0:00 - Intro 1:14 - Why I Chose A Revel 5:05 - How I Bought This Revel 7:37 - Factory Delivery Experience 11:38 - Exterior Tour 21:57 - Interior Tour 27:00 - Revel Intricacies 34:25 - Electrical System Overview 42:10 - Problems So Far 45:58 - Upgrades / Modifications 52:25 - Driving The Revel 1:00:25 - Final Thoughts
You didn't cover the drivers assistance features, what I wanted to know How is the Lane Keep assist on this Sprinter? electric steering? auto steer will correct and put you back in lane?? Did they improve the drivers assistance functions from the earlier model years ?
I think this guy holds the Guinness book of records for speaking coherently without ever saying “um”. He is the verbal one shot scene from True Detective Season 1. Well done brotha and thank you for the creating this video for those of us still on the fence.
Yeah my buddies trailer shower and sink was broken and took almost a year before the dealer fixed it. We had to keep pulling it out of the dealer to use it (without the sink and shower) and take it back to dealer once we were done in hopes they would get it fixed. The RV industry is in terrible shape right now.
@@cafe88racer53 Under warranty why would you pay for parts yourself and labor? There were multiple other things that needed warranty work too like the broken awning, but I didn't feel the need to list them all LOL.
We've had a 2020(2019 chassis) for over a year now. A LOT of little bugs to work out, which as you say you expect. We live in Austin, and wife picked it up in San Diego. First night driving it back, plugs in at an RV spot in Tucson, no rooftop AC. Blows, but not cold. It is 92 degrees, at 8 pm. Not a happy camper. Long story short, it was the wrong rooftop AC installed. The one on there had a heater also, which the Revel is not wired for. Also on the drive back, starts raining, the antenna seal is leaking and dripping water through the top console. This caused my wife to start leaking out of her eye holes. All that was fixed, but when you spend a lot of money, you should have perfection. At the price point these are at now, Winnebago needs to up their quality control game significantly. I recommend others to look at other van conversion companies such as Sportsmobile. Love the van, just not happy with Winnebagos QC. Currently looking for a replacement for that debacle folding galley faucet, which is designed to fail.
Owl Vans in Calif is an aftermarket bonanza of accessories for your Revel. Exhaust system for starters, Kyle. The exhaust kit you can DIY! Pedal Control Kit for the turbo lag. DIY ease! Owl has You Tube how tos! Rear ladder system instead of the Winnebago cheezy ladder. A rear step. A rear door tire mount system. A rear windows replacement system. A front bumper system. Suspension upgrades that Owl Vans has identified, and remedied too. John, owner of Owl Vans is totally cool to work with.
With a vehicle that’s that high of a ticket item, there are way too many damned design flaws, and necessary modifications to make this thing worth the “investment”. Thank you so very much for your honest review.
Thanks for adding a driving review. Most reviewers leave this out. I know turbos can have a lag, but you're the first to show (or even mention) that it is pretty severe.
Revel 2022 owner since April, 6000 miles so far. The Inverter does not need to be turned on and off in the gear garage. Keep it off back there and just turn it on/off at the One Panel. Never had an issue with it. Some may find that you cannot connect city water unless you leave the door open. We have found we are never in one place with hookups more than one night (we prefer boon docking) so that is not an issue. Plus if it runs out, just open the door and fill it up!
Happy to see RV Dealers are negotiating given the lack of inventory. Typically pre-covid you could expect a 30% discount easy. May I ask, what you ended up purchasing for? Final price vs. MSRP.
We've seen both the 2022 Tiffin build and the 2022 Revel and the inside quality of the build of the Tiffin is shockingly low quality for the price. The inside of the cupboards actually cracked open with a tiny test push to see if it was sturdy and the seal just broke so easily. Glue strips were peeling off that held storage space pockets and floor strips were peeling! It was brand new! The Revel seemed like a much more quality build in comparison with steel trim on the cupboards and doors, nothing was very worn or broken that we could see and it had 5k miles on it from previous owner. Good to know about the flaws/broken elements you shared because we haven't bought it yet so I want to give it another walk though. Also another drive to test out that power issue! Thanks again for the video!
Thank you for the thorough walk-through. The only reason I can think of for the extended running boards is for stone and debris kickup protection. Those large tires will kickup stones a lot further than most.
The Sprinter itself is a good van, I have driven a lot of all generations. The Winnebago part is ok but doesn't look very high quality. And the price is astronomus. Way to expensive. You get much better made 4x4 Sprinter RV's for a lot less money out here in Germany. Identical cars a mostly cheaper in the US. But those Sprinter RV's are way cheaper out here in europe. But I wish you a lot of fun and allzeit gute Fahrt (always a good drive).
@@javieroramas2764 $200k + 😂 SMH And a 1 year waiting list at some dealers. I built 1 that way better for maybe $40k van cost included. Nobody could ever convince me that these vans are worth $200k sorry just a case of more $ than sence
Kyle- Check out Don't waste your money on batteries by Morton's on the Move. That guy must be an electrical engineer and does a deep dive into lithium batteries. Your content contradicted him on some critical points: 1-Lithium performs great in cold weather doesn't need heat, just insulation, 2- You can run them down lower than you mention. PS: Love your delivery and demeanor and I'm sure you will do well as a Van Life you tuber as well.
I was almost ready to buy one. Not any more... I do not want to be treated to inferior product and inferior service. For my wife an I, just car camping in our comfy, reliable SUV, plus a tent, plus occasional hotel stay -- that is the way to travel in our retirement. Thank you so much for doing this independent video. There are too many promotional dealership vids -- and they do not tell the truth.
200k for a 53k van is wild to me, it’s not like they add anything crazy, it’s all stuff people routinely add on themselves from 3rd party sellers. If you have the money, and don’t enjoy having control of what the space will look like, then sure, go ahead. I’m certain that you can build a better van on this exact same chassis with that spare 147k, you could have enough lithium to power a village and enough solar panels to do the same and you wouldn’t make a dent into that 147k. If the interior was something really unique and special and not just your run of the mill most basic cabinetry in the industry then maybe I could justify it as being something niche or novelty that you’re paying for the uniqueness of and/or custom craftsmanship, but the reality is there’s nothing unique at all about the interior and it is painfully standard and the price is not justified in any facet. Winnebago makes a bunch of trailers that are 23-30 feet long fully furnished with full bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchens with appliances and they cost 30k and have better craftsmanship than this van, so where is that cost coming from I guess is my main gripe. I don’t hate the van, it’s a cool van, I just really dislike the premise, the margins for Winnebago on this van have to be 10x what their margins are for the rest of their lineup, and that bothers me.
I’m not saying any of this as an attack on you for purchasing the van, I totally understand the appeal and why you purchased the van etc. I just have a major gripe with how it he can is marketed and/or priced. I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it and it brings you a lot of traffic to your channel. Thanks for the super detailed video. .
Wow- You're a lucky guy. Have fun! I will keep supporting this channel so please upload more videos on EV and RV ownership haha. Keep up the good work Kyle.
2021 Revel owner here: The rear diff is actually lower than the side tail pipe (I added a guard to the diff.) Haven't had an issue with the side pipe in a year of ownership off road - did add a van compass suspension kit this winter. Owl does make an extension to move behind the back tire. Nice video - enjoy
My oh my. We took a Winnebago Navion from NC to TX and back. The worst part was driving past semis or even being passed by other cars. The thing would get blown all over the road and due to its top heavy design it really would lean heavy when taking any kind of curves or low speed bumps. The 3.0L V6 turbodiesel is also extremely underpowered. MB needs to step up their game.
Owl Vans has exhaust kit to convert. They actually have some of the highest quality accessories/ MODs for Revel on the market. A lot of RV/Van shops also sell or install for you.
This is a great review!! Thank you so much for doing it. I do think that such an expensive vehicle should have a higher quality. Storyteller's seem to be better built. I was just at the Lake Tahoe Adventure Van Expo and I was able to see many vans and the quality does change dramatically even though the prices are all around the same 150k to 200k bracket.
You gave a good video and covered a large amount of info which most will want to hear. That turbo lag is a bother. I have the Sprinter van and it has no turbo lag. Talk to some mechanic who knows the MB Sprinter and he-she may be able to find a solution to either adjust the throttle or improve the intake-not just open up the air path but get the air to move quicker from the stop. You know some motors have a plenum in the air path that allow a quicker response and yet does not intrude on high end performance.
That's MSRP. Even in the current high-demand market for RVs, they sell significantly below MSRP. Much more so than with cars. Discounts of 20-40% are typical. Also, if you get an RV that has the qualifications to be considered a dwelling (bathroom, kitchen, sleeping area) then you can deduct the financing interest paid on your taxes, just like a mortgage.
@@JonathanVanMatrePersonal that’s good to know. Wasn’t aware of the home benefit, my parents only owned pop up trailers as a kid never a powered vehicle.
I’m not saying it compares. If they want it 👍. I hope he does well with it. I follow his channel for his EV (road trips 😉) coverage. If he wants to change direction that’s fine. I’m sure there are others out there that like expensive RV’s too. Just not my cup of tea but who am I to say what he buys? It’s a free country.
All RVs are built like garbage. It is just a fact of life. Electrical cables that have been stapled through are common. Someone 'accidentally' failing to connect the generator to the vehicle, or better yet, leaving a disconnected fuel line hanging. Or windows that apparently don't need the gasket to hold them in, or 'oops, we might have forgotten to bolt the house onto the chassis.' Quality control is apparently one of those terms completely foreign to RV manufacturers.
Agree 100 percent in 99.9 of the RVs on the road. But you need to give credit to companies like Newell. Sure, their RVs cost millions but the quality is there. You can get a nice used Newell or a custom used Prevost for the price of this Winnebago.
Your experience reminds me when I bought a 1999 Eurovan Winnebago many years ago. Winnebago has not changed in twenty years. The VW chassis was great, the Winnebago portion not so much - constant rattles, leaks, etc. Whenever there was an issue Winnebago said it was a VW issue, VW said it was a Winnebago issue. Learned a lot so I could repair the issues rather than dealing with dealers. The camping was great!
Best improvement for ride is a Van Compass stage 4 suspension kit! Makes is less bouncy, stable in high winds and cornering, well worth every penny. I own a 2019 Revel... LOVE IT! IT'S NOT A SPORTSCAR!
The key by the bed control is there so you can remove the key so the bed can't be raised or lowered if someone is on it or below it. Probably a safety thing. Great video!
It will be so nice when we get EV RVs with expandable solar. Right now RVs use gas/diesel from propulsion and front HVAC, propane for heat/hot water/cooking, small batteries for A/C and electrical outlets. A large RV traction battery for all power will be the dream of the future, with no more propane and gas/diesel fill-ups. And with enough solar you can boondock for maybe 2 weeks to gain enough range to get to your next destination.
We have the KO2 on our rig and we don’t notice unusually loud road noise. We just upgraded from the factory Nexans. The softness of the tread is great off road but gives a higher level of compliance on the road. I put the KO2 on factory steelies.
Superbly balanced review. Great to break it up into chapters, great to talk both sides, pluses and minuses, which spawns dialogue by the viewer on topics we'd otherwise not considered. If I would make one suggestion, spend a bit more time on describing your personal habits and routine; eg., how you prepare meals, what are your normal activities outdoors..biking etc ? This will give me a better idea of utility. I could see this as something that allows me to go to some mix of beautiful places, but still work effectively as a virtual person. So it's good to know how you use and set up your workspace (if you do).... and so on. But really great job. One last thing: I don't want to start my RV experience with a purchase. I don't know enough. Is it easy to rent a Revel for several weeks?
Great job Kyle! I continued to pick up several more pointers in addition to the personal electronic tutorial in the grocery store parking lot in Frisco, CO. Thank you very much!
Dec. 20th 2021 Thank you, for your accurate evaluation of your 2022 Winnebago Revel 4x4 I will agree with you, and that is It’s a good built… but a lot of up grades need to be added….. give & take Situation, I’ve looked at Lot of RUclips videos & there are about TEN upgrades that are Essential, especially the current Suspension, system & power solar increase to (a) 2000 watt inverter lithium battery package increase amp. To; 600 amps also, water tank capacity by removing the little donut spare tire from underneath & mounting it to the rear back door & put in place EXTRA 21 gal. Tank of water That will add to the already 25 gal. Fresh water tank. Hammerhead front grill & witch pull system & seating bench inside the back… area, & add air compressor also, Compressor freezer, Now that should do it….. THX Again for your up close & Personal evaluation….Stay Safe & Healthy out There…..
I cannot believe the price of these RVs in the US. For the price of the Winnebago you can get a 170 here in the U.K. with top quality build, spec and layout for less money. I would have thought the US with its much bigger Off-road RV scene and seemingly endless number of builders would be cheaper. Also, in my limited experience of buying US gear of any kind generally it is better quality and cheaper than the U.K. …. I can’t work out why not the same with RVs?
We picked up our Revel in Sacramento at the dealer. It only had 67 miles on the odometer. I have seen them on flat transports crossing the country on my drives. So they DO NOT show up with 1200 miles on them. Plus we found no flaws at delivery and during the weeks since. I guess IT DOES MATTER who you buy from.
Good video. So you have discovered how a local dealer can help with the niggles that every RV has upon delivery. You can repair many of the small items yourself but I think like you, "why have to fix these items yourself on a new rig". We had 3 service visits year 1 on our Class A with 30+ items which were broken or not adjusted properly.
Kyle very good video 👍 very informative, I am not a RV guy however it was good to see/hear about your experience thus far .. still can’t believe I watched this video in full, and for anyone that is thinking of skipping don’t it’s a real eye opener.. leaded allot .. the only major take away is for performance you need a BEV RV... life is good after that no tune needed..
It is NOT ok to dump gray water into city storm drains, as stated in this video. I'm a spill responder for a small city and that gray water will go right into a creek or lake where people swim, and any soap or other pollutants can kill fish and other aquatic life. Gray water should always be sent to a sanitary sewer, not a storm drain. Leaving aside the negative environmental impact, you can also get a fine for illegal dumping.
We picked it up with the 1200 miles from a dealer with the same sort of experience. We didn’t exist after wiring the money and receiving the keys :D There was factory pickup available though and we’d still pay the delivery fee for us non-youuber’s
The biggest issue i've had w/ Winnebago is declining build quality, especially since they started aiming more for the 4 seasons/offgrid camping market(see: Ekko). Where companies like Storyteller Overland, Grech RV, Sportsmobile and others have been taking this MB platform and doing awesome stuff like better batteries, cabinet/furniture quality, insulation and layout design, WB just buys it and slaps a coat of paint on the thing. I'm also in agreement on another thing: The RV industry needs to start offering more "White Glove" customer service from initial order to delivery of unit. The days of Billy Bob and his Oil-Soaked Bib Overall World Of RVs has passed.
Get some crc heavy marine corrosion inhibitor and spray every thing under the rv provides great rust protection. I DONT work for them but the product is great. Its like a liquid cosmoline that dries on.
Kyle, had you decided on the Revel, or did you look at other options before deciding? Curious if you the Airstream Interstate 19 was on your list, and if yes, how you decided. Thanks.
I camped all the time as a kid, but never in an RV. The problem now is with four kids, you're buying a house to transport six people. $200k. oof. I am very jealous. I know you're excited but for $200k some of those defects...come on. Maybe that's what you get when the dealer delivers it but I agree with you on the method they use, without a transporter someone who doesn't care about the thing is going rag it out to get the job done so they can do another delivery.
Awesome video! Do you mind sharing what type of financing you got? Whats the monthly payment one can expect from this and also how many mpg do you get and how often do you need to fill up? Im in the market for one but I have to calculate all expenses. Ohh before I forget, what the ball park for the insurance?
The Xantrex batteries are probably LFP, which is fine leaving at 100%. The one thing that could hurt it is charging below freezing, but it may already have a low temp disconnect.
I like the bathroom in the revel.. WGO really needs to do a volta system like in the STO for the revel... I have 2022 Travato GL on order - hopefully delivered next month.. I wish the Travato had a cassette toilet rather than its black tank -- I may well do a mod to put a cassette in the Travato
You mentioned that the 4x4’s are built in Germany, We ordered a 2021, 170”, 4x4 last December for a Storyteller style buildout (supposed to be in August 1st) and the dealer said it was being built in the SC factory. Nice video review, we have a few Tesla’s and always get a kick out of your vids.
Pretty through video description of the REVEL. Note your comment about panels in the cab, those are all Mercedes and not Winnebago. Winnebago buys the crew cab version and then changes the interior from the drivers backrest to the front. I have a 2019 Revel with the older engine and transmission (2018 Chassis), AGM batteries still but reliable. I added a solar suitcase 125 W panel for external use and also carry a Jackery 1500 solar generator with 4 100W solar panels. Works great and saves on chassis battery use.
If you can track regenerations, I'd love to know what your regen frequency is before and after a tune. I agree the van is underpowered, but I am not willing to sacrifice longevity of the DPF; I'd probably buy a 1-ton pickup based camper if it starts impacting emissions reliability.
I don't know if you fixed your no power issue or not yet, but I believe it is a body sensor issue. I recently got s decent amount of snow near me, and the 360 sensors were blocked, so when I hit the fuel pedal, it was like I wasn't hitting it at all, and then it went after about 5-10 seconds, I even felt like I died in the middle of the intersection, it was a bit scary. I turned off the proximity sensor stuff, and the problem was solved. "off the line, this van is a dog" it is not, there is a problem with your specific van or the sensors. I hope you already figured it out.
Great walkthrough, but damn, that’s some awful build quality for that price. Also with the overheating inverter, weird ladder on the back that you can’t use and that ridiculous exhaust… I think Reimo of Westfalia would do a lot better.
You should invest in a Volta Power System and run your AC all night instead of 2 hours. And when the Volta battery gets depleted the motor will automatically start and recharge your Volta system.
It’s not a good idea to idle the Diesel engine in the Sprinter for too long. This will clog up the particle filter. Im sure that’s why Winnebago didn’t put an auto-engine start system in the Revel
There’s a HUGE opportunity for Tesla, Rivian or another EV maker to build a fully electric sub 20ft van-sized camper. The entire product category currently seems super complicated from a basic knowledge level consumer perspective. Different types of batteries, solar, inverter, LP, diesel, heating, AC, etc. And all of this complicated tech for ~$200k? Ouch.
A new F150 hybrid with built in 1.6kw battery pack can have several 115 v AC outlets in the bed and even has a 30 amp outlet for your travel trailer. 7.2kw capacity and uses the engine to charge the batteries. Would make a nice tow vehicle for a smaller camper and you don't need to drag a generator with you.
@@jamesvelvet3612 although not a truck or van, I love my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, plug in hybrid with 1500 watt outlets and multiple ways to charge the battery (level 2 charger, 110, regen, gas while driving or idle). Has been awesome to cook out of at MX tracks for my kid's races or to charge their electric MX bikes. I know Ford has a Transit van in Europe that is a plug in hybrid but they will only be offering the full EV version up here in Canada.
Hey you mentioned taking the Winnebago branding off the Revel. I have heard that Winnebago makes you work harder for warranty claims if you remove their branding. True?
0:00 - Intro
1:14 - Why I Chose A Revel
5:05 - How I Bought This Revel
7:37 - Factory Delivery Experience
11:38 - Exterior Tour
21:57 - Interior Tour
27:00 - Revel Intricacies
34:25 - Electrical System Overview
42:10 - Problems So Far
45:58 - Upgrades / Modifications
52:25 - Driving The Revel
1:00:25 - Final Thoughts
You didn't cover the drivers assistance features, what I wanted to know How is the Lane Keep assist on this Sprinter? electric steering? auto steer will correct and put you back in lane?? Did they improve the drivers assistance functions from the earlier model years ?
I think this guy holds the Guinness book of records for speaking coherently without ever saying “um”. He is the verbal one shot scene from True Detective Season 1. Well done brotha and thank you for the creating this video for those of us still on the fence.
You can catch the only “um” at 8:59. I wish I didn’t read this comment. 🤣
@@tuomasholo lol
He says uhhhh, a lot. Same thing as um
The RV industry is so ready for Lexus style customer service. Whoever figures out the improved customer service will dominate the market.
Totally agree!
Yeah my buddies trailer shower and sink was broken and took almost a year before the dealer fixed it. We had to keep pulling it out of the dealer to use it (without the sink and shower) and take it back to dealer once we were done in hopes they would get it fixed. The RV industry is in terrible shape right now.
@@dwaynedwayne1964 diy ftw!
One way is for manufacturers that want to improve the industry disintermediate the low performing dealers ruthlessly.
@@cafe88racer53 Under warranty why would you pay for parts yourself and labor? There were multiple other things that needed warranty work too like the broken awning, but I didn't feel the need to list them all LOL.
We've had a 2020(2019 chassis) for over a year now. A LOT of little bugs to work out, which as you say you expect. We live in Austin, and wife picked it up in San Diego. First night driving it back, plugs in at an RV spot in Tucson, no rooftop AC. Blows, but not cold. It is 92 degrees, at 8 pm. Not a happy camper. Long story short, it was the wrong rooftop AC installed. The one on there had a heater also, which the Revel is not wired for. Also on the drive back, starts raining, the antenna seal is leaking and dripping water through the top console. This caused my wife to start leaking out of her eye holes. All that was fixed, but when you spend a lot of money, you should have perfection. At the price point these are at now, Winnebago needs to up their quality control game significantly. I recommend others to look at other van conversion companies such as Sportsmobile. Love the van, just not happy with Winnebagos QC. Currently looking for a replacement for that debacle folding galley faucet, which is designed to fail.
Winnebago should be ashamed, really.
Owl Vans in Calif is an aftermarket bonanza of accessories for your Revel. Exhaust system for starters, Kyle. The exhaust kit you can DIY!
Pedal Control Kit for the turbo lag. DIY ease!
Owl has You Tube how tos!
Rear ladder system instead of the Winnebago cheezy ladder.
A rear step. A rear door tire mount system.
A rear windows replacement system.
A front bumper system.
Suspension upgrades that Owl Vans has identified, and remedied too.
John, owner of Owl Vans is totally cool to work with.
With a vehicle that’s that high of a ticket item, there are way too many damned design flaws, and necessary modifications to make this thing worth the “investment”. Thank you so very much for your honest review.
Thanks for adding a driving review. Most reviewers leave this out. I know turbos can have a lag, but you're the first to show (or even mention) that it is pretty severe.
Revel 2022 owner since April, 6000 miles so far. The Inverter does not need to be turned on and off in the gear garage. Keep it off back there and just turn it on/off at the One Panel. Never had an issue with it. Some may find that you cannot connect city water unless you leave the door open. We have found we are never in one place with hookups more than one night (we prefer boon docking) so that is not an issue. Plus if it runs out, just open the door and fill it up!
Hi how long can AC run in the evening? Our Revel is being built and I can’t seem to get an answer on this topic.. thanks B
@@brianserino6937 2 - 2.5 hrs
Happy to see RV Dealers are negotiating given the lack of inventory. Typically pre-covid you could expect a 30% discount easy. May I ask, what you ended up purchasing for? Final price vs. MSRP.
Me too
Great review. Disappointing at the low build quality in this price range though.
This is exactly what I needed. A revel review from a car and ev guy. You da man
Table: Nylon washers or 7-20 mil film or Tri-Flow to add Teflon. (Bike Shop or Hardware Store)
$200K with those faults? I'd take it back...
149 -159k
We've seen both the 2022 Tiffin build and the 2022 Revel and the inside quality of the build of the Tiffin is shockingly low quality for the price. The inside of the cupboards actually cracked open with a tiny test push to see if it was sturdy and the seal just broke so easily. Glue strips were peeling off that held storage space pockets and floor strips were peeling! It was brand new! The Revel seemed like a much more quality build in comparison with steel trim on the cupboards and doors, nothing was very worn or broken that we could see and it had 5k miles on it from previous owner. Good to know about the flaws/broken elements you shared because we haven't bought it yet so I want to give it another walk though. Also another drive to test out that power issue! Thanks again for the video!
Thank you for the thorough walk-through. The only reason I can think of for the extended running boards is for stone and debris kickup protection. Those large tires will kickup stones a lot further than most.
The Sprinter itself is a good van, I have driven a lot of all generations. The Winnebago part is ok but doesn't look very high quality. And the price is astronomus. Way to expensive. You get much better made 4x4 Sprinter RV's for a lot less money out here in Germany. Identical cars a mostly cheaper in the US. But those Sprinter RV's are way cheaper out here in europe.
But I wish you a lot of fun and allzeit gute Fahrt (always a good drive).
How much there ?
Cool! We just put a deposit on a 2022! Can’t wait to see what you post on here the good, the not so good, and the mix in between.
We’re also in CO!
How much guys
ridicuously high price!
@@javieroramas2764 $200k + 😂 SMH And a 1 year waiting list at some dealers. I built 1 that way better for maybe $40k van cost included. Nobody could ever convince me that these vans are worth $200k sorry just a case of more $ than sence
How long before delivery?
Kyle- Check out Don't waste your money on batteries by Morton's on the Move. That guy must be an electrical engineer and does a deep dive into lithium batteries. Your content contradicted him on some critical points: 1-Lithium performs great in cold weather doesn't need heat, just insulation, 2- You can run them down lower than you mention. PS: Love your delivery and demeanor and I'm sure you will do well as a Van Life you tuber as well.
I was almost ready to buy one. Not any more...
I do not want to be treated to inferior product and inferior service.
For my wife an I, just car camping in our comfy, reliable SUV, plus a tent, plus occasional hotel stay -- that is the way to travel in our retirement.
Thank you so much for doing this independent video. There are too many promotional dealership vids -- and they do not tell the truth.
200k for a 53k van is wild to me, it’s not like they add anything crazy, it’s all stuff people routinely add on themselves from 3rd party sellers. If you have the money, and don’t enjoy having control of what the space will look like, then sure, go ahead. I’m certain that you can build a better van on this exact same chassis with that spare 147k, you could have enough lithium to power a village and enough solar panels to do the same and you wouldn’t make a dent into that 147k. If the interior was something really unique and special and not just your run of the mill most basic cabinetry in the industry then maybe I could justify it as being something niche or novelty that you’re paying for the uniqueness of and/or custom craftsmanship, but the reality is there’s nothing unique at all about the interior and it is painfully standard and the price is not justified in any facet. Winnebago makes a bunch of trailers that are 23-30 feet long fully furnished with full bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchens with appliances and they cost 30k and have better craftsmanship than this van, so where is that cost coming from I guess is my main gripe. I don’t hate the van, it’s a cool van, I just really dislike the premise, the margins for Winnebago on this van have to be 10x what their margins are for the rest of their lineup, and that bothers me.
I’m not saying any of this as an attack on you for purchasing the van, I totally understand the appeal and why you purchased the van etc. I just have a major gripe with how it he can is marketed and/or priced. I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it and it brings you a lot of traffic to your channel. Thanks for the super detailed video. .
Wow- You're a lucky guy. Have fun! I will keep supporting this channel so please upload more videos on EV and RV ownership haha. Keep up the good work Kyle.
This channel doesn’t have much EV stuff going on. Here or there but expect mostly combustion. Thanks for watching
2021 Revel owner here: The rear diff is actually lower than the side tail pipe (I added a guard to the diff.) Haven't had an issue with the side pipe in a year of ownership off road - did add a van compass suspension kit this winter. Owl does make an extension to move behind the back tire. Nice video - enjoy
My oh my. We took a Winnebago Navion from NC to TX and back. The worst part was driving past semis or even being passed by other cars. The thing would get blown all over the road and due to its top heavy design it really would lean heavy when taking any kind of curves or low speed bumps. The 3.0L V6 turbodiesel is also extremely underpowered. MB needs to step up their game.
Owl Vans has exhaust kit to convert. They actually have some of the highest quality accessories/ MODs for Revel on the market. A lot of RV/Van shops also sell or install for you.
Like the ladder/spare carrier combo whose 1st accessible rung is 5 feet off the ground when the spare is there? They have poor designs and high prices
This is a great review!! Thank you so much for doing it. I do think that such an expensive vehicle should have a higher quality. Storyteller's seem to be better built. I was just at the Lake Tahoe Adventure Van Expo and I was able to see many vans and the quality does change dramatically even though the prices are all around the same 150k to 200k bracket.
Outstanding RV & content. The Ford Ekko looks cool too
You gave a good video and covered a large amount of info which most will want to hear. That turbo lag is a bother. I have the Sprinter van and it has no turbo lag. Talk to some mechanic who knows the MB Sprinter and he-she may be able to find a solution to either adjust the throttle or improve the intake-not just open up the air path but get the air to move quicker from the stop. You know some motors have a plenum in the air path that allow a quicker response and yet does not intrude on high end performance.
$200K?? Wow. That’s three nice Tesla’s. I hope you get a lot of views to pay for it. Not my cup of tea but I’m glad you like it.
This is a house with wheels and an engine. Why would you compare it to a Tesla? Or 3?
That's MSRP. Even in the current high-demand market for RVs, they sell significantly below MSRP. Much more so than with cars. Discounts of 20-40% are typical.
Also, if you get an RV that has the qualifications to be considered a dwelling (bathroom, kitchen, sleeping area) then you can deduct the financing interest paid on your taxes, just like a mortgage.
@@JonathanVanMatrePersonal that’s good to know. Wasn’t aware of the home benefit, my parents only owned pop up trailers as a kid never a powered vehicle.
I’m not saying it compares. If they want it 👍. I hope he does well with it. I follow his channel for his EV (road trips 😉) coverage. If he wants to change direction that’s fine. I’m sure there are others out there that like expensive RV’s too. Just not my cup of tea but who am I to say what he buys? It’s a free country.
@@CrankyOldNerd You can do it for trailers as well, as long as it qualifies as a primary or secondary residence.
All RVs are built like garbage. It is just a fact of life. Electrical cables that have been stapled through are common. Someone 'accidentally' failing to connect the generator to the vehicle, or better yet, leaving a disconnected fuel line hanging.
Or windows that apparently don't need the gasket to hold them in, or 'oops, we might have forgotten to bolt the house onto the chassis.'
Quality control is apparently one of those terms completely foreign to RV manufacturers.
Agree 100 percent in 99.9 of the RVs on the road. But you need to give credit to companies like Newell. Sure, their RVs cost millions but the quality is there. You can get a nice used Newell or a custom used Prevost for the price of this Winnebago.
Your experience reminds me when I bought a 1999 Eurovan Winnebago many years ago. Winnebago has not changed in twenty years. The VW chassis was great, the Winnebago portion not so much - constant rattles, leaks, etc. Whenever there was an issue Winnebago said it was a VW issue, VW said it was a Winnebago issue. Learned a lot so I could repair the issues rather than dealing with dealers. The camping was great!
Best improvement for ride is a Van Compass stage 4 suspension kit! Makes is less bouncy, stable in high winds and cornering, well worth every penny. I own a 2019 Revel... LOVE IT!
IT'S NOT A SPORTSCAR!
Awesome. Long term Revel and Revel related issues/upgrades specifically is hard to find.
The key by the bed control is there so you can remove the key so the bed can't be raised or lowered if someone is on it or below it. Probably a safety thing. Great video!
It will be so nice when we get EV RVs with expandable solar. Right now RVs use gas/diesel from propulsion and front HVAC, propane for heat/hot water/cooking, small batteries for A/C and electrical outlets. A large RV traction battery for all power will be the dream of the future, with no more propane and gas/diesel fill-ups. And with enough solar you can boondock for maybe 2 weeks to gain enough range to get to your next destination.
Newbie : “ more storage than you know what to do with “. Haha, just wait buddy.
With 3 large dogs, so beside those good boys/girls themselves, you’ll always carry a fifteen-kilo bag of food, so the garage is all theirs.
Just wondering. Where do you store your clothes?
We have the KO2 on our rig and we don’t notice unusually loud road noise. We just upgraded from the factory Nexans. The softness of the tread is great off road but gives a higher level of compliance on the road. I put the KO2 on factory steelies.
Owl vans offers an exhaust option, along with Agile Off-road offering an item reinstall
29:00 there are RVs with self-leveling hydraulic systems but I don’t think they’ve made their way into Class B yet.
Wow the turbo lag on that thing is crazy
Owl Vans sells a Pedal Control Kit to nix the Mercedes-Benz turbo/pedal lag. Inexpensive, and a must have. EASY to DIY!
$200,000 REVEL?
Somebody's NUTS.
Thank you for this honest review. I was going to get a sprinter. I will get a Ram . Thanks
Superbly balanced review. Great to break it up into chapters, great to talk both sides, pluses and minuses, which spawns dialogue by the viewer on topics we'd otherwise not considered. If I would make one suggestion, spend a bit more time on describing your personal habits and routine; eg., how you prepare meals, what are your normal activities outdoors..biking etc ? This will give me a better idea of utility. I could see this as something that allows me to go to some mix of beautiful places, but still work effectively as a virtual person. So it's good to know how you use and set up your workspace (if you do).... and so on. But really great job.
One last thing: I don't want to start my RV experience with a purchase. I don't know enough. Is it easy to rent a Revel for several weeks?
Great job Kyle! I continued to pick up several more pointers in addition to the personal electronic tutorial in the grocery store parking lot in Frisco, CO. Thank you very much!
Dec. 20th 2021 Thank you, for your accurate evaluation of your 2022 Winnebago Revel 4x4 I will agree with you, and that is It’s a good built… but a lot of up grades need to be added….. give & take Situation, I’ve looked at Lot of RUclips videos & there are about TEN upgrades that are Essential, especially the current Suspension, system & power solar increase to (a) 2000 watt inverter lithium battery package increase amp. To; 600 amps also, water tank capacity by removing the little donut spare tire from underneath & mounting it to the rear back door & put in place EXTRA 21 gal. Tank of water That will add to the already 25 gal. Fresh water tank. Hammerhead front grill & witch pull system & seating bench inside the back… area, & add air compressor also, Compressor freezer, Now that should do it….. THX
Again for your up close & Personal evaluation….Stay Safe & Healthy out There…..
I cannot believe the price of these RVs in the US. For the price of the Winnebago you can get a 170 here in the U.K. with top quality build, spec and layout for less money. I would have thought the US with its much bigger Off-road RV scene and seemingly endless number of builders would be cheaper. Also, in my limited experience of buying US gear of any kind generally it is better quality and cheaper than the U.K. …. I can’t work out why not the same with RVs?
We picked up our Revel in Sacramento at the dealer. It only had 67 miles on the odometer. I have seen them on flat transports crossing the country on my drives. So they DO NOT show up with 1200 miles on them. Plus we found no flaws at delivery and during the weeks since. I guess IT DOES MATTER who you buy from.
Good video. So you have discovered how a local dealer can help with the niggles that every RV has upon delivery. You can repair many of the small items yourself but I think like you, "why have to fix these items yourself on a new rig". We had 3 service visits year 1 on our Class A with 30+ items which were broken or not adjusted properly.
Kyle very good video 👍 very informative, I am not a RV guy however it was good to see/hear about your experience thus far .. still can’t believe I watched this video in full, and for anyone that is thinking of skipping don’t it’s a real eye opener.. leaded allot .. the only major take away is for performance you need a BEV RV... life is good after that no tune needed..
It is NOT ok to dump gray water into city storm drains, as stated in this video. I'm a spill responder for a small city and that gray water will go right into a creek or lake where people swim, and any soap or other pollutants can kill fish and other aquatic life. Gray water should always be sent to a sanitary sewer, not a storm drain. Leaving aside the negative environmental impact, you can also get a fine for illegal dumping.
OWL I think Makes an Aftermarket Exhaust Reroute. (TRY WD40 for the squeak, or other lube)
on that Table I had teh same with one of my RV's I wrapped Teflon Tape around the table clamp, stopped the squeaking and still was very usable!
that is around the shaft of the table that the clamp engages.
We picked it up with the 1200 miles from a dealer with the same sort of experience. We didn’t exist after wiring the money and receiving the keys :D There was factory pickup available though and we’d still pay the delivery fee for us non-youuber’s
I'm surprised for the price you feel ok with the imperfections....I would be woefully disappointed! I'm definately not sold on this vehicle!
The biggest issue i've had w/ Winnebago is declining build quality, especially since they started aiming more for the 4 seasons/offgrid camping market(see: Ekko). Where companies like Storyteller Overland, Grech RV, Sportsmobile and others have been taking this MB platform and doing awesome stuff like better batteries, cabinet/furniture quality, insulation and layout design, WB just buys it and slaps a coat of paint on the thing.
I'm also in agreement on another thing: The RV industry needs to start offering more "White Glove" customer service from initial order to delivery of unit. The days of Billy Bob and his Oil-Soaked Bib Overall World Of RVs has passed.
Full disclosure, but you didn't disclose the price you paid. Thanks, very helpful.
Get some crc heavy marine corrosion inhibitor and spray every thing under the rv provides great rust protection. I DONT work for them but the product is great. Its like a liquid cosmoline that dries on.
I actually really dislike the running boards. They definitely get in the way when doing any minor to moderate style off-roading.
Love the Revel content! Excited to see how you mod it.
Kyle, had you decided on the Revel, or did you look at other options before deciding? Curious if you the Airstream Interstate 19 was on your list, and if yes, how you decided. Thanks.
I camped all the time as a kid, but never in an RV. The problem now is with four kids, you're buying a house to transport six people. $200k. oof. I am very jealous.
I know you're excited but for $200k some of those defects...come on. Maybe that's what you get when the dealer delivers it but I agree with you on the method they use, without a transporter someone who doesn't care about the thing is going rag it out to get the job done so they can do another delivery.
See my reply to JR Case above. Actual selling price for these is *much* lower than the sticker price.
Agree on the quality statement…I would be happy with Honda quality which is pretty darn good…
Awesome video! Do you mind sharing what type of financing you got? Whats the monthly payment one can expect from this and also how many mpg do you get and how often do you need to fill up? Im in the market for one but I have to calculate all expenses. Ohh before I forget, what the ball park for the insurance?
The Xantrex batteries are probably LFP, which is fine leaving at 100%. The one thing that could hurt it is charging below freezing, but it may already have a low temp disconnect.
Yup low temp disconnect and a manual battery heater
I like the bathroom in the revel.. WGO really needs to do a volta system like in the STO for the revel... I have 2022 Travato GL on order - hopefully delivered next month.. I wish the Travato had a cassette toilet rather than its black tank -- I may well do a mod to put a cassette in the Travato
You mentioned that the 4x4’s are built in Germany, We ordered a 2021, 170”, 4x4 last December for a Storyteller style buildout (supposed to be in August 1st) and the dealer said it was being built in the SC factory.
Nice video review, we have a few Tesla’s and always get a kick out of your vids.
Pretty through video description of the REVEL. Note your comment about panels in the cab, those are all Mercedes and not Winnebago. Winnebago buys the crew cab version and then changes the interior from the drivers backrest to the front. I have a 2019 Revel with the older engine and transmission (2018 Chassis), AGM batteries still but reliable. I added a solar suitcase 125 W panel for external use and also carry a Jackery 1500 solar generator with 4 100W solar panels. Works great and saves on chassis battery use.
If you can track regenerations, I'd love to know what your regen frequency is before and after a tune. I agree the van is underpowered, but I am not willing to sacrifice longevity of the DPF; I'd probably buy a 1-ton pickup based camper if it starts impacting emissions reliability.
Very helpful, informative video Kyle. Thank you for making it. I’d love to see you review a 21 foot Solis w/ pop top.
Stop with the MSRP. You didn’t pay that. It’s no secret you payed around $150000. Very misleading to newbies that think its a $200000 build.
I don't know if you fixed your no power issue or not yet, but I believe it is a body sensor issue. I recently got s decent amount of snow near me, and the 360 sensors were blocked, so when I hit the fuel pedal, it was like I wasn't hitting it at all, and then it went after about 5-10 seconds, I even felt like I died in the middle of the intersection, it was a bit scary. I turned off the proximity sensor stuff, and the problem was solved. "off the line, this van is a dog" it is not, there is a problem with your specific van or the sensors. I hope you already figured it out.
Subscribed! Looking forward to more…
Cool this can be a mobile studio for your channel 👍👍
That’s the idea!
Great review. Best I’ve seen. It’s really annoying watching you play with your glasses. OCD?
What I would have done is tried one out before I purchased it to make sure I liked it.
If given a choice of sprinter or transit, which would you prefer.
You got some friends huh, I love Steve Lehtos, great guy and lemon law attorney
Lucky I checked the comments section a few minutes in,200k,😩😩😩Jesus,🇬🇧
Great walkthrough, but damn, that’s some awful build quality for that price. Also with the overheating inverter, weird ladder on the back that you can’t use and that ridiculous exhaust… I think Reimo of Westfalia would do a lot better.
Par for the course. Winnebago cranks em through like crazy. Typical for the industry, I'm sorry to say
I gasped when he said the MSRP. But then again I'm clueless on RV pricing.
I totally agree 👎. Winnebago needs to do better for that money
You should invest in a Volta Power System and run your AC all night instead of 2 hours. And when the Volta battery gets depleted the motor will automatically start and recharge your Volta system.
It’s not a good idea to idle the Diesel engine in the Sprinter for too long. This will clog up the particle filter. Im sure that’s why Winnebago didn’t put an auto-engine start system in the Revel
They started putting the water inlets inside the van. So if you want city water, you have to keep your van door open! Big mistake!
There’s a HUGE opportunity for Tesla, Rivian or another EV maker to build a fully electric sub 20ft van-sized camper. The entire product category currently seems super complicated from a basic knowledge level consumer perspective. Different types of batteries, solar, inverter, LP, diesel, heating, AC, etc. And all of this complicated tech for ~$200k? Ouch.
Lol sorry most van peeps don’t want to charge every couple hundred miles. Remember this rig with EV battery packs would be close to 15k pounds.
@@JohnSeitz Well, at some point, sooner than later, petrol based engines won’t be available so something will need to take their place. 🤔
@@47solar43 yup but not for large vehicles until solid-state barriers or hydrogen becomes available. Note I’m all for EV it just needs to make sense.
@@JohnSeitz agreed.
The TT 4 cylinder w/9 speed transmission is much more responsive and the electric steering is finger touch light.
Try a tennis ball as a sliding side door stop, works on my Autocruise Tempo.
So what did general RV sell it to you for?? I assume about $145k
Wow! A whole series on hash tag Van Life !!! With a Sprinter!! Sounds like it could be a real unique channel ;-)
How do you secure your 3 dogs while driving
Excellent! Are there on-line tech manuals from 1) Mercedes. 2) Winnebago 3) 3rd party accessories.
what was the price you paid?
I'd like to see how your bigger dogs adapt to smaller living space.
Buying a $200k RV but not being able to replace a screw on the fridge handle is a bit of a weird vibe.
Awesome as always!
You guys still enjoy the Revel? Would you purchase another?
Needs a hybrid powertrain ;) You could use motors for early torque.
A new F150 hybrid with built in 1.6kw battery pack can have several 115 v AC outlets in the bed and even has a 30 amp outlet for your travel trailer. 7.2kw capacity and uses the engine to charge the batteries. Would make a nice tow vehicle for a smaller camper and you don't need to drag a generator with you.
@@jamesvelvet3612 although not a truck or van, I love my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, plug in hybrid with 1500 watt outlets and multiple ways to charge the battery (level 2 charger, 110, regen, gas while driving or idle). Has been awesome to cook out of at MX tracks for my kid's races or to charge their electric MX bikes. I know Ford has a Transit van in Europe that is a plug in hybrid but they will only be offering the full EV version up here in Canada.
I think the 2023 changes include a 9 speed gearbox, and AWD no more 4WD besides engine changes.
Where are the ‘other’ ecu program reviews?
Can't wait to see this With an EV one day!!
ford transit making a ev lol
@@cafe88racer53 yeah,i know but i dont think the range would be sufficient and the charging infra.definetly needs to improve a lot
I hope to get one. Screw living in an apartment
2022 Storytellers have LED headlights. I think you are gonna be suprised of the quality and usability of Storytellers
what are your feeling about the size of it? Would you want a 170" instead or do you feel 100% settled with the 144"?
Hey you mentioned taking the Winnebago branding off the Revel. I have heard that Winnebago makes you work harder for warranty claims if you remove their branding. True?