I want my runner to function more like a truck

[JoeMegeddon]

I don't really like how the back window functions with the tailgate. I was wondering if I could get a regular truck tailgate and regular truck top to fit on my 86 runner? Has anyone done this? What model year parts are interchangeable? Any pics from those who may have done this before? Thanks in advance!

 

[Hyde802]

The short answer is they are not interchangeable.

4runner tailgates are thicker and slightly taller than pickup tail gates.

The easiest way would be to cut off the whole back 12" of a pickup and your 4runner, then re weld the pickup taillights/corners/hinges etc back on to your runner.

I know a few have done this, Ill see if I can dig up some threads.

Pirate tread on the subject: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=859399

 

[SV_Dude]

Or just buy a truck.

Your only real option is to buy a truck or put a soft top on your runner.

 

[JoeMegeddon]

OK so the tailgate option doesn't look very attractive. I like the softop idea (one of the best reasons to get a first gen) but what about interchangeable hardtops?

 

[Hyde802]

Well.. Just thinking out loud..

If you put a cap on the back of your 4runner, it should fit length wise...but the back of the cab will still be open.. I doubt the cap will fit tight enough to keep out water.

What about if you gut your tailgate to reduce weight, then get the rear window portion from a cap and graft it you the stock 4runner top. I dont know what it would take to get it to fit, but could be neat.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Are you trying to be able to drop the tailgate, but still leave the window up?

During my body swap, my swapped in body didn't have the window track in the tailgate. I'm not thinking of putting it all back in, it's mostly offroad only anyway and the window is held up by 2 pieces of wood. I'm thinking of cutting out a window in lightweight plexiglass, somehow held up with latches or pins through the tailgate door, or something like that, so that I can some how push the window down by hand from the outside, and then drop the tailgate. The glass window is too heavy and awkward and slips out your fingers to do this and be able to pull it back up from the outside.

For you I'm thinking once the tailgate is dropped, you could slide the window back up and have some other latches holding that window up if you wanted to have it up like that.

 

[RAD4Runner]

I don't really like how the back window functions with the tailgate. I was wondering if I could get a regular truck tailgate and regular truck top to fit on my 86 runner?

Are you trying to be able to drop the tailgate, but still leave the window up?

I guess JoeM just wants a plain tailgate like a truck's with no window glass.

JoeM, Yes, gut it:

• Remove Window glass.
• Seal opening.
• Defeat interlock that keeps you from unlocking / opening tailgate when window glass is not all the way down. (probably just a solenoid or mechanical interlock you can remove.)

 

[CAN-03runner]

If the glass is to be removed and no requirement to have it up ever, then it shouldn't be a big issue. Roll it down, never roll back up.

But if you want to premantely remove the Window, just open up the paneling, remove mechanism and Window, you will be left with the two braided wires that unclips the locking mechaisim. Then you can just yank on those and open the tail gate.

As for how it knows the Window is down. Don't know for sure. Maybe it is a switch maybe not. On my 4th gen 4runner it is a sensor of sorts in the motor and a memory in the computer. Once it has been rolled all the way up, you can unplug the motor and everything requiring that Window to be up still works after that.

 

[JoeMegeddon]

I want The back end to function just like a truck with a cap on it. So in this case it looks like my best option would be to leave the window rolled all the way down and then find some way to attach a new window to the top that swings up and out of the way (on hydraulics or something just like a regular cab) but I don't think it will get as watertight and I would need.

Or option 2 - new cab all together but as Hyde802 pointed out it probably wouldn't fit watertight either.

So maybe this half-baked idea won't work but it would be much easier for me if I could get in and out of my cab without having to mess with the back window and killing my battery when camping.