If we're talking stock, I'd have to go with the 2009 Trail Edition. It's the only edition ever to come stock with a center locking diff AND a rear locking diff. So it's like the solid axle of the first gen, but with the other benefits of the late 4th gen.

But good luck trying to find one!

Like others have said. It's not the gen, but the driver that makes it better.
That being said, my second gen is awesome off road, my 3rd gen is also awesome off road.

The 3rd gen came with a (permanently) locked center diff (i.e., no center diff at all) and could be optioned with an e-locking rear diff. Seems like that is the same capability as the 2009 Trail unless you're saying that having an unlocked center diff gives you some trail advantages.

The 3rd gen with an elocker is just a sweet trail machine. Small, nimble, enough power/torque, uncomplicated.

I think it is all personal preference honestly but, hey a 4runner is a 4runner

A center locking diff is only needed on a fulltime 4x4 system. A part time system by design has a locked center diff in 4hi and 4low (because there IS no center diff to lock, haha).

A center diff allows the front and rear axles to turn at different speeds in the case of a fulltime or awd vehicle driven on dry pavement. This is why it is not recommended to operate a part time 4wd vehicle in 4wd under these conditions.

My old Grand Cherokee with fulltime 4wd had this, however shifting into 4-low automatically locked the center diff so it behaved just like a part time system would in 4-low. It worked much better offroad like this, in 4hi it could theoretically send all the power to one axle, or even just one wheel (the one with the least traction) because of the open center diff.

Yeah the 3rd Gen is pretty legendary, just the looks of it, so mean and ready to off-road! I Vote 3rd gen! :-)

My vote is for the 3rd gen. Its not too big, reliable, capable, and just modern enough to be comfortable.

I had a 2002 with several enhancements and mods. I belonged to an off-road club here in the Dallas area, of which most of them drove Jeeps. They were all amazed at the 4runner's off-road abilities and capabilities, beyond many of their modified Jeeps. As was said, a lot of it has to do with the driver and his/her experience and abilities.

My vote is for the Generation 3.

Personally I think it was the 3rd gen between 99-02 that made the best off-roaders out of the 4Runners. Good options and equipment, plus the aftermarket parts to enhance them was neverending...

I think it depends on the type of offroading, just as others have posted.

I find first gens that have all the aftermarket goodies are astonishing. But they simply don't have creature comforts like the newer modified gens do. I personally really like my 2nd gen, but I would also admit the engine platform is weak. I have 3.slow and yep, they guzzle gas and don't have a lot of jam.

That being said, I find second gens to be the sexiest offroaders when they're all tweaked out. 4runners in general are all great trucks. (Only my opinion)

How come you can't vote for 5th gen?

Because the poll was started 13(!) years ago.

can things from 13 years ago not be edited?

Do you maintain an active interest in topics you created 13 years ago? OP has 41 posts; not the most likely to update polls.

As an owner of a 3rd and a 5th, there wouldn't be a need to edit the poll to incorporate the 5th. Just because you have one doesn't make it the best, unless, of course, you've had experience with the other models. The biggest factors, as I see them, in favor of the 3rd generation, specifically the 1999s and 2000s with a rear locker, over the 5th generation Trail/TRD Off-Road are its narrower width (5"), greatly smaller turning radius/circle (even though the 5th is spec'd lower for some reason), and over-the-hood visibility. Any 5th generation Trail/TRD Off-Road will certainly out-perform any other 3rd generation model (and the 1984 and '85s), as the rear locker is the always the final say.