Is the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter the Best New Trim?
For some folks, the Toyota Tacoma represents Taco Tuesday, making it the most exciting day of the week. This happens to be a delicious coincidence with literal tacos, but we celebrate trucks every day. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter might be the most exciting truck for weeks to come.
What is the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter?
Reportedly, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter is a new trim level that just debuted with the next-generation Tacoma lineup. It seems a little beefier than the new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro with rugged off-roading and camping upgrades.
Toyota shared a little information about the Toyota Trailhunter truck lineup at SEMA. Toyota Trailhunter trucks are purpose-built overlanding rigs with authentic performance straight from the factory.
The Trailhunter comes with a multi-link rear coil suspension setup and rides on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires. It’s protected by frame-mounted rock rails and has a high-clearance exhaust tip.
It’s 2.0 inches taller in the front, and 1.5 inches taller in the rear with Old Man Emu (OME) 2.5-inch forged position-sensitive monotube shocks with rear external piggyback remote reservoirs. It also has aluminum-forged upper control arms.
Plus, it has a front stabilizer bar to enhance wheel articulation and a rear-locking differential. It has a high-intake snorkel, an LED light bar, LED lights on the side of the bed for campsites, an ARB utility bar in the bed with removable MOLLE panels, and tons of available accessories.
Is the Tacoma Trailhunter better than the TRD Pro?
It’s difficult to say that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter is better than the Tacoma TRD Pro. Both trucks are engineered with different purposes to meet various customer needs. Plus, we’re still waiting to get behind the wheel of each model.
Both models feature the same engine, a similar suspension setup, and the same tires. They each have auxiliary up-fitter switches and a 2400W power inverter on the dash. Both trucks have a high-clearance ARB steel bumper with red recovery hooks.
But the Tacoma TRD Pro has an aluminum skidplate, while the Trailhunter features steel-stamped skid plates. The 2024 TRD Pro has a high-lift jack point integrated into the rear of its frame. The TRD Pro might be less bumpy with its air-shocked equipped IsoDynamic performance seats.
Also, the Pro has new Fox QS3 three-way adjustable internal bypass shocks with remote reservoirs for an improved high-speed performance. Fox Internal Floating Piston (IFP) bump stops improve bottom-out feel.
The Trailhunter is probably better for low-speed climbing and camping adventures. But the TRD Pro is ready to race across rugged terrain.
Either way, the Tacoma Hybrid is here
We know the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter and TRD Pro have the standard i-FORCE Max engine. The Toyota Tacoma Hybrid is the most powerful variant in the lineup.
The i-Force MAX powertrain pairs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbo engine with 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty of muscle for hauling camping gear over challenging terrain. Plus, you might save fuel in the process.
Official fuel economy ratings haven’t been released, but this setup is also used in the Lexus RX hybrid. It provides a 29% boost compared to the gas-powered model.
However, the Tacoma Hybrid can only tow up to 6,000 lbs, which may limit towing larger campers or trailers. It can carry a payload of up to 1,709 lbs.
