Winnebago Wild: A New Group for Winnebago Owners Who Enjoy Outdoor Adventures

Winnebago Wild: A New Group for Winnebago Owners Who Enjoy Outdoor Adventures
Learn why this group was created and meet some of the group members!

By: Kenny & Sabrina Phillips 

About two years ago, I bought a Jeep Wrangler to tow behind our Winnebago. That led to an increasing passion for searching out boondocking spots to use our Winnebago Vista as a home base while exploring off-road areas in the Jeep. This has been great since Sabrina and our dog Belle typically do not like the off-road trails, so they can stay back in the RV, all comfy and cozy, while I explore the areas on my own. If I find something cool, I can go back and bring Sabrina to experience it too.

However, as I started going out more and more, I thought it would be nice to find a group of people to go off-roading and exploring with. I started searching for Jeep clubs in my area. To my surprise, there weren’t any, and when I looked to see if there was a Winnebago off-road Facebook group, I was surprised again to see nothing. This is when I had my "aha" moment of creating a new Facebook group and started Winnebago Wild.

Starting a New Winnebago Owners Facebook Group

To be honest, this was all new territory for me, as I had no experience with Facebook. I created a profile years ago, but never did anything with it. This led me to take a deep dive into how Facebook works and how to start a new group. Facebook has resources for those who are new to groups, but I’d also like to give a shout-out to my friend Stef Adinaro from The Fit RV, as she really took the time to walk me through how it all works. I consider Stef to be a Facebook guru, and I would have never been able to get this group off the ground without her help!

If you are also interested in starting a Facebook group for Winnebago owners, be sure to check the list of current Winnebago Owner Groups to make sure the people you are interested in connecting with don’t already have a group you can join. It can also be helpful to join some groups before starting your own to see how other admins run them. If you do make your own group, be sure to get it added to the list by filling out this form that the Winnebago team monitors.

Learn more about Winnebago’s welcoming GoLife Community.

How is the Winnebago Wild Owners Group Different from Others?

One of the main things I wanted to create with the Winnebago Wild Facebook Group is a place for all Winnebago owners of different styles of RVs to connect in a shared interest — from large motorhomes to small campervans and towables. In fact, we even have some members who don’t own a Winnebago yet.

I also didn’t want to limit it to people who used their RVs for off-roading only, as I enjoy hiking and biking as well. This group is really for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and wants to learn about new locations, share their favorite spots, and exchange tips and tricks for enjoying the outdoors—whether on wheels, by foot, or in the water.

As I write this, the group is currently very small (under one hundred members), but we have big plans, like weekend meetups in locations where there will be something for everyone to do. I am currently scouting areas and times of year that will accommodate many interests, as well as different camping styles, such as options for dry camping and campgrounds.

If you are a fellow group leader who wants to start planning owner events, this resource by Winnebago Ambassador Kathleen Hanson is a huge help in getting started!

Meet the Members: Get to Know Some Winnebago Wild Group Members!

Obviously, what’s going to make this group great is its members and how diverse they are in their exploring and travel styles—especially since we’re all in different style RVs and floorplans. I reached out to a few of our current members to ask if I could highlight them in this article and share how they like to travel and in what.

I hope their stories inspire you to broaden your explorations and get creative with how you use your RV!

Outdoor-Focused Towable Life

Austin and Kirsten have been RVing for about seven years. However, their love for the outdoors started when their kids were young. Living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, boating and camping were always part of their weekend plans. They started their travels with a rooftop tent and now travel in a Winnebago HIKE 100 with the FLX package, a small Winnebago travel trailer known for its off-grid and off-road capability. They enjoy everything about the outdoors and exploring local areas. One of their favorite ways to explore now is on their Lectric E-Bikes. The bikes make it easier and quicker to get around, and they give them the range to see it all. 

When I asked them why they chose Winnebago for their RV, they had this to say: “We are truly off-grid campers, and the HIKE 100 FLX fits our needs. While our other camper was a perfect starter camper for us, the HIKE 100 offered everything we needed, including a bathroom, all in a small footprint that goes wherever we pull it! Winnebago has exceptional craftsmanship, and they take pride in every little detail.” They are looking forward to this spring when they’ll be taking their Winnebago to Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC. (Read this article about their previous trip there.)

They hope that by being in the Winnebago Wild group, they will learn of new places to take their Winnebago—places they may never have thought of before. They also hope to meet up with group members while out and about.

Off-Grid in a Class A Winnebago

Matt Sullivan has been RVing for forty years and is currently on his fourth RV, a 2012 Winnebago Sightseer 33C Class A motorhome. Matt and his wife enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and do a considerable amount of off-roading. They’ve been part of various Jeep clubs throughout the years and are also on their fourth Jeep, a 2011 Wrangler Rubicon. They ran the Rubicon Trail several years ago with their 1986 CJ7. 

The Sullivans also enjoy participating with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. RVing has been a great way for them to tow their Jeep and use their Winnebago at week-long events. They chose their Winnebago based on the longevity and history of the company and really enjoy the layout of their 33C. The upgraded solar and battery system they installed in their motorhome helps them enjoy being off-grid for longer periods. 

As RVers who travel long-term in their Winnebago, they often find themselves work camping as they explore the U.S. They hope their travels allow them to meet up with members of the group and do some trail riding, as they now do less-organized Jeeping. 

Enjoying Nature in a Revel Van

Dan Wagner currently owns a 2023 Winnebago Revel but had a towable before that. He has always enjoyed the outdoors and activities such as fishing, hiking, boating, hunting, and exploring national parks. But surprisingly, these aren’t the reasons he bought an RV. He is recovering from chronic Lyme disease, and older homes didn’t agree with his symptoms—he always felt better out in nature. 

“My 4Runner with a rooftop tent was no longer good enough for what I needed. I really wanted a Winnebago Revel back in 2018, so I already knew quite a bit about them. I saw this as my opportunity to get one. Seventy thousand miles and two years later, the Winnebago Revel has been one of the best things I’ve ever purchased. It has filled my need for adventure along with helping me through my recovery from chronic Lyme disease,” Dan shared.

Because of his 9-to-5 work life, he’s found that Starlink is his new favorite gadget for the RV, as it allows him to work from anywhere. Dan also enjoys cooking and hopes to learn some new recipes from the group. Dan and his girlfriend plan to explore out west in 2025 and plan on kicking off the trip at the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Exploration by Jeep

Todd Hoffmaster currently doesn’t own a Winnebago or any RV. He does most of his exploring from his Jeep Wrangler with a rooftop tent. He enjoys camping, off-roading, and metal detecting. He has also owned a slide-in camper with a truck, but when they sold their truck, the camper went with it. So, the Jeep is their primary camper for now, but they are considering owning a small Class C (24-ft or under) to tow their Jeep. 

He enjoys the group because he gets to see and read about others’ adventures and particularly enjoys the topic of dry camping. He is currently exploring Arizona with his metal detector but will be off to Utah soon.

Class C RV Camping as a Family

Christina and JB Barin have been RVing for four years in their Winnebago Outlook. They enjoy stargazing, hiking, biking, building campfires, and having great scenic campsites. They purchased their Winnebago for these reasons and wanted an RV without a slide to stay as small as possible when choosing a boondocking spot. Their Winnebago has served them well, and they have made upgrades, such as lithium batteries, to stay unplugged longer.

They hope to meet other members in the group who have kids. One of the reasons they purchased a Winnebago (other than build quality) was to attend the Camp Winnebago rally because they really enjoy meeting other like-minded families. They hope to make it to this year’s Camp Winnebago and would also like to attend the Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. They are part-time RVers and will need to schedule these trips around their work. I hope they can make it to Camp Winnebago, as I would love to meet up with them again there.

You’re Invited to Join the Winnebago Wild Group!

After reading about the group and the different members we have, I hope you join us and start sharing where and how you travel. The larger the group becomes, the more stories we can all share with one another and learn from each other. Here is the link to join the group. Hope to see you down the road!