Just to let all know there are non OEM handles for sale out there that will not work on a second gen Runner as advertised. Just bought the top one off ebay and as you can see, it doesn't match mine (below) even though it says so on the box. To the seller's credit, he is working it out and is trying to find one that will work or take care of the problem for me.

I did a Google and found quite a few more of these out there at different stores. After talks with the dealer, he thought this one sounded like a truck handle. The main differences are the metal connector for two cables instead of one pushbar, and the fact that the screws go in the back instead of THROUGH the front. It was marked TAIWAN 88-95 TY P/UP / 4RUNNER TAILGATE HANDLE BLK

This was $11.95 plus shipping but the OEM one it turns out is not much more expensive...$27.95 at my dealer and a 2 day wait.