Surf suspension Help!

[J2LF]

Hi, I have a Toyota Hilux Surf 3.0 SSR-X 11/94 (M) great thing but rear suspension is too low when towing my caravan. I have had a quote for £103.00 to give it more support by 20%. I don’t think 20% will make any difference and sort of mad as I bought the Toyota to tow my caravan. Apparently my Surf does not have the suspension adjuster for hard or soft ride which most have. I have noticed on here that it’s up £400 to have my Surf something like. If that’s the case it’s good bye Surf. I was also surprised by its handling on grass – it slid all over the place even with the correct 4x4 setting. My old 2.5ltr Land Cruiser was fault less and was reliable in any conditions and could pull a house down with no prob. I changed to the Surf as I was told they were very good plus it is long wheel base as apposed to the short wheel base Cruiser. Any one got a reliable and practical solution to solve my problem? The Surf’s immaculate in black and everyone looks at it. Looks is one thing or should I go back to the Land Cruiser?
John
Email j2firingline@hotmail.com.

[kitesurf_phil]

I fitted the +20% springs from Milner myself. They made a huge difference to my Surf when towing. At £48/pair it was money well spent. I usually set the nose weight at about 75Kg.

[MattF]

20% stronger springs will make a difference as you are replacing the original
worn springs which have most likely sagged anyway, getting your rear height
back to iriginal with a stronger spring to boot. As Phil said, the springs are
under £50, so the garage isn't charging that much for fitting either. Nowhere
on the site does it say £400 quid to get your rear suspension sorted, BTW.
Not unless you're highly modifying it.

What tyres do you have fitted? Are they still the original Jap tyres? Are you
just not driving for the surface conditions? Tyres or driving style will affect
your grip.

[marky]

I also tow a caravan & the 20% Milners springs made a big difference. Youre original springs may be knackered anyway as the SURF suffers butt sag after a few years of abuse.

[nero279]

As people already said the surfs tend to sag at the back anyway, i used roughtrax 2" lift springs and got no problems now. Also tyres make a massive difference, i couldn't believe the difference when i changed mine.

I ended up pulling caravans and trailers up a fairly steep hill out of a field while we were away camping back in the summer, after it rained and was too slippy for the cars that towed em in to pull em out again. No problem's at all. Road tyes are nearly always $$$$e on anything but tarmac, a decent set of all terrains will sort out your sliding on wet grass. You probably won't even need 4wd.

[stormforce]

here's a couple of b4 and after shots of mine with 5" lift 2"body and 3" suspension lift

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v6...&addtype=local

[colin timney]

got mine from roughtrax and it has gave more than a two inch lift,the dog used to be able to jump in no problem now he has to take a run and jump.
colin

[Ballibeg]

If you put on 2" lift springs do you need to change the shocks?

Dave

[stormforce]

If you put on 2" lift springs do you need to change the shocks?

Dave

no,you can keep the standard shocks

[colin timney]

no,you can keep the standard shocks

hope so,left the standard shocks on(well the lad in the garage would have told me to get them changed).anyway it seem to drive better than it did before
colin

[stormforce]

with the 2" lift springs i think you only get about 1 1/2" of lift anyway but anything over the 2" lift you would need differant shocks

[nero279]

You could get more than a 2" lift from whatever it was at depending on how knackered the springs you took off were, you'll get about 1-2" lift from standard height with the roughtrax ones.