Which Generation Revel Do I Have?
Jump to a section:
- Identifying Your Revel: The Control Panel
- Identifying Your Sprinter: The Dashboard
- Why Does Revel Generation Matter?
Whether you already own a Revel or are thinking about joining the club, you probably already know that there are a few different styles of Revel, each with their own unique systems. These Revel differences are separate from the different Sprinter chassis years, which is confusing! At RoamRig, we group these styles by generation. Here's why:
If you’ll be upgrading anything in your van, then you’ll need to know exactly which Revel generation you have so you can make sure that your upgrades are compatible. In this post, we’ll show you how RoamRig identifies the model and generation of your Winnebago Revel Sprinter Camper Van.
Heads up! Winnebago's internal terminology for grouping vans is also by generation, but it has some differences from our as-easy-as-it-gets system described below.
Comparing Sprinter Year to Revel Generation
Identifying the generation of your Revel is NOT as simple as checking the model year of your van. Mercedes manufactures the Sprinter van, which includes the exterior, engine and mechanical components related to driving the van. Then, Winnebago uses this shell to build the Revel. The Revel is everything related to your house and living systems.
So, we have two different builds to track: the Sprinter model and the Revel generation. They don’t necessarily advance at the same time. That’s why you need to know how to identify your van, which we’ve made very simple below.
Identifying Your Revel: The Control Panel
At RoamRig, we group Revels into three generations. Each generation has a unique control panel above the bench seat. If you have a stock Revel, then you have one of the following:
Stock 2nd Generation
Stock 1st Generation
Identifying Your Sprinter Model: The Dashboard
If upgrading your van will include modifying any of the Mercedes Sprinter components, such as adding a Beatbox stereo, then it’s crucial to identify your Sprinter model to check compatibility. All 2nd and 3rd generation Revels are built on the VS30 Sprinter. However, first generation Revels were built on both NCV3 and VS30 models.
A glance at the Dashboard will tell you which model of Sprinter you have:
NCV3 Sprinters
NCV3 Sprinters have a small screen with buttons on both sides and rectangular vents.
VS30 Sprinters
VS30 Sprinters have a much larger touchscreen, round vents on either side and cup holders.
Other Differences
That’s it! Just check your Revel control panel and Sprinter dashboard to identify your van generation. Of course, generational changes bring more than just control panel updates. However, we like our identification method because anyone can do it without needing to access other components (such as checking battery capacity and location).
Why Does Revel Generation Matter?
Years can lead to errors! The Mercedes Sprinter year and Winnebago Revel year don’t necessarily match. That leaves a lot of room for error. Mercedes content may change in one Winnebago model year, or Winnebago content that might change in one Winnebago model year.
Here’s how generations work with the Winnebago Revel and Mercedes Sprinter chassis years:
- 1st generation is 2018-2020 Revel (on 2017-2020 Sprinter chassis) with AGM batteries
- 2nd generation is 2021-2023 Revel (on 2020-2022 Sprinter chassis) with 2x 125ah lithium batteries from the factory
- 3rd generation is 2023-2024 Revel (on 2021-2023? Sprinter chassis) with 1x 320ah lithium battery from the factory
When it comes to uplifting your van or asking for advice, what matters is the INTERIOR build out content from Winnebago (generation) and the CHASSIS year. So, always refer to your Revel by Generation and Mercedes year: "1G/19M" or "3G/22M" or "2G/21M" where G is generation, and M is Mercedes year as determined by your VIN number only.
How could it go wrong, you might be wondering. Well, here are a few examples:
- A 2023 Revel owner calls a shop and orders suspension for their 23 Revel. The upfitter thinks 23 Revel = 23 Sprinter. Wrong parts, they got AWD parts for a 4x4 chassis.
- A new Revel owner has a title which shows 2020 Revel. They do not realize their DMV pulled the year from the Mercedes VIN. They order parts for a 2020 Revel. Wrong parts. They have a 2021 Revel on a 2020 Sprinter chassis.
- The new 4 cylinder makes it even more fun! Some shops know that Revel year is often one higher than Mercedes year. You say you have a 2023 Revel. They subtract 1 to get the chassis year = 2022 Sprinter. However, the 2024 Revel is on 2022 chassis. So, if the shop subtracts one year in this case, they end up with 2023 chassis, which is AWD. They tried with their best knowledge, but they got AWD parts for a 4x4 chassis.
Compatible Upgrades
Now that you know exactly which generation of Revel you have, you can easily see which RoamRig upgrades can level up your rig. Hint: we have many upgrades that will make your van even better that do not require full power system installations.