Toyota Hilux Surf..
Discussion
GravelBen said:
Try to avoid the old 2.4td motor, they have very common heat issues. The 2.8 & 3.0 lump is pretty bulletproof though.
biggest mistake i ever made was not learning this about the 2.4's.bought a really nice SSR-G (maroon over silver) hilux from an importers when i was 24 - it looked awesome: lift kit, 33" tyres, bull bars, spots, snorkel.
8 weeks later the cylinder head went pop on the a303 in somerset and warped the entire engine. had it recovered and couldnt afford to fix it so never saw it again.
8 weeks ownership cost me £4.5k
I've got a 1996 SSRX 3rd Gen auto 3.0L TD, Blue over Silver. On a steady run at 70mph i'll get 27mpg on a run. Keep it below 2500rpm and it should be doable. Roughly 400miles to a 70Ltr tank, very useful range. Will carry 600Kg internally and tow 2500Kg. Not bad for a vehicle that weighs 2 Tons. Later 3rd Gen is based on the LWB Landcruiser chassis. Massive boot.
I'll get a pic on soon.
Ultra reliable workhorse is not an understatement. Within a couple of weeks of getting mine i did a fully laden trip to Spain and back, via France. Took 1.5days on my own and i was there for a week doing a fair few miles on top. Not once did it give me cause for concern or a hiccup, in some very hot external temps (38C) at times there and back. Still going good today, done a couple of trips to Scotland with my partner and the dogs, and going again this weekend.
Do regular oil changes and grease propshafts every 5000miles (8000Km) and you'll be good to go. Do diffs and partial gearbox fluid change every 2nd engine oil change (use a new filter every time), change diesel filter when you do geabox and diffs. New cambelt every 100,000Km, really easy to do. Tyres last ages.
Very relaxed, comfortable and quiet cruiser with the auto box, not that slow off the mark as it pulls away really well from lights and junctions quickly enough. Legendary off-road ability, and drives fine on the road. Just make sure you get those wheels balanced properly by someone that uses a 3 or 6 stud bolt on adapter as those big tyres can wobble a bit over 55mph. That way you can get sticky balance weights placed on the inside of the rim. Hubcentric balance adapter won't balance tyres properly.
I think it's much better/cooler looking than a Landcruiser, certainly gets looks, and there aren't that many about. Consumables and parts are plentiful though and servicing is dead easy.
Just make sure whatever you get is as low miles as possible and hasn't come from a dealer otherwise you'll pay way OTT.
There's an old saying in Australia. If you want to go into the bush get a Land Rover. If you want to come back get a Landcruiser. (If you own a Land Rover don't get hump, it's just a joke
)
I suppose if you want to do something different with it you could always fit a large calibre machine gun on the back like they do in Libya
Go on....treat yourself!!
I'll get a pic on soon.
Ultra reliable workhorse is not an understatement. Within a couple of weeks of getting mine i did a fully laden trip to Spain and back, via France. Took 1.5days on my own and i was there for a week doing a fair few miles on top. Not once did it give me cause for concern or a hiccup, in some very hot external temps (38C) at times there and back. Still going good today, done a couple of trips to Scotland with my partner and the dogs, and going again this weekend.
Do regular oil changes and grease propshafts every 5000miles (8000Km) and you'll be good to go. Do diffs and partial gearbox fluid change every 2nd engine oil change (use a new filter every time), change diesel filter when you do geabox and diffs. New cambelt every 100,000Km, really easy to do. Tyres last ages.
Very relaxed, comfortable and quiet cruiser with the auto box, not that slow off the mark as it pulls away really well from lights and junctions quickly enough. Legendary off-road ability, and drives fine on the road. Just make sure you get those wheels balanced properly by someone that uses a 3 or 6 stud bolt on adapter as those big tyres can wobble a bit over 55mph. That way you can get sticky balance weights placed on the inside of the rim. Hubcentric balance adapter won't balance tyres properly.
I think it's much better/cooler looking than a Landcruiser, certainly gets looks, and there aren't that many about. Consumables and parts are plentiful though and servicing is dead easy.
Just make sure whatever you get is as low miles as possible and hasn't come from a dealer otherwise you'll pay way OTT.
There's an old saying in Australia. If you want to go into the bush get a Land Rover. If you want to come back get a Landcruiser. (If you own a Land Rover don't get hump, it's just a joke
)I suppose if you want to do something different with it you could always fit a large calibre machine gun on the back like they do in Libya
Go on....treat yourself!!
Hi, i owned one for 6 years, 3ltr SSRX, what a tool. Forget the mpg just enjoy it, wish i had replaced mine instead of buying the fozzy.
Fantastic in the snow, went all over Derbyshire trying to get stuck, made a few quid towing cars out of ditches etc.
Only a few issues with these,:
Check the raditor cap, mine the seal had perished and whilst chasing a BMW X5 down the M1 it blew all the coolant out and cracked the head. Otherwise these engines are ultra strong.
Rear window motor prone to fail, around £120 to buy and simple to replace, avoid the 2nd hand thats why they are up for sale.
Front brake disc's heavy wear, heavy right foot
. I used to get around 40k ish 2 sets of pads and a set of disc's approx every 2 years.
Clunking rear diff on corners, limited slip worn. Mine still went on and on and on, expect to see galactic miles on these when looked after.
Starter motor contact wear, simple fix.
Speedo drive on g/box plastic drive cog can wear intermitent until it fails
Wear in the steering linkage, pitman arm etc
Go for the SSRG, better spec
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/
Great forum with loads of advice better than a haynes manual.
Also Milners at Matlock: http://www.milneroffroad.com/
Fantastic in the snow, went all over Derbyshire trying to get stuck, made a few quid towing cars out of ditches etc.
Only a few issues with these,:
Check the raditor cap, mine the seal had perished and whilst chasing a BMW X5 down the M1 it blew all the coolant out and cracked the head. Otherwise these engines are ultra strong.
Rear window motor prone to fail, around £120 to buy and simple to replace, avoid the 2nd hand thats why they are up for sale.
Front brake disc's heavy wear, heavy right foot
. I used to get around 40k ish 2 sets of pads and a set of disc's approx every 2 years.Clunking rear diff on corners, limited slip worn. Mine still went on and on and on, expect to see galactic miles on these when looked after.
Starter motor contact wear, simple fix.
Speedo drive on g/box plastic drive cog can wear intermitent until it fails
Wear in the steering linkage, pitman arm etc
Go for the SSRG, better spec
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/
Great forum with loads of advice better than a haynes manual.
Also Milners at Matlock: http://www.milneroffroad.com/
Edited by Crazysteve on Saturday 5th November 22:08
What CrazySteve said......I haven't had any of those problems yet, maybe they are yet to come, but mine has now done 185,000Km.
Looked after and not chasing M5's..lol...i can see it doing 350,000-400,000Km before i think about an engine rebuild and replacing a few other parts. I won't be modding it yet with 4-6" lifts or other interesting things as i think it's fine as standard....For the moment....
hilux.co.uk is a good site, i'm a member there too, and RoughTrax at www.roughtrax4x4.com is a good place to get all manner of engine parts and servicing bits/consumables.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/3J9BG7xi.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/23TyGBl7" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/23TyGBl7.jpg)
Looked after and not chasing M5's..lol...i can see it doing 350,000-400,000Km before i think about an engine rebuild and replacing a few other parts. I won't be modding it yet with 4-6" lifts or other interesting things as i think it's fine as standard....For the moment....
hilux.co.uk is a good site, i'm a member there too, and RoughTrax at www.roughtrax4x4.com is a good place to get all manner of engine parts and servicing bits/consumables.
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Saturday 5th November 23:15
I'd be very surprised if it is based on a Landcruiser chassis rather than the Hilux of the same year due to size difference between the vehicles - if it is it won't be the full-size VX cruiser but the Prado, but even that is a fair bit bigger than a surf.
They're pretty capable off-road but still a step down from the likes of a proper Landcruiser, Patrol/Safari, Landrover etc in terms of ability on really rough stuff.
Bargain value now though (where I am at least), keep up with oil changes etc and they'll clock up megamiles.
They're pretty capable off-road but still a step down from the likes of a proper Landcruiser, Patrol/Safari, Landrover etc in terms of ability on really rough stuff.
Bargain value now though (where I am at least), keep up with oil changes etc and they'll clock up megamiles.
Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 6th November 08:48
GravelBen said:
I'd be very surprised if it is based on a Landcruiser chassis rather than the Hilux of the same year due to size difference between the vehicles - if it is it won't be the full-size VX cruiser but the Prado, but even that is a fair bit bigger than a surf.
They're pretty capable off-road but still a step down from the likes of a proper Landcruiser, Patrol/Safari, Landrover etc in terms of ability on really rough stuff.
Bargain value now though (where I am at least), keep up with oil changes etc and they'll clock up megamiles.
3rd Gen (1996-on) Surf based on the Colorado(UK)/Prado(Jpn) Landcruiser chassis.They're pretty capable off-road but still a step down from the likes of a proper Landcruiser, Patrol/Safari, Landrover etc in terms of ability on really rough stuff.
Bargain value now though (where I am at least), keep up with oil changes etc and they'll clock up megamiles.
Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 6th November 08:48
ScoobieWRX said:
What CrazySteve said......I haven't had any of those problems yet, maybe they are yet to come, but mine has now done 185,000Km.
Looked after and not chasing M5's..lol...i can see it doing 350,000-400,000Km before i think about an engine rebuild and replacing a few other parts. I won't be modding it yet with 4-6" lifts or other interesting things as i think it's fine as standard....For the moment....
hilux.co.uk is a good site, i'm a member there too, and RoughTrax at www.roughtrax4x4.com is a good place to get all manner of engine parts and servicing bits/consumables.
Nice looking surfLooked after and not chasing M5's..lol...i can see it doing 350,000-400,000Km before i think about an engine rebuild and replacing a few other parts. I won't be modding it yet with 4-6" lifts or other interesting things as i think it's fine as standard....For the moment....
hilux.co.uk is a good site, i'm a member there too, and RoughTrax at www.roughtrax4x4.com is a good place to get all manner of engine parts and servicing bits/consumables.
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Saturday 5th November 23:15
Heres a few pics of mine:
old thread... but i'm new here so...
I love my Surf - Ive got a 3ltr 3rd gen intercooled version. Had the 2.4 before, but blew the head
If you are a surf-a-holic, check out www.hiluxsurf.co.uk - a dedicated forum and we are all nice folk!
I love my Surf - Ive got a 3ltr 3rd gen intercooled version. Had the 2.4 before, but blew the head
If you are a surf-a-holic, check out www.hiluxsurf.co.uk - a dedicated forum and we are all nice folk!
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff