Hello. Second guessing myself now. After owning my '88 pickup for 1.5 years or so and also being on this website, I kinda never really gave the 4Runner a thought, since I wasn't much of a "SUV" type body style. (I chucked the topper off my pickup when I bought it)
But lately I've had yearnings for a 4 Runner with the top off...It's not much of an "SUV" without the top, looks almost like a Yota / Wrangler hybrid which I really dig.

Has anyone owned/own both?
What do you guys prefer?

I'd probably keep the hard top off most of the year and just keep a soft top on it, unless it was a blizzard or something crazy...I don't know...I've never had a convertible or Wrangler or targa...


I know..the grass is always greener...

 

I have both I use the Truck for hauling things

Not uncommon to have a 800 to 1000 pound welder in the bed or be pulling a tow behind welder

I use the 4Runner for getting groceries and going to work when I don`t need to haul anything if I want to go some place with a few people the 4Runner is good.

4Runner much better in the snow unless the truck is loaded

If I didn`t have the 4Runner I would need a car no doubt.

I like my 4x4 Toyota`s

 

i prefer the t4r. it can be used kind of like a pick up if you need it to be. pull the top fold down back seats and you have a "bed" just don't throw a yard of gravel in it, gets messy haha

 

I have had and currently have both.I AM ALWAYS THROWING STUFF IN THE BED.I am looking to sell or trade my lifted 86 runner for a pickup for my son.wife says I cant give him the runner for his first ride.

 

I had an 88 Pickup and sold it for an 87 Runner. The pickup was good at carrying big and dirty things but that's not something I do very often. I loved the bench seat and miss it in my 4Runner. The 4Runner makes up for it with a nice sleeping area in the back, more seats total, lockable cargo area with hardtop, ability to run topless or softtop, and, in my opinion, badass looks. In the off chance I need to haul something, the back seats fold down. Not as rugged as a Pickup of course but fits my needs well.

 

Others have summed it up well.

I have a pickup, but often find myself wishing I could seat 4 people comfortably. Both off-road equally well. I don't haul stuff around so the bed is rather useless to me.

You want to be able to seat 5 people? Get a 4Runner.

You want to be able to haul big dirty stuff? Get a pickup.

 

I have owned both, I'm 6'2 and there is way more front seat comfort in the 4Runner simply because you can move the seat back further. Unless of course you have an extended cab pickup. It is nice to be able to seat more than 2, but it's not easy getting in and out of the back seat. The removeable top is a neat feature, but have not had mine off in over 2 years.

Edit: wow, reading my post almost sounds negative to the 4Runner, I didn't mean for that. I like that it's nearly like a truck, in that I can haul pieces of furniture around, pick up lumber from Home Depot, I can fit a couple sheets of drywall in there diagonally. I wanted the front seat room and to be able to haul more of my camping stuff inside where it's dry, so for me the 4Runner is the winner. I do wish for 4 doors sometimes though.

 

For tall people the standard cab is a little small, the 4runner extra, extended cabs are great for tall. Both have pros and cons. I am having to fix one of each to solve my problem.

 

I tried a 4runner awhile back, its good if you want to have more than 2 people in the car. Otherwise I find more utility out of a truck. Id NEVER put a load of stone, pallet of pavers, pallet of sod, my atv or such in a 4runner-even if I had the removable top ones.

 

Pickup is the way to go you can always throw some seats and a rollbar in the bed
Also the bench seat that comes in reg cab pickups is better for tall folks I'm 6'3" and I can't drive my moms 884runner but I can drive my 84 and dads 87 pickups no problem

 

Thought I would chime in, I was looking for a truck, look all over and at all brands.

I had my heart set on a 4dr Tacoma TRD! and still do!

But when I came across an 86 4runner (bought it!) and test drove it, I had to have it and with 219,000 miles on it. Bought it for 2,000 and couldnt be happier!

The removable top and the rear seats are just awesome, to me the 1st Generation 4runners are a must have!

Just fix the rear sag and your good to go with them

PM me if you want to know anything more specific

 

hahaha

 

I have a '95 pick up but have a preference for the 84-88.5 body style and interiors. I do need the pick-up for utility purposes but love the look of a built up 4Runner. The only negative I can think of is the problematic rear window-tailgate on them. Up my way a fully functioning one is a rarity..

 

I recently traded my 84 single cab pickup for an 88 sased 4runner. I loved the truck but felt like a sardine if my wife and son rode in it. I liked the truck, but wanted to have more people room instead of junk room in the back.

 

Had a 92 4R and now a 92 ExCab.
The 4R was good for kids in the back seat, Has a tighter turn radius and a better heat & AC (Larger elements and I like the heat), Back is already covered for camping and a sunroof.
The ExCab , Better suspension (rear over the 2gen 4R), The seats go 2" back farther then 4R seats.

I needed the pickup to put motorcycles in the back, Hard to do on 1st gen runners with a rollbar and impossible with 2gen and newer runners.

I put the 4R heater/AC into my pickup and loving the nice and toasty.
Still need to get a shell or pop-up camper.

I do notice the wind blows in my ear more in the pickup even with the rear sides open then the 4R.

 

I'm in the same boat OP. have a '93 Xtra cab and now I'm looking at a really nice '88 4R that popped up in my neighborhood.

I love the utility of my truck, and being able to haul practically anything without rearranging seats or playing Tetris in the cargo area is really nice. But I never really need to carry around payloads of dirt or stuff like that, mostly just camping and fishing gear, and occasionally stuff like cabinetry and furniture for work, so having a dedicated pickup isn't something I really benefit from regularly.

Having 4 seats would be awesome though, because when I go wheel in my pickup it sucks having to say "well I can really only take one person unless you want to cram in the back or sit in the middle of the bench." I would love to be able to take more people out shooting, fishing, camping, etc. without having to cram into the extra cab.

 

The grass is always greener on the other side. I had both.. both have their strengths and weaknesses. It really depends on what youll be using it for.