When RVing, one of the most important things, given the moniker of the "soul" of the adventure, is the traveling vehicle. That makes you able to get from place to place, it's your true mark of freedom. However, like everything else, it's important to keep the soul in check.
First thing is to make sure everything on the vehicle is in good working order. Many RVers are choosing to "live" in states that don't have mandatory annual vehicle inspections. Sure, it's nice you don't have to pay a bureaucrat to tell you your horn doesn't work, your window has too much tint, or the bumper has a tiny orange spot. That doesn't mean you can't take the time to check these sorts of things out for yourself. Figure out what's important both from a legal standpoint, as well as being able to get from point A to point B. You're likely already doing light checks on the trailer when you hook up, so check the truck as well. One of the best vehicle tools you can have is the OBD2 scanner, which gives you Check Engine light codes. Auto parts dealers sell them at a reasonable price, and though they'll try to convince you that you can just go to them to get it read at no cost, it's something that has been needed to be used in the middle of nowhere.
Preventive maintenance is something you may have been doing in the stationary life, and in the RV world, it's no different. Oil changes, air filters, tire rotations; the list goes on and on. Sometimes you're in a position where you can do these things yourself, and other times you may be in an area where it has to be done professionally. Tire pressure has become a bit of an interesting point. Many service stations have started charging for air, with one major midwestern brand, at the time of writing this, swapping out the "free" pumps for credit card operated ones. Some stations will offer it at no cost to the consumer. However, at the time of writing this, there is a brand of big box hardware store that is offering air at no cost to the customer. The RV can usually fit because contractors are always bringing trailers. The store also carries a number of consumable products you're likely to use, so if you feel obligated to buy something, that's usually a good choice.
So while you follow your internal compass, make sure you have the means to actually follow it. Keep that soul in check, and you'll be able to see all of this great country.
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