Winnebago Revel is a Class B Motorhome Ready to Go Anywhere
It may be the time of year, but I have a bad habit of always wanting to go places I can’t normally go. By this, I mean, while many would think of buying a new RV and exploring the many amazing campgrounds and parks across North America, I have this burning desire to go a little deeper into the wilds and find those places that are harder to access with a standard motorhome. I guess that is one of the many things that draws me to the Winnebago Revel Class B motorhome. This is one of those RVs that lets you really get out and explore, regardless of the driving conditions.
Not Just a Sprinter
You can probably guess by the logo on the grill that this isn’t your regular RV-van conversion. The Revel starts out with a-Benz Sprinter chassis, widely considered among the best of this type of chassis. While most Class-B RVs built on the Mercedes’ Sprinter platform are two-wheel drive, the Revel is a four-wheel drive machine. It has On-Demand four-wheel drive matched with BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires, one of the toughest tires on and off the road today. I’ve been driving on these tires with my truck for a long time now, and can attest to their traction and durability.
Shop for BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 Tires
The Winnebago Revel is powered by the 3.0-liter Mercedes inline six-cylinder turbo diesel engine that pumps out a respectable 188 horsepower through a five-speed automatic transmission. That may not seem like a ton of ponies, but with this set-up, it’s not about the horsepower, it’s the torque that is important. You’ll have plenty of power to cruise down the road, and enough torque to get you out of trouble back in the bush. Plus, this is a reliable and extremely durable drivetrain, so you’re going to get a lot of mileage out of it. I have heard of commercial drivers getting over a million miles out of this same drivetrain with only routine maintenance. I’ll take that kind of reliability any day.
Functionality
The interior is designed to make maximum use of the space and still give you plenty of room to haul your gear. Winnebago knows that the buyer for the Revel is going to be someone who plans to adventure and explore. Being a Sprinter van, there is only so much room, so the rear bed has a power lift in it with an underneath gear garage area to store your stuff. For me, this would be where I’d have the riding gear for the UTV I’d be towing behind the Revel as well as the hunting and fishing gear that would be coming along.
There is a wet-bath/toilet/gear closet for additional stuff as well as doing your business and washing up. Across from that is a small refrigerator unit, pantry, sink, single-burner stovetop and a flip-down counter extension. There is a small dinette area with seating for two. The two captain’s chairs in the cab of the van spin for additional seating.
The Winnebago Revel has a 2,000-watt power inverter with solar-panel battery chargers, and a heating and air-conditioning system. It’ll carry 21 gallons of water and 24.5 gallons of fuel, making it pretty self-sustaining for back country fun.
Who’s it for?
Like I said, this is a machine designed for those looking for an adventure. Winnebago markets it at the mountain biking and thrill-seeker crowds. Not knocking mountain bikers, but my idea of thrill seeking involves a UTV and some open trails, or some seriously wild terrain and a fresh hunting tag in my pocket. I would love to get my hands on one of these to use for a week or three in Wyoming, Montana and/or Alaska. I’d love to take my wife for a getaway hunting trip. The Revel is really designed for two, although you can sleep up to four if you get creative. Heck, I’ll give it a go and take the family out to Utah to explore the National Parks!
You can check out some more info on Winnebago’s Revel here. It’s not cheap by any means, with an MSRP of $134,799. But remember, this is a Mercedes’ platform, so it is going to hold its value. And if you’re in the market for an adventure RV and don’t have the budget for the EarthRoamer, this Winnebago is a great option.
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