My Towing Rig

[simon_doc]

Finally managed to get some shots today when we were at a show.
The Surf. SSRG V6 Gen 3


The full setup with the horsebox on the back:


Now bear in mind that with 2 full sized horses in the box we can be towing over 2.25 tons at the hitch, hence the reason for opting for the model with this bad boy under the bonnet.


The 3.4, complete with sequential multipoint LPG injection to try to keep my wallet from screaming too loudly.

Si

[lord_flashart]

Wow! What MPG do you get with that both with and without the horse box?

[simon_doc]

Here's the figures so far flash.
Petrol MPG:
Motorway: 28 Mpg - Approx 60 - 70 mph
Normal extra urban driving: 23 mpg.
Towing: 20 mpg.**

LPG:
Motorway: 26 Mpg - Approx 60 - 70 mph
Normal extra urban driving: 21 mpg.
Towing: 18 mpg.**

** When towing I always drive it on the tacho not the speedo and keep it between 2000 and 3000 rpm where practicable.

Will be giving it a damned good service and some TLC at the weekend, so I do expect those figures to rise a little.
Will say this though. After the last 7 years of oil burner Mitsubishis and the small engined Zukis it's nice to be in something that when you put your foot it actually takes off at a decent rate!

Simon

[KERRSURF]

Nice looking truck.

[TonyN]

Yum, nice engine, not enough of those around.

[simon_doc]

Very true tony. I came accross this one by chance and I had to have it. Had a devil of a time insuring it though as next to no insurers have the 3.4 on their database.
After discussing MPG with a L/C Colorado 3.0D owner I am not getting any different fuel consumption to them with an extra 30% or so horsepower!
Now I wonder if I can import a TRD supercharger and ECU without the missus noticing? Hehe

Si

[sv1000spilot]

Post edited for vote

Finally managed to get some shots today when we were at a show.
The Surf. SSRG V6 Gen 3

[jonathan blane]

Insurance for 3.4 litre ?

Hello.
Grateful if you could advise which Insurers you are with as

Footman James are refusing to quote me for a 3.4 litre, bizarrely claiming that they cannot do 'as it's an import' .

Well, yes it is but so were the 2.4 and 3 litre Surfs they were happy to insure before..........

[jonathan blane]

Insurance for 3.4 litre ?

Hello.
Grateful if you could advise which Insurers you are with as

Footman James are refusing to quote me for a 3.4 litre, bizarrely claiming that they cannot do 'as it's an import' .

Well, yes it is but so were the 2.4 and 3 litre Surfs they were happy to insure before..........

[simon_doc]

Hi Jon. Apologies for not replying till now. Didn't get email notification of your question until this afternoong.
I had that problem with insurance as well. The 3.4 not being as popular as the oil burner 3.0 doesn't come up on many insurers database.
Insured the truck with Lifesure. They are on google .
They were very good and actually insured it for the same price as a Landcruiser Colorado 3.4 which as we all know it is based on.
Price was £421, fully comp, 6000 miles a year, my age: 44, the missus (age 52) as a named driver, 3 years NCD, low risk area, parked on the road at night.
When you do speak to lifesure ask for Adam Cakebread. He really is a top bloke, knows his stuff and will help all he can. If he's busy ask them to get him to call you back.
Prior to calling lifesure I was getting quotes at £700+!

Si

[jonathan blane]

thanks

Simon

Thanks for taking the trouble to give me this excellent lead.

Since requesting the info I have in fact received a decent basic quote [ under £400 ] from Adrian Flux via a website inquiry.

My other issue is that, as I am retired and wish to at least have the freedom to stay in the S of France for a few months in summer, I need insurance which allows that and doesn't restrict EU driiving to 30 or 60 days as most of them do.


I do already have exactly that flexibility with my current [ 2.4 diesel 1992 J reg ] Surf insured via Footman James - which allows unlimited driving in EU plus full breakdown cover EU and UK for just over £400 p.a..

I had hoped to be able to just switch the cover to the [ not yet arrived ] 3.4 litre [ same value car, 1996 vintage ] for not much more than an administrative fee, which I have done in the past, but strangely they are coming up with this 'It's imported' line, meaning, I suppose that they cannot find it on their databases [ but I thought the whole point about F-J was that they do cover unusual and grey import vehicles ].

I have a couple of weeks till the 'new' baby

http://www.tradecarview.com/used_car...+surf/8984711/

ships in at Port of Tyne so I suppose I will just have to dedicate more hours on the 'phone between your recommendation and Adrian Flux trying to get a reasonable price which covers the actual car, plus France, plus breakdown ins.............


Many thanks again.