Testing the Capabilities of the New Winnebago Revel Sport 44C on an 8-Day Off-Road Adventure

Testing the Capabilities of the New Winnebago Revel Sport 44C on an 8-Day Off-Road Adventure!
Detailed review of boondocking and exploring in this rugged camper van.

By: Kenny & Sabrina Phillips

One of my favorite perks of working with Winnebago and being an Ambassador is the occasional opportunity to test a new RV before it reaches the market. Late last year, I had the chance to test the coolest RV of all: the new Winnebago Revel Sport 44C. The Winnebago team knows about my passion for both RVing and off-roading, and this vehicle perfectly combines these two loves. 

The Winnebago Revel Sport is an adventure van in every sense of the word. Built on the Mercedes AWD Sprinter chassis and equipped with an EcoFlow Power Hub Pro system, the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C offers the capability to take you far off the road and off-grid—while still providing all the comforts you expect from Winnebago. Of course, testing a new RV is a ton of fun, but I take this opportunity very seriously, as I want Winnebago products to be the best they can be for the end user: us, the consumers.

First Impressions of the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C

I picked up the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C at the Winnebago Factory in Forest City, IA, and was told I could take it anywhere as long as I had it back to them in eight days. I decided to go to the Black Hills of South Dakota because it is a beautiful area with plenty of opportunities to take the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C off-road and enjoy dry camping. So, my dog Belle and I moved out of our Class A Winnebago Vista and into our new temporary home with the goal of staying off-grid for our entire time in the Revel.

The first thing I noticed when entering the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C was the layout. It looks and feels more spacious than its counterpart, the 44N, and that’s because Winnebago changed the forward-facing jump seats to a side-sitting mini sofa. This change opens up the area at the entrance and provides more room in the hallway leading to the kitchen and bathroom. 

The floor space here also worked perfectly for Belle’s food and water bowl. The mini sofa quickly became our favorite spot to relax or get some work done, as it also features an easy-access swivel table.

Another thing that really stood out to me was how much storage space there was in the Winnebago Revel. As I was bringing things over from my much larger Winnebago Vista, I was impressed by the ample storage. The gear garage even allowed me to store my folding e-bike! I didn’t struggle at all to fit my life into the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C. There was enough room for everything, from clothes and kitchen gadgets to a Starlink and Belle’s necessities, with space to spare.

Watch a short video preview of the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C here.

How Does Winnebago’s User Testing Work?

Before I continue my review, I would like to peel back the curtain a bit and share how the user testing was done–it is not the boring typed report of the past! Winnebago was able to provide me with an app that let me record videos of my experience as I went along: from sleeping, eating, and driving, to using the power systems, showers, and more. 

It was almost like a mini version of the TV show Big Brother (except I was the one choosing what I shared). I was also able to add notes to the videos and receive feedback from the Winnebago team in real time. This method provides the Winnebago team with much more in-depth information about the user experience and allows for better communication.

Why was the testing period only eight days? I was not the only one who got to test the vehicle. Winnebago tries to get as many eyes and hands on a new vehicle as possible to increase different case uses and opinions on it before letting it hit the market!

Hitting the Road & Going Off-Road in the Winnebago Revel Sport

On and off the road is where the Winnebago Revel Sport really shines. The ride is quiet and comfortable, and with features like adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind spot monitoring, and stability control, the Revel Sport drives more like a large SUV than a high-profile van. I often found myself smiling behind the wheel, a feeling that was magnified when going off-road. 

I expected a Class B van to feel top-heavy when climbing over rocks or navigating off-camber paths to a campsite, but the Winnebago Revel Sport tackled the terrain of the Black Hills with no issues at all. It also has a 360-degree camera system, which provided me with a bird's-eye view of the van, making tight spots along trails or backing into a dispersed camping spot much easier.

I wanted to get the most out of my week testing the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C, so I changed campsites every two nights to experience setting up and breaking down as much as possible. I also used the Revel for sightseeing and running errands. With no slides or levelers, it was quick and easy to pack up, and because the Revel Sport is under 20-ft long, finding parking was never a problem. Parallel parking was also a breeze with the 360-degree camera system.

I was quickly beginning to understand the hype and love for the Winnebago Revel during my memorable adventure in South Dakota. Belle and I used it to explore the forest roads of the Black Hills, and the Revel Sport remained comfortable off-road to the point where Belle would nap in her bed. For comparison, Belle is terrified of my Jeep when I go off-road with it.

The Revel Sport exceeded my driving expectations in terms of how quiet and comfortable it is. I loved being behind the wheel of this van!

Camping in the Winnebago Revel Sport: Features & Amenities

Cooking: I wanted to be sure I was using the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C to its full potential, so I cooked all three meals in the RV for the eight days. The location of the Lagun table gave me ample prep space to make full meals, and the EcoFlow Power Hub provided enough power to operate an air fryer, induction cooktop, blender, and tea kettle. 

The EcoFlow Power Hub has a built-in 3,600-watt inverter, so I could operate multiple items at a time, which meant I was able to cook quickly and efficiently. When my meal was done, I found sitting on the mini sofa to eat very enjoyable, as it offered a great view out the side sliding door.

I also found the 24-gallon freshwater capacity to be plenty for me, only needing to refill the tank once throughout the week. (I was able to find a campground that allowed me to refill at no charge.) I actually thought water would be an issue for me, so I brought two six-gallon water containers, but I never needed to use them.

Showering: I have worked a lot of Overland Expos and was surprised to find out that most van owners use their showers for storage instead of a shower. I guess this is why Winnebago supplies a shelving system in their Revels. However, I easily removed the shelves as I knew I would be taking a shower every day in the Revel Sport. I feel that’s one of the main joys of RVing: you have a shower and bathroom everywhere you go! 

The Winnebago Revel Sport’s water pressure from the onboard 12-volt pump was fantastic, and the water heated up quickly and stayed consistent. However, I did find the shower area to be a bit snug for me (for context, I am 5'11" and 225 lbs.) I fit in the shower, but it’s obviously not as roomy as the shower in my Winnebago Vista. However, the shower worked fine for me, and I look at it as something that gets the job done, whereas my Vista shower is somewhere I can stand and decompress. 

Lounging: When it came time to lounge around in the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C, I was able to turn the driver’s captain seat completely around to face the mini sofa. This combination turned the area into a chaise lounge, and I could then set my laptop on the Lagun table to watch my favorite streaming services.

Sleeping: The Winnebago Revel Sport bed was plenty large enough for me (the bed is 79 inches long when in the down position). I also really liked the drop-down bed and how it could store out of the way when not in use. Winnebago also upgraded the insulation in the Revel Sport using 3M Thinsulate which made the Sport very quiet inside and helped make the sleeping experience extra comfortable. 

The upgraded insulation also meant the van held my desired temperature for long periods of time before I needed to turn the furnace back on (which can actually be done via a phone app!). Did I mention most nights went down into the 20s on my trip? That was no problem at all for the Revel—or for me.

Safety: Belle and I felt very secure in the Revel at night, as it has a plethora of outdoor lighting. I would turn all the lights on when taking Belle out, which gave us a full view around the Revel, ensuring no coyotes were sneaking up on us. We did hear them howling in the woods around us though!

Dumping the Cassette Toilet: When Winnebago first contacted me about taking the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C out, I was incredibly excited, but then a thought hit me: I had never used a cassette toilet. Would it be a hassle? Would I find places to empty it? I can thankfully say, I found the cassette toilet actually elevated the way I could use the Sport. 

There were plenty of dump station options on my route and the cassette toilet did not fill up as quickly as I thought—I would get four days of use from it before needing to empty it. I now see why the cassette toilet has caught on with the small RV market. It’s easy and convenient to use! 

Learn more about cassette toilets in the article.

Staying Powered: On the technical side of things, the Revel exceeded my expectations in every way. The EcoFlow Power Hub Pro system, with its 5,000-watt battery and 3,600-watt inverter, performed flawlessly. It delivered the power I needed and recharged quickly from our short daily drives or exploring. It allowed me to go the full eight days without ever needing to plug in. 

The Winnebago Revel Sport 44C is a Memory-Making Vehicle

I will be forever grateful to Winnebago for letting me test out the Revel Sport with Belle. We had an incredible time and made so many great memories during the week we were testing the RV. My favorite moments were waking up early in the morning in a secluded dry camping spot in the Black Hills and sitting outside the van with my breakfast and coffee, with Belle at my side as we looked for wildlife passing by. I will remember that week forever.

I think the best way to describe the Winnebago Revel Sport 44C is that it takes the best from my comfortable Class A Winnebago Vista and my off-road-ready Jeep Wrangler and combines them into one vehicle. I felt like we could go anywhere and see anything in this van—it truly is a memory maker!