The Toyota Tacoma has ruled the mid-sized truck segment for a long time now. People love the cool looks and the great abilities Toyota’s mid-size truck has to offer. Until now, the most capable top-trim Tacoma was the TRD Pro. However, with the introduction of the all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma, we have a new addition in the form of the new Trailhunter.
This trim aims to provide an overland-ready platform straight from the factory with a number of exclusive upgrades that Toyota co-developed with Australian-based ARB Engineering for the Tacoma Trailhunter. It is a concept we believe has a lot of potential as the accessories offered are very useful. They are exactly in line with what one would fit in the aftermarket industry. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the features and benefits and features of the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter.
The Purpose Of This Vehicle Is Overlanding.
Overlanding is an activity that has been drastically gaining attention and popularity lately. It involves packing a vehicle and traveling to remote destinations through off-road trails. This activity also involves using your vehicle as a “house” in which you sleep, hang out, and cook.
Overlanding requires a lot of aftermarket accessories that people install through aftermarket companies. Toyota saw this trend and realized that by sending customers out to other brands for accessories, they are leaving a lot of money on the table. Offering those accessories from the factory will bring more money, increase the company’s appeal, and make buyer’s life easier.
You see, installing aftermarket accessories is a bit of a hassle. You need to go out and choose which accessories you want, and you then need to find a shop to install them properly. With the Trailhunter, Toyota offers accessories that can be bought and financed together while also having the same warranty. This saves a lot of hassle.
The Trialhunter Offers Great Suspension And Good Protection
The Trailhunter has similar abilities to the TRD Pro but with a different spin. Instead of Fox shocks, the Trailhunter utilizes Old Man Emu 2.5 Inch shocks with a piggyback style remove reservoir developed with Australian-based ARB Engineering. Keep in mind that these shocks are now paired with coils rather than leaf springs like the old Tacoma. This suspension system provides high-speed off-road control but also good articulation over the slower and more technical sections.
In addition to the shocks, we also have great exterior protection. Toyota has kitted the Trailhunter with a steel rear bumper that incorporates recovery hooks and even a high-lift jack point. Both the rear and front bumpers have higher sides for more clearance. Furthermore, the side of the vehicle gets rock sliders that are mounted to the frame. This makes them much stronger, and we expect that they will be able to hold the weight of the vehicle when off-roading.
Further protecting the vehicle are undercarriage steel skid plates that can be found under the oil pan, transmission, and even the rear diff. This might be the only vehicle to be delivered from the factory with a rear diff skid plate. A trim exclusive snorkel, mounted on the passenger-side A-pillar will allow you to wade through deep water with ease.
The Trailhunter Comes Standard With Plenty Of Bolt-On Accessories
The above additions are important to have but they have also become the norm when it comes to off-road trim levels. However, Toyota has gone much further than just exterior protection, a suspension lift, and skid plates.
The Trailhunter comes standard with a roof rack, bed sports rack, and even an air compressor. The air compressor is important as off-roading involves airing down your tires. When back on the road, Trailhunter owners will be able to simply air back up with the onboard compressor. But wait, the additions don’t stop there. The Tacoma can be spaced with further optional accessories like a full-sized bed rack, bed storage, and more which make putting a tent or other accessories inside the bed even easier.
The Dirvetrain Has A Go-Anywhere Attitude
The new Tacoma drivetrain is one of the most significant upgrades as the old one was extremely dated in this department. The Trailhunter comes standard with a 2.4-liter turbo engine paired with a hybrid system for a total output of 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. So, it is safe to say that the Trailhunter will have the power and efficiency to haul all your gear or even tow an off-road trailer through tough terrain and long mountain climbs.
Power alone, however, isn’t enough for an off-roader. An off-roader also needs traction aids to ensure it keeps on going when the terrain gets tough and the Trailhunter certainly has them. Aside from all the electronic aids like traction control and terrain select systems, the Trailhunter also comes with a rear diff locker and a front sway bar disconnect. Sway bars are there to aid flat cornering by reducing body roll but are a hindrance for off-roading as they limit the articulation of a vehicle.
By having a button that disconnects them electronically we get both great handling and good off-road performance. It must be said that the fact that there is no front locker in the new Tacoma is rather disappointing. Most off-road oriented trim levels of trucks currently do offer a front locker as it makes a big difference off-road.
Of course, no off-road vehicle is good without off-road tires. The Tacoma offers the Goodyear Territory R/T which is an off-road-oriented tire with good on-road performance. The beautiful bronze wheels are 18 inches in size which provide a decent sidewall for airing down. In order to further aid visibility, you get a 20-inch LED lightbar mounted in the grille.
The Interior Also Gets Upgrades
The Trailhunter won’t just be distinguishable from the outside, but also the inside. It gets orange stitching and grey trim and seats. Also, various Trailhunter badges are scattered over the interior to remind you that you are sitting in a special version of the new Tacoma.
Since this is a more premium truck, it comes standard with features like cooled and heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and the larger 14.0-inch infotainment screen. The rest of the interior is similar to other Tacomas which is a good thing, as the new dashboard design and layout are gorgeous. It is upright and tough but also old-school. Overall, it is safe to say that Toyota did a great job with the new Tacoma and this is especially true for the new Trailhunter.