Topic: My 1st gen 4 Runner is an RV?

[Shoyrtt]

I have owned my 85 4 Runner for 3 whole weeks and I found out today it is really an RV   . According to the parts department at my local Toyota dealer, many 84 and 85 4 Runners were shipped from Japan without a back seat. When they arrived in the US, RV conversions shops added the back seat and hardware. On the tailgate, there is a little badge that reads RVIA, which has a web site: http://www.rvia.org/ but no info on 4 Runners. I am missing one piece of the latch (the striker)for the rear seat. Any ideas who did the work back in 84 or 85?

[toyhunter]

thats weird

[UNBREAKABLE]

Bizarre

[Jase]

I have heard about that also.... If you don't have any luck on the latch I know a guy here (Montana) that would more than likely have the piece you need.

[PatyO'Furniture]

maybe the dealer is mixed up and thinks its a Trekker
http://www.toyotaoffroad.com/Articles/Toyota/Trekker/Trekker.htm

[kyle_22r]

for a few years, the 4runner was available in a pickup and a suv version.  only difference was the pickup didn't have a back seat.

the converted ones were trekkers and trailblazers, '80-83...

[kneedownnate]

Yea, they might have it mixed up.  Weren't the 4runners a mid year deal?  A guy at work has an 84 conversion(don't remember make but it's poorly made), and another's mom has an 83 trekker I've been trying to talk him out of for several years. 

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

I'll try to give the whole story (that I know to date). I bought the 4 Runner from the original owner ( I have the original bill of sale and window sticker!) in Orange County (So Cal). The original owner bought it in 1985 in Seattle and moved to So Cal two years later. It is a "base" model, 22RE. He was told at the dealer that the "base" model was imported w/o the back seat to save $ on import fees. The vehicle was considered a truck for import.
My guess is that a shop in So Cal took delivery of the 4 Runners from Long Beach, added the back seat using Toyota supplied fabric, but using their own brackets etc. They then affixed the "RVIA" badge on the tailgate ( I'll post a picture) and returned them to Toyota to ship to dealers.
The local Toyota dealer's info I think confirms this. They ran the VIN in the computer, and it showed no back seat. There were back seat parts and info for SR5s. On a hunch, I ordered the striker and latch for the SR5, but it doesn't fit.  
I don't think it is a "treckker" because it is an 85. And finally, with the exception of the back seat, everything else is 1 generation 4 Runner and listed in the Toyota parts computer.

[stomper]

Yea my Runner didnt come with a back seat also. The second owner bought a back seat and stuff out of a wrecked runner and put it in himself. it was contured for the seat but never had one I think it came with a cover for it.