I really like the truck tailgate in 4Runner mod, but my problem with that would be that I actually DD my truck in all conditions, so I do need my back window at some points of the year.

Does anyone know if a short-bed truck shell would fit onto a 4R? Obviously, it wouldn't be a complete bolt-on fit like the stock shell, but I'd like to know if the basic demensions are the same to where I'd be anle to make it work with a few holes drilled for the bolts and the front of the shell cut off.

If that was possible, then I could have the truck tailgate and have the rear hatch of the shell as my rear window.

Thanks to all!

 

what would be the point of this...?
either way, you're going to still have a fiberglass top, and a glass rear window.
you might shave a little weight with the rear tailgate, but that's it. And you'll probably have to cut the front of a topper up, and then you'll have to fiberglass in the moldings to be able to seal it against the back of the cab.

 

The point of this would be the clearance that would be gained by having a truck tailgate. I am scraping and bending the crap out of my tailgate and back corners, especially in the local 4-wheeling area.

 

Just get a nice rear bumper to take all those hits.

 

Tail gate swap requires cutting off the rear end of the 4Runner body and on the pickup bed, then welding the back of the pickup bed onto the 4Runner body. The tail gates are way different between the two. Folks often combine this swap will bobbing the bed to make the rear overhang less.

You could also just keep the 4R tailgate and gut it of the window and then do the shell thing. You would need to measure some shells to find one that may fit.

 

I've seen the swap done much more simply. The p/u tailgate is just fitted to the 4R. The latches from the p/u and screwed into place. A 1x1 piece of metal is fabbed into place to host the hinges for the tailgate. It looked quite simple actually.

 

gut your 4runner tail gate and get a soft top from softopper.com and like the previous post said build a good bumper. Sounds like way to much work just to beat up the truck tail gate.

 

check out volcom's build thread: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f198...thread-164224/

you gonna cut your quarter panels too?

the pick up canopy swap seems kind of pointless to me...find another 4Runner top to experiment with...
as far as the dimensions, bust out a tape measure