Ok, I can't let the jeep guy do all the influencing :p
What year toyota are you looking for? If you get anything older than 85 then it has a solid front axle, with the 85s being the most coveted because it has the axle and fuel injection. You can do some pretty gnarly rockcrawling without a solid axle. Throw in front and rear lockers and a second transfer case and you will walk all over a stock jeep. If you don't care about body damage then you can do the rubicon in a stock 3rd gen (it has the factory rear locker), it won't be easy, but you can do it.
However, it sounds like you don't need a solid front axle if you're not going to rockcrawl. A solid axle is only really needed for the hardcore trails where the SA will help keep you from flopping. Keep in mind that a 4runner will accept 32in tires without a lift and 33s with a 1in body lift. Some of the 3rd gen 4runners came with a factory rear locker. This was offered from 98-2000.
The majority of people get toyotas for the reliability. Jeeps are much more likely to break down and if this is going to be a daily driver then that should be a consideration. When comparing a stock jeep to a stock 4runner, then the jeep will have a slight advantage off road because of the SA and LSD. But, put a locker in the rear of the 4runner and everything is evened out. I've done trails in my (practically) stock 4runner that would scare the average person. Check out my webpage for pics
www.robinhood4x4.com , check out the movie in this thread:
http://yotatech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16618 . If you're going to be doing trails harder than you see there, then you'll need a SA, otherwise it won't matter.
The jeeps have a heck of a lot more power than the toyotas though, so if you like to drive fast or tow a lot, then the jeeps win. My 4runner is the slowest vehicle in the world, but it gets me to where I'm going every time. Edit: the 3rd gen 4runners can be had with the supercharger so that evens out the speed and towing thing. I've seen a SC 5speed 4x4 with locker for about 18k or so.
