Most desirable year?

You don't need a 2nd gen to get a better ride:

my thoughts on the lights is that while yes, the sealed beams on the pre-98's make is easier to upgrade to E-codes or throw some sweet bro-LEDs in there, if you really want superior light for offroading, and the "proper upgrade" isn't enough light, take that money you'd spend on HID retrofits and get a lightbar for the roof instead.

As for payload, I have a utility trailer for the bigger/heavier stuff. I try to keep my truck as light and simple as possible. For off-roading, I don't want all that extra crap like RTTs, racks and other broverlander stuff.

 

our 'creature comforts' are very lackluster!

its no wonder that so very few people (I only know of 3 on TW) got themselves into a new '97 taco long ago

 

Nowadays you and I are able to enjoy these small displacement modern v6s that put out more HP/TQ than many v8s of old did not. You didn't mention yet, the power of that 4.0 in your 4R which is 270hp/278tq. right? To me, that is substantial and respectable power! Add to that modern gearing with the trans and your...is it AWD? combo and yeah I can see how that 4R is more than adequate for towing.
My RX350 is 295hp/265tq but it's just built for luxury cruising. I'd never dare tow with it-it doesn't even have a full frame like yours.
But man does it haul ass when I want that.

 

You mean Kings or UCA? I have stock shocks and springs, they pass inspection (I'd call it "turture") every year, but I think the entire suspension is missing "progression" by design. Leafs on the back do not help either

I do not want "superior off road" or "look sweet", but simply legal. In US the requirements are very loose and if there is a cut off (like in post-97) it is flat "__". In Europe the cut of must be "_/" or in UK it has to be "\_". All three version of Autopal 200mm H4 are available. With post-97 the only way to make it "_/" or "\_" is the retrofit to projector type legal for the country.

 

Yeah, when I decided to augment my tacoma with a 4Runner for road trips/daily driving, I initially wanted a V8 4Runner, but those were nearly impossible to find. Toyota only had the V8 for a couple years, and when the 4.0L came out, it had nearly as much power, with better MPGs, so it was kind of a no brainer to get the 4.0L.

It's 4WD. I believe all 5th gen 4Runners are 4wd. I think they stopped making a 2wd version back with the 3rd gens. My parents had one (it's my older brother's now). We call it the 2Runner. Maybe they has 2wd 4th gens, but I don't think so...

I can't say I got the 4Runner solely for towing, but it was somewhat purposeful to get that size of vehicle. Soon after I got the 4Runner, I got a bigger trailer (went from a pop up to a 18' hard side), well, because I could... Not that the 4runner necessarily has a larger tow capacity than my tacoma, but it does tow that same weight much easier. I've pulled my hard side trailer up (and down) some 10% grades, and I can't imagine doing that with my Taco, lol...

To keep this from being a complete thread hijack, I still say the late model 1st gens are the best...

 

Both, but the Kings are what have the most dramatic impact on the ride. What you don't see are the poly bushings. Those might offer a bit of a "harsher" ride because they are less compliant than the rubber bushings, but the steering/suspension is more precise, too.

 

I am torn apart. I'd like all you wrote about 4Runner (actually my last vacation in US was over 5k miles trip across all 19 western states in 2 weeks in 4Runner), but the very last sentence deserves my dislike

 

I just googled around and apparently the 5th gens still have a 2wd option as well...

 

I would say ‘01-‘04. I’d love to buy an ‘04 Limited 1st gen, 4x4 ext cab under 100k but my ‘03 still gives me butterflies in my tummy

 

Yeah, I seem to remember hears something about that a while back.

I was talking more about the exterior dimensions, though. I have plenty of Texas pin striping on my Tacoma and it would be an even tighter fit for my 4Runner.

My 5th gen 4Runner is for sure bigger in every way. The center console is almost twice as wide as my 04 DC Taco. Front seats are close to the same width, and there's WAY more legroom in the back.

 

why does it do that, mine doesn't do that for me

it gives me aches and severe migraines if anything

 

I was driving to the airport one day and was in traffic and there was a black 1st gen that I couldn’t stop staring at. It was a few years later that I finally got my hands on one. I put a lot of money into my truck to get it to where I want it (still not done) It takes me into the remote parts of the back country. Pretty much just a lot of great memories.

 

Mine is drive by wire, I thought i was going to have problems with it on day one... Still going strong.

 

Reminds me of the Mammoth trip i had last year. In all the tight corners the 2nd gens had to do 3 point turns, while mine, no turns, just go.

 

Plus the pre tacos also were prone to rust in the same places. They just took longer to finally break in half.

 

Small is maneuverable and believe it or not many people like bare bones trucks.

 

Toyota pickups/4Runners have been 66.5" wide 1984-2004. A rear window is a direct fit between a 1992 pickup and a 2002 Tacoma for example. Axles went from 55" wide in 1985 to 58.5" wide in 86 and then up to 60" wide in the first gen Tacoma/third gen 4Runner.

 

well slap my ass and call me Sally, you're right.

My Taco still *felt* bigger than my '86 4runner. Now you got me wondering why...

My current 4Runner is still bigger than my Taco. That I know.

 

I would have said the same thing until I started taking a tape measure to things and I would think the same thing based on my experience owning an 85 4Runner and an 02 4Runner at the same time.

My theory on the feel being so much different is all in the doors and interior. You will die in an early pickup if you get hit in the door, they are super thin and flimsy. Tacoma doors are way heavier and I think longer with crash bars in them so when you open and close them, the truck feels a lot more substantial. The door card also got quite a bit more elaborate and chunky in the Tacoma's and 4Runners. The dash/interior also got way less square and more ergonomic compared to the early trucks so it gives the illusion of a bigger truck.

4th gen+ 4Runners and 2nd gen Tacomas started to creep in size so you aren't imagining things there.

 

well it probably wasn't my black 1st gen you were staring at! I have not been to NC yet, just east to Detroit so far
my truck has taken me to very remote parts of the inner city ghetto in a few towns (early in the morning of course!)