Tall people sleeping in the back of a 4th Gen?

[Viking4455]

Morning yall. I'm currently searching for a late production run 4th Gen as the 5th Gens are just too damn expensive and don't have the V8. My only real concern is like every other car I look at. Will I fit in it? lol

I'm 6'3" and plan to use the back as a bed on camping trips and such. Do i have anything to worry about?

 

[Paddy Garcia]

Well, you might have to define fit I just measured my 4R, and with the back seat folded there is barely 6' 3" from the back of the front seat to the inside of the rear hatch. Keep in mind that's not flat space, the bottom of the rear seat sticks up at the front end for about 8". Kinda like a pillow, but kinda not. You'll probably need to try one out to be sure.

 

[Viking4455]

LOL well i guess thats ok. I usually sleep on my side anyways. So the back seats don't lay 100% flat? Ya i'll def have to go test drive and mess with one when i get back stateside.

 

[wsgoat]

If it's just you, or you and another person traveling....the rear seat bottoms can be removed very easily. You'll pick up another 4-5" of room in back. I'd also consider moving the front seats all the way forward....

 

[having fun]

When the back seat folds down, the seat section folds up, that's the extra 6" taken from the flat area length wise. No gaps and flat.
If you make a platform to to raise above the folded seat section, you gain a 6" more.

I'm 5'9 and can sleep on my back on a pillow with no touch.

 

[Chewbaccam]

I just came back from a road trip where I did some car camping in my 4R- I'm 6'1'' and just barely fit when laying completely flat. My set up was folding down the rear seats flat where I then put down a sleeping mat and sleeping bag. I pushed the front passenger seat up a bit to gain a little more room to work with. It's a tight squeeze, but it's doable.

 

[Tazer]

I've slept in my 06 V8 just fine at 6'1", its gonna be cozy for you but get yourself some good thick foam and you'll sleep like a baby.

The rear lays down to very close to flat if you bring both the front seats forward, even giving you some room between the front seats and bed for your shoes and stuff

.

 

[duffdog]

Short answer. NO. I'm 6'2" and you have to sleep diagonally and the distance from the seat to the rear hatch is less than you are tall and your feet will be smashed up on the door the entire time.

 

[gaber6]

I'm 6'2" and grew up camping on mountains on rocks in freezing weather, but the slight incline of the rear seat made it uncomfortable. I ended up sleeping on the passenger side front seat with more success. At least for a couple days, I could see this working, otherwise a foam pad or more level surface would be needed.

 

[jrm]

In order to have the rear seats

LOL well i guess thats ok. I usually sleep on my side anyways. So the back seats don't lay 100% flat? Ya i'll def have to go test drive and mess with one when i get back stateside.

lay flat you can remove the seat bottoms and then just fold the backs down. This also opens up some extra area to carry stuff under the seat backs which is kinda nice b/c its out of the way.

 

[Bullit_Sponge]

+1 on seat bottom removal. At 6'6" with my 5'4" girlfriend we can sleep like this with our heads towards the tailgate. My feet hang off into the area behind the front seat that is slid up but that is pretty usual for most beds at my height so it isn't a short-coming of the 4runner (pun intended). Thankfully our cooler can fit in the front seats with the seat slid up so our food storage is safe. Then just use waterproof bins for everything else slid under the 4runner.

I am planning to build a platform for width. Our shoulders touch if we lay on our backs and arent pressed against wheel wells. For the cusion we use a memory foam king mattress topper (borrowed from our spare bedroom) folded in half (80x 76 folded to 40x76 which is your supported sleeping area). Makes for a very comfy situation.

The only thing is make sure you crack a window or else it takes a while to defrost the windshield in the mornings. Smokers visors are nice for this to keep it from being obvious your windows are down if you are in a crowded area and also for keeping rain out.

 

[4 runna]

The only thing is make sure you crack a window or else it takes a while to defrost the windshield in the mornings. Smokers visors are nice for this to keep it from being obvious your windows are down if you are in a crowded area and also for keeping rain out.

Yes - the visors are great for this - it's also good to get some fresh air in there while you sleep

 

[064runnerv8]

Try sleeping at an angle, might help a little

 

[Rai Ferrule]

I would be more worried about head clearance while driving if you are that tall
I'm 6'1" and my SR5 has a sun roof ( which lowers the inside roof height)
I find it distracting how close my head is too the ceiling , and the bill of my ball cap catches if I look up
My friend is 6'4" and he found the ceiling clearance unacceptable and went with a GX

 

[Bashtastic]

I'm 6'1" and I sleep in my '07 Sport every time I go camping. Can I stretch out completely? No. But I wouldn't say it's uncomfortable. If you don't mind your feet kicking the rear hatch or sleeping a little diagonal, you'll be fine.

 

[NorthWesty]

I have seen a few build threads where you can build a platform with plywood over the wheel wells and on top of the folded rear seats. I believe with that you can get 75 inches of length. You just sacrifice a little headroom depending on the thickness of your mattress.

 

[Kardolf]

I'm late to the party, but you can do it. I'm 6'3 and have spent at least 60 days sleeping in the back of my 4Runner over the past few years out in the wilderness.

I came from a Grand Cherokee, and one of the first things I did there was to install quick release pins to be able to take the bottom of the back seats out. Since that technique doesn't work on my 2004 4Runner, I just grab my ratchet and socket, and unbolt the things. Takes another minute or so, but it's not bad.

Once the seat bottoms are out, I lay the seat backs down, and use a 4" memory foam twin mattress for my sleeping pad. I put my head at the tailgate, with feet up near the back of the front seats. Blankets for cover, and my dog and I do just fine back there.

 

[Bundutrailer]

Do you have pics? Am 6’3” and have to sleep sideways so not so comfortable

 

[L4Time]

You might be interested in my solution. I've been really happy with it. The bunk platform itself could probably accommodate tall folks fairly well, especially with the passenger seat well forward.

The challenge might be getting in and out of it!

Convert your 4Runner to a comfy solo camper for about $250

 

[Boort]

Morning yall. I'm currently searching for a late production run 4th Gen as the 5th Gens are just too damn expensive and don't have the V8. My only real concern is like every other car I look at. Will I fit in it? lol

I'm 6'3" and plan to use the back as a bed on camping trips and such. Do i have anything to worry about?

You might try to find one w/o the sunroof. (They are nearly f'n unicorns though esp with the V8) As others have said the sunroof headliner takes up a lot of head room. I find it a bit low, though not a deal breaker, even at 6 foot. Take one out and make sure the seat and steering wheel can be adjusted to fit comfortable driving position for you.


LOL I'm only 6 foot but the first thing I did before buying my 4th gen was make sure I could sleep in the back. Sales guy looked at me like I was nuts.
At 6'3" you will want to either pull out the seat bottom or build a platform that goes over them.

Since I wanted to keep the ability to ride 4 adults and was building a drawer system anyways I went with the platform route. My Drawers go above the wheel wells by about 2" then I flip up the seat bottoms and the drop the seat back. I put my platform across the span resting on the seat bottom at the front and on brackets I built for my drawer system. I sleep comfortably and with a longer platform and moving the passenger seat fwd you could get even more headroom. With my setup you could have up to 6'8" from rear hatch to the back of the passenger seat with the seat moved fully fwd and tilted as far fwd as possible.

Good luck in your 4th gen search and as others have mentioned maybe a Lexus GX will work for the higher roof line.

Regards,
Boort