Convert 1st gen 4runner to a pickup, keeping the hard top
 

EDIT: Just done yesterday, pics are at the end of the thread.

I know this might be a crazy idea but I have it in my head for many weeks now and I don't know if it has already been done.

First of all, I love the look of the 1st gen 4runner with the hard top and I don't want to trade my 4runner for a pickup. But sometimes I need cargo space. I don't like to haul my dirtbike sideways with gas spilling all over my 4runner floor! And I'd also like to be able to haul my small ATV. I don't need the back seats.

I would like to :

1- Seal the back of the cab like a Toyota pickup with a working window.
2- Make a bedliner, remove the rollbar
3- Keep the hard top on the truck as needed.

Does it involes a lot of work or it is possible to make something nice ? I don't weld for now but I will need to get into this stuff. But it does not seem like a huge task.

Am I right or completely :nana: ?

Anyone seen it done? I did not find anything!

Thanks!

take out the roll bar and back seats and create a flat floor or just buy a truck

Id like to make something that would seal off the cab also. I was thinking of taking sheet metal and cutting it to fit and then it would bolt into the factor spots where the hardtop bolted into. I havent seen anyone do it yet though

A guy just told me that he have already seen it done with strong fiberglass and rubber seals.

seems to me that if you create a "backside" for the cab/front seat area and put in a window that you'd basically have it. I don't know about weather proofing it though, that'd probably be tougher. Or we could trade. I'd even throw in my motorcycle ramp!

Ok, talked with Biagax79 from Quebec4x4 who did it on his former 4runner. He basically cut the back of the hard top, used the existing rear window and did this nice job in about 4 hours :

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/IMG_1077.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/IMG_1074.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/IMG_1075.jpg

I'll do something similar !

i think its a sick idea post up some pics i love chop kinda projects

for some reason this project makes me think of angelina jolie getting a sex change.

alternative perspective:

are you SURE you wouldn't rather TRADE someone with a sweet pickup for your 4runner? i'm sure you could find someone willing to make an equitable deal. the labor you spent finding a good trade would be far less than the labor to build an enclosed cab, and you'd both be happy.

i'd think it's at least worth putting up a new post and see what offers you get. you may get a solid axle extended cab from someone who really wants a removable top.

I really like the pics of the dude from Quebec. Its gotten my mind rolling. . .

well then... maybe you could cut the whole cab roof open, and use the back half of the fiberglass topper as a removable convertible hardtop! now that would be cool! be sure to post pics if you start cuttin!

you aren't nuts for thinking this but i think there's an easier solution, get a pickup.

too many people on this forum (and even more on pirate) bring out the sawzall and the grinder too quickly. coming from the air cooled VW community i can tell you these vehicles are not around forever. if we start chopping the relative few that survive into 20 or 25 year period after the rust, the accidents, etc. we'll exhaust them even faster.

sell the 4runner (or keep it) but get a pickup if that suits your needs better

alfio

I agree...Don't screw up a perfectly nice 4runner....By a trailor

I agree don't hack up the runner and just find a truck. The reason I bought my runner was to have a 4 seater with a removable top. The thought of closing that off...well I'm at a loss for words. I know there was a canopy that was out in the 80-90 that looked like the 4runner top I say buy a truck and find one of those tops best of both worlds. Just my 2 cents. Its your runner do with it what you want but I think the truck would be easier and keep the best resale cause once you cut the 4runner into a truck you are going to run off the 4runner crowd

Yeah, for the time/money you spend hacking up the 4runner, you can find a yota pickup that'll do what you need.

The runner mama bears are comin' out to defend one of their own! Hahaha

Well I don't plan on selling it later so I'll keep it... I know, this is not fun seeing another 1st gen 4runner being chopped but hey, that's only a truck! :D

I removed the seats, secured the wiring in the sides of the bed, removed the roll bar, painted the sides of the bed's interior, next step is to chop it off on saturday! I'll post pics!

There was a 'rear seat delete' option available for the 1st gen 4runners. This would place a metal plate where the existing seats went, extending the bed right to the back of the seats. This would allow you to carry your dirtbike easily. I'm sure you can find one of those plates, and best of all, your truck can be brought back to stock.

The truck is yours; as much as I love mine, that doesn't stop you from chopping yours up (however much I'd be against it). What I would prefer is that the salvageable parts you choose to scrap (e.g. the seats) get re-used.

All the best -- as others have said, these trucks are becoming rare; nothing lasts forever, enjoy it while you can!

Well, I kept everything. If one day I decide to buy another hard top and put the seats,belts, speakers and rollbar back, I'll be able to do everything in a few hours ;)

Another idea, you should leave the back seats, and make an enclosure over them so its like a super-cab truck. havent seen that and that would be sick, maybe, cant really say cause i havent seen one.

i made a cool rack to put in my hitch for my dirtbike. just an idea