Trailhunter Riding Rough

Hey guys - about 3,000 miles in I mounted E load falkens onto my Trailhunter. Shortly after I noticed it was riding hard on bad roads / off-road on dry gravel trails (fine on mud, grass, sand). I’ve since swapped to SL tires but it’s nothing close to what it was when I first got it. I am unable to drive more than about 15 mph on the most basic of dirt roads or the entire cabin shakes so bad that it feels like the truck is going to fall apart. I’m at 8,700 miles now.

Dealer checked shocks and says no issues.

I test drove a 2025 TH and it was very smooth over potholes and we took both trucks over the same road and the sales guy agreed it drove very differently. Nobody seems to have this issue.

I’ve posted about this in other forums. If you’re sick of hearing about it just ignore the post.

Any ideas about what could be wrong are welcome.

I’m thinking I need to re-mount my OEM wheel and tire setup and start from there.

 

It's just how these trucks are, I havent driven a tacoma long term yet, but with all the 22+ tundras you feel every bump and they feel quite rigid.

It's how toyota perceived the truck market. I like how the TH rides out of the tacomas so far, but its not "plush" by any means.

 

Do you think the change in my ride is purely attributable to wider AT tires?

in my old truck (22 pro) I could drive quite fast over old country roads. And in an TRD OR as well. In the TH, I simply cannot do it.

 

I would first have the balancing checked at a different Discount Tire than the one you have been using.

Second, how often do you go to your central Texas ranch and need a tough sidewall (E rating)?

I would highly recommend the Michelin LTX AT2, but they no longer make the C rated tire. Only E. It’s probably really nice. I am seriously considering it, or the Cooper Road and Trail AT.

 

It's thicker sway bars, tighter suspension. It's what manufacturers think people want.

 

that is totally fine. My question is more around why it’s so different from when I bought it and the 25 I just drove (neither felt too stiff to me). Must just be the tires. But nobody else seems to report the same issue.

 

There is more unsprung weight. I think taking it back to stock would be definitive. Eliminates all these variables.

 

Will do. I’m just confused when people throw on 35s and say they don’t feel much of a difference.

 

Have you checked your air pressure in the tires? If you sre running at the high end of the pressure rating you will feel every bump. I typically air down to 15-18psi when I am traveling more than a mile or two on a dirt road.

 

I am weighed down like a mofo.

 

Well, the driver might be a variable.

 

I’m only one person - same person who owned the truck all 8700 miles. So that variable is fixed.

 

Well, you ignored my previous advice.

And realistically you might be more sensitive to stuff that other people aren’t. You are a variable, like it or not. You have changed tires and wheels multiple times and still haven’t found zen.

 

Not ignoring it my man. I am trying to see if my suspension is messed up. I know that a highway tire will always ride smoother. But I’m trying to see if my suspension is messed up. I don’t think it’s a balancing issue because they ride with no vibration up to and over 100mph - just exceedingly firm. Anyway, this isn’t the place to figure this out. I’ll sort it out. Thanks guys.

 

I guess I don’t understand the problem then, sorry.

If you were up here (DFW area), I am highly confident the guys at The Tread Depot could accurately triage, diagnose, and recommend a solution to the issue. You might consider calling Oscar Flores to chat.

I’m sure the Houston area has some folks that can do the same.

Good luck.

 

I may drive up there. I’ve got a buddy there. And if the variable is me (could be), that’s fine. Just want to have the info. What is this place? An aftermarket shop?

we have a place called Duggy’s garage and I may call them

 

What tire pressure are you running

 

30

It’s probably a combination of the tires and me being used to my old truck.

 

Yes, they are an aftermarket shop. They specialize in Tacomas and 4Runners. They are highly regarded in the DFW area. As a result, they are quite busy but they are good people.