Today’s RV review is of the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C four-wheel-drive Class B RV.
Some people have whatever RV they have just because that’s what was available at the dealership at the time. But then there are some RVs that have huge followings of passionate owners. Such are some of Winnebago’s Class B vans, including the Revel®.
The Revel is not your ordinary RV by any means. Based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4X4 chassis, this is a Class B van that also offers off-road prowess along with significant off-grid functionality. What does Mercedes know about off-roading, you ask? Have some fun on the Internet and look up the Unimog and the Geländewagen. Mercedes is a company that knows 4X4s—we just don’t see that very much here.
Impressive technology
Up on the roof are two Merlin solar panels which are said to be able to better compensate for things like leaves blocking part of the panel. There’s also an impressive 48-volt battery system that can be charged by the solar panels. (No kidding, right?) But there’s also a second alternator on the vehicle that is said to be able to charge the battery in about two hours.
Of course, you could also hook this to 30-amp shore power, but there isn’t much of that where a lot of folks take these.
You can monitor these systems with a control panel on the wall behind the dinette, where all the controls are located, or use an app on your smartphone to do so. You can use apps on the smartphone to run the A/C and heater systems, open the awnings, and more. That app is a redundant way to do this. There are buttons and logical controls in the RV to do the same thing.
Speaking of heater and, by extension, the water heater, those are fueled by the same diesel fuel as you would use to run the RV itself. There’s a hydronic heating system that provides wonderfully even heat in the body of the coach. You can also adjust the hot water output of the system, as well. It really, really makes sense.
Not just technology
I would imagine technology is something buyers of this are enthused about—but it’s not just tech that makes this a stellar unit.
In the bathroom are bamboo shelves that drop in, which essentially make the bathroom almost a big closet. Those are great in that you can take wet clothes and just place them on the shelves. Then turn on the bathroom fan and, voila, a dryer, of sorts.
In the back on the outside are slight bulges in the exterior, sort of. There’s a bed on belts that can be raised or lowered. Those bulges offer just a bit more space for that bed. But they’re enough that there is more than 6’ of width to the bed, allowing two taller folks to sleep there.
When the bed is up, the whole back of the van is an open cargo bay. There are cargo attachment points so you can tie down cargo like bikes, a dirt bike, kayaks, or whatever.
Multiple versatile rails in the Revel Sport 44C
All over the inside of this van are rails. This is a standard mounting system where you can get all sorts of devices to slot into these rails. Things like tablet holders, rings to hold tie-downs, and just about anything else you can imagine. An example of where this is useful is over the dining table, where you can slot in a tablet holder and look at your tablet while sitting at the dinette.
There’s a screen over the sliding door that rolls up. But when it’s rolled down, there’s a magnetic closure that you can use to quickly get in and out with the magnet snapping it closed to keep the bugs out.
This same idea is in place on a cloth “wall” over the back doors. That wall also has a magnetic side closure but also a zip-open screened panel, which can offer ventilation. Combine that with the high-performance fan and you’ve got some nice airflow.
New for 2025
Winnebago, potentially more than any other RV manufacturer, really keeps in contact with owners. The company has truly owned social media and works closely with influencers to produce ever-better products.
Winnebago keeps a single portable induction cooktop in a drawer that, again, you can operate from the batteries through the inverter. You can use this on the counter in the van or on that table outside. When you’re not using it, it just lives in that drawer.
Something I’m told owners do is turn the seats in these to face the sliding door. Well, Winnebago has done that for you in the 44C with a two-place bench seat. There’s also a Lagun-style table for this seat.
Something many owners are going to appreciate is the revision to the bathroom door. There is an extension on the forward-facing door that lets you block off the space behind it. This features a cartridge toilet, which is more common in Europe, but just makes sense.
The Winnebago Revel Sport 44C summary
If you want one of these, there is a very long line to step up to the plate. I can absolutely see why: This RV breaks a lot of barriers and was clearly created by people who truly understand the customers who would be buying this rig.
This is not the RV for everybody, though. The actual quarters and bathroom are a bit tight. But the individual who wants one of these is probably not inside it enough for that to even matter. The person who gets a Revel is very likely spending time way off the grid truly making the most of the great outdoors with a vehicle that is very well-suited to serving that lifestyle well.
MORE LIKE THIS:
- An in-depth inspection of the new 2025 Winnebago View: Features and flaws
- RV review: 2025 Winnebago Access 26RL—nicely packaged
- Winnebago + Adventure Wagon = Unique Class B RV
- Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108—Have it your way… sorta
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a lifelong RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars.
You can also check out Tony and Peggy’s RV podcast.
##RVT1194
Not a rig for me but I did like seeing that they are using the Smart Plug! We swapped out the old style power plug and added one to our RV. The old 50-amp plug needs to be phased out and I hope conscientious builders start doing it soon.
I would absolutely add the 30 amp plug to that equation – the Smart Plug is such a better solution in both cases. You could say…I’m charged up about it. 🤓
Two somewhat tall, but VERY skinny people, Tony! That bed may be slightly longer than “RV length”, but it is narrower than a standard double bed (49″ vs. 54″). Not even close to “RV queen” width, so no way two normal-size American adults would fit. This is really a single-person RV, but I see them all over Colorado despite the bed size and outrageous cost!
Do you ever wonder how “van life” folks come up with the scratch to put their hands on these very expensive vehicles?
Thank you for the review, Tony! Seems to be a long-weekend sort of vehicle, given the tank sizes. If it can be towed 4-wheels-down (maybe it can, given that it is 4-wheel drive), might make a great towed vehicle, say, for an Alaska trip. Could be taken where would not want to take a bigger, more conventional RV, such as the Dalton Highway. Have a great week and safe travels!
That would certainly be an interesting sight – a Super C towing a Sprinter. But then that might also be the most obvious sign of recent lottery winnings too.
Yes, you’re certainly right about the expense acquiring two such rigs would be, Tony. It is “just a bit outside” (https://youtu.be/IVP9WUGdgPg?feature=shared) our financial capability. Hmm, … maybe the lottery … . 😉
I would buy a $70K 4WD Toyota Tundra and a $25K popup camper wirh a wet bath and save $150K over the Revel MSRP! Then I could go just as many places off-road, but have the usefulness of a pickup when the camper was not needed. Having owned four 4WD pickups in Colorado over 40 years, I guess I just don’t understand the attraction of any very expensive, single-use camper van, AWD or 2WD.
Well and my nephew hauls those Sprinters from Colorado to New Mexico to be repaired all the time whereas a Taco can be fixed anywhere but likely doesn’t need to be.