The 3rd gen was the last Tacoma based 4runner. I think they would sell a lot more if the current gen was based on the Tacoma. I see lots of people using 4 door Tacoma as family cars. I loved my 2000, but the newer ones are just to wide. I hate parking really wide vehicles because you always get door dings. Plus, if I do go off road you get a lot less scratches on a narrower vehicle.
Maybe it's because the Highlander is the new 3rd gen 4runner, but I bet if they sold a Tacoma based 4runner they would sell a lot more than the current 4runner. To many people know that front wheel drive sucks so they are buying 4 door Tacomas.

Personally, I'm glad they don't. I don't find the 4Runner that wide, it's still considered a mid-size SUV. I had a Chevy Avalanche before the 4Runner, and I can see/feel the difference in width. I test-drove a Tacoma before getting the 4Runner, did not like the ride, found it uncomfortable, small; just plain didn't like it. So, having said all that, I for one am glad it's the way it is

The 4Runner IS based off the Tacoma, they share the same platform.

You're confusing the Hilux Truck and the Tacoma which diverged into two separate platforms before the current generation of Tacomas (around 2004/2005). The Hilux Surf (re-branded 4Runner) is still built off of the Tacoma platform, actually in reality they are both built off of the Land Cruiser Prado Platform; the "120" & "150" platforms respectively (the 120 was what the second generation Tacomas, 4th Generation 4Runners, and FJ cruisers were built on, while the 150 platform is roughly 2010+ and has little to no dimensional difference from the 120 platform, but does have some reinforced sections of thicker steel.)

The Highlander isn't a newer 3rd gen at all, the platforms aren't even close, the Highlander is of UniBody construction, while the Tacomas are still Body on Frame. I would urge you to do some more research both on the forum and the internet to see the progression and commonality of the 4Runner, Tacoma, and FJ Cruiser lines.

I'm talking about the current vehicles vs the record selling 3rd gen. I know the highlander is different, I'm saying a more truck like vehicle of the same size would sell better. I'm not an expert on the foreign truck names, and I don't really care. In just saying the narrower, smaller Tacoma would make an awesome base for an SUV. I miss the truck based small SUVs.

What do you mean by "narrower and smaller" Tacoma? Have you driven a 2nd gen Tacoma? They are huge. In fact the 4th and 5th gen 4Runner and 2nd gen Tacoma are within about an inch of each other width wise, and the 4Runner is shorter wheelbase.

And again, the 4th and 5th gen 4Runner as well as the FJ Cruiser share many, many components with the 2nd gen Tacoma.

I don't think the 5th gen 4Runner is any wider than the 2nd gen Taco, is it?

Anyway, a more truck like vehicle of the same size will not sell better. The Taco has an inferior road feel to the 4Runner because it's still leaf spring in the rear and designed to carry heavy loads and be a truck. The 4Runner went to coil springs in the rear in 1990 because it's a people mover and isn't intended to carry those heavy loads.

@JBecker , if you're asking me, then I was comparing the 4Runner to my Avalanche, narrower than the Avy. I love the 4Runner, size, ride, features etc. I test drove the Tacoma, didn't like the ride, and it felt and seemed too small inside for my liking.

Sorry, should have specified. I was referring to the OP about his comments on the Tacoma being smaller than a 4Runner. It isn't.

I checked and their is a 3 inch difference between 2nd gen taco and 5th gen 4runner. That's the difference between midsize and large in vehicle segments. Good point on the rear leaf springs. It would be considered to low tech. But I still think if they dropped the bed, moved the rear seats back 2 inches for leg room and enclosed the rear it would make a great SUV.

3" difference where?

If you did that to a 2nd gen double cab short bed Tacoma, it would be larger than a Sequoia. That's Suburban territory.

What exactly are you talking about? a 2nd Gen 4WD Tacoma is 74.7" wide, while a 5th Gen 4Runner is 75.8" wide, that's roughly an inch wider on the 5th Gen, while a 4th gen was 73.8" '03-05 and 75.2" '06-09. Length is 190.4" for regular cab, 208.1" access cab, and 221.3" for double cab, full bed; the 5th gen 4Runner is 189.9" for the 5th gen, 189" for '03-05 and 189.2" for '06-'09. The wheelbase for the 4th gen and 5th Gen 4Runners is 109.8" and for the Tacoma it is 110" fo the regular cab 4WD, PreRunner, 127.2" for Access Cab, and 140.9" for Double Cab w/ Extended bed.
The vehicles have the same frame construction, its just stretched or shortened depending on the vehicle (FJs having the shortest version, while the Tacomas have an extended one with Coil Spring mounts rather than spring perches). Like I said they are all built on the same Toyota 120 & 150 (for 2010+ models).

Toyota is dropping the FJ Cruiser because it messes with their CAFE standards, they're more than likely going to be paring down their SUVs for CUVS (Lexus is discontinuing the 4Runner based GX in favour of a crossover pile of crap in 2016) to better meet CAFE standards, maybe then they'd go for a smaller pick-up? But the reality is that a full sized 2nd Gen Tacoma is almost the size of a full sized first Gen Tundra; I doubt the market wants to go back to what is going to be perceived as "mini trucks."

^^^^^ The man knows his Toyota real well,how about 1st and 2nd gen 4runners and hi-lux?

In all fairness I just look up most of that data on TIS or Google, its readily available in terms of the measurements and such.
@Tomsriv

They actually DID build a slight smaller version of the 4Runner that was built off the Hilux platform (essentially an updated 3rd gen 4Runner/1st gen Tacoma ladder frame much like you were asking in your first post) and it is called the Toyota Fortuner. It is not sold in the US, but it is actually smaller than the 4Runner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Fortuner

WheelBase is 108.3" (4th gen 4Runner)- 109.8"
Length is 185.4" (4th gen 4Runner)- 189"/189,2" (for '03-'05 & '06-'09 respectively)
Width is 72.4" (4th gen 4Runner)- 73.8"/75.2" (for '03-'05 & '06-'09 respectively)

"Plus, if I do go off road you get a lot less scratches on a narrower vehicle."

Going off roading and worrying about scratches

Sounds like you need a Suzuki or a Subaru.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!! Say it isn't so!!!!!!!!

"in favour of a crossover pile of crap in 2016", 4Runner to go the way of the Pathfinder. No, no, no!!!