Overlanding Trailhunter 4Runner... The beast or Xmas turkey?

[kayasaman]

Hi everyone,

Misleading title as TH is a beast and I'm biased as I've fallen in love with it!




I have seen a few videos on Trailhunters and comparisons to the TRD Pro and in-field comparisons of Taco's.

As an extremely keen content creator/photographer and someone who would love to get into exactly what the Trailhunter was designed for - Overlanding; I would love to see how people manage with this rig in the field.

I have my dream setup mapped out and even bigger dream to import one across the grand old pond called the Atlantic....

Out of the box without any mods how good will this trim level be? Will it go most places? How good will it be when coupled to a go-anywhere trailer.

There will be a deficit I believe in the ground clearance, 9.2" is I think what was talked about but the wheel base is elongated now too so brakeover angle will be sacrificed too. How detrimental will that be in real world cases?

Lots of questions and only time will tell before people start answering them as owners will get more experience and chances to test the capabilities.....


For me the TH has the possibility to go round the world and I would love to take it there - at least that is my dream

 

[kayasaman]

As I mentioned above I discovered quite a few comparisons between TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims.

Here are some of the material that I've been paying attention to including having chief engineer 'Sheldon' of the Tacoma actually stating that the 4Runner and Tacoma were drafted up almost together as there are an immense number of similarities between them.

Offroad ability should also be similar based off of what has been said though things will of course differ a little between Taco bed size 5' vs. 6' and the 4Runner.








The sound coming out of the raised air intake is super cool, however, I wonder why there was no decision made to use it as a wading type "snorkel"?
Will there be after market parts available to increase the wading depth?

What I can ascertain currently is that Trialhunter and TRD Pro are both beasts and highly capable. The ability to lock the diffs and unlock the sway-bars is really something and having the different modes selectable through the MTS button (snow, mud, rock, auto) is really sweet.


I'm just super excited and can't wait till videos of the actual 4Runner start coming out and people start getting a feel for it in real-life.
It would super cool if someone would be able to run one of these guys through say Idaho, the Switzerland trail or Imogene Pass in Colorado etc, or even the dust and desert of Moab....

One key significance though between 4Runner and Taco that the Tacoma doesn't have is an extra Auxiliary button. The 4Runner has 4 as opposed to the Taco's 3!

 

[Gastan]

The sound coming out of the raised air intake is super cool, however, I wonder why there was no decision made to use it as a wading type "snorkel"?

@Old Spice posted this helpful explanation about the purporse behind the Trailhunter's snorkel / raised air intake -

"Snorkel" on Trailhunter = raised air intake for dust prevention, not deep water wading

 

[Gastan]

Also if you like to listen to real life sounds coming from the Trailhunter's snorkel air intake, hybrid engine and exhaust --

Video: Hybrid Engine, Exhaust, Snorkel Sounds on Trailhunter i-Force Max Engine

 

[kayasaman]

@Old Spice posted this helpful explanation about the purporse behind the Trailhunter's snorkel / raised air intake -

"Snorkel" on Trailhunter = raised air intake for dust prevention, not deep water wading

Thanks. I am aware of the dust ingress functionality, hence the reason why the grills are pointing backwards.

One thing that was talked about in one of the videos on YT that I have seen, is that it is especially useful when traveling in a convoy. Especially if you're somewhere very sandy with a lot of dust being kicked up by the vehicle infront of you

 

[kayasaman]

Also if you like to listen to real life sounds coming from the Trailhunter's snorkel air intake, hybrid engine and exhaust --

Video: Hybrid Engine, Exhaust, Snorkel Sounds on Trailhunter i-Force Max Engine

Hey that sounds way better then my IS250 <sob!>

You do still get VVTI (variable valve timing) which is good and can hear the whine from the turbo which is nice.

Mind you culturally they are a little picky about vehicle sounds here saying that it is "anti social", another words revving your engine is frowned upon. I wonder if the snorkel would be a problem in getting the Trialhunter accepted?

 

[kayasaman]

@Gustan , it's interesting the design decision to go with the snorkel on Trailhunter and not TRD Pro.

Maybe I'm overthinking this but TRD Pro is designed for speed in Baja and sand etc... so wouldn't that be better to have the raised air intake?

I'm not saying that it shouldn't be on Trialhunter but instead there is that non-functional hood scoop on the TRDP.

Time will probably tell and possibly if feedback is given there might be a change down the line I don't know....

But sure coinciding with everyone else's comments, the engine bay is quite a bit more exposed meaning less water ingress protection in the electrical connections?

Then the mechanicals are also being stated in various comments.... maybe all that should have been addressed additionally in a Trailhunter+ spec???

It really is so difficult to read into things when you don't know why they were done.