Toyota trucks are currently becoming great again with the introduction of the all-new 2022 Tundra and the upcoming fully-redesigned mid-sized Tacoma too. But, Toyota and pickup trucks go way back, and in 1986, its model - literally called the Toyota Pickup, was one of the best options available.
With rivals from the same era such as the Chevy C10, Jeep Comanche, and the Mitsubishi Might Max, the 1986 Hilux-based Toyota Pickup - otherwise known as the SR5, emerged as a highly-competent mid-sized pickup with good power, plenty of utility and practicality, and best of all, incredible reliability.
The fourth-generation Toyota Pickup - which was originally released in 1983, received a hefty array of enhancements for the 1968 model year that significantly boosted its potential and versatility as a pickup. This translated to a U.S. sales total of more than 320,000 units, nearly 30,000 more than the previous year and 70,000 more than the next. Here's why the 1986 Toyota Pickup SR5 is one of the best trucks ever manufactured.
The Lightweight 1986 Toyota Pickup Has Peppy Power Plants
The base-level engine offered in the 1986 Toyota Pickup SR5 was a 2.4-liter inline-four 22R-E capable of delivering 105 horsepower along with a healthy sum of 136 pound-feet of torque. The other option was a turbocharged version of the same engine, dubbed the 22R-TE, which made an increased output of 135 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque. The 1986 Toyota Pickup came standard with a 5-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive, but 4x4 was a highly-desirable option that greatly increased its capabilities. Weighing just 2,800 pounds - which is virtually nothing by today’s truck standards, the SR5 still took its time to accelerate, but was fun to drive and relatively nimble once up to speed.
Additionally, in matters of far more importance than performance, the Toyota Pickup provided great utility that made it the perfect every day errand-runner. The 135-hp 4x4 version could carry a total payload of 1,100 pounds, while also able to tow a hefty amount of 3,500 pounds. Those are good enough numbers even for today’s standards.
The 1986 Toyota Pickup Received Heavy-Duty Tech
‘86 was a very significant year for the fourth generation Toyota Pickup. Plenty of high-grade equipment became available for the first time ever, making it far more capable than ever before. For starters, the 1986 Toyota Pickup dropped the model’s previous solid front axle in favor of a new independent front suspension, which included a torsion bar in the 4x4 version. Additionally, it came standard with automatic locking hubs, as well as an optional front axle differential disconnect with a shift-on-the-fly 4x4 HI gear. These numerous enhancements translated to vastly improved handling and off-road capabilities, making the 1986 Toyota Pickup extremely versatile. It could ride comfortably and provide reasonable entertainment on the pavement, while also able to rock-crawl like a true 4x4.
Toyota offered the 1986 Pickup in multiple configurations, with the most common being either a 2-door regular cab short bed with a 103-inch wheelbase or a regular cab long bed with a 112-inch wheelbase. The third option - which was extremely rare in the U.S., came in the four of a 4-door Xtracab long bed with a 121.5-inch wheelbase.
The ‘86 Toyota Pickup SR5 Is Still A Great Used Option
Upon its original release, the 1986 Toyota Pickup was - without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most complete mid-sized pickups of its time. But on top of that, another strong point that cements its reputation as one of the best trucks of all time is just how good of an option it still is to this day. Spec-wise, it doesn’t fall too far behind modern rivals, and both its engines are some of the most reliable mills we’ve ever seen. They can easily run for 300,000 with minimal issues, and if taken care of with regular maintenance, the 1986 Toyota SR5’s entire drivetrain can sustain 500,000 miles with surprising ease.
Better yet, you can get a 1986 Toyota Pickup for dirt cheap these days. Beat up versions can cost less than $1,000, and if you want a better-kept model that’s ready to drive as is, $4,000 is enough to buy units with restored engines. Lastly, there are also plenty of fully-restored versions for less than $20,000. The choice is ultimately yours, but it’s always great to know that there’s plenty of variety.
Source: Hagerty