4R Interior Room, IFS durability, Costs

[matt4x4]

How much shoulder, leg and head room is there for the 3rd gen 4runners?
I am 6'5" tall

I've been trying to find out with the rear seats down, it looks to me from picture and youtube that the 4runner has 1ft more cargo room then the Jeep Cherokee. Obviously the 4R is top quality, long lasting.

I'd like to make an overlander, sleeping in the rear.

Does the IFS front hinder offroading, I keep hearing IFS is more of a plush, cushy ride but might not be as durable. I am not a hard offroader, wont be doing much rock crawling like the Rubicon Trail but would like to wheel in the bush, crawl over a rock shelf, hit the mud bog. There is a lot on youtube of Australians offroading with IFS trucks, so its doable but maybe they have upgraded drastically costing a bunch of money. I'd lift mine a tad for 33's, roof rack, winch, steel bumpers.

Whats the mileage limit you'd choose when buying a 3rd gen 4R?

How much would it cost to rebuild a motor and trans in your area?

 

[Devbot]

You will barely fit. If the vehicle has a sunroof, you won't at all.
I'm 6ft even and my head is awfully close to touching my sunroof with my seat as low as it can go. I can nearly touch the passenger door from the drivers seat. Leg room ironically isn't much of a problem.
Why rebuild a motor and trans? Both of ours can be had for like $1500ish last I checked. But either way you're looking at $100/hr in labor, that's the average price of mechanics. Independent front CAN hinder offroading, but for what you're concerned about it'll suffice just fine.
Had a VERY good laugh at the idea of a 4Runner being """top quality.""" Not sure where this meme came from but good lord is it prevalent these days.


Boy, if I had a damn penny for every time I saw a millennial going "I want a 4Runner to overland in, teach me all about it"...
To that effect, how were you able to start a thread with less than 10 posts?

 

[Bad Luck]

Boy, if I had a damn penny for every time I saw a millennial going "I want a 4Runner to overland in, teach me all about it"...
To that effect, how were you able to start a thread with less than 10 posts?

You don’t need 10 posts if you’ve been here long enough. He joined over 2 years ago

 

[jgue467]

...
I am 6'5" tall...

Does the IFS front hinder offroading, ... I am not a hard offroader, wont be doing much rock crawling like the Rubicon Trail but would like to wheel in the bush, crawl over a rock shelf, hit the mud bog....
How much would it cost to rebuild a motor and trans in your area?

It can do alot and easily what you're mentioning right out of the box, no upgrades necessary. I wheel thru sand, stone, rockshelf (12"+) down to river and back, easy peasy, all stock as you can see in pic.

Mechanic labor in central tx is well over 100/hour so it will be pricey if rebuilding. Mine is all original at nearly 329K, so it is not a cost you should expect any time soon. Luck fitting in drivers seat especially if you go for a limited with a sunroof thought! (I'm 5-8 and don't have much headroom as is)...

 

[5VZ-FE]

I’m 6’2” and I’ve never had an issue. I don’t have a sunroof though, so there’s that. The cab is small, but still not a bad place to be. I sit with the chair all the way back, and with the bottom cushion slightly raised with no problem.

 

[Zingvs]

I'm 6' and my head is almost touching the ceiling. Somehow my 6'3 friend, who also drives a 3rd gen, fits fine in his driver seat. With the seats folded flat I think you have just over 6 ft of length, not exactly sure though.

 

[JZiggy]

6’4” here. Extended seat rails made all the difference for me. Had to fab them with a friends help but not really that hard

No sunroof otherwise headroom would be a problem.

 

[Twan]

I'm 6' and hit my head on the sunroof frame way too often, and that's with the seat in the lowest position. With the back seats folded down, I have to lay diagonally to fit. A sleeping platform setup could fix that.

 

[matt4x4]

Shoulder room is good though?

I hate those vehicles that have good head room but the shoulder room is no good.

I remember decades ago when the Acura Integra came out 1990's, there was terrible room even in the front seat it was very very tight. The Tundra's arent bad these days, cant buy no cheap Tundra here, T4R's are dirt cheap here with 250k'ish miles.

 

[Endlessblockades]

Shoulder room is good though?

I hate those vehicles that have good head room but the shoulder room is no good.

I remember decades ago when the Acura Integra came out 1990's, there was terrible room even in the front seat it was very very tight. The Tundra's arent bad these days, cant buy no cheap Tundra here, T4R's are dirt cheap here with 250k'ish miles.

I recommend finding a 3rd gen to sit in rather that relying on other's impressions of space because we are all built a little differently. If they are dirt cheap where you are they must be plentiful, too.

 

[Devbot]

^^^ If you're just gonna go check out cars to buy anyways, why ask others? You're just gonna see for yourself.
What some find a tight squeeze you might find comfy and cozy. Comfort is very subjective, and always invaluable

 

[rickashay]

I agree with all other sentiments - sit in one to find out if it's right for you. Every tall person is made of their own unique proportions. hahah

I'm 6'6" tall and have a sunroof. I do rock a slight gangster-lean but I've driven it from Canada to Utah and back and have always been pretty comfortable. I also sleep in the back. But more info on that can be found HERE.

 

[phattyduck]

To sleep in the back, you'll need to remove the rear seat bottoms and have a slightly extended platform. I'm 6'2" and sleep somewhat uncomfortably at an angle across the back.

If you have a short torso, you'll fit in the driver's seat with no sunroof. Most 3rd gens have sunroofs, so watch out.

If the 4Runner is cheap, check the frame *very* closely. It is cheap for a reason.

-Charlie

 

[matt4x4]

Yeah I would normally just sit in one but with everything going on I figured I'd just ask. Yeah because you got slim 6 and half footers and you got chubbier 6 and a half footers. Thats one thing I do at the new car show every year, sit in the vehicles I like and see what the room is like. Either a used car dealer, auction or junk yard. I figure I will check out the auctions around here and see whats available, T4R's, Burb's or XJ's. I like to hit up the junk yards to see whats available for parts.

 

[kolelt]

I’m 6’2”. I have no issues sitting comfortably. The passenger seat feels like it does not slide back as far as the driver seat. So it does feel tight there if you are ever driven in your own 4runner lol. I wheeled the piss out of my runner. And I’ve always made it home. You’ll realize the limits of your vehicle after taking out and messing with it. Although I always have spare parts to make it home just incase. I’d say it’s more of driver experience and skills what your driving. I see a lot of people with a lot of money choose the wrong path and break stuff. Even though we all are going to point B.

 

[sportscarfan]

To sleep in the back, you'll need to remove the rear seat bottoms and have a slightly extended platform. I'm 6'2" and sleep somewhat uncomfortably at an angle across the back.
-Charlie

This is what I do - 6'1".
I have zero issues with headliner/sunroof

 

[levee-11]

I'm 6'2" and have a sunroof, I fit fine, I have my seat like 80% back, and the cushion lowered almost all the way. I can feel my hair touch the roof, but without a sunroof I would fit just fine, I've sat in non-sunroof Tacomas and fit with no issue. Legroom is nothing to really worry about, I rest my left leg against the driver door with my foot on the dead pedal. Shoulder room is something I've never even thought about, it's not a problem at all. I'm a narrow person, so coming from me that doesn't mean much.

Sure, I'd love a solid axle, but for what I do IFS will be fine, and with what you're talking about it won't be a problem, plus, if you spend most of your time on the road, IFS will be nicer.

 

[matt4x4]

Hey thanks for all the replies. I was re-searching the room aspect and read a great article on T4R vs Jeeps, and realized I registered on the forum awhile ago.

Everything has increased in prices, Toyota's with a ton of miles are expensive.
I will have to hit up pick n pull junk yard and see if any 3rd gen T4R's are there with seats in them, I havent been there in so long. Or better yet just hit up the auctions or used car dealers would be a better bet.

I slept in a 98 Blazer and a 88 XJ, both at an odd angle feet in corner taillights and head up on opposite corner head touching back of front seat.

There is a place here where you can rent out a repair garage and do your own work, has lifts, welders, air tools at a reasonable price.

I love the looks of the solid front axle GC's, which are the smooth headlights, as soon as the headlights have the bumps their IFS. 249 TC awd is the way to go with the stock lockers. The V8 gas gussles and gas prices are high. I could go the other way and go 4 door 1.6L Geo/Chev Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick but wont be able to sleep in those, but wicked gas mileage. Then theres the Avalanche if I go gas gusslers, but 07's has the cylinder deactivation which is no good, the 2 cyl that deactivate go bad easy.

Toyota 4Runner, 3rd gen, without sunroof and look carefully at the frame.
Those 4R's sure look nice. I am so up and down on them but they hold their value good.

So many choices, reliable import

 

[Romeo1]

Your mileage question doesn’t really have an answer. I bought mine with 370k after a life of abuse and neglect, cracked radiator and heater core plugged solid. Compression was spot on for all six cylinders. I just did the valves, and all were in spec. Only one of the exhaust valves were right at .011…….. the next truck could have half the miles and be nearly dead. My valve covers are all carboned up inside.

Compare that to one of Timmy the Toolmans latest valve adjust videos. Inside the engine looks super clean yet exhaust clearance was non existent on some valves.

Point is there aren’t any absolutes on wear and reliability. Toyotas tend to be really reliable. But it’s a machine and machines break. Most people suck at taking care of vehicles long term. But I see that as a plus because I buy them cheap and fix them up. I’m also a mechanic, if I can do it so can you.

3rd gen 4Runners are an amazing off-roader. They’ll do 95% of what the world has to offer in nearly stock form.

As you go to bigger/wider on vehicle for your shoulder room part equation, the vehicle becomes larger, and in my opinion you lose ability. I’ve been places that my mirrors were folded in by trees to clear on both sides.…. But in a place like Moab, big vehicles can fit in a lot of places.

If you want a crazy big tire wheeler, Solid axles probably make more sense than an IFS.

For me the draw to the 3rd gen is the 5 seats and a long skinny body profile. It’s like a side by side off road. Americans for whatever reason always want to talk about muh leg and shoulder room and anything less than a does superduty worth of room they whine. Big vehicles suck off-road. I say that as a guy that took full size diesels into the mountains and deserts. But if the biggest obstacle you traverse is a speed bump at the mall, than a anything works. Extra points for billet street locks.

That said, 3rd gen 4runner isn’t your only option. Xterra, 4th gen 4runner(at a small width penalty but more room) H3, and jeeps like you mentioned. All have pros and cons. If 5 seats, coil overs all around are priority, then it’s a short list. 4Runner aftermarket is awesome and a huge plus.

Sounds like you’re on a tight budget. Start small and work from there. You don’t need a 4k$ roof top setup, kings, and a skottle to go camping…… I mean overboardlanding unless flexing on you buddies and everyone in town in the coffee line is priority.

An Air compressor, tire deflators, a set of Amazon rhino traction boards, soft shackles, a good rope, shovel, tire repair kit, first aid, a cooler and some decent tires are all you need to really have a great start. Eventually you’ll want a locker if you go to more advanced terrain. Armor will be dependent on what you want to do.

Cars in general are super inflated price wise across the board right now. You really need to go sit in them and drive them to see what you like. Choices really open up on 3rd gens in the $4k and up range. Sub 4k is hard now unless your looking for a blemish vehicle. I paid a hair over 2k, but I’ve done a lot of work to it.

Good luck. Just start small and work from there.