Trailhunter Snorkel Sound / Noise 'Music' – Eliminated No More!

[MikeUtah]

If you like the Trailhunter, but don’t like the snorkel noise, this post is for you. This post builds on many other threads on this and other forums.

Here are two options to eliminate the Snorkel noise:

Option#1: Plug the Snorkel

Steps:

1. Unclip the four clips and move the air box cover to the side. (pic #1) Helpful hint: Use a small bungy cord to hold the air box cover out of the way.
2. Remove air filter.
3. Insert an oversized oblong shaped piece of foam (4” bedding foam works great) into the snorkel inlet (pic #2).
4. Remove black cap from the lower outside of the air box (pic #3).
5. Reinsert air filter and secure air box cover.

Pros:

• Simple, requires no tools, 10-minute job.
• Can be reversed in minutes.
• No air restrictions, gain the 3HP lost due to the snorkel.
• By plugging the snorkel at the air box, you eliminate the ‘echo’ sound in the snorkel.

Cons:

• Draws air from the engine compartment.

Commentary:​

• I ran a test using two Bluetooth thermometers with one in the air box and one in front of the grill. Driving in the neighborhood and on the highway, I saw an average higher temperature of 10 - 15 degrees in the air box (engine compartment), no surprise.
• The temperature differential between the outside air and the engine compartment will vary greatly depending on the outside temperature, and if you are in stop and go traffic vs interstate driving.
• Note, as the turbo compresses the air, the air temperature will increase to 150+ degrees. The intercooler then cools the air before combustion.

Option#2: Convert Trailhunter Air Intake to TRD Pro Air Intake

Parts needed: (Note: These are not the same parts used for Tacoma Trailhunter)

You will need 3 Toyota parts to convert the Trailhunter 4Runner airbox to a TRD Pro 4Runner airbox:​

PTR03-35241-AE – Coupling Kit (includes red elbow to connect to the front intake air cleaner and a red cap to plug the inlet of the snorkel). $109.22 online cost from local Toyota dealer.​

​

17752-25040 - Inlet, Air Cleaner (includes inlet basket that hooks up to the red elbow and clips into the front radiator support) $68.90 online cost from local Toyota dealer.​

​

90467-07217 - Clips (3) (needed to clip in the inlet basket) $5.85 online cost from local Toyota dealer.​

Steps:

1. Unclip the four clips and move the air box cover to the side. (pic #1) Helpful hint: Use a small bungy cord to hold the air box cover out of the way.
2. Remove air filter.
3. Remove the air box by simply pulling the air box straight up and out of the snorkel inlet. The air box is held in place by three pins and is very simple to remove and reinstall.

At this point you have two methods (4A or 4B) to plug the snorkel:

4A. Insert an oversized oblong shaped piece of foam (4” bedding foam works great) into the snorkel inlet (pic #2). Go to step 5 below.

OR

4B. a). Using the red plug that comes with the Coupling Kit, (pic #4) plug the air box snorkel inlet.
b). To make room for the red plug when reinstalling the air box, you need to remove two bolts and the elbow going through the fender wall (pic #5).

5. Remove black cap from the lower outside of the air box (pic #3).
6.Connect red elbow that comes with the Coupling Kit to the air box, same point that you removed the black cap.
7. Reinstall the air box by lining up the pins and pushing the box down into place.
8. Reinsert air filter and secure air box cover.
9. Remove a small plastic support held in place by two clips (pic #6). Helpful hint: The clips can easily be removed by depressing the center of the clip then pulling them out. These clips will be reused.
10. Install Inlet, Air Cleaner by lining it up with the red elbow and installing a total of 5 clips. (pic #7 & #8).

Pros:

• May sound complicated but it is really very simple.
• Completely OEM air intake if using method 4B above.
• If you ever want to impress your next Wife or Husband with snorkel 'music', use method 4A above and you can restore the 'music' by simply removing the foam plug.
• Pulls air from in front of the engine compartment (‘Cold Air Intake’)
• Regains the 3 HP lost due to the snorkel
• Can be reversed

Cons:

• Cost $183.97 (without tax)

Pic #1

PIC #2

PIC#3

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[Nodak]

people should go with the proper way to (4b option) plug the snork.

i wouldnt suggest the foam (4a option)

but that is just me

 

[Dead Horse]

No "just shove a sponge in there and SEND IT" option?

Fools.

 

[Redline]

Anybody wanting to sell their snorkel assembly let me know, I love the sound!

 

[Nodak]

Anybody wanting to sell their snorkel assembly let me know, I love the sound!

how would that work on a non TH ?

the defining part is the hole in the front passenger fender to direct air down from the snork to the engine bay

 

[Redline]

how would that work on a non TH ?

the defining part is the hole in the front passenger fender to direct air down from the snork to the engine bay

I'll be replacing the fender with the TH one. I'm not 100% certain on what parts I'd need or not need yet and the dealer does not have part numbers for them except for the fender so I'll have to do some research.

 

[xraytekca]

I’d buy a trail hunt just for the sound!!!!! Hahahahaah. Instead, I got the TRD off-road and got the sixth element air intake instead cheaper option

 

[Nodak]

I'll be replacing the fender with the TH one. I'm not 100% certain on what parts I'd need or not need yet and the dealer does not have part numbers for them except for the fender so I'll have to do some research.

good luck with that. find a good body shop unless you are going to do it yourself.

a good option if you can find a good body shop that is willing to work with you, get a estimate to replace the body panel and see if you can get a part break out (look at it from as if someone hit the panel)

easier than trying to find the parts online yourself on what to replace

 

[KenJones]

Personally, I'm getting used to the sound. Plus, I can more easily hear what the engine is doing. I'm still not a fan of the look, tho.

I'm curious, though. Is the 3 HP drop due to the snorkel itself or the routing of the air through the fender? Has anyone simply disconnected the snorkel at the fender and had the air draw into the fender directly?

 

[RogueWarrior65]

I'm hoping the aftermarket will come up with a diverter that you can switch as needed. I often drive in dusty environments so I get having the air intake above a lot of that but the noise when driving around town means I can't roll the passenger window down. Of course, now that cold weather is upon us, it's no big deal so that should give the aftermarket about 6 months to come up with a solution. Chop, chop, guys!

 

[Roysleight]

I did the conversion yesterday and it was pretty easy. Dealer got the parts in one day. The whole process took about half an hour.

 

[Nodak]

I'm hoping the aftermarket will come up with a diverter that you can switch as needed. I often drive in dusty environments so I get having the air intake above a lot of that but the noise when driving around town means I can't roll the passenger window down. Of course, now that cold weather is upon us, it's no big deal so that should give the aftermarket about 6 months to come up with a solution. Chop, chop, guys!

the problem with getting a 3rd party solution is volume. not enough TH in the usa to justify a solution like this, even less so for those that want a bypass as it is.

i mean when i was tracking stock levels in the usa for all hybrids from roughly 6-30-25 to 9-29-25, the avg was right around 300 units across the whole country for sale. it ebb'ed and flowed to between 293 and 333 unit per week.

and then add how many people actually want a bypass as you describe and there isnt a lot of demand for a person to build and sell them, so the ROI just isnt there.

unless you find someone willing to go above and beyond and build one for themself and then try to market it, its hard to make that jump to retail.

but i have seen dedicated 4R people buck the trend and build something and try to make a little profit from the project.

i mean thats how tvd vinyls and ajt designs started and look at where they are now.

i remember ajt just selling fobs and then expanding outward. same with tvd vinyls. i remember when i bought my first from him back on our 2016 tacoma and that was just when he started and he wasnt called tvd vinyls back then when he started in the tacoma world forums as rrentrop user-id

 

[kekecarioca]

Nice write up, yes kinda covered in other threads, but nicely explained with pics here.
Thank you.
I'm looking at possibly doing the mod and leaving Trailhunter intake as is. Just having 2 different pieces of foam to switch between "music" (Trailhunter) and no music(TRD pro).
Just pop the filter and plug one or the other depending on the "needs"...
All to please my love one in the cool days.

 

[MikeUtah]

Nice write up, yes kinda covered in other threads, but nicely explained with pics here.
Thank you.
I'm looking at possibly doing the mod and leaving Trailhunter intake as is. Just having 2 different pieces of foam to switch between "music" (Trailhunter) and no music(TRD pro).
Just pop the filter and plug one or the other depending on the "needs"...
All to please my love one in the cool days.

Thanks for your comments!

One thing I did not include in the post is that once you install the TRD Pro intake (4A, 'foam method') you can switch between "music" (Trailhunter) and no music(TRD pro), by simply installing or removing the foam from the snorkel inlet only. No need to plug the TRD Pro air box inlet, since the "music" will be heard when both inlets are 'open'. Unless, you do not want to miss a Note!

 

[anhnguyen310]

I actually love the sound on my TH but I def can see how it might get annoying to someone after awhile. Glad you found a solution for yourself though. Get er done

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