Did We Really Live Full-Time in a Mercedes Revel for Three Years?
Absolutely! For three incredible years, our 2019 Winnebago Revel, built on the reliable Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, was more than just a vehicle; it was our home. My husband and I embraced full-time van life, with no traditional house to return to. While we occasionally opted for hotels for comfort, escaping extreme weather, or visiting family, and sometimes utilized co-working spaces for extended stays in one location, the vast majority of our time was spent within the cozy confines of our Revel. It wasn’t just a campervan; it was our primary residence, just as our condo had been before.
Three Years and 56,000 Miles Later: What You Need to Know About the Mercedes Revel
After three years and over 56,000 miles traversing diverse landscapes, from snowy mountains to scorching deserts, we’ve gained invaluable insights into the 2019 Winnebago Revel. Is it the ultimate adventure van? Here’s our honest Mercedes Revel review, diving into the good and the not-so-good aspects of full-time living in this popular camper van.
The Upsides of Mercedes Revel Ownership
Durability Beyond Expectations: RVs, in general, aren’t typically engineered for the rigors of full-time living, let alone the extreme conditions we’ve subjected our Revel to. We’ve tested its limits in freezing winters and scorching summers, and it has consistently surprised us with its resilience.
During the harsh winter of 2021, our Mercedes Revel’s diesel heater became our lifeline, running almost continuously for two months in sub-zero temperatures.
Navigating icy roads in Wyoming during an October trip, the Mercedes Revel proved its mettle even when wheel wells were packed with ice in -20 degree weather.
Summer months found us exploring rugged dirt roads in search of secluded escapes.
Reaching the end of a remote road in Wyoming, highlighting the Mercedes Revel’s off-road capability.
We’re genuinely impressed with how well the Revel has endured these demanding conditions. Apart from routine screw tightening, the van’s components, including the refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, water pump, and ventilation fan motors, are all still operating efficiently, defying our initial expectations of wear and tear.
Exceptional Cold Weather Performance: Winnebago’s insulation and the chosen diesel heater are a winning combination. Even in sub-zero temperatures, the Mercedes Revel maintains a comfortable interior, allowing us to relax in shorts and a t-shirt. This is a significant improvement over our previous 2018 Winnebago Travato, where staying warm in similar conditions required layers of clothing and blankets. The Mercedes Revel truly excels as a four-season camper van.
Go-Anywhere Agility: While there are times we yearn for a larger RV, the Mercedes Revel’s compact size (just over 19 feet long) is a massive advantage. Its maneuverability allows us to easily navigate city parking lots, fit into standard parking spaces, access remote campsites and trailheads, and even park in residential driveways. Opting for a larger RV would undoubtedly limit our spontaneity and make everyday errands more cumbersome. The Mercedes Sprinter chassis is known for its nimbleness, and the Revel capitalizes on this.
Successfully navigating most tunnels on Needles Highway in South Dakota, demonstrating the Mercedes Revel’s maneuverability in tight spaces.
Reliable Winnebago Customer Support: Winnebago’s technical support has proven invaluable. Whenever we’ve called, we’ve consistently received accurate answers and helpful guidance. Their team even assisted a mobile RV repair technician in troubleshooting an issue, demonstrating their commitment to customer service. Warranty claims were handled efficiently and without hesitation, with replacement parts dispatched promptly at no cost to us.
Mercedes-Benz Service Excellence: The service experience at Mercedes-Benz dealerships has been equally impressive. They consistently recognize us and have immediate access to our vehicle’s history. On two occasions during our initial warranty period, Mercedes-Benz provided complimentary towing to the nearest service center without any complications.
Mercedes-Benz service locations consistently offer private offices and dog-friendly environments for waiting customers.
Comfortable waiting area at Mercedes-Benz of Boise dealership during a service appointment.
Mercedes-Benz dealerships consistently offer comfortable waiting areas, often including private offices, and are notably dog-friendly. Complimentary snacks, water, and coffee are often provided, and in some locations, they even include a complimentary Sprinter van wash with service. This premium service aligns with the Mercedes-Benz brand reputation.
The Downsides of Mercedes Revel Living
Limited Living Space: Even for someone of my petite stature (5’4″ and 120 lbs), the Mercedes Revel’s interior can feel cramped, especially for full-time living. The tight quarters have led to frequent bumps and bruises, including stubbed toes and head bumps on overhead cabinets. Removing the shower walls would significantly enhance the sense of space, and ironically, we haven’t used the shower once in three years.
Overly Sensitive Sprinter Chassis Safety Features: While the Mercedes Sprinter’s safety features are undoubtedly advanced, they can sometimes be overly intrusive. The lane-keeping assist system, for instance, can be overly sensitive, triggering audible alerts even when lane changes are safe. Furthermore, sensor malfunctions can be expensive to repair, adding to the overall cost of Mercedes Revel maintenance. Finding certified Mercedes repair shops can also be more challenging compared to brands like Ford or Ram.
Extended Winterization Periods: Despite being marketed as a four-season RV, the Mercedes Revel requires winterization for prolonged freezing temperatures, according to the RV manual, repair professionals, and our own experience. Our initial hope was to maintain operational plumbing throughout winter travels between ski resorts. However, as detailed in our previous article here, this proved impractical in regions with consistently sub-freezing temperatures like the Sierras, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. While milder winter climates might allow for limited plumbing use, in colder regions, winterization is crucial to prevent costly damage. The inconvenience of winterization is a significant drawback for winter van life enthusiasts.
Gear Storage Constraints: Storing outdoor gear for four seasons within the Mercedes Revel presents a persistent challenge. While exterior racks and storage boxes are available, and the under-bed “garage” offers reasonable space, it’s still insufficient for full-time living with extensive gear. Modifications (detailed here) have helped, but we still rely on monthly paid storage, primarily for our mountain bikes. Even with an exterior bike rack, protecting bikes from winter road salt and grime remains problematic. Under-bed storage is often consumed by essential full-time living items, and raising the bed to accommodate bikes renders it unusable.
Mountain bikes in external storage, highlighting the Mercedes Revel’s limited internal gear capacity.
Underutilized Mercedes Revel Features
The Unused Interior Shower: The Mercedes Revel features a wet bath with a shower and cassette toilet. It also includes removable bamboo shelves for converting the shower area into storage. We utilize the cassette toilet and two shelves but have never used the shower. Showers in compact RVs present challenges: the need for thorough drying to prevent mold in a confined space, the inconvenience of water spillage throughout the living area (bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom, office, mudroom, garage all merge in a van), and the lengthy drying time even with the powered roof vent. Towel drying adds to moisture buildup inside the van, and air drying by opening doors and windows is weather-dependent. Water conservation is also a factor. Public showers are our preferred choice to conserve water for essential needs like drinking, cooking, and dishwashing. The Revel’s 21-gallon freshwater tank is quickly depleted by showering, especially with long hair requiring significant water for washing.
The Rarely Deployed Awning: Initially, we envisioned the awning as a key feature of RV life. However, it has become an underutilized and potentially vulnerable component. The Mercedes Revel’s Carefree awning is designed to retract automatically in strong winds, but sudden gusts can cause damage before retraction occurs.
A deployed awning on the Mercedes Revel, illustrating its limited use in windy mountainous areas.
Mountainous regions, where we frequently travel, are prone to unpredictable wind gusts. An incident in Olympic Valley, where a sudden gust nearly destroyed our awning, reinforced our reluctance to use it. Awnings are likely best suited for areas with gentle and predictable breezes. Furthermore, the shade provided by the awning is limited by the van’s orientation to the sun, often requiring repositioning the entire vehicle for optimal shade. A portable E-Z UP canopy offers a more versatile and less expensive shade solution.
The Infrequently Used Exterior Fold-Down Table: A fold-down table is attached to the galley side of the Mercedes Revel for outdoor use. However, its functionality is limited as it requires the sliding door to remain open. We prefer a portable table that can be positioned independently of the van.
Mercedes Revel: Three Years On – Still a Happy Purchase?
Despite these drawbacks, the answer is a resounding yes! Upgrading from our 2018 Winnebago Travato to the Mercedes Revel in February 2019 (reasons detailed here) remains one of our best decisions. We are still highly satisfied with our Mercedes Revel and the adventurous lifestyle it enables. No regrets!
Slope-side living in the Mercedes Revel, showcasing its suitability for adventurous lifestyles.
Future Van Life Plans: Moving Beyond the Mercedes Revel?
Three and a half years of van life, across three vans (Chevy Express AWD, Winnebago Travato, Winnebago Revel), have refined our understanding of ideal tiny living. We’ve realized that the Mercedes Revel, while excellent, is somewhat too refined and inflexible for our evolving needs. We are now drawn to the idea of a more modular and customizable van, built with readily repairable and replaceable components, utilizing basic tools and our DIY skills. Exploring the possibility of building a simpler, custom van tailored to our specific requirements is on the horizon. The journey continues!
Update: We sold our Winnebago Revel!
