TRAILHUNTER won't sell?

[Leucosia]

I thought about replacing my start/stop button with a red one. But then I thought why would I do that? It’s like Tacoma owners putting Ford raptor lights in the grill. Why would you want your Tacoma to look like a Ford raptor?

You right, there's actually a couple things I want to do to get it to look like a normal Tacoma though. Like sell the goofy sports rack, it also just gets in the way of what i want to do with the bed. I'm okay with the minimal Trailhunter badging. The truck is already flashy enough with the lift, rigid lights, fender flares, and high mount intake.

also, as someone new to the truck world, i also eyeballed a Ranger Raptor. I hate to say it because it sounds shallow, but I couldn't get over the shape of the infotainment screen, and I've driven a Toyota Camry since 2003 (with a dual cassette tape/CD player in it). The engine on that thing is still perfect and doesn't burn oil so a Toyota was kind of always in the cards.

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[maxx075]

You right, there's actually a couple things I want to do to get it to look like a normal Tacoma though. Like sell the goofy sports rack, it also just gets in the way of what i want to do with the bed. I'm okay with the minimal Trailhunter badging. The truck is already flashy enough with the lift, rigid lights, fender flares, and high mount intake.

also, as someone new to the truck world, i also eyeballed a Ranger Raptor. I hate to say it because it sounds shallow, but I couldn't get over the shape of the infotainment screen, and I've driven a Toyota Camry since 2003 (with a dual cassette tape/CD player in it). The engine on that thing is still perfect and doesn't burn oil so a Toyota was kind of always in the cards.

Don't feel bad. I was looking at the Colorado's and my sole reason for turning them down was because you have to turn the headlights on via the infotainment screen.

That was a hard no - even though I still do like the look of the truck.

 

[TFOUTS]

I recently added 4 rigid rock lights in the wheel wells and put them on aux 2 which is the same circuit as my ditch lights just above the hood. All are the same shade as the rigid fog lights and my chase lights(in the back on aux 3). The rigid lights in the ARB rear bumper are hooked into the reverse lights white and then red as extra taillights running. Shout out to John at SPV for sorting this out for me. With all that, it all still looks like a Tacoma instead of some other brand.

 

[maxx075]

I recently added 4 rigid rock lights in the wheel wells and put them on aux 2 which is the same circuit as my ditch lights just above the hood. All are the same shade as the rigid fog lights and my chase lights(in the back on aux 3). The rigid lights in the ARB rear bumper are hooked into the reverse lights white and then red as extra taillights running. Shout out to John at SPV for sorting this out for me. With all that, it all still looks like a Tacoma instead of some other brand.

 

[MOReese]

Well I think it all comes down to what are you needs on a truck that you looking to purchase. And also you budget for a vehicle. Toyota is no different than the other truck companies. They load their vehicles with equipment, packages and options that increase MSRP and their profits.
Some examples of this….trucks use to be 2 doors and 6 ft standard bed. Now most have 4 doors.and 5 ft bed. Does everybody need that small cramped back seat? More profit. Look at the Tacoma size of 10 years ago. Now it considered a medium size truck,$$$.
The bed sport bar comes standard on a Trailhunter or as an option on some models. The price is ridiculous as an option, $ 1450. Some Trailhunter owners take them off because they want a bed cover or hard shell topper so they can sleep in it. So they paid for that sport bar and turn around and sell it for half the price or less., but Toyota doesn’t care, they made more $$.
So my point here is buy what you really need in a truck and what your budget affords.

 

[TFOUTS]

Well I think it all comes down to what are you needs on a truck that you looking to purchase. And also you budget for a vehicle. Toyota is no different than the other truck companies. They load their vehicles with equipment, packages and options that increase MSRP and their profits.
Some examples of this….trucks use to be 2 doors and 6 ft standard bed. Now most have 4 doors.and 5 ft bed. Does everybody need that small cramped back seat? More profit. Look at the Tacoma size of 10 years ago. Now it considered a medium size truck,$$$.
The bed sport bar comes standard on a Trailhunter or as an option on some models. The price is ridiculous as an option, $ 1450. Some Trailhunter owners take them off because they want a bed cover or hard shell topper so they can sleep in it. So they paid for that sport bar and turn around and sell it for half the price or less., but Toyota doesn’t care, they made more $$.
So my point here is buy what you really need in a truck and what your budget affords.

Great post!

 

[lauren01]

Yup, Dealer mentioned the TH was excluded from the normal financing incentives. I think the lowest TFS would go was 6.99% when i was looking. Ended up just going through my bank for a lower rate. When i was first looking, because the TH sits next to the TRD-PRO, i kind of thought of the TH as like a TRD-TH or something, took me a while through my research to realize it was considered separate from the TRD line. We don't get the sick red start/stop button either.

These THs are TRDs in disguise. They have many of the same parts, like the engine air filter. Just rebadged for the enjoyment of the great outdoors off-roading slowly vs. “racing.”

 

[TFOUTS]

These THs are TRDs in disguise. They have many of the same parts, like the engine air filter. Just rebadged for the enjoyment of the great outdoors off-roading slowly vs. “racing.”

That could also be said of the new 6 gen 4Runner Trailhunter and Land Cruiser 250’s. The problem is Tacoma TRD’s (the R is for racing) cannot take the off road punishment because they are not armored as the Tacoma & 4Runner trail hunter trims, they have different purposes. At the 2023 & 2024 Overland Expo East Toyota fireside chats, Sheldon Brown, the chief engineer of Tacoma and Marcus Umlaut, general manager Truck strategy Toyota North America both spoke about the recent merging and commonality of multiple parts for Tacoma‘s, 4Runners and Land Cruiser while maintaining separate trim packages. To a certain extent, the land cruisers: 1958, Land Cruiser, and Land Cruiser 1st Edition are similar to Tacoma and 4Runners. It’s the same hybrid engine and commonality of parts. Engines and drive trains very similar or the same, however, suspensions (trim packages) distinct to the purpose of the vehicle. Look at the attached 4Runner trail hunter. Bronze wheel rims look familiar? Rigid fog lights, snorkel?

 

[JayZap]

I am seeing a pattern here:

Trailhunter owners that are explaining why they like their truck.

And SR5 or OR people that are complaining how crappy the club is from outside, behind the red rope.

lol, jk

I love my Trailhunter, could I have avoided the extra cost by building up a different trim, probably, kinda. Still replacing a lot of the stuff on the Trailhunter with aftermarket, but I’ll take the upper echelon badge.

This was my first truck, I came from wide body BMW M world where every 2 years I was used to 138k+ sticker prices. So the 67k felt like a relief.

 

[TFOUTS]

BINGO!!!

 

[lauren01]

That could also be said of the new 6 gen 4Runner Trailhunter and Land Cruiser 250’s. The problem is Tacoma TRD’s (the R is for racing) cannot take the off road punishment because they are not armored as the Tacoma & 4Runner trail hunter trims, they have different purposes. At the 2023 & 2024 Overland Expo East Toyota fireside chats, Sheldon Brown, the chief engineer of Tacoma and Marcus Umlaut, general manager Truck strategy Toyota North America both spoke about the recent merging and commonality of multiple parts for Tacoma‘s, 4Runners and Land Cruiser while maintaining separate trim packages. To a certain extent, the land cruisers: 1958, Land Cruiser, and Land Cruiser 1st Edition are similar to Tacoma and 4Runners. It’s the same hybrid engine and commonality of parts. Engines and drive trains very similar or the same, however, suspensions (trim packages) distinct to the purpose of the vehicle. Look at the attached 4Runner trail hunter. Bronze wheel rims look familiar? Rigid fog lights, snorkel?

Agreed TH isn’t for speed, but is is made for cruising over rocks, just not huge ones. It has a steel front skid vs TRD has aluminum.
It is still very TRD, though.

Many with TRD OR and Pro beef up their suspension on their trucks, for challenging terrain, like many TH drivers.

 

[TFOUTS]

Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Small correction, the TH front skid is aluminum, notice the gouges on mine attached. I’m going to replace mine with steel when they are back on sale. See the difference of my steel fuel tank skid vs. aluminum front skid. I had gouges on the original fuel tank plastic skid. Current rear diff skid is aluminum going to replace with steel. Already added rear trailing arm steel skids on both ends and lower shock steel skids.

 

[JayZap]

Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Small correction, the TH front skid is aluminum, notice the gouges on mine attached. I’m going to replace mine with steel when they are back on sale. See the difference of my steel fuel tank skid vs. aluminum front skid. I had gouges on the original fuel tank plastic skid. Current rear diff skid is aluminum going to replace with steel. Already added rear trailing arm steel skids on both ends and lower shock steel skids.

I am going to confirm that the TH skids are steel, very strong steel lol. A: magnets attach to it, and B: I modified mine to fit my steel bumper and had to cut front notches off. My steel cut off wheel on the Milwaukee grinder did not find that to be aluminum lol.

 

[TFOUTS]

I know it says steel, but it’s aluminum Quality too flimsy

 

[JayZap]

I know it says steel, but it’s aluminum Quality too flimsy

Ah gotcha, ya I wouldn’t mind thicker plates as well. Gunna add it to the list of more things to buy lol

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