What to Like and Not Like about the Winnebago Revel.
Winnebago introduced the Revel in the fall of 2017 as the first mass-produced, manufactured 4×4 RV in the United States. It essentially created a new category of compact motorhomes now known as “adventure vans.”
In this article, I review the pluses and minuses of the 2022 model and profile the top Adventure Van competitors to the Revel (among them the Thor Sanctuary, the Jayco Terrain, and the Pleasure-way Recon).
2022 Winnebago Revel – Pros and Cons
The 2022 model is an improved version of the original as Winnebago has had several years of experience and opportunity to fix design or quality flaws that were in the original model. They’ve also added features that this emerging market desires, like an improved ability to boondock in Winter.
The newest Revel offers – as standard equipped – several premium level features. It has improved the ruggedness of the unit, inside and out, to enable back country adventures without breakdowns.
Based on the short version of the 4 wheel drive Mercedes Sprinter chassis, the Revel is a compact 19’7″ long. It is easy to drive and able to fit in a normal parking spaces. Its’ compactness and the 4 wheel drive capability is also important for navigating back-country roads or trails. The Mercedes cab, with the additional options Winnebago has elected, provide a comfortable and luxurious driving experience
It comes standard with solar panels, 250 amp hours of lithium battery storage, a solar charging unit, a pure-sine inverter for 120 volt service off the batteries. An additional alternator in the engine compartment will charge the batteries in the event sunlight is not available for extended periods of time.
The fresh water storage tank has been moved to inside the vehicle so it won’t freeze. The Hydronic Heating System equally distributes heat throughout the unit. The 13,500 BTU air conditioning system will easily cool the unit during the hottest of days.
What to Like Most about the Revel
While the Revel is equipped with almost every useful amenity a person would want, topping the list is the Solar/Lithium Battery system that allows extended off-grid use. Second would be the 4 wheel drive and suspension that allows you to navigate into the back-country.
There are few other features I particularly like.
- The Convertible Wet Bath.
In a compact motorhome, interior space is at a premium. The Revel provides a shower and toilet in a very compact, but adequate space by eliminating a vanity sink. There’s also a full length wardrobe rod and two removable bamboo shelves that allow the bathroom to also be converted for use as a temporary storage closet.
- Huge Garage Storage Area.
The under-bed storage area is big enough for large items like golf club bags or bikes with the front wheels removed. But it is made even larger and more accessible by the fact the bed is a power bed that can be raised up to the ceiling. So lots of “toys” can accompany your camping trip. And during the day, the bed can be raised to expand the effective “living area” making the small space feel less claustrophobic.
- Bumped Out Sidewalls by the bed.
Most Class B Camper Vans are too narrow to allow the bed to be situated horizontally so they have to arrange the bed for sleeping length-wise, consuming extra interior space that could be put to other use. But by bumping out the side of the van where the bed sits, the Revel adds extra inches allowing the double bed to sleep occupants across the width of the unit.
- Spacious Kitchen/Galley Area.
The Revel seems to offer more countertop prep space than other short Class B camper vans. It achieves this through a sturdy counter-top extension and an easily moveable induction cooktop. There’s some handy kitchen drawers and a quite generous pantry closet. The rectangular stainless steel sink is a decent size and depth.
What You May Not Like about the Revel
- Missing Vanity Sink and Mirror.
Having achieved additional space by eliminating the “extra” sink in the shower-toilet room – only having one sink in the unit – Winnebago forgot to setup the kitchen sink so it can also be used as a vanity sink. There’s no provision for a mirror to wash your face, comb your hair or to shave. It also looks like you’d hit your head on the overhead cabinet if you tried to put your face over the sink while washing or brushing your teeth. - Missing Microwave Oven.
While the Revel is packed with all sorts of state-of-the-art electric and electronic gadgetry, Winnebago couldn’t find room for a microwave oven! It is as if the typical customer is a former tent-camper whose diet preferences are limited to what you can do with a Coleman camp stove. I find it difficult to comprehend spending $200,000 plus on a motorhome without a microwave oven. 🙂 - Price
Expensive things sometimes come in small packages. The Revel base model list price is over $210,000* . . . ouch! With some compensating luxuries, you pay quite a bit to live in a very tiny space!
but no vanity sink or mirror
Typical Revel Customer
I think the ideal Revel customer is an active outdoors person who enjoyed tent camping and backpacking, but who now can afford to pay a high price for some nice luxuries to be able to escape into nature away from the crowds . . . and bring along some “extra toys.”
See our Review of other compact Motorhomes offered by Winnebago
Adventure Van Alternatives to the Revel
Three of the major RV manufacturers have responded to the Revel’s popularity by offering their own Adventure Vans. They use the same 4×4 Short Wheel Base Sprinter chassis as the Revel and offer some of the same features. Some of these competitors are almost Revel clones while some offer more distinctive differences, among them being lower priced.
Below are brief profiles of Revel’s major competition. In a future article I’ll profile more completely the distinctions of these Adventure Van alternatives to the Winnebago Revel.
Thor Sanctuary
Thor’s Adventure Van entry addresses Revel’s high price tag. Their base price for the build on the same Short Wheel Base 4×4 Sprinter chassis is $171,640*. It is offered with two floor plans: the 19P features a rear couch and lounge area that converts into a bed; the 19L features a rear bed and garage-style storage similar to the Revel.
While the 19L model is similar to the Revel layout, it is less sophisticated. For example, unlike the Revel, the rear bed is fixed – not a power-activated rear bed that raises up to the ceiling to allow multiple uses of the space. Also unlike the Revel the sides of the van adjacent to the sleeping bed aren’t bumped out to allow a few more inches of head room.
Jayco Terrain
Jayco’s entry is essentially a Revel clone with a Revel-like high price tag. Most of the same features and layout. Just offers a little different look, different choices in appearance of cabinets, etc. Its base price starts at $201,000*.
Like the Revel it has a power bed and bumped-out sidewalls to give additional sleeping room and carry more/larger cargo. It also has the same shower/cassette toilet room that doubles as a storage closet. To complete the me-to comparison to the Revel, the Terrain also omits a place for the microwave oven. 🙂
Pleasure-Way Rekon
The Rekon builds on the same 4×4 short wheel base Sprinter chassis at the Revel. Its base price trims over $30,000 off the price of the Revel: msrp $175,500* USD.
Unlike the Revel and Terrain it does not have the power raised bed nor the sidewall bump-out to enable sleeping across the width of the unit. However, its bed design is a split murphy bed that folds up into the walls, enabling the cavernous garage style storage that the other adventure vans offer.
There also are a handful of smaller RV conversion shops that offer builds on the Sprinter 4×4 . . . but without some of the bells and whistles offered by the major manufacturers. Among them are the StoryTeller Overland and the Van Craft SWB.
In a future article I’ll profile more completely the distinctions of these five Adventure Van alternative to the Winnebago Revel.
Ross Reinhold, travel and rving editor and publisher
* MSRP quotes in this article were as of June 1, 2022. Unfortunately price increases occur frequently.