Incredibly Rare Toyota Hilux Featuring Factory Bed Crane Option Appears on Marketplace

      Patrick Brian McCaffrey via Facebook Marketplace

      If you're a truck enthusiast, you've likely heard of the Toyota Hilux or seen the original Top Gear hosts attempt to destroy it without success. Beyond its legendary durability, Toyota is well aware of its target audience, as evidenced by offering a pickup that comes with a crane right from the factory. You can snag a well-maintained, ready-to-drive model for just $22,000.

      This 1995 Toyota Hilux SSR-X, previously listed on Bring A Trailer, is now available on Facebook Marketplace. Located in Closer, New Jersey, this low-mileage, four-door pickup appears to be in exceptional condition.

      It features a 2.4-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. This right-hand-drive JDM truck has approximately 130,000 miles on the clock and comes with a clean title from New Jersey. Recent maintenance included an oil change and work on the shocks, timing belt, water pump, auxiliary belts, and batteries. The seller also applied anti-rust Fluid Film to the frame and undercarriage to help prevent corrosion.

      And let’s not forget the factory-installed bed-mounted crane! So, could this truck be the perfect find?

      Why did Toyota even include an electronic crane option for a non-commercial pickup? It’s interesting that this option is quite rare, with the seller noting there are only three such Hilux models in the U.S. Known as the “Active Base” trim (at least in 1997), a Toyota press release explained, “A crane is mounted on the rear for lifting sports gear such as off-road motorbikes.”

      Of course, there are various other uses for a crane, but I’ll leave those possibilities to your imagination. It’s essentially a versatile survivalist Hilux, capable of lifting whatever you need — as long as it stays within the supposed maximum capacity of 450 kilograms (992 pounds). You might need the included detachable stabilizer bar for support under the left rear fender, unless you're keen on tipping the Hilux to bring a touch of rustic charm to the urban environment.

      Concourse Underground

      If you wake up one day and decide the exposed crane isn’t your style, you can easily hide it away. The hook is cleverly concealed within roll bar-like quasi-C-pillars, making it unlikely that anyone would notice anything unusual unless they specifically inspected those areas. To the casual observer, it just appears to be a tough Toyota truck.

      The seller also asserts that the Hilux is rust-free, likely meaning just the underbody is in good shape. However, in the previous BaT listing, some rust was noted around the crane's joints, on the rear bar, and along the front side of the bed where it attaches to the cabin. The photos included in the current Facebook listing do provide detailed close-ups of those areas.

      The crane-equipped Hilux sold for $20,500 a year ago, but the seller mentions the total came to $24,000 after auction fees, titling, and maintenance costs. Now asking $22,000, a Marketplace listing from 38 weeks ago showed an initial asking price of $22,500, which later dropped to $20,000.

      It's clear this truck hasn’t found a buyer yet, and since this is its second time on Marketplace (there may be other listings elsewhere), there could be some buyer's remorse at play. Nevertheless, the listed price seems negotiable, so don’t hesitate to make an offer.

      Have you encountered any other unique factory accessories like this? Share them with us at [email protected]!