Hey folks... Completely love this thread! So many great dogs here.
I'm very close to buying a 4Runner, in no small part because of my dogs. (Salespeople at dealers think I'm nuts.) I've had other smaller SUVs, but never seem to have enough room. Most new SUVs I've looked at have problems in the backseat -- when the seats are folded down flat, there are too many gaps/holes where a dog leg could slip in.
I LOVE the way the 4Runner backseats fold down, creating a pretty flat and end-to-end surface between the front seats and the cargo door. But I'm wondering about the cargo tray. Most models I've seen have it installed, and with the other configuration I want, seems hard to get a 4Runner without it. I don't mind the tray -- seems useful, but not something I'd otherwise seek out. But there's a large plastic flap attached to the back of it, that I guess is supposed to keep your groceries/cargo from sliding backwards when you pull the tray out. Not great for dogs looking to stretch out on a flat surface.
So my question is: Can you remove that piece? Anybody have any experience with larger dogs in the back of the 4Runner, with that piece in place?
Seems like in most of the pics here, folks have their dogs in the cargo area without the seats folded down.... Haven't seen many pics of recent 4Runners with the back seats folded down, and dogs lounging...
Thanks!