Convince me

[Gryphon]

Popo, as a fire dept officer, I can understand your concern for your gear. I run a 4Runner and love it. There are pro's and cons to both. I feel the 4R offers a lot over the pickup save for gross cargo volume. Unless you go for a solar tint on your back windows, your gear will be just as visable tho, and you will likely need some sort of organizing box/rack to keep it all in one spot (I hate responding code in my POV, getting to the scene, then having to dig around after my gear that scattered all over the back of the 4R!) As you well know too, gear can really cut into the wife's grocery space...if the 4R is to be exclusively yours, this may not matter...just don't let her drive it! I did and lost my 4R to her! Now I have to get another one!
Home depot is evil...stay away! (yes, I spend waaayyy too much $$ there myself!) You may be surprised how much you can cram in the back of a 4R with the seats folded down. If you do much plywood, borrow a pickup or a Chrysler minivan, I don't think you can get a 4x8 into a 4R without standing it at an angle...not sure tho, check it with a tape.
Myself, I like the new Taco's, but I am staying with my old T4R...cheaper to rebuild what I have and like!
Enjoy and see ya the next one!

 

[Hank]

the 4R can haul 4x8 sheets of plywood on the roof if you install aftermarket crossbars or baskets. It'll even carry ladders too. The only bad thing is that the rear hatch won't open if you have long cargo items on the roof so you'll need to unload them before opening the hatch door.

 

[Bluto]

The only bad thing is that the rear hatch won't open if you have long cargo items on the roof so you'll need to unload them before opening the hatch door.

The rear window rolls down. It will give you some access to stuff back there.