2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter - Counter Point Review

In the world of overland vehicle upfitting, only the trail width, tree crown height, and wallet thickness are the limit on what can be installed. And, to a large degree, vehicle manufacturers have ceded most of the upfitting market to the after-market.

Despite their comprehensive TRD line of trims, components and accessories, the vast majority of Toyota light truck owners, world over, shop their off-road tune from third parties. The most highly regarded supplier of overland upfitting got its start welding custom cattle bars for the inhospitable terrain of the Australian Outback. Today Anthony Ronald Brown sells more than $600 million AUD worth of on and off-road pieces, including the esteemed Old Man Emu suspension line.

In order bypass the middleman, the Japanese automaker sought A.R.B. to tune their first factory + after-market equipped overland mid-size pickup truck, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter 4x4.

TRUCK INGREDIENTS:

• Toyota Tacoma Double-Cab N400 4x4, fourth generation mid-size pickup truck, assembled in Mexico
  • i-Force MAX 2.4T 16V DI, SEFI DOHC gas I-4, 1.8 kWh NiMH hybrid battery electric + 36 kW PSM motor
    • 326 hp / 465 lb.-ft @ 1700 r.p.m., net hybrid
  • 8-speed direct shift planetary automatic transmission
  • part time 2-speed transfer case four-wheel drive
  • e-locking rear differential
  • Multi-Terrain Select - Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Rock
• KDSS front sway bar disconnect
• DAC - downward assist [cruise] control, variable from 2 - 20 m.p.h.
• 5.0' foot cargo bed

SUSPENSION INGREDIENTS:

• 2.5" Old Man Emu End Zone Control front dampers, coil over springs
• ARB front upper control arms
• 2.5" Old Man Emu external reservoir rear dampers
• 33.0" Goodyear Territory RT/X M+S 265/70-S, 18" inch bronze finish alloy wheels

OVERLANDING INGREDIENTS:

• variable color LED driving / fog lamps (white, yellow)
• Grille embedded, supplemental LED off-road light bar
• Rock rails - full body length
• ARB steel front bash plate, transmission, transaxle and rear differential skid plates
• ARB red steel steel recovery bars
• ARB rear bumper: two rear bumper jack point, non-slip step pads, a tow connector for trailers, an integrated license plate mount, and provisions for rear-facing auxiliary lights
• Built-in bed air compressor
• Three (3) pre-wired upfitter switches

TRAILHUNTER SWAG:

• Front lower diffused rising silver bash plate valance
• ARB 2.5" thick powder coated steel rear bumper, with license plate bowl, matching brushed metallic center insert
• Front grille off-road high beam light bar
• Lower rocker panel rock rails
• ARB cargo bed chase rack with Molle attachment panels, 300 lbs. capacity & Sport Bar with 2.5" side support bars
• ARB red, frame attached rear recovery bars
• Door and liftgate compass with "red arrow north" emblem

2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter 4x4 - Bottom Line Review

OUT- BACKED OVERLANDER: Pre-rail era Australian cattle drives, known for long distances, inspired the development of the first post World War Two automotive trails into the remote interior Outback. By the mid 1970s, Anthony Ronald Brown was renowned for overlanding the Aussie Outback in a custom upfitted Land Rover. His

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

2024 TOYOTA TACOMA TRAILHUNTER LOOK:

A spiritual heir to Marty McFly's upfitted Toyota SR5 Xtra Cab, this wildest of modern Tacoma pickups is garnished in a sedate earth-tone bronze oxide color. The new for 2024 Tacoma already brought a broader hood shoulder, a wider upper grille, boomerang headlights, protuding front chin, acute lateral creased fender and rear quarter panels and upward flaring tailgate.

Trailhunter trim adds formidable lateral upper grille bar, with embedded off-road lighting, large grille links, thick lower fascia bar, wheel arch extenders, rock rails, a satin finish front bash plate, thick rock rails, and heavy duty steel bumper. A chase bar attached to the front of the bed, filled with Molle accessory loops, rugged 32" Goodyear Territory tires on bronzed wheels and a passenger side airbox pipe, , round out the overlanding package. Toyota "denies" that the latter is a water fording intake snorkel.

2024 TOYOTA TACOMA TRAILHUNTER ON ROAD:

The new turbocharged petrol hybrid inline-four engine and mated eight-speed automatic transmission operate more subtly than the naturally aspirated V-6 and six-speed gearbox they replace. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter gets off the line with less commotion, smoother shifts, and far less driveline shudder even if the sound isn't quite silken. The cabin is better isolated, a fact borne out by isolation from tire noise, despite wearing large all-terrain shoes. Theoretically, the extra gears & electric assistance should better fuel economy. Despite an alloy bed & tailgate, the traction battery and ARB kit have upped the new Tacoma's mass by 800 pounds.

Tacoma Trailhunter road manners, as an overlander, are less compliant or responsive, but still livable. Old Man Emu dampers rebound with stiffness, hence , there is less tolerance of concrete expansion gaps. Turn-in is expectedly dull, given the tall sidewalls. A numb helm requires more corrective inputs. Disc brakes have replaced drums in the rear. While sufficient to bring all two and a half plus tons to a halt, the pedal exhibits sponginess. Cross wind buffeting is noticeably less than in the preceding Taco.

• -1 While the powertrain potency is appreciated, it (and the hybrid system weight) contributed to an un-exceptional 17 miles per gallon of consumption.
• -1 The passenger's A-pillar air intake tube makes a toilet flushing sound with each stab and release of the throttle
• -1 A fair amount of gentle bobbing on the road

2024 TOYOTA TACOMA TRAILHUNTER OFF ROAD:

On craggy trails the Tacoma Trailhunter displays rough and tumble prowess with impressive wheel travel and urethane bump stops. Multi-terrain select covers the gamut of encountered surfaces varying stability control. Muddy conditions benefit from the variable electronic locking rear differential. Rock crawling calls for the lower range of the 2-speed transfer case. Depressing the center console button for front stabilizer bar disengagement ups the wheel articulation.

The Tacoma Trailhunter's descent speed control is a gem, with 2 mile per hour increments. Off-road displays show mode, traction and pitch and roll in both the variable gauge cluster and in large media display, where the terrain cameras are particularly useful.

• Given the selectable, rather than automatic four-wheel drive of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter, it was easy to loaf on snowy streets in rear-wheel drive. For some off-road antics, editors headed over to what was once Wisconsin’s largest Buick dealer: Rank & Sons. With the dealership buildings turned into rubble, and low four-wheel drive low dialed up, crawl mode allowed to Tacoma sure-footedly descend a muddy path. The automatically activating Multi-Terrain Monitor provided a bird's-eye view of the trail sufficient to avoid some jagged concrete obstacles encountered in the approach.

2024 TOYOTA TACOMA TRAILHUNTER DRIVER OPERATION:

While the third generation Taco did functional mid-size pickup truck sufficiently, the 2024 Tacoma has brought overlanding into the 21st century. The old cockpit was rife with agrarian button switches and instrument panel icons. The new one reduces clutter with multi-purpose knobs and better integrated panel switches. While it's predecessor had a dearth of displayed off-road action, the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter broadcasts colorful terrain mode displays and truck attitudes in both the variable instrument cluster and jumbo infotainment screen.

2024 TOYOTA TACOMA TRAILHUNTER OCCUPANT TREATMENT:

In the category of first row occupant comfort and space, the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter has it all over its predecessor. First row seating cushions have been raised up from the old Siddhasana "Indian style" position, so as to stretch the legs. Despite greater headroom, given the deeper dash to windshield distance and a retained wheelbase, second row legroom suffers. Fortunately, the comfortable, first row specific "TRAILHUNTER" cloth & leatherette buckets don't punish in the way Tacoma TRD Pro Isodynamic seats do.

A wider 1st Row center console, with passenger grab handle, embraces 21st century storage & connectivity, including an inductive charging tray, and brings power ports to Row 2. Door card management improves, gaining 1st Row upper Molle pockets.

Cabin finishes range from soft leatherette seating, with tandem contrast yellow stitching, duplicated on door cars and middle dash to marble grain paneling. Creature comforts add cooled & heated powered front perches, dual zone climate control, the 14.0" Toyota Connected touch / voice command infotainment screen with apps, hands-free communication and wireless phone projection. The premium JBL audio now gains a dashtop-detachable, tailgating ready JBL Flex bluetooth speaker. Physical button switches for climate adjustment and rotary a knob for audio volume keep it simple.

• -1 Lack of running boards / steps
• -1 Lack of 1st Row A-pillar grab handles

2024 TOYOTA TACOMA TRAILHUNTER CARGO WISE:

The tested double cab Tacoma Trailhunter was equipped with the short five foot cargo box, and a power sliding backlight aperture. In addition to the typical power outlet, J-track anchors, and LED lighting there are also an innovative on-board air-compressor and dual side activated power liftgate buttons. For night-time truck loading there is perimeter lighting.

• -1 Second row storage, is limited to split seatback folding, since the fixed bench covers the hybrid battery.