Two first month with a Tundra 2023 Limited OR, mainly rough roads and towing.

Back to city, and networks. After a first short trip on a riled mountain dirt road, the tailgate could not get opened without brutal force. We needed a few forceful manoeuvres, and it is now OK. It seems that the tailgate slightly shifts to the passenger side, and jams the lock on its left.

The Multi-terrain Select settings MTS is easily accessed and shows with a small green light on the screen. Tried it on a rough mountain road and did not feel much difference between various settings. It is a bit mysterious, as the manual only says it ‘does controls the vehicle so that it can maximize the drive force and improve drivability on rough roads’. How does it work? How can I learn more about it?

The DAC/CRAWL system is fantastic for low-speed downhill. However, the manual is too short about it. Does it operate only with the brakes only? As the manual warns about brakes getting hot, should I manually gear down simultaneously?

The ‘Remote start’ provided with the Toyota app can only be used when the smartphone has a network connection. Not OK in wilderness. I regret my former vehicle, less cheap, having the ‘remote start’ on the key FOB. Is there any way to get such an extra for a Tundra? The Toyota app does not allow to read the manual when offline. Why? We got Off road options, but this truck is not off-network! The cordless charger is not OK, as the phone is not well maintained on bumpy roads.

Getting ready for towing the travel trailer. It was worrisome to read in the manual “Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and load-carrying vehicle. Towing a trailer can have an adverse impact …”, maybe we shouldn’t have watched so much advertising and chosen another brand…

With such doubt better double check. Due to lacky specs in the manual, I went to the garage to find the Vehicle Capacity Weight. A low placed sticker shows that I bought a VXKA75L-PSULZA, and another sticker that cargo should never exceed 635kg, that the TWR should be below 5040kg, and 7825kg for GCWR: all figures in line with our towing needs.

As short trial, we first used an unbraked Uhaul trailer, and were glad to see that a hitch ball + tongue was included in the delivery, and found a shop to torque it. No issues with the PKSB.

In the city, the Blind Spot Monitor indicator (BSM) on the outer corner of the right mirror is located outside my field of vision, and I have to turn the head to see it. I regret my former, less cheap, vehicle having these indicators located close to the mirrors, but inside the cabin. Seen first before watching the mirrors, these indicators were practical before selecting a lane on a large busy freeway. Seems designed for a narrower Toyota sedan and does not well on a wide truck.

The hand of the analog voltmeter frequently switches from the 11:15 o’clock’ to the ‘1:00 o’clock’ position on the dial. Strange. Was the Tundra delivered with a bad battery? No specs for the battery in the manual. A glance under the hood shows it is 75Ah. 395LN4-ISS CCA776A. (ESP?). Apparently, it is special battery meant for vehicle with Start & Stop. Should we need a dealer and expect a high cost when it will be time to change it? Up to now, we did not have much use of this Start & Stop feature as there are so many conditions for it, including battery charging… (conditions erroneously listed below Hill Start Assist in the manual).

Most of the days, we got a warning about ‘rear seat belts’, quite strange as these seats were not used. This nuisance is relayed on the Toyota app. After quite some investigation, I realized that this icon is not caused by the rear seat belts, but because we opened the rear door. It is one of the ‘Customizable features - Settings that can be changed using the multi-information display’, named ‘Rear seat reminder - Indication to prevent misplacement in the rear seat’. Seems I have trouble to understand that jargon.

Logic, to lower the rear window you have to push the overhead button UP, and to lift it, you pull this button DOWN. We’ll get used to it.

The deck dividers are nice, the allow to quickly install a DIY portico to load our canoe.

Our travel trailer was now hitched and got more than a maiden trip. Max weight loaded 3360kg or 7400lb. Used a Curt WDH 8000lb. The auto feature to test the trailer lights is very nice. Did not yet install a sway brake, and did not notice any lateral sway. However, on bumpy trails we got up and down shaking. Is it due to the added flex of TRD Off Road shocks? Will a sway brake limit this?

I did not find much info about the TOW and TOW+ effect. As our trailer’s settings are automatically detected, why should I have to depress this button and rotate the dial every time I restart the truck?

We are looking for an adequate TPMS for the double axle trailer. The cheap monitor I tried doesn’t respond well.

Our trailer’s A-frame is quite high (also OR), and I had to pad the hitch coupler to avoid to damage the falling tailgate, like when the L side button is inadvertently depressed.

I got and returned a mirror extension. The straps were too short for the bulky Tundra mirrors. I am looking for a better solution. Ideally, I would get a rear-view camera to be placed on the trailer and displayed on the multimedia screen when backing or on a digital rear-view mirror on the highway. Any upgrade for it?

Nevertheless, the 5 cameras on the TRD OR are fantastic for hitching the trailer, and help backing in a tight camp spot! The command to fold side mirrors is very practical.

We covered around 500km on mountain rough roads. With an average of 25 liters per 100km (9.4 mpg), not bad. No mechanical issues. But the dust in the truck bed is unpleasant, it gets in as there is a ½” gap on each side of the top tailgate. The Bison tonneau cover is tight. Any better solution than tape?

After some weeks of boondocking and with shaded PV, the AC 120V outlet in the trunk allowed us to reload the trailer’s battery. Idling is quieter than a small generator, but less fuel efficient. I still hesitate between setting a lithium battery under the Tundra’s R rear seat and an additional battery in the trailer.

For the rear wheels, our tire inflator cable is too short to reach the 12VDC socket behind the display. Anyway, I preferred to connect the inflator to the battery with the booster cables, so avoiding any issue with its 10A fuse.

These days, the multimedia screen wants me to frequently re-enter the PIN nb when I drive a road with poor network. Any way to avoid this nuisance?

BTW like most we wait for the second FOB.

 

You can remote start the Tundra with the key fob. Not listed in the manual, but you press the button 3 times and on the third press hold it. It isnt great as in if you go too fast or too slow, it wont work. You will know it worked when the headlights flash 3 times.

I tow a boat (about 5k lbs) multiple times a week. I have had no issues and tows like a dream. The tow and tow+ is about weight of the trailer and gearing. The trailer settings menu is for trailer brakes and length. (It will adjust BSM based on length of trailer). I agree it is annoying to have to keep pressing it everytime you start the truck.

 

I was about to ask the OP about this...

 

The pressing 3 x is hit or miss for me. the taillights light the first press but not the next two then it flashes taillights when it worked . It’s not very easy to do consistently so far

 

The MTS modes offer some different throttle tuning, shift points, and traction control settings. It helps most when you’re stuck trying to climb a ledge or driving through deep sand or mud.

Battery is good. The alternator charges the 12V battery only when needed. When the voltage drops, it’s not charging and that’s roughly 12 volts. Middle point is 14V. Usually it charges after first start up or during coasting.

 

12v outlet should not be used for a air compressor. I'm sure it's only for low Amp draw.
Thanks for the review!

 

Check out the Ultimate Trailer Jack, I suspect that'll do your trailer tongue weight, think it's rated to 2000#. It's amazing on my 6x12. When I don't need the jack, remove the foot, pull the pin and remove the jack in seconds. I tent camp out of the truck bed with my fiance with our motorcycles in the trailer, and letting the tailgate down without worries is fantastic.

 

FOB has 4 buttons only, open, close, tailgate and alarm. Which one should be pressed 3 times for remote start?

 

Lock button. Sorry I didn't specify.

 

Cool feature, news to me. Used this remote start feature via fob just now on my SR5, works like gem. Thx for tip!