what can you tell me about this cruiser?

[azrider]

A buddy of mine seen this in CA today and sent me some pictures. Care to take a guess what year it is? Its a diesel, has a sink and all that in the back. Are those sand tracks on the DS? How much of this truck would you say came from the factory like that? Whats the top portion, a pop-up extension, like ive seen on vans, or just a regular roof top tent? You dont see one of these every day.

 

[MaddBaggins]

70 series and yes those are sandtracks. Don't know the year, and I don't think the top and sink are factory options. At least I never heard of factory options like those.

 

[Blues Dawg]

some kind of conversion - look at the roof line transition just behind the door. Almost looks stretched. Is there a lwb 70?

 

[Living in the Past]

some kind of conversion - look at the roof line transition just behind the door. Almost looks stretched. Is there a lwb 70?

The 70 series come in a lot of models just like the 40 series did. I've heard of 70,73,74,75,77 and 78 series. Probably more models than that. Almost all are diesels.This look like a 75 series. The 70 series started in 85 and are still made today. A few 7o series have been in the country for years but now that we are at the 25 year mark I think they are going to start showing up next year with more coming in every year after that.

This one has non-USA plates on it, probably world travelers just passing thru.

 

[TORTUS]

Looks like an HZJ78 (diesel) Troop Carrier. Ran into a lady from Switzerland a few months ago with a 2001 model year that looked just like that up by Lee's Ferry. She and her dog are traveling around the world in it. Had a very similar conversion. I ended up talking with her on the side of the road for about 2 hours. Awesome story, and she let me drive it! She is currently in Canada trying to arrange travel to Russia, but having difficulty finding a ship that will allow her dog.

 

[TORTUS]

And to answer a couple of AZRider's questions: The top pops up like a VW Westfalia Van. She said she paid 25,000 Euro for the truck, and spent almost another 25,000 Euro for all of the "Expo" upgrades, and she didn't even have a sink. I would imagine the truck in the first post is worth even more. (depending on age). Needless to say, I was shocked when she handed me the keys to her 50,000 Euro rig and said "Do you want to drive it? Go ahead, take it up the road, have fun!" I didn't hesitate.

 

[Tools R Us]

Have seen several of those on Moab trips, one that I got pix of returning from Blazer Bash;

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