FJ vs Tacoma vs 4Runner

[some_dude]

It seems like Toyota built the FJ with the weekend camper/expo type in mind, but most camping/expo rigs I see on the internet are either Tacomas or 4Runners.

FJ vs Tacoma vs 4Runner; What's your current view on things?

Would your view change if you could afford whichever one you wanted with a couple of upgrades to make it more suitable to your needs?

 

[Honu]

Welcome to expo

Lots of FJ setup for expedition camping etc...

A pickup is a pickup
The FJ is unique and fun its one of those love em or hate em
4Runner is a great all around rig nothing exciting though IMHO


We have a FJ love it fun rig if the doors were normal it would blend in more ?
We want a second vehicle looking at a 4Runner or Sequoia for more cargo space and kids get their own doors and want them to have their own aircon

My thoughts are you see quite a few go from a 4runner or Tacoma to a LC rarely from a FJ to a LC

Our issue is a family of 4 and dog we kinda want more room since we are selling our trailer
The sequoia would be nice for the size the 4runner for better mileage

FJ I like bumpers racks suspension etc... And think stock they are lacking and need to be fixed up same for a LC the 4runner and Sequoia are fine stock since they are more utilitarian
The tacomas are their own thing and look great like the FJ fixed up

Single and toys to put in the back the Tacoma I haved owned a few in my life and loved em
Kids dog etc... I think SUVs have the edge

So in my case kids dog etc... It's FJ for fun then the 4runner then the Tacoma
Single or young married or no kids FJ or Tacoma depending on what ya like and skip the 4Runner


How's that for my thoughts

 

[keezer37]

I have and would buy again a Tacoma.

It depends on your needs. I'm single again and rarely have use for the passenger seat let alone the back seat of my double cab. In seven years, a person has been in the back less than a dozen times. I do need it to double as a work truck. My only change would be that I'd rather have gotten an access cab with a normal size bed. This shorty bed has been an issue more than once.

As a single guy I look at SUVs like I look at minivans (family vehicle). Too nice inside for me. It gives me the I don't want to trash it feeling.

I love the look of the FJ's exterior.

The Tacoma is comfortable enough to travel eight hours a day for days on end. That, and that I do not see myself without a pickup for the foreseeable future will keep me in a Tacoma.

 

[devortex]

Personal preference thing.....

I had an FJ60 for wheeling and an F-150 for light hauling. Had to sell the FJ due to divorce and realized that my need for hauling stuff could be handled by a Tacoma so selling the Ford and buying/building a DC Taco for expedition travel while maintaining access to the bed for the handful of times each month that I haul stuff (mostly hay and animal feed) made sense. If family hauling and little kids were in the picture, I would go 4runner or LC depending on the number of munchkins. FJC seems to be a great way for 1-2 people to enjoy travel but IMHO there is little versatility and it really is a one trick pony. If you don't need the rig to double as a people or cargo hauler, then go for the FJC.

 

[Rockfish]

I have an FJC and love it.

The things that you need to keep in mind are mostly passenger and cargo space. The FCJ is great if you have two adults and one to two children. Forget having two adults in the back for a long trip. I like the the fact that my daughter is save in the back sit. You can't beat the space for the two front sits.

I fixed the problem of cargo space by adding a baja rack insert. With out that the roof rack, in my opinion is use less. I moved all the crossbars to the bottom back of the rack. If I have a longer trip that does not require rear clearance I use a hitch basket. I put everything that needs to be dry inside and the rest on the rook or hitch.

I do miss the cargo area of my FJ60.

The FJs are fun to drive. There are a lot of posts that mention the lack of visibility. This is true but you get used to it and now it does not bother me. The one thing that I find a most is to install aux. backup lights. Going in reverse at night can be tough when you have lack of visibility and tinted windows on the back. The lights take care of that. The lights also help if you are camping and need to set up camp at night.

The most important thing to weigh in choosing is if the space is enough for your needs. I find fJC to be a very capable vehicle that can be a daily driver even after many mod.

Hope this helps

 

[2025 deleted member]

I went to dealership to buy a tacoma double cab, but changed my mind after I test drove the fj. For me, it was just a much better driving position, and much roomier than the tacoma. The tacoma windshield starts to slope back, really close to front row. Plus I already have a one ton if I need to haul. I think on the tacoma I was going to have to do the arb locker in the rear as the e-locker was not a stand alone option on the base model. I got the elocker on my base model fj.

 

[Flagster]

I bought a LC last year thinking I would transition from my tacoma to the LC for my camping trips...I haven't yet and I have realized that I wouldn't trade a pickup bed no matter how small for the fact that you can load dirty *******...wood, engine parts, muddy dogs, leaking bottles of beer (yeah this inside of my truck doesn't look like a perfectly organized ad from overland journal) etc...and hose it down at the end of the day... I will say that my parents 4runner drives much nicer than my tacoma...but has a much smaller cargo area...
soooooo.... my $.02 is for the tacoma...

 

[Rockfish]

I bought a LC last year thinking I would transition from my tacoma to the LC for my camping trips...I haven't yet and I have realized that I wouldn't trade a pickup bed no matter how small for the fact that you can load dirty *******...wood, engine parts, muddy dogs, leaking bottles of beer (yeah this inside of my truck doesn't look like a perfectly organized ad from overland journal) etc...and hose it down at the end of the day... I will say that my parents 4runner drives much nicer than my tacoma...but has a much smaller cargo area...

One thing that I love about the FJC is that it does not have any carpeting inside. You don't have to worry about getting dirty thing in it when. I remember my old FJ60. if you got the carpet wet , you would have a sticking truck for a couple of weeks.

You just need a so soap and water to clean the inside of the FJC. Can't hose it down but its good enough for me.

 

[some_dude]

I have and would buy again a Tacoma.

It depends on your needs. I'm single again and rarely have use for the passenger seat let alone the back seat of my double cab. In seven years, a person has been in the back less than a dozen times. I do need it to double as a work truck. My only change would be that I'd rather have gotten an access cab with a normal size bed. This shorty bed has been an issue more than once.

Same experience here, although I'm not single. I've been driving a double cab/short box Tacoma for the last 5 years and I rarely have anyone in the back... and if I do then it's always been a short trip where they could suffer sitting in a jump seat. And like you I've run into space issues on the short box. My wife bought a Rav4 so she has the kid hauler should we ever have any.

I'm actually in the process of trading my old TRD Sport in for an Off-Road w/ access cab/long box. I have to wait a couple months for my order to arrive from the factory and started looking at FJs while waiting. My wife wants to go camping more often. I can't just go to a lake and sit around all weekend but I love to drive. Going wheeling during the day with a bit of camping thrown in in the evening is something I think both of us will enjoy.

 

[Mrknowitall]

Mechanically, they're all pretty much the same, when comparing a Gen4 4Runner. For my money, the 4Runner has the lowest gears, most interior space and is by far the best used value (you can get a gen4 4Runner for about half the money of a Crew Cab taco)- most have never seen dirt. The V8 gets almost the same fuel economy. For 2 people, I'd go with an Access cab taco or FJC, with my growing family, I'd want nothing smaller than the 4Runner.

 

[brushogger]

We just finished a 3k mile shakedown cruise with the new FJ. We had gear for 2 adults for 10 days. The Oztent and 1 large Pelican case on the roof. It worked great for 2 adults, but if there were any children, it would have been pushing it. I removed the bases for the rear seats. Pros- roomy cockpit and great to drive on and off the road, averaged 19.4 mpg overall. Cons- limited storage, and the windshield catches every bug in the county, even more so than any of my jeeps or FJ40. Don't ask me why.

 

[phsycle]

If you need a truck bed, then it's a no brainer. If not, I just can't see much use for an FJC--so I'd get a 4Runner (pref. trail edition). More space, utility, and just as capable.

For me, though, I need/want (they tend to blend together these days) a truck bed for house projects, hunting, biking, etc. My Tacoma works great for that. The LC is the family hauler, so both bases covered. If I could only have one, then I'd take a double cab Tacoma.

 

[Corey]

All three are great choices.
The choice was easy for me, I wanted as spartan an interior as I could get that was easy to clean and waterproof seats.

It does not get much more utilitarian than this.

Mine works out great as a daily driver and weekend camping rig.

 

[2025 deleted member]

Mechanically, they're all pretty much the same, when comparing a Gen4 4Runner. For my money, the 4Runner has the lowest gears, most interior space and is by far the best used value (you can get a gen4 4Runner for about half the money of a Crew Cab taco)- most have never seen dirt. The V8 gets almost the same fuel economy. For 2 people, I'd go with an Access cab taco or FJC, with my growing family, I'd want nothing smaller than the 4Runner.

Why should we listen to a knowitall?
J/K!

 

[iMTB]

When I got my Jeep I avoided test driving the FJ because I knew I would love it. It's just too big on the outside to be that small on the inside for me. I absolutely loved taking my parents Sequoia out for trips though.