A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit's Documentation of Broken Promises
Tennessee Valley Pastoral Counseling, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, purchased a brand new $60,000 2026 Forest River RV from Johnston RV in September 2025. Johnston RV advertised a "lifetime warranty" on all models and told us "Forest River takes care of everything" during the first year. The RV was defective on delivery with no hot water in shower, water leaks, electrical hazards, numerous "fit and finish" damage, and defective tank monitoring system.
We have been completely stranded for 4 months, unable to travel or fulfill our ministry mission because the RV is non-functional. Every day, ongoing water damage continues to destroy the RV's value while both Johnston RV and Forest River refuse to act.
When Forest River denied our warranty claim, Johnston RV told us: "Go after Forest River yourself. If they don't cover it, we'll fix it for you." We did exactly what they told us to do. Forest River didn't budge. Then Johnston RV ghosted us completely for 4 months while we've been stranded, unable to serve churches during my terminal illness.
Johnston RV sold us this defective RV. Forest River refused warranty coverage. Read the complete manufacturer warranty denial documentation complete with photos, email correspondence, and timeline:
ForestRiverWarranty.com - Full Documentation →
Read our latest email correspondence sent to the owners of Johnston RV Center:
Purchased brand new 2026 Forest River Arctic Wolf from Johnston RV for $60,000 cash. Johnston RV advertised "lifetime warranty" on all models and told us "Forest River takes care of everything the first year." Multiple defects discovered immediately upon delivery.
Contacted Johnston RV about defects. They were friendly, understanding, and assured us they would help coordinate repairs with Forest River.
Forest River denied all warranty coverage claiming nonprofit registration equals "commercial use." Johnston RV told us: "Go after Forest River yourself. If they don't cover it, we'll fix it."
Built comprehensive documentation website. Contacted Forest River repeatedly. Pursued every avenue Johnston RV suggested. Forest River refused to honor warranty.
Returned to Johnston RV as instructed. Suddenly couldn't talk to us about the issue. Representative became rude when we called politely asking for updates.
For months, only got excuses via text message: "Service manager was out." "We'll know more next week." Week after week of delays and deflection.
Eventually stopped responding entirely. No calls returned. No texts answered. Complete ghosting after promising to "make it right." Meanwhile, we've been stranded for 4 months, unable to travel to churches or fulfill our mission during Lance's terminal illness. Ongoing water damage continues destroying the RV's value daily.
After 4 months of broken promises, being stranded and unable to serve our mission during terminal illness, and complete abandonment by Johnston RV, we are documenting our experience so other potential customers can make informed decisions. We are seeking full financial compensation for loss of use during irreplaceable time, ongoing damage to the RV, and broken promises.
"If Forest River won't cover it, we'll fix it for you."
4 months of excuses. Rude treatment. Complete ghosting. Zero repairs. Zero accountability. We've been stranded for 4 months, unable to travel or serve churches during Lance's terminal illness, while ongoing water damage destroys the RV daily. We are seeking full financial compensation, not just repairs.
Tennessee Valley Pastoral Counseling isn't some big organization with staff and budgets. It's just us - Lance and Deanna Flood. We started this ministry in 2014 with our own money because we felt called to serve churches and families who couldn't afford counseling services.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 46-4227922), but we've never taken a salary. We've never seen a profit. We have no donors, no fundraising campaigns, no grant money. For 11 years, this ministry has been funded entirely by our personal savings - money we earned working other jobs so we could serve others for free.
This $60,000 RV? That was everything. Literally everything we had left. We saved for years, combined it with what little the ministry had, and bought this to continue traveling to churches providing free marriage seminars and pastoral training. We've never owned anything brand new in our entire lives.
Lance is facing stage 4 liver failure. We don't know how much time we have left to serve. We invested everything into this one tool that would let us continue the ministry - and Johnston RV sold us a broken RV, promised to fix it, then abandoned us.
We're not a large corporation. We're not wealthy, actually quite the opposite. We're just two people who gave their lives to serving others, and we got betrayed by a business that made promises they had no intention of keeping.
Consumer speech about products and services is constitutionally protected. Our criticism of Johnston RV's business practices is protected speech under the First Amendment.
We use "Johnston RV" to identify the company we're discussing - there is no other way to discuss our experience without using their name. We are not claiming to be Johnston RV or affiliated with them. Clear disclaimers appear throughout this site. Under the nominative fair use doctrine, we have the legal right to use their name to identify them in truthful consumer commentary.
This website clearly states it is NOT affiliated with Johnston RV. We use no logos, no trade dress, and make it obvious this is consumer documentation and criticism. Case law supports consumer gripe sites: Bosley Medical Institute v. Kremer, 403 F.3d 672 (9th Cir. 2005) held that consumers can use company names in domain names to criticize those companies, and TMI, Inc. v. Maxwell, 368 F.3d 433 (5th Cir. 2004) affirmed that gripe sites are protected speech even when they use trademarked names.
Consumers have the right to share their experiences with businesses. Nonprofits have the right to warn others. Free speech rights outweigh corporate reputation concerns when the speech is truthful consumer advocacy.
Johnston RV advertises a "lifetime warranty" and tells customers "Forest River takes care of everything the first year." In our case: when Forest River denied coverage, Johnston RV promised to fix it themselves, then ghosted us for 4 months. The advertised warranty proved meaningless.
In our case: Initially friendly and supportive. Once we did what they told us (pursued Forest River directly), they became rude, dismissive, and eventually stopped all communication.
We encourage potential buyers to read this complete documentation and make an informed decision about whether Johnston RV will honor their commitments if problems arise.
Johnston RV serves the Huntsville and Decatur, Alabama area. Potential customers in North Alabama should be aware of our documented experience.
This website exists to document our factual experience with Johnston RV's customer service, promises made, and promises broken. We are not affiliated with Johnston RV in any way. All information presented here is documented and factual.
If you're searching for "Johnston RV reviews," "Johnston RV complaints," "Johnston RV customer service," or "Johnston RV Huntsville Alabama," we want you to know our story before making a purchase decision. We purchased from Johnston RV in Huntsville, Alabama and experienced broken promises, false advertising regarding their "lifetime warranty," and complete abandonment after they sold us a defective vehicle.
Help other potential RV buyers make informed decisions
Johnston RV made a promise. We did everything they asked. Now it's time for them to honor their commitment.
Johnston RV: You know how to reach us. Keep your word.