This Toyota Mega Cruiser Is A One-Of-One Humvee Rival Looking For A New Home

For the uninitiated, the Toyota Mega Cruiser is a civilian version of a military vehicle – similar in concept to the Humvee – which Toyota built during the 1990s for Japan’s defense forces. This wasn’t some Land Cruiser jacked up on steroids, though. The Mega Cruiser and the Humvee’s civilian counterpart, the Hummer H1, are both gargantuan, and they both share the same boxy, utilitarian design. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t own a Mega Cruiser – at least, not as far as we know.

Only around 150 examples of the Mega Cruiser were made for civilian use, but according to a seller on the auction site Bring A Trailer, only one featured a high roof and stadium-style seating from the Toyota factory.

Originally Built For Safaris

The unique high-roof setup was chosen because the vehicle’s original owner was a safari company located in Kenya. It was acquired by the current seller in 2024, after which it was imported to the US and repainted in a new shade of dark blue. The previous color was green – as a quick Google search for “high-roof Mega Cruiser” will return photos of the vehicle still in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Under the hood is a turbodiesel inline-four with 4.1 liters of displacement. The engine delivers a peak of around 150 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system. Those numbers mean the Mega Cruiser won’t be going anywhere fast, but the engine should still have enough grunt to get you out of most sticky situations, or tow a big load.

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The Toyota Mega Cruiser, built for the Japan Self-Defense Forces, is on sale from a Pennsylvania dealer for a cool $175k.

The vehicle is currently at a dealership in New Hampshire and is said to have a clean Florida title. Given its previous role, it’s surprising that the odometer reads only about 65,000 miles. The minimal wear on the eight-passenger seating suggests that the reading may be accurate; though, as always, buyer beware.

Perfect Blank Canvas For Overlanding

While there aren’t many places to go on safari in the US, anyone into overlanding may want to take a closer look. The Mega Cruiser’s standard 11-foot wheelbase, coupled with the tall roof on this example, should result in a spacious cabin once the seats are removed. Mind you, the roof is made from fiberglass, so we’re not sure how much weight it can support, if you’re keen on installing a roof tent or cargo carrier.

The massive 1.3 feet of ground clearance also means the vehicle should be able to cover rough terrain without too much stress. This particular example rides on 17-inch wheels wrapped in 37-inch Bridgestone Mud Dueler 671 tires. A spare is included, mounted on a rear swing-away carrier.

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At the time of writing, there are six days left in the auction, and the current bid is a mere $4,000. Just note that since the vehicle is from Japan, it’s a right-hand drive vehicle, which may make your next trip through the McD’s drive-thru a little tricky.

Sources: Bring A Trailer