2 row vs. 3 row predicament

Hello! I am new to this forum, just signed up because I am in the market for my first 4runner. I am very excited, this has been a car I have wanted for a while now. I have sat in a few models now, mostly '20, '21 and '22 sr5's because they fit my budget and still bring everything I need to the table. I have been thinking about the option of sleeping in the car for camping and have run into a tough decision.

Although it loses a few inches of height when the 3rd row is folded down, it does seem the 3 row model has more length from tailgate to back of front seats with all rear seats down. The 2nd row seems to fold all the way down which saves more room plus the front seats could be adjusted forward to allow a sleeping mattress to be fit from the back of the seat all the way to the tailgate.

As for the 2 row model, I have seen how the second row does not fold all the way flat, which would be a hard barrier for a mattress, not allowing it to be moved forward any more. It does have more vertical room than the 3 row which is nice.

Heres the rub, I am 6'6", I will be sleeping with my partner but she's a foot shorter than me so it shouldn't be an issue for her. The 4runner seems to be the best option for me so I am hoping to come to some conclusion here. I would like to be able to sleep inside the car, completely out of the weather rather than a rooftop tent. Because I go on weekend/short term camping trips I would rather not seriously alter any of the seats etc. I still need to be able to take my gear out and fold seats up during day to day errands, picking up friends etc. I could also use some storage recommendations along with your ideas, packing relatively light (sleeping bags, clothes, food)

I am almost leaning towards the 3 row model. I wouldn't usually buy a car with 3 rows but just due to the greater length with all seats down, a little less vertical space might be the sacrifice I need to make. I can't wait to hear everyones opinions on this, I know theres some other threads on here on similar topics so hopefully this isn't repetitive but thank you for any input you are willing to give me.

 

If you're 6' 6" the ONLY way you can sleep in the truck is if you do this: Fold down all seats, including the fronts. You'd have to slide them all the way forward to fit. But that onl works if you sleep with your head at the rear cargo door and your feet hanging off the mattress and into the front seat area.

There are companies that make air mattresses that fit the cargo/3rd row and 2nd row area. If you want to sleep comfortably & want storage but don't want to alter the seats; then you're SOL. You'll have to make some concessions.

 

2 row and get a sleeping platform if you don's to change the seating or Goose Gear if you want max room.

 

https://lunolife.com/products/luno-air-mattress-for-toyota-4runner

No 3rd row will need either the pull out tray or a small platform and will create a perfect flat floor. I believe some take the seat bottoms out for a little extra room when folded up.

I can't comment on the 3rd row and how that folds as I haven't seen one.

 

I decided the vertical space in the back (I can sit upright in the back!) was better than hunting for a third row model but I also had criteria like no sunroof, etc.

I think you can unbolt the 2nd row seat bottoms reasonably easily and fill the gap to buy more space but you’ll want a platform probably in the back. (The Xterra let you pull out the bottoms without tools but alas not here)

But if the available height loss isn’t a concern and you don’t want to futz with the seat bottoms I’d go lie down in a three row and make sure it’s easy and comfy enough. I concur that it’ll probably be the best “out of the box” solution.

Bonus points in that the second row footwells will then always be open for storage in the three row no matter if the seats are folded or not - I realized that I found those handy in my last car.

 

You get a bit over 6" more space if you remove the bottoms of the second row seats.

 

I specifically got the third row to fold the seats flat so I can stuff my paddle board inside. Couldn’t have that middle row bottom sticking up. With my seats all folded flat I can see it not needing much for sleeping…but 6’-6”….i think your feet are going to be hanging out the back window

 

6'6" huh. Me thinks you need to cut 6" off and share with us and you will fit just fine

 

Here is an answer that both of you will enjoy.

https://boreascampers.com/

 

Get the third row model for the better folding second row, remove the third row completely, replace with a storage compartment. If you’re picking up adults, they won’t want to sit in the third row anyway. You can also store things in the second row footwell or between the second and third rows when folded if your plan is to push the second row as far forward as possible

 

From experience in my 4runner which does not have the the third row the space is almost exactly 6 foot 1 maybe 6 foot 2 between the tailgate and fronts seats. So I think if the front could fold flat like they do in the third row models you might be able to squeeze in. But I couldn't tell you for sure. You could go test one out a dealership, it might be a little weird to ask the salesman if you can lie down in the back but its worth a shot. But you cant go wrong with a 4runner!

 

My wife and I did that. They didn't consider it strange at all. They know all about people wanting to sleep in the back.

 

The easiest solution would be to get a Tacoma with an extended cab that has the full-size bed, and put a topper on it. They have similar trim levels to the 4R (SR5, TRD, etc), so you won't be giving up too much on 4wd features. Doesn't sound like you need more people-carrying capacity than an extended cab, so that should suit your needs better than trying to reconfigure a 4R.

 

I think you have it backwards with regard to which trim has seats that fold flat. The 2 row version is what you want to use for sleeping. The second row is flat and parallel to both the ground and the cargo area floor. Except it’s about second row lays about 2 inches higher than the cargo floor. So you need to build a little platform to raise the trunk area to the same height of the 2nd row.

On the 3 row version, none of the rows fold parallel to the ground. The second row and third row might appear flat, but they are actually at a pretty significant inclined angle, where the front of the second row is much higher than the back of the 3rd row when everything is folded down. In order to make a platform that’s parallel to the ground, it has to span both rows, and it will need to be at least 6 or 8 inches high. That eats in a lot into head room. It will be like crawling into a slot (submarine style bunk). Or you can keep the steep angle of the seats and park the 4runner nose down on a fairly steep incline, which will be hard to find at camp sites.

There is a thread here somewhere where a 3 row owner discusses these problems.

With regard to length, you might be able to lay down all the way stretched out in a 2 row by unbolting one of the second row seat bottoms (super easy, mine is in and out regularly), and moving a front seat all the way forward and tilted forward. Just take a tape measure along when you go look at a 4runner. You can put an cheap action packer storage box in the footwell area to increase the length of the flat surface all the way to the front seat.

 

I am 6'3", have the 3rd row, and have slept in the back with the 2nd row folded down. Not super comfortable, but it works. Being taller, you may have to spoon your partner (oh, DARN! lol!) in order to fit. As someone said earlier, you can never go wrong with a 4Runner!

 

Do people buy these? That's a lot of money for a small space.

Kind of off topic, but I don't consider an upgrade over tenting until there is a shower and flush toilet. All of the other stuff can go in or around a tent.

 

Do you absolutely need a 3rd row?

Either way, at 6'6" I think you'll be super uncomfortable no matter what option you choose.

 

Can't remember if all 3-row models have the moonroof. At 6'6" you'll want to sit in one with a moonroof to make sure you still have enough headroom.

 

I believe I ran into some third-rows without the moonroof so OP will be fine - albeit I'm pretty sure it's almost exclusively SR5's with the rare SR5P.