Trailhunter vs. TRD Off-Road Suspension 🤷🏼‍♂️ (Ride Quality, Stiffer, Rougher)?

[4RunnerJay]

Hello Everyone,

Anyone with experience driving the Trailhunter and TRD Off Road have an option on the suspension?

Does the Trailhunter have a stiffer suspension? Or does it ride rougher on pavement?

I’m guessing it’s rougher than the TRD Pro

Thank you.

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[shine]

I test drove a TRD Off Road and I purchased a Trailhunter. The TRD Off Road felt stiff, much more so than my old 4th gen. I would still have purchased it, but it was definitely less forgiving on both gravel and less than perfect pavement.

My Trailhunter is much more comfortable as a daily driver. Yes it will dive when you brake and squat when you accelerate, but it's not enough to bother me or make it seem less under control.

It's not a Lexus, but in my opinion the Trailhunter suspension is softer and much easier to live with.

Just my $.02

 

[Dead Horse]

I liked both about equally, but got a much better deal on an ORP, so that's what I wound up in. Plus, I don't like grayscale colored cars (black/white/gray/silver), so that factored in as well.

Not directed at you @shine (I've read/seen it in a few places)...I don't know what people are coming from when I read that they find the OR to be stiff or jittery, I think it rides fantastic. Maybe a crossover or a car? I don't know, but coming from a 2013 Tundra on Bilstein 5100s, this rides better to me.

 

[shine]

Not a huge fan of the "German Rainbow" either, so when I purchase something new I get something with color.

I do believe it's all relative to what we expect and what we're used to. My 4th gen rides on Bilstein 6112/5160 and is actually fairly comfortable for what it is. Maybe that's why the OR (not P) felt so different. It's all very subjective, that's for sure.

 

[TrdProGirl84]

The TRD Pro suspension has 3 adjustable settings. 1 being soft, 2 being medium and 3 being the most stiff.

 

[Dead Horse]

The TRD Pro suspension has 3 adjustable settings. 1 being soft, 2 being medium and 3 being the most stiff.

That is not the question.

 

[4RunnerJay]

I test drove a TRD Off Road and I purchased a Trailhunter. The TRD Off Road felt stiff, much more so than my old 4th gen. I would still have purchased it, but it was definitely less forgiving on both gravel and less than perfect pavement.

My Trailhunter is much more comfortable as a daily driver. Yes it will dive when you brake and squat when you accelerate, but it's not enough to bother me or make it seem less under control.

It's not a Lexus, but in my opinion the Trailhunter suspension is softer and much easier to live with.

Just my $.02

Thank you! How’s the snorkel noise as a daily?

 

[4RunnerJay]

The TRD Pro suspension has 3 adjustable settings. 1 being soft, 2 being medium and 3 being the most stiff.

I did see that. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to see or test a Pro in my area. They are sold before they even hit the lot.

 

[Evergreen104]

Hello Everyone,

Anyone with experience driving the Trailhunter and TRD Off Road have an option on the suspension?

Does the Trailhunter have a stiffer suspension? Or does it ride rougher on pavement?

I’m guessing it’s rougher than the TRD Pro

Thank you.

 

[Evergreen104]

My '25 TRD OR rides much smoother than my 5th gen SR5. No complaints at all on ride comfort.

 

[Joestac]

Thank you! How’s the snorkel noise as a daily?

I know you asked, Shine, but I love the intake noise. I am used to putting cold air intakes on my vehicles though. With the window up the noise does not even bother the wife, which is the most important part. Windows down is much louder, but again, I still love it.

 

[shine]

I know you asked, Shine, but I love the intake noise. I am used to putting cold air intakes on my vehicles though. With the window up the noise does not even bother the wife, which is the most important part. Windows down is much louder, but again, I still love it.

Agree 100%.

I have a Magnaflow exhaust on my 4th gen and I find it somewhat loud and obnoxius, but the intake noise on the Trailhunter is nothing like that.

 

[Tarekith]

I drove both the ORP and TH before buying, and to ME the TH suspension felt a little bit stiffer than the ORP. The dealer said the TH was created to be ready to accept more weight for accessories people add when overlanding (rooftop tents, internal storage, fridge, etc), so the suspension over built some compared to the ORP.

The snorkel noise is very noticeable, I didn’t mind personally but my wife thought it would get old on longer car drives and I could definitely see that. Just my $0.02 though.

 

[Matt4Runner]

Thank you! How’s the snorkel noise as a daily?

You can barely hear it with the windows up.. Doesn't bother me. It kind of makes it sound like a Diesel..

 

[WoodyWood]

Never drove a Trailhunter, but my TRD Off Road is definitely stiff and jittery. It’s probably an unfair comparison against my 2020 and 2023 Defenders w air suspension, but similar to the GX 550 Lux Plus that I had for a month that was a lemon. Worst ride of any car I’ve ever owned. Dealer couldn’t fix the shake and wobble after three weeks in the shop and swapped the GX for a 2024 Sequoia Platinum. The ride on the TRD Off Road is a big downgrade from the Sequoia as well, but the Sequoia was just too big for a one person daily driver so I downsized to the 4R. Other ride comparison is my wife’s 2024 Land Cruiser Premium. The LC has a much smoother and more comfortable ride than the 4Runner. I still love the 4Runner, but on road, it’s no better than the 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport I had 20 years ago.

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