Torn between 4Runner or Tacoma camper

Posted by Snoo-67477@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 21 comments

Within the next 6 months or so i'm hoping to get either one of these options for overlanding and was wondering on y'alls opinion! For context, this would be my daily driver as well as my overlanding vehicle, during Spring/Fall, I am aiming to go out every weekend, hopefully longer trips in the Summer, and less frequently in the Winter. I've done a lot of research on both and am liking a 3rd gen Tacoma or a 4th/5th gen 4Runner. Reason for posting this is to get insight as to what you guys do about your pets as I will be bringing my 75lb dog with me on almost all of my trips. I like how the 4Runner is a SUV but I don't like how my dog would sleep in the car while I would be in the RTT. Which is something I like about the Tacoma, as the dog would sleep down below in the bed while I sleep in the RTT, still seperated but in the same area and it would be less of a hassle to heat. But seeing as this is a daily car and the 4Runner typically gets better mileage, i'm stuck!!

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MDPeasant@reddit

So up until a few months ago, I had a 5th gen 4runner that I ground tent camped out of and occasionally slept in the back of. It was an awesome vehicle, super capable even in stock form. Very comfortable on the road, and the interior space was super practical. Tons of storage and lots of flexibility. I averaged 17.5mpg over 3 years on the factory tires.

Just recently sold the 4Runner and replaced it with a 3rd gen Tacoma short bed, double cab with an Alucab Canopy Camper. It is an awesome setup, camp set up or tear down takes about 2 minutes. I am still moving in and making it my own, but once I have everything setup exactly for how I camp/travel, it will be totally worth the cost. The Tacoma drives and handles fine, but it will remind you that it isnt a sportscar. This is my only car, but I can walk to work so I really only drive it on the weekends and on longer trips. If I had a real commute, I would probably buy a cheap beater to daily. My average so far has been 12.5mpg on 33" ATs.

If you are dead set on getting a camper, my recommendation would be to get at least a full sized truck. My Tacoma loaded for an extended trip is ~7,000lbs, pretty far above payload. People do it, and with a dialed in suspension and other mods to mitigate it, it isn't terrible from a driving/handling perspective but that doesnt make it right or safe. I am nervous about how the frame and driveline components will tolerate the added weight through off-road abuse over several years. Most people who have these campers on mid-size trucks are not pushing them hard off-road.

My recommendation would be to sit down and draw out a list of pros and cons for each setup that you are considering. Happy to answer any specific questions you might have, as i've had both vehicles that you are consideri

miniature_Horse@reddit

3rd Gen Tacoma owner (came from a Subaru Outback)

I personally find having the bed with a cap on it to be superior to having a single cab compartment like an SUV or the Outback has because you can put dirty, dusty, stinky (gasoline for example) stuff in the bed and not have it contaminate or soil the interior of the vehicle.

I ran a hardshell Naturnest (amazon cheapie) RTT on top of my Tacoma's camper shell for the past 2 summers and really liked it. SUVs are awesome in their own right, but in my experience having a truck bed is absolutely worth it.

BibbleSnap@reddit

I have a Tacoma setup and I love it.

ninjamansidekick@reddit

For a daily driver the 4 runner will be more comfortable, I assume it will be as capable off road, but I only ever take my taco off pavement and the three or four friends I know with 4 runners would not want to risk scratching their paint with such foolishness. We always slept with the dog in the RTT with us. Our dog is closer to 50 pounds so picking her up and putting her in the tent was not to bad, and an RTT on a mid height bed rack is low enough that you dont have to use the ladder to get the dog in. I would go Tacoma, without a cap or shell. If was putting a cap or shell on it I would go with a 4runner. I feel like you loose most of the truck benefits with a cap and you would get more use out of an SUV at that point.

Dismal_Ship3613@reddit

i don’t like dog fur in the vehicle. I run a truck with a gunner kennel for the pup (well worth the cost!) with a rack and RTT over the top. I also have a dog ladder i can pop out to get up and down the tailgate. depending on where i’m at i just bungee the kennel door open to the rack and he can climb up and down into kennel. or if you had the space in the back leave the door open and close tailgate. I also have a lead i can connect to truck if im worried about other people or dogs around overnight. there are pros and cons to both. kind of depends on your dog too. i can’t recommend gunner kennels enough though.

camkos101@reddit

I'd redo my current set up. Tacoma with long bed and a cap on it. It's simply more versatile if you don't need all the seating capacity of a 4runner

SurfPine@reddit

Try and find a Tacoma with the most payload you can and be careful because many of them do not have high payload numbers. The marketing information is useless, make sure you check the specific payload on each truck and try to at least get 1200 lbs. Then as most everyone else is recommending, topper with popup sleeping area... lots of those to choose from. Be very selective on how much extra weight you are adding for people, gear, bolt-ons, etc.

Sea_Sector_5894@reddit

Tacoma allllll day

SignificantOption349@reddit

I’d go with a Tacoma…. I have a 3G TRD OR DCLB with a wedge topper on it and love the thing! It took some work and money to get it to where it’s still a good vehicle to drive as well as camp in, but I plan to keep this thing as long as I possibly can too. Even if I have to rebuild things, I have no intention of getting rid of it until it’s doneski for good, which is when I decide to stop trying lol.

I like 4Runners but having a pass through where you can just reach down and boop the puppers is cool. Unless you decide to get extra cozy and squeeze doggo into the tent with you lol. Which they can do easily with the pass through. Just help ol yeller up from the bed and you’re golden

Ozatopcascades@reddit

There are alternatives.

NoBoolii@reddit

WHOA. First time seeing these. Do they collapse?

No. Hard shell all the way. 3 versions. I spend May-October in my original ML. You sleep East-West over the truck-bed rails in 2 movable bunk sections. See: MOONLANDING across Alaska/Yukon/BC in r/radicamoonlander.

Dwealdric@reddit

I've done both the SUV and the truck camper.

You want the truck camper.

Tacoma + alucab, gofast, or something similar. Just so much added function. I'm never going back.

ampma@reddit

What would your plan be for the Tacoma bed? Specifically, what will you be mounting the RTT on (rack vs cap)?

My setup is a bed cap with cross bars and RTT. I built plywood storage drawers in the bed and my 110pound dog sleeps on top (on his large camping bed). The cap has side windows with screens to allow ventilation but keep bugs out. A sturdy cap that can meet all these needs is definitely not cheap. They also tend to have annoyingly long lead times. I like my setup a lot, but figured I would point some of these things out that I didn't fully plan for when I was putting things together.

One advantage of the Tacoma is that I can put things in the bed that I don't want inside the cab (like a smelly trash bag with dog poop in it).

Snoo-67477@reddit (OP)

Those are some of my main reasons that I would prefer the truck over the 4Runner, I would want a cap so that it stays warm for him. Just these past few weeks in CA I have been to spots that have gotten down to mid 20-30s so just for peace of mind knowing that he’s warm and in close proximity. Would probably get something that’s built out already and live with it for a bit while my finances recoup and then do modifications to tailor it for me and the pup

miningmonster@reddit

If you want to sleep in it, try a sienna with all back seats removed. Can fit a queen bed plus extra room perpendicular at your head if u need it. Im talking the legendary proven years like 08-2010 that lasted 400-500k when taken care of. Frames are way less prone to rust than 2nd gen 4runner as well. Depends if you want looks or utility, i always go for utility and reliability, the older the better for initial cost and then i can drop 10k+ in custom mods instead of burning that money in the initial purchase of a newer toyota.

DepartmentNatural@reddit

3rd gen tacoma w/super pacific keeps me really happy

CalifOregonia@reddit

If you don’t want your dog to sleep with you, or to dirty up your cab, a wedge/topper camper in a truck is the way to go. Just keep the weight of your build reasonable if you do go with a Tacoma since the 3rd gen payloads are pretty terrible. Also worth noting that you can usually get better value on the used market with a Ford Ranger, or even a full size truck. Tacos come with a tax.

Shmokesshweed@reddit

A truck gives you flexibility that an SUV doesn't for carrying stuff, building out, storing nasty crap, etc.

That, by itself, is huge for me.

NoCare6912@reddit

Sorry it a little long from 12 plus inches of snow to coastal beach’s and sand to the NM dessert to West TX. Oil fields Midwest states farmlands to NJ I have what lineman call tramped all over and 20 plus years I’ve worked idk how many different company’s building overhead powerlines. I can tell you I’ve only had one Vehicle that has and still does take me to and back it’s a Toyota 4Runner

3rd gen 4 runner here my only 4 runner I’ve had 5 or 6 Toyota 4wd pickups from 1986king cab to 2001 Tacomas with ext. cabs only two were regular cabs. IMO the runner is more than better for me personally. I’ll take one 4Runner over 10 tacoma trucks. Be it regular cab,ext tube , or double cab don’t matter keep them I’ll take my 3rd gen runner 470k on it now. Runs drives and looks great for the mileage. Ball joints and oil changes all fluid changes regularly timing belt water pump every 70-100k miles. I’m leaving from eastern NC in the morning to West TX. Been doing that every 10-14 days for a few years now. I’ve been all over the US working my tools dry locked up out of sight very dark tint. No worries nothing has been stolen knock on wood. I’ve slept in it more than my own bed at home. I’d never done that in one of tacoma pick ups. Ol prior to that was NC to VA ,WV. PA , MD. For three or four years every 7 on three 3 day off hitch’s and 4 years NC to FL. and GA. Every 8 days on6 days off hitch’s.

smOkey__17@reddit

4th gen 4runner owner here. I think a Tacoma with a Tune M1 would be better than a 4runner setup. You basically have a little living room you can both hang out in.