Best Rear Hatch Ladders For 5th Gen 4Runner

We all love the “Wittle Wadder” jokes. 4Runner rear hatch ladders are a hilariously controversial modification that is often accompanied by the age-old debate of whether or not we really need one.

What started as an accessory on bushcraft vehicles, their function was simple: add easy access to roof-mounted items. But then, do you pack it for every camping trip? Thus, the vehicle-mounted ladder was born.

There’s an entire space on your 4Runner’s roof that’s inaccessible to vertically challenged folks like me: the center area. If you’re looking to fully utilize your roof rack, it provides the means. So, I started researching rear hatch l when my family started traveling cross country and ran out of interior storage space.

Pros & Cons

We had purchased a storage bag to put all our soft belongings (clothes, sleeping bags, tent) in the bag but wanted to access it often. So, I mounted it towards the back of the 4Runner but quickly realized that I couldn’t stand on the bumper and reach items further back inside the bag.

The first ladder I bought was a used Gen1 C4 (shown in the above photo). It suited my needs and allowed me to access the roof easily. Plus, I could snap photos with a better vantage point. As a bonus, it carried some items I didn’t want on the roof rack or inside the 4Runner, such as a gas can.

Pros

• Reach: Will help you reach your roof rack, safely.
• Storage: You can easily expand storage and mount gear such as gas cans, trash bags, recovery items, and more.

Cons

• Pricing: It’s not cheap, starting at about $280+.
• Weight: These are meant to hold 250 lbs.+, and as such are made of steel and often aluminum. That added weight means that you’ll mostly likely need stronger lift struts.
• Obstructed view: They obstruct your rearview mirror and camera.
• Install: Many of the options require you to drill the bottom of the rear hatch.

The options listed below are in no particular order, so pick the one that best suits your needs!

1. Cali Raised

Find It Online:

• Cali Raised MOLLE Ladder: Check Price

Specs

• Steps: 5
• Weight: Not listed. If I had to guess, it would be close to 11lbs.
• Mounts: Integrated Rotopax partitions (3), drilled holes on the sides for additional mounts, molle hatching on the ladder throughout.
• Accessories: Rotopax bases, MOLLE nuts.
• Drill for base mount?: Yes

This one features a hybrid steel and aluminum construction and has more mounting space than any ladder in the market. It’s very wide, has integrated steps, and has (3) built-in mounting points on the left side that can accommodate up to 4-gallon RotopaX.

The top and bottom brackets are powder-coated steel while the ladder, mounting area, and steps are aluminum. This allows for strength where you need it without adding unnecessary weight to your rear hatch, which many do.

This is the most robust on the market when it comes to mounting options, attach points and storage. However, the steps are hard to use with RotopaX mounted. I rarely find myself using them, so removing them before climbing isn’t a dealbreaker for me. This is also the best value by far regarding price, modularity, and versatility.

I found that while using this ladder, I gouged the inside of the rear cabin access because the tape didn’t hold my ladder down well enough. To fix this, I replaced the cheaper included tape with 3M double-sided tape.

For more details, check out the Cali Raised Hatch Ladder install and review.

2. C4

Find It Online:

• C4 Hatch Ladder: Check Price

Specs

• Steps: 4
• Weight: 18 lbs.
• Mounts: Sidebars have slots designed to hold steps, RotopaX mounts, etc., but no integrated mounts.
• Accessories: RotopaX bases, side steps.
• Drill for base mount?: Yes

C4 is a household name in the Toyota aftermarket industry. They make tough and well-made armor and their ladder is no different. It is made with aluminum sides and rungs, and steel mounts on top/bottom. This is the heaviest ladder on this list, requiring heavy-duty struts to keep the rear hatch open.

The strength lies in the double-paneled sides. The rungs are the same aluminum extrusion bars we’ve grown to know and love in popular roof racks. C4 also incorporates a rubber insert on the steps for added grip.

In-house accessories are installed to the left or right of the steps so as to not be in your way when using it to access the roof.

For more details, check out the C4 Summit Hatch Ladder install and review.

3. Gobi

Find It Online:

• Gobi Ladder: Check Price

Specs

• Steps: 4
• Weight: 13 lbs.
• Mounts: Nothing included.
• Accessories: Rotopax bases, side steps, axe/shovel, Maxtrax, propane, and more
• Drill for base mount?: No

When I first started searching for options, I constantly saw ads for this one. Gobi makes a very strong steel rack that’s been around for years. The basket-style rack is iconic with its safari-style aesthetics.

They typically package the ladder in with the rack for a competitive price, so if you’re looking to overhaul your storage space overall, this is worth a look. Because of their long-standing presence in the market, there are plenty of compatible mounts and accessories available. This one (and the rack) uses tubular 16-gauge steel (as opposed to many companies that use block aluminum and plate steel).

For more details, check out our Gobi Ladder install and review.

4. Westcott Designs

Find It Online:

• Westcott Designs Ladder  Check Price

Specs

• Steps: 4
• Weight: 11 lbs.
• Mounts: Sidebars have slots designed to hold steps, Rotopax mounts, etc., but no integrated mounts.
• Accessories: Rotopax mount, side steps (not offered by Westcott). They do offer a jerry can mount you could attach.
• Drill for base mount?: Yes

Westcott Designs is a relatively new aftermarket fabrication company based out of Phoenix, AZ. With years of experience in the automotive industry, Jeff Westcott looks to improve upon issues that he has seen with aftermarket products. It has an extremely similar design to the C4 but with some noticeable upgrades.

The ladder comes fully assembled and has a bottle opener integrated on the side. The entire unit is constructed from aluminum, weighing only around 11 lbs. The extrusion bar-style steps make mounting gear and accessories very easy.

For more details, check out our Westcott Hatch Ladder review.

5. Front Runner

Find It Online:

• Front Runner Ladder: Check Price

Specs

• Steps: 3 (they count the top plate as a stepping point, but all could be used in this manner)
• Weight: 11 lbs.
• Mounts: None
• Accessories: N/A
• Drill for base mount?: Yes

Front Runner has been in the game for years, and as such, has the backing and trust of tons of followers. While they typically find themselves in a higher price bracket, this ladder departs from that trend. It’s light, no frills, and is the cheapest option on this list by about $20.

This minimalist option has solid sides, so attaching anything to it may be challenging. The rungs are also narrow (10″) and not plentiful (3).

What does set it apart, however, is that the top mounting plate has two non-slip rubber pieces for added safety when climbing and descending. Plus, at only 11 lbs., you can still open/close the rear hatch with the factory lift struts.

If you’re looking for a simple one that is well-made, this is for you.

6. Prinsu

Find It Online:

• Prinsu Ladder: Check Price

Specs

• Steps: 4 (more can be added, all can be relocated to different positions)
• Weight: 17 lbs.
• Mounts: None
• Accessories: N/A
• Drill for base mount?: Yes

This is an interesting option. Prinsu commands solid brand loyalty by offering (at the time) the first mass-produced, no-drill roof rack on the market. From there, Prinsu and CBI joined forces and have been a staple in the offroading community ever since. After making variations of their rack, improving the design, and pumping out new accessories, they finally released theirs.

It boasts square tubing sides, sheet metal steps, and pre-drilled holes in (7) different positions so that you can install the steps where they work best for you.

For more details, check out our Prinsu Ladder install and review.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of solid options in the way of rear hatch ladders for the 5th Gen 4Runner. Having experience with the Gen 1 C4, I was excited to try out something new and compare the two.

Cali Raised is the newest entrant into the rear hatch ladder market. In my opinion, they’ve made a strong impression with their integration of MOLLE panels. This makes theirs the perfect solution to truly expanding your storage and organization. It’s also one of the only ones that I could attach filled Rotopax cans to and open the hatch.

All of the options listed above have their pros and very few cons. To pick the one that’s best for you, first make a list of your needs, and then your wants. Then, check the specs above, grab one, and get up on that roof!