The Winnebago Revel: Fad or Fabulous?

Campervans are popular and in demand, and the Winnebago Revel is getting a lot of airplay. But is it a fad or fabulous? We spill the beans and look behind the scenes of this Winnebago campervan. 

Keep reading to learn about the Revel and its features. We also compare its competitors to see how it holds up. 

Let’s dive in.

What Is the Winnebago Revel? 

The Winnebago Revel is a Class B campervan on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis. It has a three-liter turbo diesel engine and on-demand four-wheel drive. 

Additionally, the Revel comes in six exterior colors and has one interior layout. It measures 19-feet-7-inches long and can sleep two people.

Winnebago’s Revel is ideal for a couple or solo traveler who wants to get off the beaten path. The size makes it easy to maneuver and fit in parking spots and campgrounds. And the four-wheel drive increases your ability to drive on rough terrain. 

What Makes the Revel Special?

The Winnebago Revel answered the need for a four-by-four campervan. It can handle slippery conditions better than a two-wheel-drive van and has some off-road capabilities. It has become Winnebago’s version of an overland vehicle. 

Revel owners rave about the 4×4 Mercedes, its drivability and features such as the Euro lift bed. But they have some complaints about connections and fittings in the van. 

Bill G. from RV Insider said, “Great rig. The design is really good, but the quality and workmanship are a little rough. Be prepared to troubleshoot and repair plumbing issues due to cheap connections and fittings. No issues with the electricity. It drives great!” 

Additionally, Mike M. said, “The most brilliant and unique feature is the Euro loft bed, which I haven’t seen in other RVs. And the flared out sides accommodate even a tall person for sleeping comfortably. The downside is that some of the fittings are not the best quality. Particularly, shelf hangers which rattle.”

In addition, John T. said, “The Revel is easy to drive, gets decent gas mileage, has enough room for two for about five plus days off grid. It pulls a light trailer with a four-wheeler easily. Overall, it’s really great van.” However, he feels the quality of the finishes doesn’t justify the price.

Others also have issues with the quality and some dissatisfaction with warranty work. With a high-priced campervan, we expect high-end construction. 

The Revel is notable for its road capabilities, but it needs some work on the interior living space. Let’s head inside and see what it features.

Pro Tip: Want to get off the beaten path? Find out Can You Overland in a Van?

Inside a Winnebago Revel

The Winnebago Revel has one floorplan. It has a power lift bed in the rear and a garage for storage. You also get a 49-by-79-inch bed. The Revel has a wet bath, which means it has a shower and toilet with a bi-fold door to give you more room when changing. This space doubles as a gear closet.

Across from the wet bath is a kitchenette with a pantry, sink, induction cooktop, and refrigerator. The countertop includes a removable counter extension. And there’s a fold-down outdoor table that you can access when the passenger side sliding door opens. 

Both captain’s chairs swivel to face the rear of the van. Behind the driver’s captain chair is a bench seat with a removable pedestal table. In addition, there is a storage shelf over the cab. 

Pro Tip: Want to know more about different Winnebago options? Find out Is the Winnebago Travato a Good Camper Van?

Winnebago Revel Specifications

The Winnebago Revel has an on-demand four-wheel drive with Hi/Lo range, electronic stability, and traction control. It also has four-wheel ABS brakes. 

Sitting on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, it has a 3-Liter, 6-cylinder, 188-horsepower, turbo-diesel engine. And it has a 7G-Tronic automatic transmission with a 220-amp alternator. On the road, the Revel averages around 18 miles per gallon fuel efficiency, depending on the terrain and speed. With a 24.5-gallon fuel tank, this means you can expect over 400 miles on a single tank.

It has a hitch with a 5,000-pound towing capacity and a 500-pound maximum vertical tongue weight. The Revel campervan measures 19 feet 7 inches long from bumper to bumper with a wheelbase of 144 inches. And the exterior is 10 feet high. The interior height is 6 feet 3 inches with a width of 5 feet 8 inches. 

The Revel has a 21-gallon freshwater tank and a 21-gallon gray holding tank with a cassette toilet with a five-gallon capacity.

Winnebago Revel Features

Features on the Winnebago Revel include a hydronic heating system and an optional Coleman air conditioner with a built-in thermostat and Bluetooth control. Paired with dual-paned windows, you’ll find that this rig is considered to be a three or four-season camper.

On the exterior, you’ll find a power awning with LED lighting, a movable ladder, and a luggage rack. The side door has a screen with a magnetic closure system, and the rear door has a screen and a blackout panel. You also get cool ground effect lighting under the running boards. 

Finally, you’ll find convenient features on the interior, including LED ceiling lights, a vent fan, USB charging ports, and a systems monitor. The windows are tinted dual-pane euro acrylic with cassette shades. And it comes with heavy-duty vinyl flooring.

How Much Does a Winnebago Revel Cost?

A Winnebago Revel starts at an MSRP of about $210,292. Yes, that’s a steep price tag for a campervan. So why is the Revel so expensive? 

The Revel’s price reflects some of the safety features of the high-end Mercedes Sprinter. It’s also due to things like its battery system. It has a 2,000-Watt inverter and 320-amp hours of lithium-ion battery with a dedicated second alternator to charge the system. 

Pro Tip: A camper van is quite the investment. Curious as to Why Sprinter Camper Vans Are Still So Obnoxiously Expensive? We crunched the numbers to explain why.

How Good Is the Revel Off-Road?

While the Winnebago Revel has four-wheel drive, it’s not suitable for extreme off-roading. Its limitations are mainly due to how much it can clear and its tires. 

If you plan to do heavy-duty off-roading in the Revel, consider upgrading the tires and suspension. However, it will easily be able to tackle dirt roads and well-worn two tracks.

Who Is the Winnebago Revel Good For?

The Winnebago Revel is a good campervan for a couple or solo traveler who wants to boondock off-grid but not go too far off the beaten path. 

The Revel is a bit bare-bones from the factory for full-time travel, but it could absolutely be done with some function-focused upgrades. It’s an excellent option for weekend getaways and seasonal trips. With some upgrades, it could do quite well for extended trips and for staying off-grid for moderate stretches of time.

We also recommend it as a second RV. For example, it works great if you have a large fifth wheel and want a smaller option for short trips. 

Alternative 4×4 Class B Campervans Competing with Revel

The Winnebago Revel’s main competitors include Thor’s Sanctuary and Jayco’s Terrain. The Sanctuary is also a Sprinter van with four-by-four capabilities. It ramps up the electrical with a 3,000-Watt inverter and 400-amp hours of lithium battery power, and a 200-Watt solar panel. It also comes at a lower price than the Revel, starting at an MSRP of $172,000. In addition, you can get it in two layouts, one with a stationary bed and one with a bench seat that turns into a bed. We like the options and slightly better floorplans than the Revel.

The Jayco Terrain also has a 144-inch wheelbase and is a Sprinter 4×4 van. It has a 3,500-Watt inverter, 200-Watt solar panels on the roof, and a 210-amp hour lithium battery. Its interior is almost identical to Winnebago’s Revel. The MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) starts at an MSRP of $201,000. 

While Winnebago tends to have the best reputation and track record with motorized RVs, Thor’s Sanctuary is a strong competitor with more options and more off-grid power. It also features all-terrain tires and Thule accessories like a bike rack. In addition, it has heating pads on the holding tanks. 

Winnebago Revel: Fad or Fabulous?

The Winnebago Revel imade a big splash when it came out as one of the first 4×4 camper vans from a manufacturer. For leading the pack, it provided some nice features but competition is catching up and passing it. With some upgrades, it could really outshine its competitors. It’s a good option and worthy of the Winnebago campervan lineup. However, we would like to see more off-road features and off-grid power to make this a more capable adventure machine.

What do you think? Would you consider investing in a Winnebago Revel? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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