I am considering buying a sweet 85 Runner a guy I know is selling. Though I really have need of a pickup sometimes. No heavy duty hauling or anything. Has anyone had experience removing the top and rollbar to use the 4runner as to carry larger things? Let me know how it worked out. Thanks!

 

I don't see any problem if you don't mind cold/rain/snow in the cabin. Anyway, carry stuff without a barrier between the cabin and the cargo area depends of the local regulations. Where I live, if I want to use the 4R as a pickup, I have to install some sort of sturdy protection behind the driver and passenger seat.

 

That's a good point. I haven't thought of that. It wouldn't be a normal thing. Just if I had to move some furniture or something large for some reason.

 

You can install some metal panel, and you can fix it using the hard top bolts holes, see this photo:

 

Yes I did! I once put a washer and dryer in the back of my old '84 4runner with the top off. It had a backseat delete panel so the floor was very flat.
Worked great!

 

I've seen reference to the panel being more flat before.. Y'all know those lower seat cushions fold forward so the back rest will lay all the way down right?

Some makes, or at one time made, a cargo net that fits across the cabin on the topper bolts.

 

Thanks for all the info. I've been waiting for a good 85-88 Xtra Cab pickup to come along. Now that this 4runner fell in my lap it's hard to pass up knowing I can still carry large things in it if I need to. Plus it would be great for camping! Of course I'll have to get a soft top if I buy it, because how could I not!

 

Cargo net? That's interesting.
I recall thinking 84 Dlx 4runners did not offer back seats. Not sure if this is true or some impression I was under at the time.

 

Yes, a hard barrier mounted with those bolts. Can also use the rear seat bottom mounting bolts.
OR install D-rings on above mentioned bolts to clip / strap cargo net on them.

My 86 dlx has rear seats, but they look crudely-made. Possibly made l domestically and installed after trucks were imported. The seat bottoms weigh 15 pounds each (just to sit on?!!!) and when folded for sleeping still does not clear my head, so I removed them. Sold for $30. Thats $1 for each pound lost - LOL!
When I have passengers which is rare, I use closed-cell cushions for seat bottoms. Same cushions convert to sleeping pad.

 

This is not what you asked, but it looks interesting anyway: this guy made this soft 'top'. It doesn't make sense, maybe he likes the pickup look and be able to use the airco + protecting the cabin and back seats from rain? I don't know, but it looks original. I don't have more info about it.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classi...ml#post1462728

 

I've thought about doing something like that while I have my bikini top on. Just to keep prying eyes off of whatever I have back there, keep honest thieves honest lol

 

I'd like something like that, but lower, some sort of plastic bedliner (but in metal) that includes the panel behind the front seats, that'll make the cabin stronger and not need of the roll bar, so you can remove it, and use the 4Runner as a pickup. You can bolt it to the truck using the hard top bolt holes. I'd love that! Is that a bad idea? I asked to the Department of Engineering to draw it with Autocad, and they sent me the file attached, it looks good! (I have to solve the tailgate side, we're going to brainstorm that part later). Copyright free, so you can copy and modify as you wish.

 

This is not what you asked, it looks interesting anyway, but too extreme I think: 4runner to pickup conversion:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...rd-top-192106/

 

I think killertoytops makes a soft cabin partition.

 

Cool!
https://killertoytops.com/collections/cab-partiton

 

@slaker, based in your experience, is this viable?
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f115.../#post52394752

 

sorry .. I have no opinion other then to say .. we are working on something similar .

 

YES!