Revel or Tiny Planet Van. Which van is right for you?
See the key van differences
When it comes to adventure vehicles, both the Winnebago Revel and Tiny Planet’s Vans stand out with their unique strengths. This comparison explores their design, features, and overall experience, helping you decide which option is best tailored to your off-road and travel needs.
1. Chassis and Off-Road Capabilities
Revel: Built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144” 4x4 chassis, offering excellent off-road capability with standard four-wheel drive. It’s designed for adventurous travelers who may explore rugged terrains.
Tiny Planet Vans: Also typically built on Mercedes Sprinters 4x4 chassis, but more often long model 170”, with a focus on off-road exploration. Tiny Planet adds more customized exterior features, such as extra off-road modifications, for more extreme terrain and personalization based on the client's needs.
2. Interior Design
Revel: The Revel has a rugged, utilitarian design inside, which focuses on durability and function. It offers a compact layout with basic finishes that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Tiny Planet Vans: Tiny Planet stands out with luxurious, boutique-style interiors inspired by American landscapes and European aesthetics. Tiny Planet's use of premium materials like white oak, bamboo, and natural stone veneer really emphasizes that high-end, five-star hotel feel in their vans, making them distinct from more utilitarian models of other brands. This approach adds a unique, luxury touch to the adventure van experience.
3. Kitchen
Revel: The Revel’s kitchen is functional but minimalist
- Galley with 4 drawers
- Laminate countertop
- Portable single-burner induction cooktop
- Galley drawer with a counter extension base (designed to store the induction cooktop)
- 3.0 cu. ft. (12V) compressor-driven refrigerator/freezer mounted in the lower kitchen cabinets.
- Stainless steel sink with a single control faucet and pull-out sprayer
- Spice cabinet
Tiny Planet Vans: Feature full-sized luxurious kitchens with high-end appliances such as:
- White oak or bamboo 86” galley (customizable) with 10+ drawers and a counter extension base
- Acrylic (Corian) countertop
- Mounted 2-burner induction cooktop
- Eye-level 3.3 cu. ft. (12V) refrigerator/freezer
- Quartz (or custom choice) sink with a single control faucet and pull-out sprayer
- Sliding Pantry
- Dishwasher (optional)
- Microwave/air fryer (optional)
Conclusion:
For short weekend trips, the Revel’s kitchen works well. However, Tiny Planet's kitchen is ideal for longer journeys and cooking enthusiasts, offering a space that is three times longer and 1.5 times deeper.
Designed for serious cooking, it provides a more sophisticated and comfortable experience. In the Revel, having the refrigerator at floor level can be inconvenient for frequent use, while Tiny Planet’s vans offer a fridge positioned at eye level for easier access.
Given that people typically open the refrigerator 10-15 times a day, ease of access becomes an important consideration.
Designed for serious cooking, it provides a more sophisticated and comfortable experience. In the Revel, having the refrigerator at floor level can be inconvenient for frequent use, while Tiny Planet’s vans offer a fridge positioned at eye level for easier access.
Given that people typically open the refrigerator 10-15 times a day, ease of access becomes an important consideration.
4. Bathroom
Revel: Multifunctional wet bath with a shower and a cassette toilet that doubles as a storage.
- 21-gallon fresh water tank
- Wet bath 31" x 26"
- Dual control faucet w/flexible shower head
- Removable shelf, clother rod, collapsible storage containers
- Mirror
- Powered roof vent
- Swiveling cassette toilet
Revel’s customer review:
The interior shower. The wet bath includes a shower and cassette toilet. The space also came with three bamboo shelves positioned in the upper half of the closet, so you have the option to use the wet bath as storage instead. We use the cassette toilet and two of the three shelves but not the shower.
Also, showering can consume a lot of water. We prefer to use public showers to conserve water for drinking, cooking, and washing dishes. It won’t take long to blow through the Revel’s 21-gallon freshwater tank after a couple of showers and other water needs.
I also have a lot of hair, and it takes too many gallons to shampoo and condition it and rinse all the product out. I’ve seriously considered shaving my head to minimize my water usage.
I also have a lot of hair, and it takes too many gallons to shampoo and condition it and rinse all the product out. I’ve seriously considered shaving my head to minimize my water usage.
Tiny Planet Vans: Known for their innovative sliding toilet and luxurious bathroom designs for a SPA-like experience.
- 42-gallon freshwater tank
- Wet bath 34" x 20"
- Custom-made stainless steel shower pan with four drains (one in each corner) – 20”x57” (extends beneath the toilet)
No matter how you park, the water will always drain
- Heated floors in the shower (just like the rest of the van).
- Genius pull-out sliding toilet, that doesn’t stay on the way of showering (compatible with Waterless toilet Tiny by Separate, Dry Flash)
The bathroom is designed for maximum convenience and ease of use. It features a fully private toilet, ensuring comfort and discretion, along with a shower that offers immediate access, making it perfect for everyday use without any hassle.
- Highly efficient showerhead (0.4 gallons/min, which is 100 min of shower out of the fresh water tank)
- Natural stone lightweight stone veneer shower walls (luxurious apperience)
- A built-in niche with LED lighting, along with a dedicated closet for storing all the shower essentials
- Toilette vent that helps dry out the bathroom
Tiny Planet’s customers reviews:
My freshwater tank that works perfectly. The shower is the bomb! The 0.4 gal/min shower head that mistscreates a spa like experience that is so awesome....have to experience it but wow, what a great shower ....in a VAN! The hidden toilet on a slide is so unique and such a smart design feature. The fact that you have a roof... Read more
Conclusion:
Revel customers tend to use the shower primarily for storage and often rely on public restrooms, taking showers at gyms instead. In contrast, Tiny Planet customers regularly use the shower and toilet as their main facilities. They typically have enough water for 7-8 days for two people, even with daily showers.
When comparing a cassette toilet to the waterless toilet Tiny by Separate, which is frequently used by Tiny Planet, it’s worth noting that the cassette toilet requires more frequent emptying and generally has odor issues.
When comparing a cassette toilet to the waterless toilet Tiny by Separate, which is frequently used by Tiny Planet, it’s worth noting that the cassette toilet requires more frequent emptying and generally has odor issues.
5. Heating System
Revel:
- Hydronic Heating System: The Revel uses a diesel-based heating system that heats both the air and water.
- Heated gray water holding tank (below floor)
- Heated freshwater holding tank
Revel’c customer review:
We stay winterized for almost half the year. The Revel is advertised as a four-season RV. However, the RV manual, any RV repair shop, and our experience tell us that winterizing is highly recommended if you plan to be in freezing temperatures.
We were hoping the Revel would allow us to keep the plumbing operational during the winter as we travel from ski resort to ski resort. You can read more about our unfortunate experiences and why we winterize here.
My personal opinion is that if you plan on using a Revel in places like the Sierras or the Pacific Northwest, you'll probably be fine when lows stay in the high twenties or warmer. Plumbing will start to bust in states like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, where temperatures are often single digits and negative. My firm advice is to winterize, and don’t chance costly repairs! It also sucks when you're ready to go out for a powder day, and you have to deal with a watery mess and repairs instead.
We were hoping the Revel would allow us to keep the plumbing operational during the winter as we travel from ski resort to ski resort. You can read more about our unfortunate experiences and why we winterize here.
My personal opinion is that if you plan on using a Revel in places like the Sierras or the Pacific Northwest, you'll probably be fine when lows stay in the high twenties or warmer. Plumbing will start to bust in states like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, where temperatures are often single digits and negative. My firm advice is to winterize, and don’t chance costly repairs! It also sucks when you're ready to go out for a powder day, and you have to deal with a watery mess and repairs instead.
Tiny Planet Vans:
- Hydronic Heating System with Heated Floors: Tiny Planet uses a diesel-powered hydronic heating system that heats water, air, and the floors. The system runs glycol through 150 feet of pipes under the floor, ensuring even heat distribution across the entire surface.
- Fully Winterized: Tiny Planet’s vans are built for extreme winter conditions, featuring insulated and heated pipes as well as a grey water tank, which is kept from freezing by heated cables running throughout the plumbing beneath the van.
- Luxury Comfort: Heated floors provide a high level of comfort, making the interior warm and inviting, even in freezing temperatures. Heated floors allow you to walk barefoot inside the van even during winter and on cool summer or fall night, providing unmatched comfort and warmth.
Conclusion:
The Revel performs well in temperatures above 32°F. However, during freezing conditions, the water will need to be drained and winterized.
Tiny Planet vans feature additional insulation for the pipes and tank, as well as heated cables, allowing customers to keep the water in the system and enjoy a hot shower even in temperatures as low as -20°F.
The heated floors also help maintain a comfortable living temperature inside the van and ensure the electrical and water systems remain in safe working condition.
There’s nothing quite like standing barefoot on a heated floor in the shower during a winter storm!
Tiny Planet vans feature additional insulation for the pipes and tank, as well as heated cables, allowing customers to keep the water in the system and enjoy a hot shower even in temperatures as low as -20°F.
The heated floors also help maintain a comfortable living temperature inside the van and ensure the electrical and water systems remain in safe working condition.
There’s nothing quite like standing barefoot on a heated floor in the shower during a winter storm!
6. Cooling system
Revel: Offers the roof mounted 110V Coleman-Mach 10 NDQ A/C that is designed to operate on shore power and inverter.
Energy efficiency: 13,500 BTU, 1400 wt/h
Energy efficiency: 13,500 BTU, 1400 wt/h
Tiny Planet Vans: Uses the 12V Cruise N Comfort undermount AC, recognized as the most efficient air conditioning system on the market.
Energy efficiency: 10,000 BTU, 600 wt/h
This air conditioning systems is powered by solar panels and a robust battery system, allowing for extended off-grid use without relying on external power sources.
Energy efficiency: 10,000 BTU, 600 wt/h
This air conditioning systems is powered by solar panels and a robust battery system, allowing for extended off-grid use without relying on external power sources.
Conclusion:
The air conditioner in the Revel is quite popular among RV users and is designed to operate on shore power; otherwise, it can drain the battery completely within a few hours. A significant advantage is that if the air conditioner fails, it can be replaced with a new unit at a relatively low cost.
In contrast, Tiny Planet customers primarily use the air conditioner during off-grid trips, where it can run for up to 30 hours continuously on lithium batteries. On sunny days, the solar energy generated is often sufficient to fully replenish the energy used by the air conditioner.
In contrast, Tiny Planet customers primarily use the air conditioner during off-grid trips, where it can run for up to 30 hours continuously on lithium batteries. On sunny days, the solar energy generated is often sufficient to fully replenish the energy used by the air conditioner.
7. Bed and Storage
Revel: Features a power-lift bed system that creates additional storage space underneath when not in use. It’s practical but not necessarily spacious.
Revel’c customer review:
We can’t store the bikes underneath our bed because other gear and items we need for full-time living are already consuming the space. Even if there was space in the garage, the bed must be lifted for the bikes to fit. In the raised position, the bed is unusable. So, the bikes will continue to live in storage during ski months.
When we traded our Travato for the Revel, our bed size was significantly reduced from a king-size mattress to one smaller than a full, and we sacrificed an open living space. I consider myself a small person at 5’4” and 120 pounds, and I frequently had bruises living in the Revel. In our Travat«
I could stand in the middle with my arms outstretched and spin in a circle. Kyle and I could also walk past each other. Both were impossible to do in the Revel.
The Revel also wasn’t designed for two people to work on their laptops while maintaining ergonomic posture. I’m not old, but I’m also not young anymore. My body does not appreciate working in bed.
I could stand in the middle with my arms outstretched and spin in a circle. Kyle and I could also walk past each other. Both were impossible to do in the Revel.
The Revel also wasn’t designed for two people to work on their laptops while maintaining ergonomic posture. I’m not old, but I’m also not young anymore. My body does not appreciate working in bed.
Tiny Planet Vans: Offer versatile and comfortable bed options to suit customer’s needs. Choose from a spacious dinette that easily transforms into a California king-sized bed, a fixed full-to-queen-sized bed, or even a lifted bed.
A fixed-size bed provides ample garage space underneath, featuring a sliding shelf for easy access to all your gear. This area is spacious enough to accommodate two mountain bikes.
As an additional feature, Tiny Planet offers a transformer bed that converts into a sofa in seconds with the use of a remote.
A fixed-size bed provides ample garage space underneath, featuring a sliding shelf for easy access to all your gear. This area is spacious enough to accommodate two mountain bikes.
As an additional feature, Tiny Planet offers a transformer bed that converts into a sofa in seconds with the use of a remote.
Tiny Planet’s customer review:
8. Electrycal system and Off-Grid Capabilities
Revel:
- 8.4 kWh Lithionics® Lithium-Ion Battery
- 3,600-Watt Inverter charger for converting DC to AC power
- DC-DC Converter for charging from the vehicle’s alternator
- 210 watts of solar panels
- MPPT Solar Charger for maximizing solar energy intake.
- Dual Alternator Charging for efficient battery management
- Power Connection: 30-amp power cord for shore power connectivity
Tiny Planet Vans:
- 10-16 kWh LiFePO4
- Victron 3000-Watt Inverter Charger for converting DC to AC power
- Victron DC-DC Converter for charging the lithium-phosphate battery from the vehicle’s alternator while driving
- 600 watts of solar panels
- Victron MPPT controller
- Alternator Charger 100 amp
- Power Connection: 30-amp power cord for connection to shore power if needed
Conclusion:
Both Tiny Planet and Winnebago Revel feature exceptionally powerful and efficient electrical systems designed for large off-grid capabilities, making them ideal for adventurous travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.
9. Customization
Revel: Comes as a pre-designed model with limited customization options. Buyers get a well-rounded van but are restricted to factory-chosen features and layouts.
Tiny Planet Vans: Tiny Planet offers two layouts and several pre-designed interiors to choose from. However, minor customizations are available, such as adding a pet-friendly kitchen drawer, customized storage, or luxury finishes.
10. Price
Revel: Starting at $254,076 for the base model, with various optional features available for additional customization
Tiny Planet Vans: Pricing is highly customizable, typically ranging from $200,000 to $300,000+ depending on the level of personalization, luxury features, and specific client preferences.
Conclusion:
In summary, while the Revel is an excellent choice for those seeking practical off-road adventures on short weekend trips with basic comforts, Tiny Planet’s vans provide a more luxurious experience, offering enhanced comfort and features for customers embarking on longer journeys or living full-time on the road.
Ready to take your adventures to the next level?
If you're looking for a van that offers unmatched luxury and off-grid capabilities, Tiny Planet is the perfect choice.
Explore more about how our vans are designed to elevate your travel experience—whether it's for long journeys or full-time living.
Visit our website or contact us today to get an estimate for your van build and learn about all the features!
Explore more about how our vans are designed to elevate your travel experience—whether it's for long journeys or full-time living.
Visit our website or contact us today to get an estimate for your van build and learn about all the features!