Tonie's RV's is located in Salem on 1102 Tennessee Street, where we specialize in RV parts, and service. Feel free to stop by and browse our store.

A long time recreational vehicle lover, Tonie Canipe started a recreational vehicle rental company in 1997 after finding out that there was no other rental company close by.

All the service, repairs, and part purchases were done with a company close by and this led to a friendship with the parts person who helped her. Betty and Tonie were either helping each other out or going out for lunch. Sometimes the lunches were on the hill where Tonie stored her RV's when in town, inside the RV's. Betty worked hard and sometimes late, putting up stock and Tonie would sometimes help out. Thus, working together.

Due to in-humane actions towards their employees, Betty was forced to leave the RV center, Due to health problems that occurred from this treatment. But with years of time working in RV parts, Betty still wanted to be in that field.

After Betty left, Tonie could not get the parts and service needed unless she traveled for miles. This put a hardship on her rental company. So, while having lunch one day, Tonie told Betty she would have to go out of the rental business if this continued. Betty remarked, "We could open a place of our own". "Sure how?" was Tonie's reply! But Tonie could not get this conversation off her mind. She had been raised in her father’s garage and was pumping gas at 4, standing on an orange crate to reach the pump. Her naps were frequently taken on a creeper along side her dad, under a car. She had knowledge in general auto service and was much at home when it came to engines. She loved people and had worked with the public all her life. The idea stuck.

So, on October 7, 2000, Tonies RV's, Inc. opened a store front building with her knowledge of motor homes, and Betty's knowledge in parts and service. Contrary to popular belief, there were no loans available for women in business, so Tonie had to mortgage her home to get the business started and keep it afloat.

Betty and Tonie were given one year by their competitor, but are now thriving while working on their fifth year. Their commitment to honesty, excellent customer service, and the ability to make every customer their friend, has worked.

Every customer is called and given estimates before any part is ordered, if it was not expected when vehicle was left. Every old part is returned to the customer to make sure they know that un-necessary parts were not added. And the customer is called to come and look, if they see a problem that was not apparent at the start. Pictures are made before and faster any drastic or hidden work is done. The customers are given these so they know that the work was done.

Tonie's prides themselves on finding parts no other place will try to find. Betty spends hours each day on the phone just trying to find parts for your older recreational vehicles. If it is available anyplace in the country, she can usually find it. Her ability to remember names and phone numbers is a big plus in this part of the work. She had retained all the company names and numbers in her head and used that to start a list of distributors to start up the business.

There is always a free cup of coffee or cold drink available for the customer and most of the time, some home cooking by Tonie. Children get treats as well as the animals of they very welcome RV guests. Retired people love to just come visit.

We will never get too big to give every customer our personal attention!