4 runner may be your ticket but the Tacoma Access cab 4cyl is a great truck, depending on where you live. If I didn't plan on 80MPH freeways for hours on end it would be perfect but there are a lot of high speed freeways and wind in the west that make the little 4 banger struggle. I had a 4cyl...
Double cab is plenty big enough. The back seats are not limo, reclining, stretch-out-straight huge but are sized for normal size adults to be comfortable. Go sit in one and check it out. I would not give up a 6'+ bed for the extra rear leg room and find the current Tundra to be a little too big...
The AT2 is quite poor in the snow due to the lack of siping. The AT2 is a decent tire as long as you are out of the snow. It wears well and has reasonable on and off road manners.
I agree that the MS2/Defender is a highly under rated tire. All my experience with them has been great other than...
Looks like a good platform to throw a camper on the back and go wherever you want.
https://boise.craigslist.org/cto/d/mccall-2008-gmc-topkick-c5500-duramax/6930852335.html
I think a comparison to the Colorado Z71 would be more appropriate. The ZR2 is more specialized than the TRD or FX4 with a different suspension that the normal Colorado/Canyon.