Have you ever heard of the Toyota Mega Cruiser? NO, not, but Mega Cruiser... They say that in Russia there are no more than 5 such cars. In Ukraine, or other CIS countries, they simply don’t exist at all. Therefore, if somewhere you come across this Japanese “monster”, and at the same time do not confuse it with, know that this is a real exclusive.
The value of the Toyota Mega Cruiser lies not only in its exclusivity, but also in its amazing off-road capabilities. In the “Jeeper circle”, legends about this miracle car have been circulating for quite a long time, and some of the amateurs, or rather Professionals, OFF-RoadA, still managed to make their dream come true, although it was not at all easy.
From 1996 to 2001, the Japanese produced only 151 civilian Mega Cruisers. Just think about these numbers - even Lamborghini produced twice as many of its own. All Megas were assembled by hand. I understand when it comes to a car Toyota brands, this may not be easy to believe, but it is actually true.
We seem to have figured out exclusivity, but what attracts Jeepers to Mega in terms of off-road capabilities? 
The suspension travel of this Japanese all-terrain vehicle is 65cm! Together with a ground clearance of 42 cm, as well as approach/departure angles of 48 and 46 degrees, Toyota has excellent geometric cross-country ability. Here it is also worth remembering the giant wheels with a diameter of 37 inches! Of no less interest is the 4WS system, which turns rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front. This system allows Mega to turn around on a patch with a diameter of 11.2 m. Without it, the turning area would have to be 2-3m larger in diameter. Of course, there are locks on all three differentials and a lower range of gears, but it is worth separately remembering that, like on military UAZs, additional gearboxes are provided in the wheel hubs, which transmit even more force to the wheels. As an additional equipment, Mega could be equipped with a centralized tire inflation system, and permanent four-wheel drive, looks self-evident here - on such and such a miracle.
Price Toyota Mega Cruiser
Even new, you could buy a Toyota Mega Cruiser in Japan for $90,000. As you already understand, finding such a car in our secondary market is simply not realistic. Those fans who still decided to get the Japanese all-terrain vehicle for their use bring Mega from Japan.
External review and Photo of Toyota Mega Cruiser
At one time, it was this Japanese all-terrain vehicle that caused a wave of indignation among Americans, and I think you can guess why). 
The patriotic American simply could not help but think, “that these narrow-eyed ones simply copied our Hummer.” It’s unlikely that anyone would be able to affirmatively state that the Mega is not at all like a Hummer, but for some Americans, it would be nice to understand that today, multi-purpose vehicles like the Hummer, to a fairly high degree, are all similar to each other. This similarity is due to the fact that these machines are created for very similar tasks.
With a body length of 5090mm, wheelbase Mega is 3396mm. Remembering the wheelbase, I would like to add that Toyota’s is 10 cm longer than that of. The width of the Japanese all-terrain vehicle is 2169mm, and the height is 2075mm. The Toyota body is based on a ladder-type frame. The hood itself is made not of steel, but of fiberglass, to make it easier to lift. With a curb weight of 2850 kg, full mass Toyota is 3780kg.
In the cabin:
For those who are lucky enough to be in the salon of this miracle, especially if it is a person with rich communication experience 
With various models Toyota, it will be very interesting to see in the Mega’s interior: a Karinovsky steering wheel, lampshades from a Corolla and a gearshift lever from an LC80. Already in the database, there is: air conditioning and electric drives for all four windows. Of course, there is power steering here. The back seat of the Mega is so wide that four people can easily sit here, and the Mega has seat belts for all of them. Width luggage compartment is 2005mm - such a wide trunk can easily be used as a sleeping bag. In this case, you can lie down not longitudinally, but across the all-terrain vehicle.
Technical Specifications Toyota Mega Cruiser
Under the hood of the Toyota Mega Cruiser there is a diesel “four” - 15BFTE, with a volume of 4.1 liters, a power of 155 hp and a thrust of 390 N.M. 
In 1999, its power was increased to 170 hp and thrust to 430 Newtons. It is worth noting that this diesel engine was already equipped with an intercooler and turbo timer from the factory. The four-speed automatic was borrowed from the LC 80. This box It is equipped with an overdrive mode, so it can “cut off” fourth gear.
Yes, - this tandem of a diesel engine and an old automatic transmission does not make Mega -. One hundred kilometers per hour Japanese SUV picks up in 27 seconds, and the maximum speed is 130 km. But is this important for Toyota Mega?
Regarding the technical part, it is worth adding that the Mega’s suspension is completely independent - torsion bar, and the GP gear ratio is 5.84: 1 + do not forget about the gearboxes located in the wheels.
Toyota Mega Cruiser is one of the most interesting SUVs, about which the team of the Internet portal had to write. Is it better than a Hummer? Under certain conditions, Japanese car It may actually be better, but something else is more important. Namely, that Mega is an exclusive, the owner of which is much more difficult than the owner of an American action movie hero.
Against the backdrop of global and equally sad changes in the domestic automotive market This event, although inconspicuous, is definitely bright: just imagine what a rather modest by the standards off-road class the amount of 2.2 million rubles can be purchased through intermediaries Japanese equivalent the legendary Hummer! And, it should be noted, in some ways the Japanese military school of automobile manufacturing still managed to outdo the American one.
As for the name of the model, everything is not so clear. The memorable name Mega Cruiser belongs to the civilian, “ennobled” version of the military SUV: the model was produced in small series. The name "Megacruiser", which belonged to the civilian version, also began to be called by the military versions.
But the official name (Toyota BXD10) does not really suit our test subject, because legally this is not “Toyota” at all... Here our guys have already shown their ingenuity: they supply SUVs Russian company“Expedit”, whose name in the PTS was inherited by “Megacruiser”. However, the pattern of transfer of a model from one country to another partially overlaps with other “Japanese” cars that end up in the Far East in the form of a “cut”: in order to reduce the amount of duty and the final price, SUVs that served in the Japanese army from 1995 to 2002 are now supplied to us in the form of vehicle kits, and here they are transformed back into functional means of transportation. The tested sample, for example, ran no more than 70 thousand km. And this, according to the organizers, is the maximum figure - some copies are delivered without any mileage at all. Anyone can buy such equipment, but to operate it...
Since it was quite problematic for importers to register such a device as a passenger car, they decided to register it as a “snow and swamp-going vehicle.” The quotation marks here are not accidental, because before such an honorable title, this transport clearly lacks positive buoyancy. Therefore, as you understand, on some roads common use this means of transportation is prohibited: you can move anywhere, with the exception of highways, as well as roads with “Traffic” signs passenger cars" and "Tractor traffic is prohibited." And, of course, to drive a newly-made swamp vehicle, you only need a “tractor” license.
But the most interesting thing is inside. Question for experts: tell me, dear jeepers, what are the signs of a real SUV? Dependent suspension with continuous bridges? Kondovy frame body? Mechanical box gears? Japanese military engineers will not agree with you - the military cruiser sports a completely independent suspension, classic automatic machine and the almost weightless plastic-metal tail of the frame. Plagiarism of His Majesty Hummer H1? Not quite: if under the wide muzzle of an American SUV the protruding thick suspension arms resting on springs immediately catch your eye, here in front there are more compact double A-shaped “bones” and invisible torsion bars. Rear - similar double levers, but already complete with springs. But in general there is a similarity with the Hummer: here, just like the American, to increase ground clearance and gear ratio Inside the wheels there are final drives, to which CV joints from the axle gearboxes fit. Due to the fact that they take up a fair amount of space, they are ventilated brake discs with calipers are placed closer to the bridges - this, by the way, reduces unsprung masses, and the mechanisms themselves become less dirty.
The wheels, by the way, are also unusual here - find suitable tires with a dimension of 37x12.5R17.5 it will be oh so difficult... Fortunately, our compatriots managed to find an analogue: “Shishigovsky” 18th wheels with slightly bored holes and standard tires fits Toyota perfectly. Thanks to these tricks, the Japanese managed to achieve a colossal ground clearance of 42 cm (the Hummer is even 1.5 cm less). Also, all versions are equipped with centralized wheel inflation (there are only 2 positions - 2.2 or 1.1 atm), thanks to which you can seriously increase the already considerable contact patch of the tires with the coating, and in case of a puncture, reach the “base” without a spare wheel. Concerning power units, then everything is also in order here: hidden under the hood is a rather large 4.1-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (index 15B-FTE), which was installed mainly on Toyota medium-duty trucks and buses, and the gearbox is a four-speed automatic from Land Cruiser 80. Both instill confidence.
But that's not all. Perhaps, main feature our “warrior” - thruster rear axle, which is driven by power steering. Thus, the turning radius of the 5-meter monster is a modest 5.6 meters - almost like some Ford Focus! Spins on slippery surface“Japanese”, like a top, is almost there. Lighter, more maneuverable and more power-packed, it would seem that the 200 is slightly inferior to its military counterpart in terms of drive on ice: after turning off the traction control, although it allows you to “fall” sideways, it does so clearly without enthusiasm.
The above design tricks allowed our hero to gain amazing geometric parameters: Approach/departure angles are 49 and 45 degrees. The “civilized” Toyota standing nearby seemed to have transformed from a once formidable and terrible monster into a harmless creature: almost half the ground clearance and “pathetic” 32 and 24 degrees. Although overall dimensions, and in terms of weight, the military SUV turned out to be not as larger as expected: the “Megacruiser” is larger than the “200” on all fronts by an average of 15–20 cm and is heavier by only 200 kg (2900 kg). Such a low weight for this type of equipment was achieved thanks to compact suspensions, minimal external cladding and the absence of interior decoration body
However, in the snow cross-country test, in our case, the Megacruiser did not look like a favorite - our colleagues even managed to plant it in a seemingly harmless place. The point, of course, is that it does not correspond to our weather conditions rubber: there are quite worn out AT tires here, still remembering the land of the Land of the Rising Sun. In order to confidently move through heavy “warm” snow, we had to activate all three locks - one inter-axle and two inter-wheel. Having in his arsenal only one tough interaxle blocking and a whole set electronic assistants, the 200th, shod with studded Yokohama, plowed through the open spaces much more confidently, although collecting snowdrifts with its front bumper like a bulldozer.
But in an “equal battle” on normal wheels, the mega-opponent, of course, will not allow himself to be offended. But if everything is more or less clear with loose soil, then how will it behave on relief terrain? After all, as you know, an independent suspension a priori has worse articulation than a fully paved one. Arriving home, I plunged into studying the issue: according to test data, the total travel of the Megacruiser’s suspensions was 650 mm, which is, to put it mildly, an impressive figure. For comparison, the pavement legend of the English off-road school in the person of “Defender” has a figure of 545 mm, and our today’s Japanese opponent, the Land Cruiser 200 with its colossal articulation, almost caught up with the “warrior” with a result of 600 mm. The shorter-travel Hummer suspension, designed for a larger load, cannot boast of such characteristics: the suspension travel of the standard Hummer H1 is only 435 mm.
Comparing the “Megacruiser” on public roads with the LC 200 would be completely against the rules, both in terms of ideology and the legality of the event - no one has “tractor” rights... But, judging by the country roads, driving Toyota BXD10 is not particularly more complicated than the classic Land Cruiser. Among the amenities here, of course, are an automatic transmission and power steering, but in terms of ease of control, sense of size and high-torque power of the engine, the Megacruiser does not look inferior at all. It just shakes more on bumps and there are more noises of various natures in the cabin - after all, and passengers are separated from the outside world only by an awning and thin body panels.
As for asceticism, here it is, perhaps, raised to the highest degree - everything in a military vehicle should be simple, functional, but at the same time maintainable and reliable. The contrast with modern civilian cars is especially noticeable after you change into the Megacruiser from the light leather interior of the 200...
However, all the design elements in the Megacruiser are made so thoughtfully and elegantly that it is confusing at first. The weightless plastic hood, for example, is fastened on both sides with simple but convenient hinges; Although the doors are equipped with primitive “master keys,” they open (and close!) with a slight movement of the hand... And the solution used for window lifters will move the owners of UAZ “goats” to tears: you pull the spring-loaded bushing on the door and lower it with it glass down. Convenient as hell! The driving position, of course, cannot be compared with the luxurious interior of the LC 200: due to the wide tunnel on the floor, in which the transmission elements are hidden, you have to sit quite close to the door; A steering wheel and moved too far from the seat. But if we compare with veterans of the military genre (the same Defender or main competitor represented by HMMWV), then the military Toyota looks like just a model of ergonomics.
However, passengers, unlike the pilot and navigator, may have a hard time traveling at speed over rough terrain: folding benches that can accommodate eight more volunteers in the back are located along the side and, naturally, are not equipped with belts. But if the benches are folded, the Megacruiser turns into a full-fledged truck.
Prospects
Could anyone be interested in such a highly specialized technique? In Russia the target audience there will definitely be one. Mainly among travelers - such a device is perfect for building, for example, a camper from scratch. After all, today there are not many serious alternatives. Yes, production of the 70 series Land Cruisers was resumed (you can order it through “gray” dealers), and today it is still one of the most popular and successful blanks for building an expedition vehicle. True, the price of such a car, albeit with a 30-year-old design, exceeds 4 million... Also, the Megacruiser can be considered as an alternative to the no less legendary GAZ-66, the disadvantages of which are known to everyone. Consider the driver’s seat, which is “brilliant” in its ergonomics – no other gear shift lever has so many legends about it! Of the similar cross-country ability, one can also recall the no less legendary Steyr Puch Pinzgauer rogues with backbone frames, which were produced by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch on order of the Swiss army. Aftermarket, these all-terrain vehicles with wheel formulas 6x6 and 4x4 can be purchased for at least 1.2 million. For similar money you can also find a Volvo Laplander with portal bridges, but the assortment is also not rich - there are single, miraculously preserved copies on the market.
Alternative in Russia: GAZ-66, Volvo Laplander C303 and Steyr Puch Pinzgauer 718
It turns out that the Expedit company made a pretty good offer. Here it is - the all-terrain vehicle of your dreams! Here you have an adequate price, colossal cross-country ability, and the reliability of the units is legendary. And in general - the widest space for the jeeper fantasy! But if it is impossible to travel on highways and the need to obtain tractor license You can still survive, then problems with the service ( limited opportunity purchasing spare parts) can make life difficult for a traveler. This is probably main drawback such a wonderful “rogue” - you can order a failed part, but the price and delivery time are unlikely to please anyone.
But that's not true. There is little in common between the Toyota Mega Cruiser and the Hummer.
The history of the Hummer H1 is known to many today: it was originally an American military SUV, the HUMVEE, but in 1983 it went into assembly line production and became known as the Hummer H1. The Japanese manufacturer did not stand still and 10 years later released its version of the SUV - Toyota Mega Cruiser. Externally, the car is similar to a Hummer, but unlike an American SUV, the rear wheels of the Mega Cruiser can turn. Toyota length Mega Cruiser equals 5090 mm, but thanks to these rear wheels, this car has a good turning radius of 5.6 meters.
The Mega Cruiser SUV was initially produced in civilian and military versions, and military version it will not be possible for a private person to buy, and even when war machine served its term, it was simply destroyed. As for civilian Mega Cruisers, they can be exported to another country, but it must be a car from the secondary market.
The main differences between civilian models and military ones are velor seats, soft mats, air conditioning, power accessories with the necessary options.
In Russia, according to documents, this SUV refers to trucks, therefore, in order to drive a Mega Cruiser you must have a license with category C. This misunderstanding occurred due to the fact that the total weight of the vehicle is 3780 kg, and the dry weight is 2850 kg.
Legendary car
Total civilian Mega Cruiser was About 140 pieces were produced. The first such car that came to Russia was brutally sawn into pieces. Because this car was noticed by the Japanese consul, and in those years Mega Cruisers were banned for export. But then all these sawn parts were sent to Ukraine, where the car was reassembled, resulting in a running car. But his fate did not end well - he was drowned in one of the deep swamps.
But we managed to test this rare car, it is number 137, this copy was released in 1999.
Military style
This car was slightly improved by the owner - a bed was installed in the trunk, which is very comfortable to sleep on. To do this, we had to install a removable iron structure, thanks to which the trunk became 2-level.
Toyota Mega Cruiser is a 6 local car , on back seat 4 people can comfortably fit, and there is even a seat belt for each person.
Power unit
The Mega Cruiser's engine is a 4-liter turbodiesel, whose power is 170 hp. With. This motor from Toyota has been known for quite a long time, it was installed on others, it has an intercooler and a standard turbo timer. The engine is located so that the machine can overcome lakes or swamps 1.2 meters deep. The air intake is located on the side of the hood, this helps prevent water from getting into the engine.
Among the features of the Mega Cruiser is a 24 Volt power supply, this is good because even in very coldy the engine starts easily, there are also no problems with the factory, even if the contacts on the wires have oxidized after getting wet in salt water. After all, the car is Japanese, and in Japan, especially if the car is used for military purposes, contact with sea water will be very frequent. That is why all connections, silent blocks and crosspieces are equipped with grease fittings.
Permanent all-wheel drive
Installed in Mega Cruiser permanent all-wheel drive, so there are certain features here: there is a differential with forced blocking, which is installed in the transfer case and is activated by a button located on the front panel. In addition, on the same panel there are buttons responsible for locking cross-axle differentials.
Gearbox in this car – automatic 4-speed, which has an overdrive function that disables top gear, and the car can also start from 2nd gear.
As for the transfer case, its reduction ratio is 2.488:1. Also, a feature of this transmission is the final drives, thanks to them and the suspension, the Mega Cruiser’s ground clearance is 420 mm.
Off-road performance
Toyota Mega Cruiser is created for calm ride off-road, the car overcomes rocky terrain and other difficult off-road areas especially easily. To provide the car with such off-road capabilities, it was necessary to pay attention not only to ground clearance, but also to suspension travel. IN in this case, the suspension both front and rear is independent and torsion bar. The chassis parts are so large and strong that they are very difficult to damage.
Brakes on all wheels – disc and ventilated, they are located not inside the wheels, but on drive shafts. Military versions even have centralized wheel inflation. But on civilian models of the Mega Cruiser there is no pumping, but the tubes for this system are in their places.
Standard tires create some difficulties for their owners, because the dimension of these tires is 37x12.5, and the radius is 17.5. To get rid of these problems, the easiest way is to order 18-inch wheels along with tires. Mud tires are very difficult to find for wheels with a radius of 17.5 inches.
Body Features
The body also has a number of special features, such as a carbon fiber hood, and there is also a folding spare wheel gate equipped with a cable drive. In order to raise spare wheel you can use a small winch, which is installed for this purpose.
It is also possible to replace the rear part of the roof, which is located above the trunk, with a higher one. The Mega Cruiser is weighted quite well due to the fact that the engine is slightly pushed into the interior tunnel, and the batteries are located in a special place under the passenger seat.
Impressive dimensions
When you drive a Mega Cruiser, you don't worry about it big size, thanks to its excellent visibility, the Hummer, for example, has worse visibility.
Because Mega Cruiser has independent suspension, so the ride of this car is very soft, no shaking or pitching is felt, the car swallows everything small bumps, because the wheels are big, and this is only a plus. As for cross-country ability, this car has it at top level. Large ground clearance does its job - the car can overcome very difficult areas - high stone slopes, forests and swamps.
At first it’s hard to imagine that one can jump off-road so easily, but it happens and the Mega Cruiser demonstrates it.
The machine is operated in harsh conditions Russian roads with a bang, and in off-road mode and breaks down very rarely. Despite the fact that the car is very rare, spare parts can always be obtained for it, although you will have to wait a while, because delivery from Japan will take some time.
And now the Toyota Mega Cruiser demonstrates in a video a master class on how to get out of the mud:
Once you have bought this Japanese SUV, you may often be asked why the Toyota emblem was attached to the Hummer. But the similarities between these two cars are not so great if you take a closer look at the Toyota Mega Cruiser. The only reason that Americans accuse samurai of plagiarism is the year of release - HUMVEE was launched in mass production 13 years earlier. Maybe there is a logical beginning to this statement, but before you roll out your SUV in 1996, Japanese manufacturer worked on it quite a bit. As an example, we can cite the same rear swivel wheels, thanks to which the turning radius of the almost six-meter “big guy” is only 5.6 m.
First of all, it should be said that there is both military and civilian version car, although there are not many differences between them - these are dual-zone air conditioning, minimal electrical equipment and velor seats with soft mats for civilian cars. If new Mega The Cruiser was not intended for export (only used cars could be exported from the country), but after decommissioning, military SUVs were generally recycled into recyclable materials. Judging by unofficial data, civilian cars were produced in the amount of 140 copies.
Toyota Mega Cruiser interior
If you import a product Japanese auto industry to Russia, then it will have to be registered as a truck with permission to drive under category “C” (the reason for this is the total weight of 3780 kg). But in essence, this is a frame six-seater SUV, the rear seat of which provides seats with seat belts for four passengers.
Toyota Mega Cruiser powertrain
Under the hood of the “monster” there is a turbodiesel of the “B” family with four cylinders. With a volume of 4.104 liters, the engine develops a power of 170 horses. An intercooler and a standard turbo timer are not all the engine's bells and whistles: thanks to the special location of the air intake and the presence of an entire system of siphons, the likelihood of water hammer is practically eliminated even at a fording depth of 1200 mm.
When creating the Mega Cruiser, Toyota specialists took into account the likelihood of contact with salty sea water and, as a result, oxidation of the power wire contacts. Therefore, the voltage of the on-board electrical network is 24 volts, which eliminates problems with starting the engine in cold weather or with corrosion of contacts.
Permanent all-wheel drive
Transmission design Toyota SUV Mega Cruiser includes:
Four-speed automatic transmission with the ability to start from second gear and overdrive mode;
transfer case (reduction ratio is 2.488:1);
differential with the possibility of remote forced locking;
electrically controlled locking of cross-axle differentials;
The highlight of the car's transmission is the final drives with a ratio of 1.69:1, which, combined with the suspension, create a 420mm ground clearance.
Suspension
Based on the fact that the Toyota Mega Cruiser was created exclusively to overcome terrain with difficult rocky terrain, not only ground clearance is important, but also high-quality, independent torsion bar suspension. Due to the impressive size of the suspension parts, it takes a lot of effort to damage anything.
Ventilated disc brake mechanisms located on the drive shafts, which reduces the unsprung masses. Design military modification SUV provides centralized wheel inflation, although it can also be equipped with the civilian version.
Toyota Mega Cruiser Video
Peculiarities Toyota body Mega Cruiser
From the number distinctive features The body structure can be noted for the hood made of carbon fiber. In addition, the manufacturer has provided a convenient cable drive for tilting the spare tire gate and a special winch for lifting the spare tire itself. The engine is located in the cabin tunnel, and the batteries are hidden under the passenger seat in an isolated compartment. That is necessary measure to improve weight distribution.
It is noteworthy that the dimensions of the car do not impede driving at all, unlike its American counterpart, and the independent suspension ensures a smooth ride, without shaking or jumping. Well, the car has no equal in cross-country ability. He will overcome the most difficult terrain, with all the blockages, minimum sizes overhangs and simply huge ground clearance.
Why did you put a Toyota logo on a Hummer? This question has been asked to the owner of Mega Cruiser more than once. But in fact, there is not much in common between these two military SUVs. The American HUMVEE (later called Hummer H1) went into production...
The American HUMVEE (later called the Hummer H1) went into production in 1983, and Toyota rolled out its Mega Cruiser almost ten years later. For this reason alone, the Yankees say that the treacherous samurai brazenly stole the concept of their military SUV. Maybe that was true, but the Japanese added a killer flavor to the American Big Mac: swivel rear wheels. Therefore, a car whose length is 5090 mm has a turning radius of 5.6 m.
It should immediately be clarified that Mega Cruiser was produced in military and civilian versions. Military versions were not eligible for export from Japan or sale to private individuals. When the time came for decommissioning, they were simply released under pressure. But it was possible to export civilian modifications, but only in used form. Their main difference from the military versions was hidden in the cabin, where there were soft mats on the floor, velor seats, electrical accessories with minimal necessary set options and dual-zone air conditioning.
LIVING LEGEND
This Mega Cruiser is not the first of those that came to Russia at one time. Currently, there is another similar SUV with Vladivostok registration. And in the same area there is a legend about another specimen, which at the beginning of the century caught the eye of the Japanese consul, and since they were then prohibited for export, it was cut into pieces. But these parts were allegedly transported to Ukraine or Kazakhstan, where they were reassembled running car. And then he was drowned in some bottomless swamps.
According to unofficial information, 140 civilian modifications were produced. The same Mega Cruiser that we tested, identification number 137th, well, the year of its release is 1999.
MILITARY BACKS
In the cabin, the previous Japanese owner only added a bed in the trunk. To do this, a quick-release iron structure was placed in the space between the wheel arches, making luggage compartment two-level. And on top of it, four wooden panels with soft upholstery lay in the spacer.
The car is considered a six-seater. Backseat accommodates four people, each of whom is provided with a seat belt. By the way, according to Russian documents, Mega Cruiser is a truck that can only be driven with category C. And this is not a trick to reduce customs duties. Everything is according to the law, because the full mass of this frame SUV is 3780 kg, but dry - 2850 kg.
FOUR LITER POTS
The engine is a four-cylinder turbodiesel with a volume of 4.104 liters and a power of 170 hp. With.
belongs to the “Toyota” B family, known for thirty years. It is intercooled and equipped with a standard turbo timer. The engine air intake is located in a recess on the side of the hood. And then there is a system of numerous siphons, so it is difficult to grasp the hydraulic shock - permissible depth fordability 1200 mm.
It is noteworthy that the on-board electrical network is 24-volt. So starting the engine both in cold weather and with oxidized contacts on the power wires - say, after getting wet in salt water - is not a problem. Still military equipment on the island state was originally designed for contact with sea water. This is probably why all silent blocks, hinge joints and crosspieces are equipped with grease fittings.
MATERIAL PART: TOYOTA MEGA CRUISER
CONTINUOUS FULL
The transmission includes a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive modes(shutdown top gear) and starting from second gear. Next comes the transfer case with a reduction ratio of 2.488:1. Since the drive type is Mega Cruiser permanent full then in transfer case There is a differential with forced locking, activated by a button on the front panel. There are also buttons that control the locking of cross-axle differentials. The inter-wheel lock control mechanism is electric. Well, the most interesting thing about the transmission is the final drives (ratio 1.69:1), thanks to which (well, independent suspension, of course) ground clearance is 420 mm.
EVERYTHING FOR INDEPENDENCE
Since the main purpose of this car is to travel over rocky terrain with complex terrain, not only ground clearance, but also suspension travel is extremely important for it. The suspension of all wheels is independent torsion bar. The size of the chassis parts is such that they can be used to uproot stones without much risk of damaging anything.
All brakes are ventilated disc brakes. For decreasing unsprung masses they are located on the drive shafts rather than inside the wheels. Since we tested the civilian version, it did not have centralized wheel inflation. Although the tubes for her were in place.
Not otherwise, in order to complicate the life of Mega Cruiser owners, the standard tires on the car have a tricky dimension of 37x12.5 with a radius of 17.5. Therefore, it is easier to order production rims, say, 18 inches (less is impossible due to final drives) than to find mud tires this size.
EVERYTHING FOR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
Among the features of the body, I would like to note the carbon fiber hood. The spare tire's folding gate is equipped with a convenient cable drive, and a mini winch is provided to lift the spare wheel. Besides, back The roof over the trunk can be replaced with a higher one. To improve weight distribution, the engine is pushed into the cabin tunnel, and the batteries are hidden in a special isolated compartment under the passenger seat.
COW ON THE STEP
When driving the Mega Cruiser, its dimensions do not bother you. Of course, unlike its American counterpart, there is excellent visibility here. Thanks to the independent suspension, this SUV has a very smooth ride. There is no shaking or pitching in it. Well, the maneuverability is fantastic. With his huge ground clearance, tiny overhangs and all the blocking, he easily and naturally climbed difficult terrain on road tires. I couldn’t even believe that such a carcass was capable of such a thing - it looks about the same as if a cow was gracefully jumping along mountain steeps. As for operation in our conditions, the Vladivostok Mega Cruiser, long used for hard off-roading, has not yet broken down. There is already an answer to the question of consumables and spare parts that interests pragmatists. If something happens, getting spare parts is not a problem, although there is a decent waiting period for delivery.
