Now is the time when many of you are beginning to ready the RV for another summer season of travel. In addition to de-winterizing all the operating systems, don't forget to add a chassis and engine tune up to your pre-travel preparations.

Arm yourself with a handful of clean rags and begin with an inspection under the motor home. Place of large piece of cardboard on the ground beneath your work area to catch grease and oils. Start at the front of the motor home and lubricate all the moving parts - steering linkage, king pins, tire rod ends, steering gear, etc. After greasing the zerks, use a clean rag to wipe away excess grease. With a strong light, carefully examine under the chassis for anything out of the ordinary. Check for signs of leakage around the power steering gear. Look at the inside of the front tires for large cracks or cuts.

Moving to the rear of the chassis, reposition the cardboard and begin greasing components in the rear - driveline, slip yoke, slack adjuster, etc. Once finished, use a rag to wipe away excess grease. Examine the chassis for any sign of a leak. Look at the condition of the inside rear tires.

Next, go to the engine compartment. Check all the fluid levels, remove the oil dipstick, wipe it with a clean rag, reinsert the dipstick and remove it once more for an accurate reading. Inspect the Supplemental Coolant Additive (SCA) level in the coolant when the engine is cold by using test strips provided by the engine manufacturer. Visually examine the belts and hoses. Hoses should generally be replaced every five to six years. Check the air filter minder.

Fuel filters, hydraulic filters, reservoirs and the air filter may need to be changed. Consult your mileage log and maintenance records to determine when the filters were last replaced. Depending on how often you drive the vehicle, change intervals may be dependent on mileage rather than age. Some fuel filters are designed with a clear plastic site bowl on the bottom of the filter that allows the operator to visually detect water in the fuel. If you see water in the fuel filter bowl, drain the water out.

Check the transmission fluid with the motor home on a level surface and the temperature at operating range. Your vehicle will come with a dipstick to read the transmission fluid level. When reading the dipstick, use caution while wiping off old fluid to prevent threads or lint from attaching and contaminating the transmission. On some 3000 and 4000 models the transmission shift control in the cockpit is designed to give an oil level reading.

Once you have completed the engine tune up, wash the engine compartment with water and a mild solvent to remove grease and oil. Keeping the engine area clean will help you to quickly identify leaks or spills while performing walk around inspections during your stay in campgrounds.