Just came across this although it is 2 years old. My wife and I looked at the Revel and the main reason we did not choose it is because of the battery system. Even the newer models with Lithium will still not run the A/C during hot weather for much longer than 2-3 hours without draining the batteries. We ended up choosing the Jayco Terrain for the power system alone. The Terrain is "essentially" the same on the interior as the Revel (maybe just a little be more upscale but not much). But the A/C is a 48V system which means it can run off of 12V instead of 110 which means you won't have the parasitic draw from the inverter and it will run all night long without draining the 10.5KW Lithium Ion Battery. It will also run the Diesel Heater for days without ever worrying about power anxiety. If you looked from the outside of either one you would be hard pressed to notice a difference. But the inside of the Terrain is slightly different. As for getting up into the bed. Canyon Adventure Vans sells a fold away step that would have solved your problems with getting in and out of bed. It doesn't cost much for that connivence. If Winnebago said that you could sleep 3 inside of the van, then they were selling you a half truth. Yes, you "can". Should you even try? No. It's made for 2 people and that's it. It's crowded enough inside to add more people. My wife and I live full time in our Terrain and have no issues with power consumption, moving around (although it takes a little bit of adjustment to figure it out), nor sleeping. It is just a life change. I'm 6" tall and weigh 180 lbs and my wife is 5" tall and weighs 100 lbs. So the bed is plenty large for "us". Though no matter what model you choose, the first thing you need to replace is the mattress. They are horrible in the Revel, Terrain, or Storyteller.

Excellent review. Straight to the point!

Cool can’t wait to see what that is!

Wow! Great review points .. thanks for this !!!

Good info, thanks.

Change it for a storyteller. 1. The bed for guests doesn't block the kitchen and the door and it is easy to convert again to a sit. 2. The Volta System is amazing, it gives you between 10 and 12 continuous hours of air conditioning, and then they get fully charged in between an hour and an hour an a half of driving around thanks to a second alternator dedicated completely to charge the volta system, besides, the Beast model of the storyteller has a switch that, if you left your pets with the air conditioner and go for a 12 hour hiking, you do not have to worry because once thag switch is on, the motor will turn on to charge the batteries once they get to a 20% low. 3. The buiding is pure quality, you can lift yourself from the cabinets, they are not gonna give, besides, the toproof, is a walk in top roof, you can take not only baggage but a coulle of chairs and an umbrella and relax. 4. The halo shower is magnificent, the halo system keeps the entire shower in a cabinet, so you feel like in an open space, but then once you deployed it, it is a non claustrophobic, can extend your elbows shoewer, very useful,very practical, very comfortable, instead of having a huge piece ofmplastic in the middle of the van taking lots of space all the time and not only during the 10 minutes a day that take you to shower. 5. The cassette toilet, well, the Winnebago has it too, so, you are already familiar with how to use them.

A little help with sound on Revel. First pop off center speaker grill then pop off center speaker, you will see two wires to speaker remove one leaving the black on. Place speaker in place and grill. Turn on speaker and adjust sound you see a great improvement in sound. Make sure your SOS signal is there on overhead. If not repeat and switch the wire you touch off. This take 2 minutes to do.

Biolite with wood pellets would have solved the cooking part outside and boiling water for coffee etc. Stereo can be modified by removing the center speaker. Bunch of videos on that.

I really appreciate the review. I’m not saying this to be mean, but if you two thought that the Revel was made for more than two people I think you were misinformed. I agree, Winnebago shouldn’t make it seem that it’s made for three people, but you two should have known better. Most of your complaints seem to be centered around the Revel being too small. I’m retiring in three years and the wife and I are really considering this as an option to travel the states. Thank you again for the review. I hope you enjoy your Revel...

Interesting to hear. Please use a tripod or a fumble! We had to look away in order not to get motion sickness. Vans are seldom made for families. Are you going for one of the new releases from Winnebago?

Good review of the +- of the Revel. One of the best, most useful I've seen. Do you consider the lack of engine power a deal breaker? And did the bed size seem to be a significant problem for a 6 footer?

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

engine not a deal-breaker as RVs are heavy beasts when fully loaded. The bed depends on sleeping posture - side sleeper, cursed up, or a sprawler...

@pearldiver7

3 жыл бұрын

@@MitchelMD Thanks for the feedback. Cheers.

I'm retiring next year & considering the 2021 Revel. (or 2022) I'm single & will live in it. I'm also considering the Ford Transit tall AWD & having a company build it out the way I want. (probably won't do AC bit 2 Max air fans front & rear!) Any suggestions? What are you getting next?

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

a few point to consider - oil changes or Mercedes are less often but spendy. Warranty costs and extended or addt'l warranty cost can be steep. Likely will get back into Revel or similar when sans kids.

For better acceleration get a pedal control from owl vans you can install yourself

Had one parked next to my Promaster at a Cracker Barrel. Unfortunately... was running a construction generator on the hitch end. Wow... spend that much money but can't afford a Honda/Yamaha generator....... Sad.

The Ekko sounds like it would resolve some of your issues.

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

cool features but a bit rough on the eyes

What do think of the cassette toilet.

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

Decent little unit. We usually left it facing towards the sink. The tank is simple to empty in handy when off-grid or using an outhouse setting. Didn't enjoy the local dump at the RV place as trusting the guy 4 feet away from me emptying his black tank and trusting him manage his hose properly is always a bit of a gamble

Time for a truck camper! Don’t forget lithium batteries.

wow already giving up. I was consider Revel because of 4x4 and don't want anything over 20-21 long so I can park in regular parking. at the end I opt for Thor Tellaro 20AT with pop top because rebel the size is just too small and only really made for sleep 2 maybe 3 . Tellaro is just slight bigger and has pop top so my family of 5 can sleep pretty comfortable and with a college daughter determine to go in person in NY next spring so it will be even more comfortable. I wonder your next coach it sound like class B is not an option probably B+ or bigger. thanks for sharing!!!

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

Congrats on the rig!

@liaodesign

3 жыл бұрын

Now when can we find out what rig you getting :)

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

@@liaodesign hope to have photos in a few weeks!

@candiwoods3593

3 жыл бұрын

Consider looking into a Storyteller Overland, which has the same length chassis on a Sprinter Van and is also a 4x4. It has a better lithium battery bank and has a lounge which actually can accommodate an adult for sleeping in addition to the queen size bed. It has a unique pull out shower that doesn’t take up space with walls.

@liaodesign

3 жыл бұрын

Like the way it more versatile than revel but for me no permanent bathroom really sucks my next rig when I graduate from my tellaro when all kid leave the house than I would consider anything that 19’ my rig can see here at Instagram toy_star_desteoyer :)

Are you getting a Storyteller Overland MODE??

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

nope. awaiting a delivery message from dealer..... backed up due to Covid

Couldn’t you turn the engine on to recharge the batteries on cloudy days?

@MitchelMD

2 жыл бұрын

When the technician set up our solar controller he entered the wrong battery type and ruined the batteries so they would not hold a charge.

I'm 6 feet too how is the shower?

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

After taking out the bar for hanging clothes it was decent. I like the back end water supply and take hot outdoor showers when off the grid.

Doesn’t the bed go up and down?

@MitchelMD

2 жыл бұрын

The bed goes up and down with an electric lift. There are kits that can be installed to create bench seating as well

I like my reliable propane the Revel is noisy rattle I think it’s too small for us and very expensive but it does look cool but reality hits right between the eyes I’m 6’4” 250 and my wife is queen size just unfortunately to small for us nice rig though thanks for your experience

What is your next rv that you’re buying?

@MitchelMD

3 жыл бұрын

Your timing is perfect. Heading cross country tomorrow to pick her up :-))

@exanhighlander6236

3 жыл бұрын

Please be a Storyteller.

Start the engine to charge the battery 🔋

@bdphotographyvideo7423

Жыл бұрын

It will not charge the on board batteries unless it is over 1500 RPM. Meaning you would need to install a high idle kit. Mercedes themselves say do not idle the engine for prolonged periods of time.

The camera gimble is making me dizzy.

Why don’t you show the van? Why are you wiggling around?

Umm... 5' 3'? Good things come in small packages.... just sayin.

@andre1987eph

3 жыл бұрын

Bad things come in small packages too. My ex was 5'2", 92 lbs.

If you just start up your van and let it idle it will recharge your batteries while you cook!

@MitchelMD

2 жыл бұрын

I'm no expert but dealer and manual recommend against prolonged idle in diesel. Not sure on mechanics or reasoning of that?

@stephenreese6288

2 жыл бұрын

@@MitchelMD seems odd. Truckers idle their engines all the time when they are parked.

@bdphotographyvideo7423

Жыл бұрын

@@stephenreese6288 The batteries will not charge at anything less than 1500 RPM. That would necessitate installing a high idle kit inside the Revel. But you would be running the diesel every two hours just to keep the A/C running. And, as mentioned in the Mercedes manual, Mercedes advises against idling the engine for prolonged periods of time. Truckers do it because they run heavy duty diesel engines made for just this kind of service. The engine in the Sprinter chassis is not a heavy duty diesel engine.