Skid plates & underbody protection differences: TRD Pro vs. Trailhunter comparison (2025 4Runner 6th Gen)

[Old Spice]

Great look at underbody, skids and suspension of the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro and Trailhunter.

First thing’s first: This thing has a metal fuel-tank skidplate. This may not sound like a big deal, but it is, because none of the Tacomas I drove — not TRD Pro, not Trailhunter — came with metal fuel tank skids (it’s not clear if it’s optional).

You can see that the exhaust is tucked up reasonably high, and up front, there’s a skid plate covering the transmission on the Trailhunter model:

The aluminum transmission skidplate isn’t very thick, and felt quite wobbly. The fuel tank skidplate, too, felt very thin. But they were there, and so long as they don’t tear, and offer enough stiffness to reduce or eliminate loads on the transmission oil pan and blow-molded fuel tank, it’s fine.

You can see decent underbody protection from the chin all the way back behind the front subframe.

The TRD Pro, like the Tacoma TRD Pro, is less focused on rock crawling and more focused on high-speed desert running, so there’s not as much protection. There’s still a fuel tank skid plate and a skid plate at the very front (this time TRD-branded):

But there’s no skid plate below the transmission:

It does still have a tiny steel skid plate bolted to the transfer case:

The 4Runner TRD Pro’s lack of a transmission skidplate reveals a sway bar that, when compared to the last-gen 4Runner, has moved from ahead of the front axle behind it (note: The TRD Pro and Trailhunter 4Runners have no rear sway bar). You can see the front sway bar, as well as the sway bar disconnect mechanism (standard on TRD Pro and Trailhunter and pointed out below):

Both trucks feature a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a five-link, coil sprung solid rear axle, with the TRD pro featuring FOX QS3 (Quick Switch 3) suspension with red aluminum upper control arms and shock dust covers:

The Trailhunter has Old Man Emu suspension dampers, and a gold/black/white color scheme on the control arms and shocks:

With a 32-degree approach angle and 24-degree departure angle, the 4Runner should be decent off-road, though it’ll probably drag its ass and belly every now and then. All four-wheel drive 4Runners will get low range, Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), and an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD). Limited trims will offer a full-time transfer case with locking center diff, and the Trailhunter and TRD pro get only a part-time four-wheel drive system with way bar disconnect and a rear locker.

You may be wondering how this underbody compares to that of the Tacoma, and the answer is: They’re basically the same, with the only real variation happening at the center of the wheelbase (the fuel tanks, for example, look totally different). Here are some Tacoma TRD underbody shots:

And here are some Tacoma Trailhunter underbody photos:

Anyway, that’s just my first look at the 4Runner’s underbody. The TRD Pro and Trahilhunter are just like the Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter, except the middle bit is different and the 4Runner gets a metal skid plate for the fuel tank instead of just a plastic shield. - Source: Autopian

 

[Mrknowitall]

Hopefully there's enough room for a 35 between the track bar and trailer hitch.

 

[et2041]

Thank you for your thorough explanation and photos.

 

[Zaki]

Toyota TRD Pro should have the same degree of under body protection that the Trailhunter gets.

I am sure there will be TP owners who will rock crawl just as much as the TH owners will.

Glad to see steel protection for gas tanks for both trims.

Great pictures and info. Thanks!

 

[Boyds4Runner]

@Old Spice These are great pictures and thank you for taking the time for the various views and descriptions!

I did want to mention one item about the sway bar. All the 4Runners do actually have rear-sway bars. Maybe it was meant that on the TRD-Pro and the Trailhunter there is not a rear-sway-bar-disconnect like those models have with the front-sway-bar-dsconnect?

Hope this doesn't come off as nit-picky, just something that stood out to me as I am dreaming of one day getting the new TRD-Pro or Trailhunter and soaking up as many details that folks write about it as possible.

The 4Runner TRD Pro’s lack of a transmission skidplate reveals a sway bar that, when compared to the last-gen 4Runner, has moved from ahead of the front axle behind it (note: The TRD Pro and Trailhunter 4Runners have no rear sway bar). You can see the front sway bar, as well as the sway bar disconnect mechanism (standard on TRD Pro and Trailhunter and pointed out below):

Here, in the example of the TRD-Pro is the rear-sway-bar-link and sway-bar. Just no automated disconnect on the rear.

 

[andim]

I’m confused about the front skid plate. The holes in the front and the big gap seem to shovel lots of gravel and sand into the area between oil pan and skid plate when you happen to drive into deep soft sand. Jeep had the same problem in 2014 and changed the skid plate design in 2015. I had numerous cases where I had small rocks wedged between skid plate and oil pan. I understand they need airflow for cooling but this seems not good for anything soft like snow, sand, gravel, mud. Not great for anything soft overland focused truck.