2026 Trailhunter questions

[Goughy]

I'm about to reserve a 2026 Trailhunter and have a couple of questions before I do.

Does the TH come standard with front tow hooks? I want to know if I need to specify tow hooks as an option or if the red hooks just replace some smaller standard black hooks.

Unless I'm mistaken, on toyota.com the specs show all 2026 4Runners have 8.1" ground clearance. Surely this is incorrect?

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[MikeUtah]

I'm about to reserve a 2026 Trailhunter and have a couple of questions before I do.

Does the TH come standard with front tow hooks? I want to know if I need to specify tow hooks as an option or if the red hooks just replace some smaller standard black hooks.

Unless I'm mistaken, on toyota.com the specs show all 2026 4Runners have 8.1" ground clearance. Surely this is incorrect?

SR5​	Sport, Limited, Platinum​	Off-Road​	TRD Pro / Trailhunter​
Approach Angle	18 degrees​	18 degrees​	19 degrees​	33 degrees​
Departure Angle	22 degrees​	22 degrees​	24 degrees​	24 degrees​
Breakover Angle	23 degrees​	24 degrees​	24 degrees​	24 degrees​
Ground Clearance	8.1 inches​	8.8 inches​	9.1 inches​	10.1 inches​

The TH comes with the smaller black front recovery ‘loops’. The RED recovery hooks are an add on option at the port.

 

[127.0.0.1]

all 4runners have 2 front hooks or places to attach recovery / tow straps

 

[sliver]

I'm about to reserve a 2026 Trailhunter and have a couple of questions before I do.

Does the TH come standard with front tow hooks? I want to know if I need to specify tow hooks as an option or if the red hooks just replace some smaller standard black hooks.

Unless I'm mistaken, on toyota.com the specs show all 2026 4Runners have 8.1" ground clearance. Surely this is incorrect?

It comes with factory black cheapo ones. I ordered the Toyota forged one (red) after taking delivery and installed them myself. (It took less than 5 minutes )

 

[Goughy]

Thanks all!

I'd assumed the TH clearance was 10.1" and couldn't imagine it had changed for 2026. The Toyota.com specs must be wrong.

 

[shine]

Unless I'm mistaken, on toyota.com the specs show all 2026 4Runners have 8.1" ground clearance. Surely this is incorrect?

Looked underneath my 4Runner today, there's about 8" between the rear diff skid and mother earth. Except for the lower shock mounts, the rear diff skid looks like the lowest hanging part under the vehicle.

 

[Goughy]

Hmm... That's interesting. Maybe the 8.1" from Toyota is a minimum and 10.1" is a maximum.

I'm not sure where the original 10.1" quote came from, other than "marketing" or YouTube influencers. Anybody have a link to a verifiable authoritative source for the 10.1"?

 

[Joestac]

It is interesting because when I searched to compare to my 2024 Outback Wilderness, I also came up with 10.1. My car is rated at 9.5, which I thought was odd because I'd think the 4Runner would be quite a bit higher than mine. I'm running 235/65/17 Falken Wildpeak At3ws, over the stock 225 Yokohama Geolanders. AI search shows 10.1 for the 4Runner from Toyota's site, but I cannot actually see it on the site anywhere.

 

[shine]

Time to crawl under there with a measuring tape

I remember when the LC250 came out there was criticisms against the relatively modest ground clearance and those that actually knew what they were talking about mentioning how it's not always consistently measured. Guessing that that inconsistency why we lost a couple of inches on the 4Runner.

Also, I don't know every which way axles are done, but I believe (unless you're running portals) the rear diff will always be in a straight line between the center of the wheels on a solid rear axle vehicle. Not the case with independent suspension, so this could get you some more ground clearance. Which you'll need when you don't have a solid rear axle

 

[Mad Ghost]

On my ORP I just measured 11in in the front and Maybe 10 at the rear diff that’s with a westcott lift.

 

[Goughy]

I suppose my question now is what is the real difference in stock ground clearance between the different trims (especially between Trailhunter and TRD Off-road?

I seem to recall also seeing 10.1" specified on Toyota.com for the TH and TRD Pro but not any more for the 2026 models. It now seems to suggest there is no difference (all 8.1”) between the trims. I’m not sure whether the different shocks would make any difference, especially when measured when the vehicle is stationary. The coils would seem to be more important. Are these the same on all trims?

Anyway, it seems “ground clearance” is a slippery quantity (), subject to marketing speak.

I guess I’m trying to decide on the differences in the real world off-road capabilities of the TH vs the TRD ORP. Conventional wisdom suggests the TH is better. But is it?

 

[Joestac]

I suppose my question now is what is the real difference in stock ground clearance between the different trims (especially between Trailhunter and TRD Off-road?

I seem to recall also seeing 10.1" specified on Toyota.com for the TH and TRD Pro but not any more for the 2026 models. It now seems to suggest there is no difference (all 8.1”) between the trims. I’m not sure whether the different shocks would make any difference, especially when measured when the vehicle is stationary. The coils would seem to be more important. Are these the same on all trims?

Anyway, it seems “ground clearance” is a slippery quantity (), subject to marketing speak.

I guess I’m trying to decide on the differences in the real world off-road capabilities of the TH vs the TRD ORP. Conventional wisdom suggests the TH is better. But is it?

Over the many, many, videos I've watched. The ORP, TRD Pro, and TH seem to all be capable. You get the disconnecting front sway bar in the TH the ORP premium does not have. I saw another thread you can add it to maybe the '26 for $1300.

 

[shine]

On my ORP I just measured 11in in the front and Maybe 10 at the rear diff that’s with a westcott lift.

Two questions:

1. Is that with stock tires?
2. Do you have the diff skid plate?

 

[Goughy]

Over the many, many, videos I've watched. The ORP, TRD Pro, and TH seem to all be capable. You get the disconnecting front sway bar in the TH the ORP premium does not have. I saw another thread you can add it to maybe the '26 for $1300.

Yes, the disconnecting sway bar is new for the 2026 TRD Off-road Premium Hybrid only

 

[shine]

I suppose my question now is what is the real difference in stock ground clearance between the different trims (especially between Trailhunter and TRD Off-road?

I seem to recall also seeing 10.1" specified on Toyota.com for the TH and TRD Pro but not any more for the 2026 models. It now seems to suggest there is no difference (all 8.1”) between the trims. I’m not sure whether the different shocks would make any difference, especially when measured when the vehicle is stationary. The coils would seem to be more important. Are these the same on all trims?

Anyway, it seems “ground clearance” is a slippery quantity (), subject to marketing speak.

I guess I’m trying to decide on the differences in the real world off-road capabilities of the TH vs the TRD ORP. Conventional wisdom suggests the TH is better. But is it?

Only differences I can think of are tire size (bigger tire -> greater ground clearance) and whether you have the diff skid (will slightly decrease ground clearance at the rear diff). Tire size is the same per Toyota, but I don't believe the ORP comes standard with the diff skid.

Different shocks or lift kits will change the distance between the body/frame and the axle/diff but won't change the distance between the axle/diff and the ground.

In the end I believe the ORP and the TH are equally capable, the TH just happens to come with features that you might find helpful. Buying an ORP and equipping it with the same things that come with the TH will ultimately cost more than the TH.

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