Break-in period and off-roading

Just got my Tacoma last weekend and have about 500 miles on it. This is my first new vehicle.

I want to take it offroad next weekend, but the sales guy at the truck shop I went to yesterday to get my nerf bars put on suggested waiting until the truck has at least 1,000 miles on it. He said it needs to "break in" first.

Is there any truth to this?

 

Take it out and don't worry about it. I have 2000 miles on mine and at least half of those have been spent off of the road.

 

Break in for these trucks is 500 miles, and the main restriction is towing and quick acceleration. Maybe something about constant speed, but not sure on that. You are fine, have a good time.

 

Its ready to go , the question is how soon you want to get dirty or scratched. Just be smart!

 

100% OK with dirty. It's a truck. It washes. Like kids.

Trying to avoid excessive scratches though...

 

Yes and no. I think it’s covered in the manual. Parts like gears and other components that go through heating and cooling processes benefit from following the appropriate break-in procedures for reasons I won’t bother to get into too much. Most of them involve proper heating and cooling cycles for an initial X amount of miles. You should read up on it if curious. That said, I think you’re going to be ok as long as you don’t treat it like a rock buggy.

 

The manual talks about break in period. Just don't go crazy and I'm sure you'll be fine. I bought mine 4 hours from where I live, so I broke the "no constant speed for the first XX miles" rule on day 1, but I did make a conscious effort to slow down every 45 minutes or so.

 

If you can go with a friend who has some experience. Remember it is not a tank, but have fun and be careful.

 

Yep. Constant / long durations of speed and rpm should be avoided.

 

I'm planning on starting out easy. Simple low-risk trails and build up from there. I grew up driving my grandfather's 4x4 trucks in the mountains, so I'm not totally new to it. It has been a long long time though.

 

Page 163 in the ole owners manual.

https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM04021U/pdf/OM04021U.pdf

 

Don't forget to toss that locker on when you hit the dirt to break that in a bit / become familiar with it. Remember the S pattern.

 

Don’t forget to air down too. Of course you’ll need a compressor to go along with that. Then again Florida isn’t very rocky is it? Helps in the sand too though.

Anyway, IMO the stock tires kinda suck for punctures. I was surprised how thin the carcass is on them.

 

This was less than 500 miles on the odometer. Take it easy at first and you’ll be fine. As mentioned above, it’s really more about how soon you can bear with mud and pinstripping on that shiny new truck!

 

Only right answer is the one above.

 

Indeed.

How are you going to take a trail and avoid continuously operating in low gears? I know you are excited to go play but isn't a few more miles following the recommendations in the manual wise?

It's your truck so it's your call. Welcome to TW.

 

So basically any Tacoma that was taken on a test drive probably broke at least one of these "recommendations".

OP- It's your truck, but I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

Should also avoid on ramps. "Sudden acceleration".

I think common sense prevails here. There's a factor of safety the Toyota lawyers and engineering department factored in here.

Bottom line is assume your own risks.

 

I know mine did. Also on the drive home, and the next day when I showed the guys at work my new truck.

 

I'm guessing if you put 500 on it in a week, then you should be somewhere around 800 to 1,000 by next weekend. Maybe find an excuse to take the long way home a few nights after work. Realizing you just put them on, but keep an eye on your nerf bars when your out there. Was on a trail with someone with them and we ended up pulling them off in the middle of the trail because he kept hitting them and was starting to beat them up.