Opinions about Gen1 4runner and daily life

[norville]

Hello folks, I have a 94 landcruiser. that I love it's well maintained and I guess it's worth about 6k depending on the market. I may be looking to trade for a gen 1 4runner with a 5spd for my main daily driven vehicle. I have 3 kids and the wife, but mostly the vehicle would be for me and the kids. Wifey-poo has a mini-van. I got a cruiser a few years back thinking double duty for me and the wife, plenty of room for the kiddos and such. But, she does not like it , too big. even if I point out the cruiser is smaller than the van?? We do not take it to church, holidays, or even to dinner. I will in the near future be doing a lot more city/country driving. My thinking was a 4runner was just about the right thing for my needs. I live in the north east so snow is an issue and getting to my hunting grounds 4x4 is a must. My other thought is if it's not too wild, the wife will drive it if needed.

My question to gen 1 (pickups also)owners is how is it in daily life. The most I drive is 2hrs if I'm on a parts run. and I have a small trailer for yard work. I'm sure I'll miss the luxury of the cruiser. And I know the runners are a bit tighter. Is my plan reasonable? did I think this out right? I'm fairly handy and I comfortable around toyotas. I'd be looking far a fairly stock setup with air and a 5spd.

Regardless the cruiser may have to go. I have two other toys both are 1963's one is a sunbeam the other is a FJ40 like vehicle. I won't part with either. Most of my new driving route will be back roads and a few miles of highway.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=216098&stc=1&d=1205349946


thoughts?

thanks,
bob

 

[Foreigner]

How 'bout a 2nd Gen?

I'd swap you straight across for my '90!

 

[axed existence]

Ive had my 4x4 87 SR5 4cyl as a daily for a little over a year now have gone offroad several times with nothing but 31 inch all terrain tires and the only thing ive been held back by is no locker and lack of articulation/lift due to IFS in the front. These cars are surprisingly capable with little if any changes. Its a pretty comfortable ride. Ive never been in a cruiser so I cant compare but overall I think youll be fine. Im a student and part time employee so i spend a lot of time traveling through the greater LA area for school or work. I've got no complaints in regards to this being a DD.

A couple of notes regarding your conditions: its a 2 door and some people find that annoying if you do a lot of driving with more than 2 people in the car total. Getting to your hunting grounds should be fine in a stock setup, maybe go with 31inch tires for a bit more clearance. As for snow... I dont have any experience but snow driving is mostly in the tires and experience of the driver. Both engine options, 4cyl or v6 arent hp or torque beasts so that probably helps with acceleration in the snow. Im sure others will chime in with their opinions.

 

[KLF]

I had an '85 4Runner for a few years ('90-95), but it was a HUGE pain in the butt with kids climbing in and out of the back seat. They can only go thru the passenger door side, and you have to slide the seat forward. If you and Momma take the kids on a trip, she will get sick of having to get out of the truck just to let them in and out. Fortunately none of my kids at the time were still in car seats, otherwise I would have gotten rid of it before I did. They are also really cramped up front, especially on long trips. No cup holders, and you quickly run out of places to stash stuff like cell phones, road munchies, chargers, etc.

I finally gave up and swapped it for a '92 4Runner.

You will also be missing the nicer ride of the 80-series.

I highly recommend you find one and spend a few minutes climbing in and out of the back seat a few times.

 

[norville]

Thanks all for the input. I actually planned on a 4runnner before I got this cruiser. I got a cruiser for the same price of a 4runer. Thanks for the offer Foreigner but, I want a 2 door. I had a 1988 fj62 I imagine the ride is similar. 31's would be fine for the amount of snow and woods hunting I do. I would love to get a 60 series again, with a 5spd but pricing and fuel economy kinda put that out of reach. My fj62 was the perfect size but, just rotted away after 300k miles..so my next thought was a first gen 4runner. Momma very very rarely drives with me. She prefers the van. even to the 80, which on and off road drives like a caddy. My pops after 13 back operations loves the ride. And the kiddos, the girl 13 rides shotgun and the boys 4 and 7. Neither mind climbing in the back and I'm sure they'll love the top off.. in the summer.

Most of my driving is me and the youngest who's in a booster right now. When I talked myself into this "larger"vehicle I really planned to do more family shuttling. But it just hasn't happened


KLF, excellent point about trying one out or even a truck. Although a few years back my sister had a std cab 87 that I drove to Philly and back several times (2hrs) with the 22r and aftermarket air... It was fine yes a bit underpowered but none the lees did the job. She would drive it in weekly...


One quick question with the kids in the back can I fit a sheet of 4x8 lumber out the back? Is the rear hatch of the vehicle 4' wide???

thanks again for the input

bob

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Having used and abused my 89 for 3 1/2 years now, I can tell you that I would not want to do a lot of driving with someone having to be in the back, it's a bit of a hassle... Can I ask why you're wanting the 2 door vs. a 90+ 4 door? The 90+ also have a rear coil suspension with a much better ride. The 89- ride like a truck...

The only way a 4 ft sheet of plywood fits in a 1st gen is on the diagnal... and with the back seat up you'd need to strap it in really good... With the back seat folded an 8 ft sheet still sticks out past the lowered tailgate a few inches...

 

[KLF]

There's no way I'd ever own a regular cab truck, especially in this generation ('84-88 series). My Xcab is cramped enough...

I think the issue with the 4x8 sheet goods in the back is not the tailgate width, it's the "rollbar" in the back. I seem to remember it is narrower than the tailgate. I carry 4x8 sheets in my pickup all the time (did so yesterday), but it doesn't drop between the wheel humps in the bed.

 

[norville]

That actually answers my question. I didn't think of the roll bar. I'm not worried about the 4x8 fitting in between the humps, just that I can go to the store still take it home.. I cannot fit it in my cruiser complete now It must stick out the back.

As far as a 2nd gen + 4runner I do not see much difference in those years over my current cruiser. Smaller and the same fuel milage with less power. The only plus is the 5spd

My main goal with the 2 door is better economy, cheaper more plentiful parts... I treat my cruiser more like a truck than a family cruiser. Plus the "pop-top".

Does the fact that I love the looks of the first gen count ?

Had I to do it again. I would not have gotten my fj40 like vehicle and went with a first gen runner. But as it stands I have way to much money into my patrol.


I'm not in any hurry yet. It's just the fact even with gas prices down I'm filling her all the time, I feel I do less traveling because of it. I went out the hunting spot the other day and I really had to clear out the lines in. With 33's on the cruiser it was child's play but, a tight squeeze non the less.

I should probably just drop this subject, the more I think about it the more I want one, and the wife will probably have a bird.


Surprisingly, after looking for the last 3 weeks I'm having trouble finding stock vehicles. Most seem to be lifted.

thank again


bob

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Probably lots of modded trucks cause of the economy... and people selling off their "Toys"... I looked for 6 months before I found mine 600 miles away... It was pretty stock, but a little rough around the edges...

So you're after our old friend gas mileage eh? Well with a healthy 22RE and a 5 speed you could see the low 20's pretty easy, if you keep it stockish... I'm about 5 inches taller than stock, and running 33's with the stock 4.10 diffs, and I get 17 pretty regular... I've seen as good as 22 on the highway going slow...

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I have both and I wouldn't choose the 85 4Runner over the 97 LC as a daily driver. I don't mind driving the 4Runner but the LC is much more civilized. I suggest you keep your eyes open for a nice Gen1 and just buy it.

The first car I ever helped my father restore was a 65 Sunbeam Alpine. Unfortunately he sold it long ago. Nice memories.

 

[axed existence]

It was fine yes a bit underpowered...

hehe... better get used to that if you get one.

 

[trainrech]

With kids I would definitely shy away from the Gen1. Also, you might consider the additional safety the later models offer over the earlier.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Also, you might consider the additional safety the later models offer over the earlier.

That's a very good point. I don't let my 17 year old drive the 4Runner very much. When we are in the US he is mainly behind the wheel of the LC for that very reason. No air bags in the 4Runner!

 

[GRM]

For your needs, I'd look for a 97+ 4runner limited. Its smaller so your wife will drive it, gets the same or better milage than a 22re truck (last one I was driving regularly would get 17-19 consistently, and 22-23 if I took it easy... 3.4l/auto/4wd). The Limited had much more comfortable seats than the sr5, and its a fairly reliable, solid truck. Plus, its worth about the same as your cruiser.

As far as drivability, Im more comfortable driving my '85 4runner, but the '98 was much easier to use. It's always a pain in the butt getting to things in the back seat of the '85, especially after the 5" lift and 35's.

Or if you wanted to spend even more money, the 05+ are even nicer than the earlier ones. Lots more interior room, the v8 gets 17-19, etc.

Its up to if you want to buy a truck to meet the needs you originally bought the cruiser for, or just buy something for yourself.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

I have driven a mini truck for years but bought a 93 cruiser for a family car after failing to find a 1st gen 4 runner for a family car. I really wanted a 4 runner (small, simple, etc). As it turns out, the kids have enough room in the "tank" that the cruiser is. I would only buy the 4 runner if I wanted a trail toy for myself that I might occasionally shoe horn the kids uncomfortably into.

 

[4RUNNY]

It sounds to me like you are already sold on the gen 1 4runner and you are justifying why you should buy one. I know, it happened to me too. After the first time I saw a 4runner convertible I had to have one. And now, I've been daily driving mine for 7 years, it's recently been to California and back, I've wheeled the hell out of it with little breakage, Drive on 200 mile trips routinely in it, and it's taking me to Anchorage, AK in February along with all my belongings after college graduation.

KLF is right though, getting in and out of the back is a pain and the cabin is cramped to say the least! Especially with a broken passenger seat slide! But I'm never the one who has to climb back there.

Brian