"The 4Runner is "TOO" small"

im 5'11 290 lbs, it is the single reason I went 5th gen over the 4th Gen lol. Believe me, I was trying to avoid a car payment and I could not see myself going through trails in the 4th gen cause the door was into my shoulder.

 

Weird. I just googled it, and aside from cargo volume they're almost identical. Same headroom , same hip room, same shoulder room.

 

I don't know what to say, I couldn't move in the 4th gen and I could spread out in the 5th.

EDIT: I need more shameless fat Cheeseburger pork belly eaters to speak their experiences lol

 

I'll be eating pork belly tomorrow. I'll let you know how the 4Runner feels on Thursday, lol.

Edit: to make matters worse, I'm about to eat two cheeseburgers. Buffalo burgers, to be exact

 

4 Door Bronco is 1.3" shorter (length) than a 4runner, 0.1" wider and 1.4" taller with a wheelbase over 6" longer (so shorter overhangs).
4 door Wrangler is 2.3" shorter (length), 2" narrower and 2.1" taller with a wheelbase over 8" longer.

So what does Bronco/Wrangler size mean? Sounds to me like it means about the same size it is now.

 

That is interesting I honestly did not look up stats.

I guess when I look at them in the road they seem smaller. It certainly seems like the 4Runner would win in cargo space and it definitely does in towing capacity.


If I were an exec at Toyota I would not screw with it. Everyone knows Ford and Stellantis quality suck. I am sure Toyota would like some of those sales figures though.

Bring back the FJ Cruiser for those who want the retro looking unit . That is definitely bound to have less recalls and engine fires than a Bronco

 

No.

Or, at least, if they're going to try to capitalize on the "FJ" name, they should make something better than just a goofy looking slightly shorter 4Runner.

 

Engine fire issue is the Bronco Sport (which is really an Escape), not the actual Bronco. As for recalls, Ford is a lot more proactive on recalls than Toyota. Never had a problem with a Ford, have had plenty of issues with the one Chrysler product I owned (pre-Stellantis) and know of several issues that my family has had with them over the years (nobody's had Ford issues though). The new Tundra has definitely had issues so don't act as if Toyota is infallible. A big part of Toyota reliability comes from them keeping old designs around forever. And if they move 4Runner production to Mexico, you lose the current production crew and their mentality.

The current 4Runner probably does beat the Wrangler and Bronco in cargo space and beats both in towing (although I've not heard of issues towing 3500# with a Bronco and have heard a lot of 4Runner owners suggest NOT towing more than that with a 4Runner...so while it may be rated for more, sounds like it isn't a good idea). A redesigned 4Runner, even if it is kept roughly the same size could have less cargo volume and a lower tow rating. A good friend of mine traded his Tundra for a new one and he says the difference in storage space in the cab is noticeably less...and he is only getting 1mpg better when the window sticker showed about 5mpg better than his old one.

 

I had / have the same experience as you. We owned a 4th gen for a bit and the cockpit was just a little small for me (I’m 6’6”, 260). My right knee would need a couple of more inches to spread out and my left elbow would hit against the back of the driver door window. The 5th gen feels like a custom fit. I believe @Thatbassguy when he says the numbers didn’t change but there’s definitely been a difference for me

 

Those moms are the real phalluses in the family.

 

Pree-zent!

But i dont recall actually even sitting in a 4th gen despite all my looking for one. So I guess I cant back you up on that lol

That said, I find the 5th gen just the perfect size as far as driver comfort. Ironically, I tend to go through a lot of different seating positions. Not because I’m not comfortable, but more because there are a lot of comfortable positions.

I’m glad it’s not too big. In fact, too big just takes away the biofeedback from those that are pleasantly plump. What I mean by that is that a normal sized car reminds me when I’m having too many cheese burgers. Cuz I wont fit anymore.

 

I am 60 years old, 5'11", 180 and I too like cheeseburgers - I had a loaded cheeseburger from Five Guys tonight!

There is plenty of room for me, myself and I in there. My wife and three young adult sons (Army, College and recent college grad) all have their own vehicles. I removed the rear seats and have no intention of re-installing them. I slept in it 17 of 20 days for a mountain bike road trip out west from MD. Other than wishing this thing got 25 mpg's I would not change a thing - except remove the Pro Roof Rack at some point! I enjoy driving it, utilizing it and looking at it! I like it more now than when I bought it 21 months ago & 35,000 miles ago. We also have a 2002 Chevy Suburban and a 2013 Hondo Pilot, and the 4R feels just right for me!

 

I had a 2016 Toyota Venza LTD (V6 AWD). That thing is secretly massive inside, with inside of hatch to windshield easily hauling 10’ 2x4s with over a ft to spare. Then I had an engine issue which Toyota rebuilt it under warranty. They had it for over a month, and paid for a rental, which was a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (V6). Wrangler was definitely tighter, and I’m saying that being 5’ 5”. It was fun to drive except on the hwy with a good crosswind, forcing me to stick slow lane at speed limit (100 kph). But it lead me on the path to a 4Runner. I can still fit 2x4s up to 8ft, and now boards up to 48” wide and 6 ft long. While 4Runner is narrower than the Venza, we don’t feel cramped. Good leg room in back for family. Good size for trail driving, and I still get scratches. After 6 months my wife thinks it looks big in our driveway, till my buddy comes over in his Ram 1500.

 

I drove an Ambulance converted into a fiber optic splice/testing truck. Still had the onspot chains and sirens. Pretty roomy. Even blew one dually tire out and still made it back to HQ’s.

 

I once drove a cube van down Main Street at Disneyland. Made the right turn to get to Tomorrowland and accidentally wedged the cube van under the monorail track. We had to let some air out of the tires to get the truck unstuck and spent the rest of the night wringing our hands over whether we should tell someone.

But the cube van was quite spacious.

 

I've never had any more than 4 people in my 4runner. But I've not had any complaints about it being too small. I went from a Hyundai Kona to the 4runner, now the Kona is small. I decided on a 4runner after taking my son who's in the Army to the airport to depart to his duty station. I could barely fit my son 6'3 and his 3 massive duffel bags in my car, it was terrible. Now I have tons of space and I'm content with it.

 

That's pretty cool. Back in the beginning of fiber I used to work in a Verzion cleanroom truck.

 

I'm 6" and a little over 300lbs. My 2019 SR5 Premium has plenty of room for me for long trips (up to 8-10 hours a day). Hauls clothes, medical gear & meds, ice box/refrigerator from eastern Washington to SoCal and Arizona with no problem. Even my walker while I still needed it.

PS: Does the trip in ALL kind of weather from 110+ deg to single digits and whiteouts.

 

I've had 4 adults and luggage for a weekend trip in my 4R, and everyone was comfortable. If we brought our combined 3 dogs it would have been a different story. In that case, nothing short of a Suburban will do.

We made a trip bringing the dogs once, and took two cars.

 

I have two small dogs and a cat. I can see where it would be a little questionable with larger dogs. I wouldn't give up my 4runner for anything including space, I have one grown son and one that is 16 so my days of child rearing are over, so no need for more space. I like you, would've just taken two vehicles.

 

I'll never pass up an opportunity to post dog pics. The boys:
The third is a 40lb boxer/staffie mix. We've done 4 adults with the dogs, the boys ride in the cargo area and the staffie will sit between her parents in the back seat.

 

Nice! We have had two fantastic chocolate labs in our lives of almost 30 years of marriage (a span of 23.5 years with the two labs in total). We miss having a dog, but with three young adult sons leaving the nest soon, downsizing soon, and retiring soon (hopefully) we want to have our options open. I think I will want another dog as I enter the 4th quarter and am settling down!

 

I once had a Schipperke that rode on the dash of my VW Westfalia.

 

Labs are amazing. The chocolate lab in that pic was my girlfriend's, unfortunately he passed at 13 back in July. He was such a good boy, she calls him her unicorn. The black one is mine, he recently turned five.

I grew up with dogs, this is tne was the first that I've had as an adult. I went back and forth on getting one, I live in an apartment, live alone, and work all day. But we made it work, and I'm so glad I got him. Definitely a lifestyle adjustment, so I get with all the kids leaving the house and the sense of freedom that that brings you not necessarily wanting to have the responsibility of taking care of a dog.

 

This thread is making me miss my dogs. 2 in doggy heaven, and the other lives with my ex. She's very cool about visitation, though.

We had 2 4runners, a Taco, then a 4runner and always found room for the necessities and the boys. Actually, we even squeezed into a Scion TC a few times.

I built a pretty sweet dog bed for the Taco, with help from my Mom (she made a great cushion with a fitted, zippered cover. Here's Sir, our one eyed Rat terrier, in the Taco bed.

 

They are called "Man's Best Friend" for a reason! We had the first one for 13.5 years, bought him (Zeke) when we got married and bought our first house. The second one (Colt) for 10 years, when my young twins were seven. Good times for sure! Labs are my kind of dogs! Good size, outdoorsy, athletic, smart and friendly! Two of my sons are big into waterfowl hunting and want to get another lab to train. But their lives are about to become very busy and I am sure it would become my dog to entertain and maintain - I probably would not mind! My twins at 16 or 17 and our dog Colt at 9. We still have that 2002 Suburban with 240,000 miles.

 

It has exactly the dimensions as advertised.

If you needed the space of a BOF SUV based on a full-sized truck platform, you should have bought one.

If you needed the added interior space provided by a unibody midsized SUV you should have bought one one of those.

 

Having come from a Ram 1500 crew cab, it's certainly narrower. But the interior volume is better (to me), especially since I have interior cargo space now and room for doggos and humans. It feels reasonable to me and I haven't had any complaints that come to mind.

One thing I do appreciate is its compactness on the trail compared to my bigger truck. And there's an ORV park nearby that doesn't allow full-sized vehicles on it. So in that regard, the 4Runner is the perfect size.

 

Had a Schipperke growing up! We had GSPs for our married life and a Pointing Griffon now!