Complaint Review: Ron Hoover RV and Marine

It's my first time in Texas, and I'm here to pick up a dream -- an RV. After months of looking online, I spot a reasonable-looking small used Winnebago Warrior for a good price, especially for a high school teacher on a budget, I think I might be able to see some of this beautiful country in my own RV. After calling Ron Hoover RV and Marine, my new adventure begins, as the saleman, Jim Crough assures me that it a great vehicle that will easily take me back to Virginia. I know it's not a good idea to buy an RV sight-unseen, but I trust Jim Crough, and one of the sons of the owner, Dustin Hoover, that it's a good deal. I flew 1,700 miles from Arlington, Virginia to McAllen and made my way by taxi to Ron Hoover in Donna, TX.

With my suitcase in tow, Jim greets in the showroom shows me my RV out back. In the shining southern Texas sun, the vehicle has clearly been sitting on the lot for a long time, and the online photos were likely taken over a year ago. Nevertheless, I'm optimistic and see potential -- it's already mine as I sent the check earlier and paid for it. Imagine me in the Ron Hoover dealership with my suitcase all ready to get in the RV and hit the road back to Virginia, as Jim the RV is in good shape. 

Although I had paid in cash and my arrival was well-announced, the dealership can't give me a title to the RV, as I was told that their "title person" was not working today, and they would send it to me in the mail. Ron Hoover is  a big dealership, so I trust them. After pulling away and starting my journey, I was less than two miles from the dealership when the vehicle starts overheating. I pull over, and I first realize that Ron Hoover did not put a temporary tag on the RV, and I had been driving without a tag, then I look under the hood and see that the coolant reservoir has dry-rotted and is cracked and empty. 

I return to the dealership, and Dustin Hoover says the vehicle is "As Is" -- which I understood, but they were aware I was trying to drive back to Virginia and the salesman assured me the RV was in good condition and would make it to Virginia. But the vehicle did not make it two miles from their dealership. After returning, Dustin Hoover did arrange to have a temporary tag placed on the RV. I was afraid to drive it because of the problems and I wanted to undo the deal. I pleaded to be given half of the money I just paid for it. Dustin Hoover's answer was NO. I then asked would they take the vehicle back on consignment. Again, the answer is NO. Dustin Hoover said I did not have the title to the vehicle, and it was not registered to me. I asked, how could I have the title? His dealership did not give me a title when I bought it from them minutes ago. I was told 30 minutes earlier that the title would be mailed to me when their "title person" returned to work. I believe he was just happy to get rid of the junk vehicle from their lot.

Dustin and Jim told me to drive along Business 83 in Donna and find an independent garage to repair the RV. I returned to the RV -- no electric systems in the house part of the RV worked, no lights would not turn on, nothing, but it would crank up. So, I'm back in my Winnebago Warrior and two miles down the road, the steering seems to be failing, and I pull into the Donna Walmart parking lot. A tire has blown and it's in shreds. Luckily, there is a spare underneath, so I contact a towing and road-side assistance company. Unfortunately, the spare has rusted in place, and the workers cannot remove it. To make matters worse, they cannot even remove the wheel of the shredded tire, as it has also rusted in place too firmly. It's Saturday night and a tow vehicle big enough to tow the RV to a garage will not be available until Sunday morning -- nothing can be done.  Luckily, Walmart will allow me to leave the broken-down RV in their parking lot for the night. A Super 8 hotel is within walking distance, and so walk over with my luggage, and  I check in. 

The following morning, I arrange to have the RV  towed to a repair shop. It's Sunday morning, and it's closed, but the garage owner (who lives behind the shop)  does take a quick look at it and says all the tires are dry-rotted. Who knows what engine problems it has? It's likely to cost thousands to repair. 

To anyone reading this, I know I may sound stupid for buying a RV without seeing it, but Ron Hoover RV is one of the biggest RV dealerships in Texas, and on its website, it is touted to be a respected, family-owned business. 

It's 4:00am in the morning, and I can't sleep. I've decided to simply give the RV to the shop owner and fly back home to Arlington, Virginia. Unfortunately, I can't even give the RV to him, because I was never given a title to the piece of junk RV. I've learned a valuable life lesson. I hope my story can be helpful to others. I also want people to know the type of business that Ron Hoover runs, and the quality of used vehicles they sell. They clearly don't mind selling something that should be in a junk yard. In fact, before my flight tomorrow, I need to arrange another $200 tow to have it taken to the junk yard. Bye Donna, Texas.

Kenneth McCreary