i used to like my surf

[ziggy]

Hi i would just like to share with you all my surf experience. after owning a 2nd gen 2.4 surf with no probs for 3 years untill the day i took it for an off road fun day, rad got blocked with mud overheat and head cracked ok i scraped it i was hooked the 3.0 was far better i was told lol ok so i bought an ssrg 3.0 95 after only two weeks of owning it overheat head cracked hew head from roughtrax very good quality i must say new cam belt ect bill £1400 inc fitting from a local garage (dont buy your surf off ebay)ok so all fine now well no the dam thing can only tow 1500kg and it gets hot giong up a hill lol.so my point is if you want to tow dont buy a surf the cooling system is crap and u will be lucky to get 25mpg

[Albannach]

You got 25mpg? Lucky sod!

[KERRSURF]

25mpg.....I can dream.

And you can retro fit a transmission cooler, it helps when towing.

[si tate]

My 3.0L 3rd gen tows my caravan with no problem what so ever but my friend who owns a 3.0L 2nd gen had over heating problems when towing until he fit an oil cooler off a shogun.

Im not slagging 2nd gens but for towing a 3rd gen is much better.

[ziggy]

25mpg.....I can dream.

And you can retro fit a transmission cooler, it helps when towing.

i said lucky to get 25 mpg lol and i aint lucky hence the new head after 2 weeks

[KERRSURF]

I just had that same pleasure, new Roughtrax head fitted but I did it myself so avoided the garage bills.

[ziggy]

My 3.0L 3rd gen tows my caravan with no problem what so ever but my friend who owns a 3.0L 2nd gen had over heating problems when towing until he fit an oil cooler off a shogun.

Im not slagging 2nd gens but for towing a 3rd gen is much better.

i wish i had bought a third gen

[ziggy]

I just had that same pleasure, new Roughtrax head fitted but I did it myself so avoided the garage bills.

well done i was going to do it but chickened out lol

[Albannach]

i wish i had bought a third gen

I wish I hadn't got married. Some marriages last, some don't; some surfs last, some don't. But hey, we all live and learn.

[KERRSURF]

I wish I hadn't got married. Some marriages last, some don't; some surfs last, some don't. But hey, we all live and learn.

So wise but yet so young.

[ziggy]

My 3.0L 3rd gen tows my caravan with no problem what so ever but my friend who owns a 3.0L 2nd gen had over heating problems when towing until he fit an oil cooler off a shogun.

Im not slagging 2nd gens but for towing a 3rd gen is much better.

yea i tow a horse box mainly only 1400kg inc horse just a shame the surf gets hot up hills and after the recent new head find im staring at the temp gauge all the time lol

[si tate]

i wish i had bought a third gen

Fit a transmission cooler off a shogun mate, you can pick one up from a scraper for next to nowt & fit it your self or get the garage who's doing the head to fit it for you, big difference when towing believe me.

[si tate]

yea i tow a horse box mainly only 1400kg inc horse just a shame the surf gets hot up hills and after the recent new head find im staring at the temp gauge all the time lol

My mate had exactly the same problem "up hills" never had it over heat since fitting the cooler & that was 6 months ago & he tow's a twin axle 21 foot caravan & he says, i quote "it doesn't even break a sweet now"

[Apache]

As others have said, fit ATF cooler and think about locking the torque converter (use 2nd when towing up hill etc).

Its not that Surfs are weak, there are techniques for mitigation of overheating etc.

A clean, efficient rad with decent airflow (ie no row of spots in front of the grill) and a decent ATF cooler and it wont even think about overheating.

[TonyN]

Hi i would just like to share with you all my surf experience. after owning a 2nd gen 2.4 surf with no probs for 3 years untill the day i took it for an off road fun day, rad got blocked with mud overheat and head cracked ok i scraped it i was hooked the 3.0 was far better i was told lol ok so i bought an ssrg 3.0 95 after only two weeks of owning it overheat head cracked hew head from roughtrax very good quality i must say new cam belt ect bill £1400 inc fitting from a local garage (dont buy your surf off ebay)ok so all fine now well no the dam thing can only tow 1500kg and it gets hot giong up a hill lol.so my point is if you want to tow dont buy a surf the cooling system is crap and u will be lucky to get 25mpg

Anyone will be upset about spending that sort of money on a new car, but if you'd look on here or anywhere you'll find 1500kg is the max towing weight for US 4Runners, with UK ones being the same or 2200kg according to some dealers.

You bought a duff truck, don't blame the truck! lol.

If you want to legally tow over 2200kg, you need a LandCrusier or a 3rd Gen, or if you want to use the Surf fit a AFT cooler, this cures all the overheating issues when towing assuming your rad isn't blocked like lots are. They only overheat when towing because the hot AFT fluid goes through the Rad and heats the coolant up just as it leaves the rad. Also check the Viscous fan is driving properly, if the fluid is old/leaked it won't be pulling air through the rad properly.

They are great trucks, you have to buy one from somewhere, it doesn't matter where you get it from, used cars are always a lottery.

(I would have done your head for £1200.... )