4Runner Headroom and Hello

[MOJoWales]

Picking up a 2012 4X4 SR5, sports seats, running boards, mud guards, and third row later today to replace our 2002 4Runner. This will be my wife's primary driver and our long trip vehicle when not towing with my Super Duty.
I'm 6'4" with a long torso, a thick rear, and wide shoulders. While I've gained about 30 pounds from my defensive lineman playing weight, I sit high and wide in a seat with not too much "extra" in the middle and this has led to some trouble finding enough headroom in a midsize SUV.
We were initially looking at Limiteds, but even with the 8 way drivers seat my head hit the headliner right behind the moon-roof. The Sequoia was the same in regards to head and shoulder room to the doors, but had a little more room between the front seats. Sat in a Highlander which had surprisingly more headroom but, well, that's not going to happen. The Jeep GC's had a fraction more headroom with or without either moon-roof option, single or double, but I still rubbed on all three versions.
I was about to just deal with the occasional tight fit, like I do with the 2002 4Runner, and go with a Limited when we happened to sit in a SR5 with no moon-roof and found it to have about an 1"+ more head room. The lost clearance is due to the headliner dropping down just rear of the moon-roof and if you are close to rubbing the ceiling your legs are probably as long or longer than mine. I couldn't move the seat far enough forward to not rub on that part.
So, for all you taller folk who don't want to feel like your ducking all the time I can confirm that there is more headroom without a moon-roof, and about an additional .5" from the 8 way power drivers seat versus the 4 way passenger seat, for a total of about 1.5" in the drivers 8 way seat. We had no luck finding a Limited without a moon-roof and don't need the TE capabilities, hence the SR5.
If my wife can't live without a moon-roof I will have to consider the aftermarket because the upside of not rubbing my head is just too great. Might also go with aftermarket leather down the road but for now she is happy with the sport cloth seats. Ours has the base non JBL stereo so I'll definitely be adding a double din navigation unit soon. Short list for mods also includes better shocks and tires, potentially a small lift, and dog proofing.
While I was researching the 5th generation I found a lot of great information here and just wanted to add my $.02 and say hello.

MOJoWales

 

[MeBe4running]

Hi Mojowales and welcome!

I too am 6"4. I can confirm that I fit just fine with seat adjusted correctly. I have found that with the seat at its lowest setting I have ample of headroom, though with that being said, I feel to low to the ground.

The perfect position for me has been having the seat as far back as it will go and then raising the front as high as it will go. With this the top of my head having .5 inch or so with the sunroof visor closed and a good 2 inches when the sunroof visor is open.

My biggest complaint is long journeys. I have done 40 hours trips (not at once) in my rig and have found that my knees don't have enough room between the center console and drivers door. I end up resting my left knee against the drivers door ledge thingy ma-gig. Which after a few hours...hurts!

You see the Japanese are not the tallest people by culture comparison and with that said, I don't think they think of us 6 ft+ people

Lets see some images of your new SR5!

 

[1engineer]

I too am 6'4" @250 lbs. My head does not rub unless wearing a hat lol. This is very important to me when picking out a new vehicle. Welcome to the forum! Where did you play?

 

[MOJoWales]

I'm going to pick it up this afternoon after I clear my desk. Probably take some before-dog pictures so we can remember what the back looked like new.
I did the same with the seat, raising the front, but I couldn't obtain a position where my head didn't contact the headliner in any 4Runner with a moon-roof regardless of leather or cloth. Only the SR5 without moon-roof gave me enough space to not rub. For the record, I have a thick butt from my days of weight lifting combined with a relatively long torso so I sit up pretty high. Same issue with my legs rubbing but for the few times I will be driving long distances in the wife's DD I am more than happy with a few compromises to get the same Toyota quality we had in the 2002. That we found a great deal on a 2012 with no moon-roof and third row sealed the deal. I am aware of the few issues noted by others on these 5th generations, SR5's in particular with a soft suspension, but am looking forward to the same dependable ownership after a few modifications. Stubby antenna is en-route and tires and shocks to follow shortly.

Thanks,

MOJoWales

 

[MOJoWales]

I could probably wear a short ball cap and not rub in the new SR5. Rubbing the ceiling, even ever so slightly, really does make for a disproportionately intense aggravation on longer trips.
I am up to 330ish pounds right now, but unfortunately I haven't grown any taller to dissipate the extra weight:hungry:. I played at the University of Missouri, long, long, long ago in a waistline far, far, far away. Heaviest playing weight was about 290.

MIZ...

MOJoWales

 

[phillyd2]

Paragraphs are your friend. Use them and be loved.

Welcome anyways.

 

[clin9383]

I could probably wear a short ball cap and not rub in the new SR5. Rubbing the ceiling, even ever so slightly, really does make for a disproportionately intense aggravation on longer trips.
I am up to 330ish pounds right now, but unfortunately I haven't grown any taller to dissipate the extra weight:hungry:. I played at the University of Missouri, long, long, long ago in a waistline far, far, far away. Heaviest playing weight was about 290.

MIZ...

MOJoWales

ZOU! MU alum here! and welcome to the forum!

 

[FatDave]

:welcome:

...I too am 6"4. I can confirm that I fit just fine with seat adjusted correctly. I have found that with the seat at its lowest setting I have ample of headroom, though with that being said, I feel to low to the ground.

The perfect position for me has been having the seat as far back as it will go and then raising the front as high as it will go. With this the top of my head having .5 inch or so with the sunroof visor closed and a good 2 inches when the sunroof visor is open...

+1

 

[Ivy Mike]

Welcome to the SEC, and to the 4runner

 

[kmiller8821]

I'm also 6'4, 220. I have no trouble in my limited unless (as engineer said) I'm wearing a hat. So far so good after 2+yrs of ownership. Welcome!

 

[Antman]

Paragraphs are your friend. Use them and be loved.

Welcome anyways.

Buying everybody firewood will only get you so far.

Sooner or later you are going to have to be a nice guy.

 

[phillyd2]

Buying everybody firewood will only get you so far.

Sooner or later you are going to have to be a nice guy.

Or.....he can use them if he wants others to spend the time reading his post. Either would work I guess but then again I don't have a question needing answered about my seats.

 

[Titanpat57]

Paragraphs are your friend. Use them and be loved.

Welcome anyways.

The poor dude didn't have to conjugate verbs...just hit you hard enough to knock you into next month..:nerd:

Bad engrish always welcomed!!

I test width...not height..in the 4runner..welcome aboard and enjoy all you're new friends...lol

 

[MOJoWales]

Thank you all for the welcomes.

I'll edit the post and break it up if I can. :bigok:
I think getting used to the new 4Runner will be easier than getting used to the SEC, or at least won't be so painful at the beginning. Hope they both end up win-win.
Regarding the headroom, the difference in peoples builds can really effect how high you sit. For example, I have a brother who is over an inch taller than myself with a basketball type body, and I sit much higher in vehicles than he does. My thick rear is natural booster seat.
I did in fact drive it home with a hat on, Tigers of course, and can report that there was about an inch to spare. Going directly from a 4R with moon-roof to one without there is a definite difference in headroom.
My wife and I are very impressed at the 4 hour mark of ownership. I'll be spending some time digging through the site learning up on fine tuning the new ride.

Thanks,

MOJoWales

 

[SgnDen]

Paragraphs are your friend. Use them and be loved.

Welcome anyways.

Ha...nice.

Welcome!

 

[kbaum11]

I am tall also having owned a previous gen sport with sunroof in which I was constantly hitting my head on the ceiling, I can attest that the 5th gen dimensions are better for us tall people. (Whoops run-on sentence??). Even with a sunroof I have yet to feel "crowded"

 

[4RBob]

5th Gen has plenty of headroom for me (6'4"). My wife drives our 4th Gen. It was "mine" when we first bought it in 2003. Now when I drive it, it feels very cramped especially being used to the 5th Gen. More room for head, legs, hips, shoulders.

 

[MOJoWales]

I'd like to clarify my headroom observation.

For the record, I am not normally proportioned @ 6'4", 34-35" inch inseam, 40" waist, 330-ish pounds, very thick glutes and legs. My situation will not be reproduced by many members here. But for those whom it does I want to communicate the information that could have saved me time and frustration.

I could not create a sustainable position in the front seats of a Limited 4Runner to avoid rubbing the headliner just aft of the moon-roof. 5th generations have a drop in the headliner just rear of the moon-roof. 4Rs without moon-roofs do not have this. If equipped with 8-way power drivers seat additional clearance of about 1.5" is possible versus moon-roof equipped versions. The 4-way passenger seat has about 1" additional clearance.

My wife was adamant about a midsize SUV to replace our 2002 4Runner, so no big rigs. Over the last year we've test driven 4Runners, Jeep GC's, Explorers, Sequoias, a Highlander, an Armada, a Touareg, and others. I had fitment issues in almost all. After considering the intended use, capabilities, value, reliability, ect... we settled on a new 4Runner Limited. I began to search for information on modifying the seat frame mounts. This will be my wife's DD, and her needs and desires trump my occasional rubbing.

Fortunately a local salesman suggested trying the only SR5 without a moon-roof on the lot. Clouds parted and angles sang. The difference was very pronounced in my particular application. I was able to adjust the seat to a normal driving position, legs not hitting the dash, head not hitting the headliner, although the legroom between the console and doors is a bit tight. Should I ever be forced to ride in the passenger seat to keep the wife happy, I fit. Even passed the before mentioned hat test. Winner.

For the sake of argument, assuming all other factors being equal, I am probably more satisfied than most other 5th generation owners owing to my surprise at being able to be comfortable. I actually felt a bit jealous when my wife left for work this morning in the new 4Runner. Our new 4Runner without moon-roof is nearly a perfect fit for our family at this time.

Now Toyota just needs to start making jeans and pants, but that's a whole nuther can-o-worms for this wide-body.

Hope this helps somebody.

MOJoWales

 

[SgnDen]

I wonder if passing on the sunroof would allow my brother's EGO into my new 4Runner? (I know the answer)

 

[MOJoWales]

I wonder if passing on the sunroof would allow my brother's EGO into my new 4Runner? (I know the answer)

I used to have a really nice EGO, loaded with abs, full head of hair, great entertainment system, and most of the popular options. I passed on your brothers all-over tan and went with the Farmers option, but there were some similarities. Had to trade it in on humility to afford the new wife. The payments almost bury me, but so far so good :biggrin2:.