Which Generation Revel Do I Have?

December 27, 2023

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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 3rd Generation

The stock 3rd generation Revel control panel has all components mounted to a black panel. The control panel does NOT have a xantrax battery shut off button (highlighted in 2nd generation photo below).

Stock 2nd Generation

The stock 2nd generation control panel is very similar to 3rd generation vans. EXCEPT 2nd generation vans do have a xantrex battery shut off button.

Stock 1st Generation

Stock 1st generation control panel components are mounted directly to the wall (not a black panel). These systems have a switch with two green buttons for the inverter. If you’ve identified your van as a first generation Revel, then keep reading! First generation Revels are built on two different Sprinter Models.

RoamRig Control Panels

If your control panel matches either of the images below, with labeled switches and a round Victron gauge, you’ve got a RoamRig power system. Nice!

1st generation with RoamRig (above): Labeled switches, round Victron gauge, Rixen thermostat and Espar heater code reader.

2nd and 3rd generation with RoamRig: Labeled switches, round Victron gauge, Timberline touch screen thermostat.

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 Sprinter

NCV3 Sprinters have a small screen with buttons on both sides and rectangular vents.

VS30 Sprinters

VS30 Sprinter Dashboard

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.

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