The Hilux Surf is an odd beast. It’s based on the common Toyota Hilux pickup truck, and in the first generation was virtually identical mechanically to the pickup. In the second generation it had a full station wagon body, with two larger engine options, but shared some engine options, the chassis, much of the body and many other components with the pickup. The larger engine options were from the Landcruiser line; later generations have been closer to the Landcruiser, but sold in markets where the Landcruiser didn’t take off.
While the Landcruiser was originally the long-distance offroader, and the Hilux the utility donkey, the Surf filled the gap with a hardened utility vehicle, slightly lighter and less luxurious than the Landcruiser.
We are using second generation vehicles, from the early 90s. These are Japanese imports, with the respectably hefty 3 litre turbo diesel lump, nice air-con, dual battery systems and other such nicities. Spares for these vehicles are readily obtainable the world over, with Africa in particular saturated with Toyotas. On top of this, being a vehicle that was never sold natively in the UK, there is a relatively small market for them. In the recession, the price of all 4x4s, but especially less usual ones, collapsed, leading to a very cheap purchase. In fact it cost significantly less than our daily runner, a hateful yellow Daewoo (which will, hopefully, die soon), which we picked entirely because it was cheap.
There are some essential modifications to any vehicle attempting a journey like this. These are detailed in the Vehicle Preparation pages.
Hi guys,
just had a listen to your front wheel, wondering if it might be the constant velocity joint. The way the torque is distributed means that the left hand side is getting more than the right, which is normal, but reduces its life accordingly. I am assuming you are aware of the limitations of using your selectable 4×4 system on surfaces other than quite slippery? In saying that I am assuming too, that these Japanese market imports don’t have a third diff in the transfer box, like Landrovers…
Finding a CV joint locally should not be too difficult, but maybe you brought one with you as a spare?
We enjoyed your short visit with us; every blessing on your journey; keep listening to the news! Alastair and Anke
Hi Alistair, thanks for the reply. We reckon it is either the CV joint (we have a spare) or the bronze bush. However it’s so intermittent that it’s very difficult to diagnose it – it’s been gone for 3 or 4 days now. Maybe it just got better?!
Hello, We are happy to see you guys have finally finished and by the images it looks like it was amazing. We have also noticed that you managed to sell the jeeps in Zambia! We are looking to do the same sort of thing so we were wondering if you could give us any advice, or even contacts which would be interested in buying a jeep.
look forward to hearing from you’s
Chris
Chris et al, good to hear from you. To be honest, it’s pretty easy to sell the truck, but avoid South Africa itself as it’s basically impossible for a non-South African to import a car (as you know). Malawi and Zambia seem to be the last places on route that are relatively easy to sell. If you like I can send you the contact details of a guy in Lilongwe who was interested in selling ours for us?
Hi, I’m hoping to do an overland to Cape Town from NI too. In the process of looking for a 4×4 I found the vast majority of surfs I could find were autos? Were yours? If so was this a good or a bad thing?
Sorry about the list of questions! I think our route will be slightly different to yours but the end goal is obviously the same. It looks like you really enjoyed it and I have to say, your trip was one of the inspirations for mine so thank you for that.
Cheers
Hi Conor, I’ll send you an email with longer answers, but in short ours were autos, and it was a mixed blessing. The gearbox is extremely robust, much more so than a manual as it can’t be abused in the same way, but it does add extra systems and complexity and reduce the MPG slightly.
Looking forward to hearing more about your trip – fancy a cuppa and chat/pictures at some point?