Toyota TRD Pro Grille Upgrade: What’s the deal?
If you’re someone that enjoys modding and upgrading your early 2000s Toyota, you might have seen the fairly new TRD Pro grille upgrade many people are installing on their vehicle. But what is the history on this product? Does it work for you? Will you be able to install it yourself? These are all great questions, and luckily I have the answers.
The TRD Pro grille style debuted on the Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner in 2015 as a new upgraded off-road package option. This style featured an all new honeycomb style with the silver “Toyota” badge across the front. Customers loved the new look, and the grille option was continued on OEM vehicles since. This left older Toyota owners jealous. They wanted the option for a new black honeycomb style grille to make their vehicle updated. This is where the innovation began.
Handy vehicle owners began creating rough prototypes of this new grille to fit their older vehicles. These prototypes began to go viral on Instagram, Youtube, and many different forums. Everyone wanted to know how to get one. This is where my personal story starts. When I saw these new grille prototypes, I knew I wanted one for my 2006 4Runner. So I began my research, messaging tons of people who had built or bought TRD Pro Grilles for their 4th Generation 4Runner. I was able to get in touch with a guy that was custom making them. His price? 425$ plus parts and shipping. There was just no way I was willing to pay that. So I decided to take matters into my own hands. I had to build my own.
Actual Picture of the custom built $425 grille
Scouring the forums, I was finally able to put a plan into action. I ordered an OEM Tacoma TRD Pro grille that I was going to modify. Once it came in, I got right to work. I removed my stock grille from my 4Runner and began cutting. I removed the center of the 4Runner grille and then traced the outline on the Tacoma TRD Pro grille. I then cut out the honeycomb pattern from the TRD Pro grille and dropped it into the 4Runner grille. Lots of screws, JB weld, and paint later, I had created my own grille. It was definitely not pretty, but from a distance it looked good.
Over the next few months, I received tons of attention for my creation. People on Instagram kept messaging me. People on the road kept asking me where it was from. I even had an old guy hold up traffic to get me to explain to him how it was made. I knew there was opportunity for a product to be made.
My first TRD Pro grille Prototype. (Notice the rough cuts on the sides)
Not long after, I was able to get in touch with a manufacturer who could make the exact grille I had thrown together years before. That was when I decided to create Trail Runner Customs. I knew that a great product paired with a dedication to serve Toyota enthusists would create a great opportunity for a business. And so, I began selling these grilles.
We now offer a wide range of products. We sell Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro grilles, along with Tundra TRD Pro grilles, and the original 4Runner Grilles. These products make it easy for anyone to upgrade their vehicle. You don’t need any fancy tools or mechanic experience. It’s just a matter of unscrewing bolts and following our installation videos. I am proud to say we’ve now helped hundreds of Toyota fanatics all over the nation and the world.