This one was so easy it was almost like cheating. We went the simple route and focused on products that were completely bolt-on and that improved our rig's functionality, comfort, and safety for open-air wheeling.
The '84-'89 Toyota 4Runner trucks are disgustingly popular and make quite a cool trail vehicle. Unfortunately, the tops are made of fiberglass, so they don't respond too well to encounters with tree branches or rocks, and the side windows are expensive to replace if you nail one on the trail. Plus, the top is somewhat heavy, and cumbersome to remove by yourself.
We had an '85 with the factory hardtop, ripped and torn factory seats, and only the factory rear bar. The goals were to replace the factory top with something that was easily removable and that didn't compromise highway driving, recover or replace the factory seats, and provide an added measure of safety for the driver and passengers in the form of a rollcage.
Rollcage
Factory 4Runners came with a hoop in the cargo area to protect rear passengers in a rollover. However, we've seen what can happen during a rollover and we wanted more protection. A few companies make bolt-in cages for Toyota pickups, but All Pro Off Road offers the only complete, truly bolt-in cage we know of for 4Runners.
The All Pro cage is offered in two versions. You can buy just the front cage kit, which fits both '79-'95 pickups and 4Runners, or you can also buy the rear cage kit, which replaces the factory rear hoop. It's not a bolt-on option, but you can also run bars from the front cage to the factory hoop if you don't want to buy the rear cage kit.
The All Pro cage is made of 1.5-inch, 0.120-wall DOM tubing, which is 80 percent stronger than welded seam. The only fitment issue we found is that the rear seat bottoms hit the downbars when folded forward. The cage doesn't rattle, it clears the headliner, dash, and all switches, and still allows the use of the roll-up windows.