4Runner rear seat & cargo area

[tlthehun]

I ran out of phrases to search.

I want a FZJ80 but a 4Runner might work.

Would somebody please tell me if the rear seat in a 97-98 4Runner folds flat and does somebody know how long the resultant cargo area is?

I'm hoping for at least 6'.

TL

 

[d0ubledown]

it wont go to 6 feet, unless you remove the rear seats bottoms from their hinges. im 5'10" and im touching pretty much head to toe with the rear seat bottoms still bolted in. it frees up a few precious inches when you pull em.

theres a mod you can do. its pretty much winged bolts that replace the factory ones to remove the seat bottoms alot easier. probably wont be able to put the trim cap back on though...

 

[tlthehun]

So if you removed the rear seat completely you could sleep back there comfortably? I'm 5' 10" too, need 3 passenger capability but sure is nice to sleep in the truck rather than pitch a tent.

I'm taking for granted that the FZJ80 is way more than 6' with the rear seat folded. Is that true?

TL

 

[tlthehun]

found the same info for a FZJ80 https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/46998-sleeping-room.html

 

[hoch]

If you're 5'10", then with the rear seat cushions removed (very easy to do), you will fit no problem. Get those winged nuts that doubledown is talking about and it will make the removal that much easier. However, there is a tiny bit of height difference between the rear cargo area and the rear seats, when folded down, so you will have to lay down some foam or build a sleeping platform if you want to be comfortable.

If you can do it with the size of the 4Runner, I say go for that. 3.4L V6's in the 3rd Gen 4Runners are stout engines and will get 20+ MPG on the freeway stock.

 

[97kurt]

I'm 5' 10", my wife is 5' 4" and we have a 60lb boxer and all three of us have slept in the back of the 4runner with the seats removed. It was not comfy but it worked.

The bumps for the wheel wells eat a lot of space but I have seen people make a sleeping/storage platform to make the back flat.

 

[Ian Rogers]

i remove the seat bottoms when i go wheeling, i have a sheet of 1/2" ply that i lay back there. The ply wood is 6'3" long and once you fold the front seats forward there is more room for your pillows. I think it would out great, i drilled a few hole in the ply-wood for tie down this allows me to lash all my gear down. I also use 2 of the in floor tie point so that nothing could move when you are at speed in the desert.