon rolls, the already festive temper immediately shifted into excessive gear. And then we did what each calm, rational, grownup gathering would do in these uncommon circumstances—we performed the primary World Series Truck Camper Wiffle Ball Tournament.

Jared and Candice of SecureCamper defined the principles. There can be no precise working. Where the ball was hit decided how far the batter would go. Fail to hit it previous the purple mark on the bottom, and also you had been out. Further out, and you bought a single. Further nonetheless, a double, or triple, or a homerun. Hit a truck or camper additional than that and name your insurance coverage (no person did). Then they separated everybody into groups, gave every workforce coloured bandanas, and began the match. Play ball!

With the solar beaming, gamers on the sector, and spectators cheering and heckling throughout, the video games started. Now we’ve seen plenty of actions at plenty of truck camper occasions through the years, however few have been so well-received.

Everyone had a lot enjoyable and—it needs to be stated—truck campers can actually join. Players of all ages and talent had been whacking that wiffle ball in all places. Ultimately, one workforce received and the others misplaced, however everyone had a terrific time.

After the sport, Rugged Mountain and SecureCamper hosted a catered group dinner. No have to exit to a pleasant restaurant. The organizers introduced in rosemary rooster, a baked potato bar, contemporary rolls, and extra. And there was far more meals than this group might put away—and that’s saying one thing. Once once more, all of us ate our faces off, talked with fellow truck tenting associates, and performed video games lengthy into the night time.

Above: The raffle had sponsored prizes from Torklift, Roadmaster, Expion360, Liquid Spring, OnX Off-Road, Froli, Beddy’s, RecPro, Tire Minder, Flame King, Magma, and Lippert

The ultimate morning, all of us did our greatest to shine off what remained of the pastries. Around 9:00 a.m., rally organizers Jesse, Anca, Jared, and Candice gathered everybody for a heat sendoff. Jesse kicked issues off with a heartfelt thank-you to the attendees, adopted by a number of well-deserved rounds of applause for the sponsors, organizers, and the volunteers who made the rally attainable. After numerous hugs, the rigs started to roll out, one after the other.

We’ve been exceptionally fortunate to expertise truck camper rallies, gatherings, and caravans all around the United States and Canada. What’s fascinating is that each occasion is completely different; from the imaginative and prescient and planning of the organizers, to the vibe of the attendees, to the tradition and alternatives of the encircling space.

If you take pleasure in assembly fellow truck campers, speaking about truck campers and truck tenting, and customarily having enjoyable with fellow human beings for whom you’ve gotten a shared ardour, put a truck camper rally or two in your bucket checklist.

If you need to attend the Northwest Truck Camper Rally sooner or later, observe their website and Facebook page for updates.  You may also try our Shows & Rallies web page for upcoming truck camper occasions.