Winnebago Revel 4X4: Is It Really a 4 Season Van? | 9 Month Review 

Thank you so much! We think that the Revel would be perfect for that use! You will really enjoy it! Best of Luck!

@Glenn Bradshaw Why?

@@MrDJE1970 Good question. 😒

@Thomas Kelly because glenn is poor and bitter

We have to modify our entire setup to go to lithium so not an easy task. We really would like to but the AGMs are better in the cold where they are currently located. Lithium wouldn't do well exposed to the elements. We will keep everyone updated as we figure it out! Thank you so much for the feedback.

Hey Mike Thank you so much!

That sounds like a sweet setup. We are still torn on wether to keep the AC or go to a second max air fan. This past week we actually stayed at a campground and plugged in and the AC was ok but I think we would be better off with the second max air fan. We will see... we plan to do some upgrades once the border reopens and we can head south for a little bit :)

Thank you so much Marie. We are glad you found it helpful. We try to do these reviews once a quarter with updates on our thoughts through our experiences. Rest of the time is travel through Alaska. Good luck on your choice. Hope you are staying safe!

Thank you sherri! You'll see these random ones pop us. I think some day we should create a binge watch playlist from beginning to end on how all of this has unfolded. We are so happy you've been here all along the way. Thank you!!! ❤️😁❤️

Hi Dora, We do a similar thing by blocking off the cab with wool blankets in the winter. Does a fantastic job. We use carpet in the winter as well and take it out during the summer. We will probably put a layer below the carpet this winter to add a bit more insulation but the carpet did wonders. We found that putting our shades over the windows caused condensation so we did not do that during winter just relied on the wool blankets. Thank you for your recommendations and we hope you are doing well!

You've got the SET UP!....but why the bags? So thankful that even when I have a hike in the woods and that comes up I don't have to use a bag....like...ever, even before we had the Van. 😁. Nothing against grey tanks or black tanks ( have used all in the past with a class A, just super thankful we don't have to anymore.) It's ALL about the fun and how exactly we enjoy our adventures. Enjoy YOU as well, thank you for having goofy fun with us while we figure it all out.

Hi Henry, always happy to help where we can if you have any questions. Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for the feedback! We can only say it how it is. Appreciate hearing from you!

Our pleasure Mary. I'm glad you enjoyed it! We're still having SO much fun. 😁

Shane That would be fantastic. We would love to see it at some point! Thank you for your feedback!

Thank you so much for the feedback. If you ever have any questions don't hesitate to reach out. Good luck on your decision making :)

Thank you so much for the feedback! We were wondering if anyone would notice that in the intro :) .

Thank YOU for your honest feedback! We do try to keep our videos "raw". When it comes to music it's usually selected based on the feel of the video and sometimes what we are feeling personally at that time. This was the first video where we actually made a list of what we wanted to talk about, but we still didn't script it. I think there's a lot we forgot to say so we plan on covering that when we do our 12 month review which is coming up soon. We appreciate you stopping in and telling us about yourself and staying connected. It helps motivate us to keep going. Thank you! 😊

shhhhhtooop it. you're making me blush. 😊. Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying our channel.

Great tips. We will look into the battery blankets etc. although the only real problem we had was with DEF. it has a heating element in there but couldn’t keep up in those temps.

Hi Gonzo, they are really great tires. We will have to get new ones soon and will stick with the same type. Hope you are doing well!

Hi Russ. In our opinion it is very doable. Even in these temps. If you ever want to see it in real life for a tour let us know.

Thank you so much for the feedback! We appreciate you sharing your thoughts!

Congratulations Dave. We were brand new to it also. Pretty simple to learn over time. Safe travels and Revel On!

I know we said it wrong Carl! Should have been province’s our apologies!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts :) . Hope you are well!

Hi Bruce, we are really happy with the Revel after a year now with minimal problems and the ones we have experienced have been cosmetic more than mechanical. I think it will last us quite a while and we plan to do some serious upgrades to it soon! Hope you are doing well!

At some point we hope to make it happen. Not a cheap fix but if we can we will :)

Thank you Antono!

We do prefer the diesel. The heat loss is absolutely worse when we have been sitting for awhile even though the tanks are heated that doesn't help much with the floor. Just a layer of insulation (like our carpet) has proven its value. We will add another layer under the carpet for the next winter :) . Thanks for watching!

Hi Cris. Thank YOU! As much as I love Texas and can't wait to go back we are also happy to be "stuck" here for the time being. Thank you for being here with us!

Thank you so much for the feedback. We appreciate hearing from you!

Thank you, it's been an amazing beast to have. Even after a year and a half now we have no real complaints. Thanks for stopping in and subscribing. xoxo

Thank you Jeff. We are glad you found it helpful.

Hello Thomas, Thank you so much for watching! Appreciate knowing it was helpful :)

Jim used to swear up and down he would never get an RV much less a van that is much smaller. As avid motorcyclists we spent a lot of time tent camping under the stars and this decision just took a bit of work in order to convince him. Now we are 100% satisfied with the decision. One thing worth trying would be to rent one and show the wife how amazing it can be out in the middle of nowhere escaping and having all the amenities that you need!

Wow, those are some very kind words there! Thank you so so much for taking the time to let us know and fill us up with positivity and inspiration. The world needs more people like you. xoxo

Good morning Linda, thank you for following along on our Journey. Some days are definitely colder than others but we can always add layers to stay warm :). Hope you have wonderful holidays!

We will check that out also. So many things we have no clue about and are learning as we go :)

Ana, thank you for taking the time to stop in and tell us what you think! I'm so happy you're enjoying our videos. We have a lot more coming up this summer! We appreciate you joining us! xoxo

Thank you so much for the feedback! We appreciate your thoughts :)

Thank you so much for your feedback :)

We will have our thoughts on over 100 degree weather soon... stay tuned!

Joseph we do our cutoff at 10F. Once it goes lower than that we winterize until it gets back above 10F. We winterize and dewinterize multiple times.

@@WingsandWheelsAlaskacan you say more about winterizing below 10? We have the Roam, similar to Revel but wheelchair accessible. Anyway, we are in western Washington and I want to be good to go for winter surfing and camping. I’m not eager to winterize if I don’t have to. If we don’t drop below 20 are we good to go? Also if winterized do you flush w antifreeze left in the lines and just refill as needed? Thx. Great video.

Thank you Bill!

Thank you for the feedback! we appreciate it!

Thank you so much for the feedback! We absolutely love the freedom the Revel gives us :)

You're welcome! And they should for those living in extreme temps. I'm sure it depends on their market. In floor heat as an add-on option would be nice. For those who want to add insulation after market it's not a difficult or expensive upgrade, and most Revel owners love to tinker with their rigs.

That is a nice setup! We love some of the aluminess products and will probably do the cabinet when we decide to head to south america so we can add the generator. We like the backwoods bumper (winch and lighting) trying to decide when we will pull the trigger on that purchase. We thought about doing that table also but not sure that we really need it. We really liked the travato and spent a lot of time with friends that had them over the summer but we are much happier with what the Revel provides! Congratulations on making the purchase you will be extremely happy!

We do use sprinter service centers but right now it is so we don't break out warranty. I doubt they are the only ones that can service sprinters in the long term though. As with most vehicle styles, warranties always prefer you to get service done at their shops. As far as towing, we have roadside assistance if that is ever needed just for the peace of mind. Also, service on the sprinter is at 20k so it really isn't as bad as some of the horror stories we have heard.

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska It was my auto mechanic that warned me of this. He works on everything including diesels, but can’t work on Sprinters. They don’t have the special computerized equipment necessary, neither do most Mercedes dealer repair shops.

That is a great idea! That could be helpful for sure.

We have found that to be true so far. There is one place up here that we have found to get our van serviced so we are very limited. Hopefully more pop up at some point because competition is always good.

We will be tearing it apart again in the spring to show how it held up! We agree always check!

Use havelock wool insulation no moisture

Ember says she wants to go to Florida and go swimming lol. Miss you guys a ton, we of course had to include shots of our favorite people in a review video! Stay warm in that umm ... cold... supposed to warm up to 15 here tomorrow~

HAPPY Belated Birthday!!!

Hi! We will look it up. Thank you!

The Revel is an impressive beast for what we use it for but yes it is expensive. Best purchase we have made though and we have no regrets with our decision. Hope to see you on the road!

Depending on how handy and how much time you have, a much cheaper option would be to buy used and do a majority of the conversion yourself. There are a lot of books and videos that will walk you through the logistics and the process.

The RV show is a great opportunity to buy your dream RV at a serious discount. Get pre-approved from your bank or credit union. Also check your credit report to check if there are entries that are do not belong in your credit report. www.ftc.gov. for your free credit report. If you want to print up the report, it will drink up all your ink or toner.

Thank you so much Lynn! means a lot coming from you guys. Big hugs! Hope you are enjoying Florida!

Hi Liz. We always carry basic tools with us and of course other emergency gear but really you cross your fingers that it is something you can fix 😂. A lot of it comes down to you don’t know what you don’t know so you need to have the appropriate gear for the weather you may face so if you are stranded for a period of time you can go in survival mode until you either have help on the way or can hike out and wave someone downs. All depends on what you are prepared for and what you know how to do. I know that is not the perfect answer but really hard to be prepared for every situation :)

Agreed, it's tight side by side. Most are concerned with the height but we are definitely cuddled up. I'm a side sleeper and I don't move around a lot. Jim "flips" in his sleep, like a fish. Yeah, I'm exposing all his secrets but it's true. If you're not a peaceful, restful sleeper it is tight, but it's a cozy tight if that makes sense. I think if you're looking to full time and you already know you need a larger bed based on how you sleep then it totally makes sense to go with other options. If its a weekend or a week here and there? It's doable. For us, after we upgraded the mattress, (I think I made it about an Inch wider than stock mattress, it feels like a cozy fort). Thanks for watching!

Bob, Thank you so much for the feedback! We have a lot more planned!

We did considering building one out but we found the cost for the stuff we don't know how to do adds up and you eventually are paying near the same for the amenities we wanted. Doing the insulation ourselves gave us an understanding of how the van is built and was not very expensive just took a weekend for the back half. We are working on the front half this spring and some other mods that we want to add. There are always Things that can be improved in any build.

Haven't really found that issue at all. If it was needed we would agree but we get overly warm at night.

I like this idea. Who did the install?

Go for it! I don't blame you! Even if it's only for a few years, it's certainly worth it. We are doing things the opposite of most people. Waiting for retirement in three years before we hit the road. I'm facing furlough from my Airlines job, (the job that gives me the freedom to do this) If I get laid off, I'm probably going to leave Jim behind and go do my own thing. 😂😂. Who knows, but life is too short to not get out and give it a try, no matter what type of rig you're in. Thank you for watching and stopping by to say HI.

Thank you for the feedback! We will do a full review once it is installed!

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska Thank you for making videos:) and taking care of the doggy!

@@michaelsmith9308 Thank you so much for taking the time to watch :)

That is so awesome. Thank you much. Could we borrow this in a future vid?

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska ...All yours. Alaska is not my home, Texas is, but have relatives in Homer. Been there 50 plus years.Thanks.

Dale Pointer a lot of our relatives are in Texas... Sherman area. We will give you credit when we use it :)

Hello Lee! We are doing our best! Hope you are having a wonderful day. Stay safe!

We do agree! Would love to have lithium inside the van although the AGMs are doing pretty good.

@@WingsandWheelsAlaskaI’ve heard that lithium batteries aren’t great in cold weather.

I would agree bardamu but we are a rarity when it comes to pushing extremes. The Revel has skyrocketed now due to demand and the change to the lithium batteries which have been vastly upgraded. I can’t speak to the insulation in the 2021 since we do not have that model but they did listen to the customer and moved a lot of stuff to the interior so that is great that they are listening. Upgrading the insulation for us was kind of expected as very few companies will build something to withstand Alaska. They did a good job just a few finishing touches that make it even better for our needs which most people won’t experience. We are not sponsored by any means and it is great that Winnebago is listening to the customers. Thanks for watching and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska Thanks guys for taking the time to provide a detailed explanation. Hopefully, there are more affordable options in the market! Thanks and all the best!

Agreed. We should be more specific about subjects we have covered in other videos by showing. However, that comes across with the expectation that people watch all of our videos so we take your point to heart. Thank you! This was our 9 month Review. That means we were halfway into our first winter with it. I also think Jim mentioned we winterize at 10 degrees because for us, it's a precaution. We have heard of others running their systems to keep the water going when negative degree temperatures were a surprise to them (recent storms) and pipes broke (just as they would in a house). Our winters in Alaska are so extreme we don't want to take that risk and we know when our temperatures will go below zero for several months. Long periods of time for us is weeks, or months. In the winter, it's weeks, depending on our situation, this was pre-covid, so that's changed. Thanks for watching

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska Thanks. I’ll check out your earlier videos.

That sounds like so much fun! Be safe out there. Hope you guys are well!

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska doing well :) still planning to leave July 15th from Florida

Living The RV Loca Life we can’t wait!

Thank you so much for the feedback! Cynthia is from North Pole :)

We have had no issues with the Diesel at all just the DEF. We do not plug in as most of the time we spend off grid so even if we wanted to we couldn't :) . We have not heard complaints or issues with Diesel in the cold from any of the other Revel owners we talk with in the facebook group either,

Wings and Wheels Alaska thank you, it appears the technology has resolved that issue!

Thank you so much for the feedback. Appreciate hearing from you!

Thank you so much for the feedback! Appreciate hearing from you!

We agree 100%. Makes a huge difference with that heater!

Glad you enjoyed it :)

We move around so much I think it would take up unnecessary space. I would agree if we sat in spots more than a few days! Thank you for the recommendation!

That is awesome thank you for the feedback! When we were traveling to Alaska last spring we met a guy who had a converted ambulance! So much room in there. Definitely pay attention to the insulation all around.

Some parts are insulated and some not so I am insulating and rebuilding again.

Hi James, no problem. Our ESPAR heater is our main source of heat when the van is not in operation. It is operates off our diesel tank which means no propane. This system also serves as a hot water heater which gives us near instant hot water. It has two cycles, heat and water, so if we don’t want heat we can just heat the water. We explain that more in earlier videos. The DEF tank, is diesel exhaust fluid which is required by EPA standards on newer Diesel engines and it helps remove the pollution that used to be caused by diesel. Remember when you used to see diesel trucks blow black smoke when they would start up? This is what stops that. Hope this helps a little. Stay safe!

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska Thanks so much for your explanation. I have so much to learn about these vehicles, and their operations. I find your videos very informative about this lifestyle!

I would hope we wouldn't need to do that lol. Could always get a space heater if we ever run into that issue. Thank you for the suggestion!

True...no one should have to be insulating their advertised "4-Season" RV...especially something that's so outrageously expensive. And seeing those gaps in the factory-installed "insulation" (or missing insulation), Winnebago should be thoroughly embarrassed about that. After all, THEY are supposed to be the "RV experts" (been building RVs for how many decades now?) and already have anything that needs insulating attended to. All the owner should have to do is enjoy it... I'm looking forward to what the "B-Makers" will be offering for 2021 when it comes to "4-Season" models (and AWD as well, such as being offered for the 2020 Ford Transit as I don't want a MB Sprinter/diesel Class B). -- BR

Thank you so much Miles. Yes we were surprised when we opened it up and saw the insulation. We would rather be safe than sorry by adding more :) . We completely forgot to talk about our tire issue! Always in the back of our mind about things that can go wrong. Thank you so much for watching!

I think the industry will catch up and offer some amazing products in the future.

ETA: I'd also like to see Panoramic RV (Canada) will be using the 2020 Ford Transit "4x4" (AWD) chassis...I've already "told" them they need to DO that! They already pay lots of attention to insulating their Class B, but presently it's on a Dodge ProMaster chassis -- no thanks. ;-) ...and also hoping Coachmen will come out with a Beyond built on the Transit "4x4" chassis. Coachment and Panoramic...TMK, those two B-Makers are the most likely to offer "4x4" models in 2021 -- that aren't on a MB Sprinter 4x4 chassis. ;-)

Thank you so much for the feedback! many more adventures to come!

Yes. We apologize we have been corrected on that. Some things we just don't know. We absolutely love Canada and look forward to seeing the rest of the country :)

Hi Mitchel! Glad you enjoyed it. Guessing M.D means doctor? Thank you for all you do!

We haven't named it yet. We were thinking "Road Runner" because the horn sounds like a road runner. beep beep.. 😂. And thank you, we are having sooo much fun in it.

Hi stephen. Thank you and we are glad you enjoyed it. once it is below 0 it all feels the same... Cold. The nice thing is we can layer up in the cold where in the heat you can only take so much off :)

We have two bundles. I still have to do the headliner and front doors but have to wait till a couple other items get installed. Well I could do it but then they will charge me to remove and replace it so figured we would just wait till those items get done 😂

We never know exactly what to call them :) . We just know we absolutely love the beauty of Canada that we have visited so far... We are planning to do the entire country soon :)

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska - There are 10 provinces and 3 territories. If you drove from Oregon to Alaska, you drove through at least 1 province and 1 territory. Likely BC & Yukon.

OMGWTFLOL we now know :). Thank you!

Correct. That is why if we decide to go that route we want them inside the van. Someone posted a link for us for a different kind of battery yesterday. Haven't had much time to research it yet but seems pretty good at first glance. Congrats on your retirement. Hope you are enjoying it 100%!

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska Yep I do enjoy it :-), curious about the different kind of battery.. perhaps in a later vid ? keep on rollin'

Inflation and supply / demand are definitely driving prices crazy!

Thank you so much for watching. We hope you are staying safe!

We are glad you enjoyed it! Nice to meet you!

#루쏘TV #LUSSO TV Thank you so much for the feedback!

Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed it.

Glad you liked it Thank you! 😊

It sucks the juice to an extent but we also have a lot of things charging all night and the fridge, lights we use etc. Not all the heater by itself.

Thank you for watching and stopping in to say Hi! 😁

That is always in the back of our minds but we cant let fear stop us from doing what we love. We are prepared if we have a breakdown and we will show our winter kit in an upcoming video.

We love this idea! We absolutely would like to learn more. A few people in a group we follow have posted similar things but always requires the engine running to make it happen. So yes awesome mod!

@@WingsandWheelsAlaska just watching other videos of yours to get an idea of the conditions you re using the van in !!! i use a webasto dieasel 5 kw engine preheater self modified to fire hot water around engine or just around the cab heater matrix and put blower on low automatically. Also a standard webasto 3.5kw air heater.- Re circulated air. Chinese $150 3kw diesel air heater drawing fresh external air which makes sense as our cab heaters do that to prevent fogging and moisture and have been doing it for years ! ( i run this 2 winters and it has many advantages over the webasto and has worked faultlessly ) no need to run engine to use any of them.... i like to stay a couple of days and like you point out battery life is the problem forcing you to move. for $400 dollars you can build a 105 ah lithium battery which has the useable capacity of two 110ah lead acids, weighs a quarter of them and is a quarter the physical size and can be charged off a 9kg 800w generator in two hours to full. even engine charging can be the same 2 hours but i like the added security of having a second source of power should an engine fail to start ... and if you were wondering ---- the $150 Chinese heater has several advantages over the webasto and has proved as reliable .. !. it is throwaway and replace at that price and mine has done 2 full winters and is still tip top, a webasto repair costs more than this entire heater ! 2, it burns cleaner with no diesel smell at any altitude because its fuel and air settings can be changed. 3. it uses far less power as it does not cycle on and off having been designed to drop to a low heat output setting once van is up to temperature. both use 1 ah to start and stop but the webasto is disadvanged by doing this every time the temperature reaches desired setting .

Thank you =, we appreciate the positive response