1st gen Tacoma for 3rd gen 4Runner swap. Please advise

Hi everyone
I have driven an 02’ SR5 4x4 double cab for the last 5 years. This is the BEST vehicle I’ve ever owned! Hands down. I bought it with 180,000 mi, it now has 260,000 mi of unflinching dependable service. It has never failed to start immediately, except when I ran out of gas once.

I am getting married in April and have been considering trading my 1st gen Tacoma for a 3rd gen Forerunner. I understand they are nearly exactly the same vehicle as far as drivetrain is concerned, and I need the extra interior room for my growing family. I also wouldn’t mind a few more bells and whistles, like cruise control and seat warmers.

Ive been a TW member since I bought my Tacoma. Now I want to get the opinions of seasoned Tacoma owners who’ll likely know a LOT more than I do about the differences between them.

The main questions are...

1. What do third gen Forerunners have that 1st gen Tacomas don’t have?

2. Is the answer to the 1st question better or worse for off-road capability, family use, daily driving, towing, or driving comfort?

Thank you in advance for any information. Cheers!

 

4runner has rear coil springs and will ride smoother. More creature comforts inside like rear air and better seats.

 

just sell your Tacoma and buy a DC first gen. Problem solved.

 

But he has a DC first gen. Didn’t you read the first sentence?

 

I don’t think 3rd gen 4runners are that much more spacious than a double cab. Just converted the truck bed into a back hatch area. Go 4th gen 4Runner or 2 gen Tacoma if you want more size. They too are also very reliable.

 

I’ve parted out many 3rd Gen 4Runners and 1st Gen Tacomas and the most obvious difference I can tell you is that the 4Runner is built better. The Tacoma was built in Fremont, CA and the 4Runner is built in Japan.

When I remove interior panels on the T4R, there is lots of sound deadening. The 1st Gen Tacoma has virtually no sound deadening behind any panels. The interior of the 4Runner also has a lot more forethought into its design, evident by the deliberate ergonomic design of the interior trim along with the seats and other interior features.

The 4Runner was built with comfort in mind. Remember, 20-30 years ago Pickups were utilitarian vehicles. The 4Runner has lots of creature comforts like automatic climate control, leather seats, rear HVAC, etc. (on Limited models)

 

I agree. The third gen isn’t much of a space difference. If you’re looking for family hauler, a 4th Gen T4R or even a Sequoia is a much better choice.

None of those options have anything on a Honda Odyssey as a family hauler, though.

 

As others have said, if you want "more room" for your growing family, you'll need to look at a 4th or 5th gen 4Runner. The 3rd gens are the same inside as the 1st gen Tacos. The only thing you get is a little more inside storage room.

I've had my Taco since before kids, then a dog, then 2 kids and a dog.

But, don't sell the 1st gen. you'll regret it...

(That's my doublecab on the right)

 

So... I asked about the differences between 2 very specific vehicles.

1st gen Taco’s and 3rd gen 4Runners ONLY please.
I love the 5vz-fe, one of the best engines of all time.. so these two vehicles are what I need to compare..

Bartmaster1234 good info!! Thank you
Mechanicjohn good info! Thank you

Everyone else.. you missed the point, try again

 

T4Rs don't seem to have the same level of frame rust issues that the Tacoma does.

Of course the rear suspension is entirely different than the Tacoma but other than that they share a lot of the same parts. I don't know how much more space a 3rd gen T4R has over the double cab Tacoma, but the enclosed storage space will be a plus for carrying around strollers and such.

 

3rd gen T4Rs with 4x4 and the rear locker are more rare than the e-locker Tacomas but they're out there. @Kwikvette went from a 1st gen to 3rd gen T4R recently

 

@bodhi armor

As someone who's put some time and mileage on a 1st Gen Tacoma, both on and off road, not to mention long trips, only to switch to a 3rd Gen 4Runner, I can tell you hands down I prefer the 4Runner in almost every aspect.



Daily driving, parking, etc - the 4Runner has a tighter turning radius than the Tacoma. This is largely due to the tie rod difference between both vehicles. Not sure what else is different considering every other suspension component up front is the same, cause the wheels actually sit further away from the pinch weld than they do on the Tacoma. I fit skinny 33's on my 4Runner just as easily as 32's fit on my Tacoma.





Hauling, carrying stuff, etc - the 4Runner is enclosed. This was the main reason why I went from the Tacoma to the 4Runner. Given it can be a slight sense of false security, as any vehicle can be broken into, but normally an SUV would be left alone versus a pick up truck with a camper shell or nothing at all. When you do need to fit larger items, you begin to get creative but fortunately with the fold down seat option, it makes the task easy.



Long trips, hours of driving, etc - the 4Runner is just a quieter, and smoother vehicle. Sound dampening is nearly non-existed in the Tacoma, and that didn't bother me since I've got a Z06 (that's loud). But the 4Runner is just so much quieter, interior is built so much better, and that rear 4 link with panhard means smoother handling both on road and off road. Let's not forget the most important part here; seats! The seats are better in the 4Runner than the Tacoma tenfold especially with the lumbar support!



Camping, etc - this goes with the second point I made above. I love that anything I bring with me can remain secured and stowed away in the vehicle. It does help that I bought an aftermarket roof rack for misc. items but I keep most things inside. In the off chance that I go somewhere alone, the 4Runner has enough room for one to sleep in the back; I did so each and every night we were at Moab.



Off road, spirited driving, etc - now this could be somewhat subjective, but I feel the 4Runner offers more travel, especially from the get go in stock form, regarding the rear suspension. Again, the front is identical to that of a Tacoma, but the 4Runner rear has droop for days. If you do wish to lift and mod your 4Runner, there are a ton of options to easily get there, for even less money, than it costs just for a leaf pack on a Tacoma.







So why did I say almost?

You don't get a bed.

I'm at work, so I'm being somewhat brief with what I shared, but if you have any specific questions just go ahead and tag me in this thread.

 

You should get a 3rd Gen 4R so we can be 4R buddies; my only other 4R buddy lives in AZ

 

I’m no expert but my dad had a 2000 limited 2wd. I roadrunner in it in my teenage years and maybe that’s why I’ll always be partial to them. I’ve never been in the back of a 1st gen Tacoma but the 3rd generation 4Runner is great. I won’t bore you with the specs bc they seemed well covered^. If that’s what you want for a family vehicle then I don’t think you could go wrong. I like a bed but the 4 runner is also a great vehicle. Just depends on how much you value the bed. My brother has the 4Runner and doesn’t drive it anymore. It sat for 6 months last year and started right up and made a 300 mile trip. It has 395k on it. Anyways that’s just my two sense. I hope it helps.

 

4runner is still made in Japan. Tacoma is still worth more. Get both. I'd keep the Tacoma, you'll need the pickup bed after you get rid of it.

 

I have a DC with a family of 2 kids with zero issue. I use the truck bed for camping supplies and restaurant supplies. I love the bed with the shell it’s way more space than the back of a 4Runner but I absolutely hate doing uturns in the Tacoma and so a shorter wheelbase would be better. I have awful visibility as well. My DC is the Limited trim so my seats are niiiiice.