Where A&L RV Sales began: the Johnson City store
Every A&L location traces back to Bristol Highway in Johnson City. The business grew out of the Stover family's own love of camping, and over more than 30 years it has expanded to eight stores in four states. The Johnson City lot is still the original, and a lot of our longtime customers in the Tri-Cities have bought more than one RV here.
That history shows up in how we work. We keep the showroom relaxed and no-pressure, we explain trade-offs honestly, and we would rather sell you the RV that fits than the one with the biggest sticker. If you want the full story, it is on our About page.
This store also has something most RV dealers do not: A&L's RV collision center sits directly across the street at 4504 Bristol Hwy. If a low branch, a gas station canopy, or a backing mistake ever leaves a mark, you already know where to go.
- Shop new RVs in Johnson City and used RVs in Johnson City
- Line up RV financing and a trade-in value ahead of time
- Get maintenance through service and parts, plus body work at the collision center
Choosing an RV for mountain camping in Northeast Tennessee
Camping around here means hills. Whether you are headed to Roan Mountain, Watauga Lake, South Holston, Warriors' Path, or up into the Cherokee National Forest, you will climb and descend grades that a flat-country buyer never thinks about. That should shape what you buy and how you set it up.
| RV type | Good fit for | Tow or drive | Mountain consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel trailer | Families, weekenders, first RVs | Half-ton trucks and some SUVs, floorplan dependent | Stay well inside your tow rating for climbs |
| Fifth wheel | Couples, long stays, more living space | Pickup with bed hitch, often three-quarter ton or larger | More stable on grades, but heavier |
| Class C | Drivers who want no hitching | Drive it | Shorter units handle tight mountain campgrounds better |
| Super C | Heavy towing and long trips | Drive it, tow a trailer or car | Truck chassis built for weight |
| Class A | Full-time and long-haul travel | Drive it, tow a car | Plan routes, some forest roads are tight |
Why towables lead our lot
Travel trailers make up most of A&L's inventory, with fifth wheels next. In the Tri-Cities, many buyers already drive a pickup, and a towable lets them keep that truck as daily transportation. Just be honest about your truck's limits. A trailer that tows fine on I-26 can feel very different on a long downhill grade.
Features that pay off on hilly routes
- A properly set up brake controller. Adjust it to the loaded trailer and recheck after any hitch change.
- Weight distribution with sway control. It keeps the rig settled when trucks pass and when crosswinds hit on ridges.
- Furnace and insulation. Spring and fall nights in the mountains get cold. A good furnace and enclosed underbelly help.
- Manageable length. Many older mountain campgrounds have shorter, tighter sites. Check site limits before you buy long.
Brands across A&L RV Sales
We stock a broad mix of manufacturers so you can compare honestly. Brands across our stores include:
Click a brand and use the location filter to see units currently on the Johnson City lot. When comparing similar floorplans, look past the decor. Open the basement storage, check how the slides are built, look at the roof, and ask where the water lines run. Those are the details that decide how a camper holds up over years of mountain miles.
New or used: making the right call
A new RV gives you the manufacturer's warranty and a known history from day one. A used RV can stretch your budget into a bigger floorplan or a better-equipped unit because someone else took the early depreciation.
If you camp a handful of weekends a year, a solid pre-owned travel trailer is often the best value. If you plan to travel often, or you want the latest layouts and full factory coverage, new tends to be worth it. Either way, the inspection matters more than the model year.
What we tell used RV shoppers to check
- Look for ceiling stains and soft floors near the front cap, slides, and roof vents.
- Check the roof sealant closely. Freeze-thaw cycles in our winters crack it over time.
- Read the tire date codes. Age, not tread depth, usually retires RV tires.
- Test the furnace as carefully as the AC. You will rely on it here.
Before you decide, check the current RV specials and the deal of the week for price drops.
Financing and trade-ins in Johnson City
Johnson City offers full RV financing like every A&L store. Fill out the financing application before your visit and you will know your budget before you start walking floorplans.
- Compare total cost. Longer terms shrink payments but add interest over the life of the loan.
- Remember the setup costs. Hitch, brake controller, insurance, and storage should be part of the plan.
- Credit bumps? Our challenged credit page explains your options.
- Protect the investment. Review protection products and ask about RV Warranty Forever on qualifying units.
Trading in? Start on the trade-in page. Bring the title or payoff details, keys, and any maintenance records. A tidy unit with records almost always appraises better than the same unit without them.
Service, maintenance, and collision repair in the Tri-Cities
Northeast Tennessee gives RVs four real seasons. That means freezing nights, spring rain, summer humidity, and fall leaves on the roof. Each one has a job attached to it.
- Before winter: winterize the plumbing, charge or remove batteries, and seal any gaps where mice can get in.
- Spring: de-winterize, sanitize the fresh water tank, check roof and window seals, and test the AC before you need it.
- Before mountain trips: inspect brakes, bearings, and tire pressure. Grades are hard on all three.
- Fall: clear leaves and debris off the roof and out of gutters so water does not pool on seams.
Our service and parts department handles routine maintenance, repairs, and parts. If your RV is covered by RV Warranty Forever, stay on top of the annual maintenance the agreement requires, because that keeps the coverage in force. For body and paint work, the A&L RV Collision Center across the street handles RV damage. New to towing? Read our tow guides first.
Buying mistakes to avoid
- Shopping by dry weight. Add water, propane, gear, and passengers. The loaded number is what your truck and brakes deal with on a grade.
- Overlooking payload. Tongue or pin weight eats truck payload fast. It is often the limit people hit first.
- Buying too long for your campgrounds. Know the site limits where you like to camp.
- Skipping the furnace test. Shoppers test the AC in summer and forget the heat. Test both.
- Not planning storage. Measure the driveway, check HOA rules, and price covered storage if you need it.
Tell us how and where you camp, and we will point out anything on a unit that might not suit those trips.
Areas served by our Johnson City RV dealership
The Johnson City store serves the Tri-Cities and the surrounding mountain communities, including Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton, Jonesborough, Gray, Piney Flats, Bluff City, Erwin, Unicoi, Greeneville, and Mountain City, along with buyers from Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina. Race weekend campers headed to Bristol often stop by too.
Closer to the Smokies? Our Sevierville location serves Sevier County and the Knoxville area. Browse every store on the locations page.
Johnson City RV buyer FAQs
A&L RV Sales Johnson City is at 4503 Bristol Hwy, Johnson City, TN 37601, phone (423) 282-5861. It is the company's original location. The A&L RV Collision Center is directly across the street at 4504 Bristol Hwy. Directions and store details are on the Johnson City location page.
Yes. The A&L RV Collision Center at 4504 Bristol Hwy, across from the Johnson City sales lot, handles RV body damage. Call ahead to describe the damage and arrange an inspection. If insurance is involved, have your claim information ready. Learn more on the collision center page.
Many owners find a fifth wheel more stable because the hitch weight sits over the truck's rear axle, which reduces sway. Fifth wheels are usually heavier, though, and need a pickup with a bed hitch and enough payload. A properly matched travel trailer with good weight distribution can tow very well in the mountains too.
Drain the fresh, gray, and black tanks, drain and bypass the water heater, then blow out the lines or pump RV antifreeze through every faucet, the toilet, and any outdoor shower. Remove or maintain batteries and close openings rodents could use. If you would rather not do it yourself, schedule winterization with a service department before the first hard freeze.
Yes. Every A&L location offers full financing, including Johnson City. You can apply online through the financing page before your visit, and the team will review terms and down payment options with you. Buyers with past credit issues can start with the challenged credit page.
RV Warranty Forever is a coverage program A&L offers on qualifying RVs. It covers listed components for as long as you own the RV, provided you complete the annual maintenance outlined in the agreement and keep documentation. Covered parts and requirements are spelled out in the agreement, so read it carefully. Details are on the RV Warranty Forever page.
Bring the title or your loan payoff information, both sets of keys, the owner's manuals, and any service or repair records. Remove personal items and give it a basic cleaning. Records showing roof maintenance and regular service tend to help, because they answer the questions an appraiser will otherwise have to assume the worst about.