First 1k miles on my 2015 TEP, impressions and upgrades

PCH4R

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Just hit the 1k break-in mark. Was surprised that the manual even had a recommended break-in procedure / section. Most vehicles just assume the driver doesn't know/care.

Will be nice to stop driving in the slow lane and having prius's passing me! Although getting 19.5mpg was a nice surprise.

Awesome truck/suv, super happy with my purchase for sure!

So far I put in the husky mats front, rear, and cargo, They are awesome, but I do have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the cargo area. I thought it would just cover the slide out tray, but its the full area, and with my gear in the back, it pulls/falls into the hole every time I use it. I'm thinking about cutting it at the rear disconnect area so the back stays in in place.

Got a Viking hitch receiver D-shackle. Should make a great recover point until I decide on some bumper armor down the road.

Also got an 8ft 16guage 3 grounded-plug extension cord, plugged into the rear 120v, slide it under the edge of the cargo tray, under the rear seat, under the husky mat, and comes up just between the passenger front seatbelt and center console. Works great to actually charge phone, portable HAM, laptop, etc etc! No need for extra 12v plug in adapters anymore!

I've got to say, the Entune system works great! I heard a lot of people say it stinks, but the nav, traffic, pandora, USB HD, bluetooth, backup camera, etc are all great!


Any suggestions now that I've hit my 1k mark? Sometimes I've changed the oil at the break-in, other times I've waited till the 5k, etc regular change. Every gas fill up, I do the standard all 5 windows and sunroof down and up.

Plan to hit a fire road next weekend to test out the 4x4, locking diff, and crawl control widgets.

Still have no decided on some sliders! I have seen several I like, just can pull the trigger on a set!
 
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Just hit the 1k break-in mark. Was surprised that the manual even had a recommended break-in procedure / section. Most vehicles just assume the driver doesn't know/care.

Will be nice to stop driving in the slow lane and having prius's passing me! Although getting 19.5mpg was a nice surprise.

Awesome truck/suv, super happy with my purchase for sure!

So far I put in the husky mats front, rear, and cargo, They are awesome, but I do have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the cargo area. I thought it would just cover the slide out tray, but its the full area, and with my gear in the back, it pulls/falls into the hole every time I use it. I'm thinking about cutting it at the rear disconnect area so the back stays in in place.

Got a Viking hitch receiver D-shackle. Should make a great recover point until I decide on some bumper armor down the road.

Also got an 8ft 16guage 3 grounded-plug extension cord, plugged into the rear 120v, slide it under the edge of the cargo tray, under the rear seat, under the husky mat, and comes up just between the passenger front seatbelt and center console. Works great to actually charge phone, portable HAM, laptop, etc etc! No need for extra 12v plug in adapters anymore!

I've got to say, the Entune system works great! I heard a lot of people say it stinks, but the nav, traffic, pandora, USB HD, bluetooth, backup camera, etc are all great!


Any suggestions now that I've hit my 1k mark? Sometimes I've changed the oil at the break-in, other times I've waited till the 5k, etc regular change. Every gas fill up, I do the standard all 5 windows and sunroof down and up.

Plan to hit a fire road next weekend to test out the 4x4, locking diff, and crawl control widgets.

Still have no decided on some sliders! I have seen several I like, just can pull the trigger on a set!



5K - Manufacturers Recommended Maintenance

10K - Old Change / Manufacturers Recommended Maintenance
 
New here myself and I suppose I'm one of those new owners don't know/don't care. Been off road and nearly got myself stuck a few times already nor am I going to let a Prius pass me, lol. :banana:

Planning my first oil change at 1500 and will turn it over to the dealer for regular scheduled maintenence. Got the husky mats all around myself and already saved me when my pup got sick in the back.

Just wondering what made you go with the Viking hitch receiver?
 
Also got an 8ft 16guage 3 grounded-plug extension cord, plugged into the rear 120v, slide it under the edge of the cargo tray, under the rear seat, under the husky mat, and comes up just between the passenger front seatbelt and center console. Works great to actually charge phone, portable HAM, laptop, etc etc! No need for extra 12v plug in adapters anymore!

Did they nix the 120V outlet from inside the centre console at some point? My 2010 has one there and the one in the cargo area.
 
Break in period???

I received my 2014 with 300 miles on it, drove it 200 miles around town then took it on a 4500 mile road trip?

Will my truck fall apart within the next year?
 
thought manual said oil every 5k.. gota re-read... i do remember it saying 0W-20... which I assume is full synthetic (most people using Mobil 1)?

I have 5 12V "cig plugs": 1 in front, 1 in center console, 2 in rear of center console, and 1 in cargo area. And I have 1 120V in cargo area.

Now I have to go back and look to see if there is a full 120V in center console! :-)
 
had to check! in center console it says 12V/120V and its a cig only. Maybe that means you can have a cig to 3 prong adapter... but the actual 120V full Amp "plug" in the cargo area is where the inverter is, has the vents to let out the heat buildup, etc...

So I have no idea what the center 12V/120V can handle...
 
New here myself and I suppose I'm one of those new owners don't know/don't care. Been off road and nearly got myself stuck a few times already nor am I going to let a Prius pass me, lol. :banana:

Planning my first oil change at 1500 and will turn it over to the dealer for regular scheduled maintenence. Got the husky mats all around myself and already saved me when my pup got sick in the back.

Just wondering what made you go with the Viking hitch receiver?


The brand or the feature?

Viking makes great products. Most of their DShackles are rates 15k to 45K before breaking point. High quality steel, not some pot metal smittybilt... The hitch pin/hitch itself will go way before that. Also liked that the receiver and the shackle are powder coated black.

As far as the feature goes, its a great recover point. Not as good as a real metal bumper with the dshackle mounts welded into from behind but its better than some eager "lets try my winch" guy ripping off part of the undercarriage.
 
New here myself and I suppose I'm one of those new owners don't know/don't care. Been off road and nearly got myself stuck a few times already nor am I going to let a Prius pass me, lol. :banana:

Planning my first oil change at 1500 and will turn it over to the dealer for regular scheduled maintenence. Got the husky mats all around myself and already saved me when my pup got sick in the back.

Just wondering what made you go with the Viking hitch receiver?

Your engine was tested, broken in and the oil changed before it ever left the factory. If you want to change your oil at 1500 miles that's fine. Piece of mind right? If you really want piece of mind you could change it every 100 miles for awhile though. You really should try reading that book in the glove box called the owners manual tho. It has some neat stuff in it.
thought manual said oil every 5k.. gota re-read... i do remember it saying 0W-20... which I assume is full synthetic (most people using Mobil 1)?

I have 5 12V "cig plugs": 1 in front, 1 in center console, 2 in rear of center console, and 1 in cargo area. And I have 1 120V in cargo area.

Now I have to go back and look to see if there is a full 120V in center console! :-)

Mobil 1 is fine as is any full synthetic. Toyota brand is actually really good too. We debated this a few years ago and there is a good thread about it. Good luck and welcome to the club!
 
Most of their DShackles are rates 15k to 45K before breaking point.
Bow shackles. Pretty sure Viking doesn't sell D shackles as they aren't as good - can't side load them like a bow shackle. Honestly, pretty much any 3/4" bow shackle will do the trick for our purposes as the strap or winch line will break long before the shackle fails. If you really want a good shackle, make sure it has a working load limit stamped on it. Usually the ultimate failure point is 7 times the WLL.
 
Congrats on breaking that thing in; my opinion is the "change oil right away" is the old school philosophy back in the day when oils and filtering systems were not so advanced, as well as machining on the engines.

I would just go with the recommended oil change schedule, unless you subject your 4r to extreme conditions.

I did not have time to break mine in as I liked, after 50 miles, I had to take a 2500 mile trip, there was some stop and go traffic at least, and a few hundred miles worth of city type driving combine, so I think it not a big deal.
 
To each their own on their vehicle break in. I have done it with every vehicle. And if you check your manual, page 159, it spells out the manufacturers recommendation.

Regarding the windows, I consider it like 4wd, if you don't use it, you lose it. Sure they don't have oil that is going to seep away/dry out, but I feel its important to keep the seals from sticking/drying/adhering to the glass. I feel its also good for the actual electronic actuators, but that could just be superstition.

I do the same thing for the windshield wipers and particularly the sprayers. The nozzles can get gummed up and their lines can rot if they are not used.
 
My 2011 has a 120v plug in the center console. Honestly, I have never used it, but have used the one in back a few times.
 
The 120 plug is in the center box, under your elbow. There may be a 12v cig plug in the glove box too. My 2013 has one, plus the one in the center console.

I have n-fab steps and like them, but I would go with sliders instead. I don't do really good trails, but there have been many times I wished I had sliders instead.
 
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had to check! in center console it says 12V/120V and its a cig only. Maybe that means you can have a cig to 3 prong adapter... but the actual 120V full Amp "plug" in the cargo area is where the inverter is, has the vents to let out the heat buildup, etc...

So I have no idea what the center 12V/120V can handle...

That is actually a 12 (v)olt 120 (W)att plug. This is only a DC (cig) adapter and will not work with a 3-prong adapter (which don't exist the way you imply it). The Watts let you know how much power you can get from that socket. This will give you a maximum of 10 amps with this particular socket. I just threw in a small 400 Watt DC/AC inverter and now I have two 3-prong AC plug-ins and another USB power port in my center compartment. I just have to be mindful of the possible heat from the inverter in the small compartment.
 
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