The pmjn.co.uk website - Surf page

Crunch!

Minor accident - February in the snow. Slid head-on towards another vehicle coming hte other way in a sunken lane. Both vehicles swung away into the hedges,  so damage was limited to scraping down the off sides. As a result, the big SURF graphics down each side are no more. The front bar is also long gone, fortunately - this would have made the damage much worse, as the OEM bars are a little fragile, and tend to bend in and trash the bonnet and headlights...

I have now acquired and fitted a manual winch - this fits into the towbar socket, and while it may not quite lift the truck out of a ditch, it should be enough to pull cars out, and also pull trees the right way for felling (the reason for fitting it in the first place!). Pictures will appear as soon as I get my act together...

And here they are! As usual, click on the picture to see a full size version.



Saitoshi has kindly translated the visor card detailing how to use the transfer gearbox - domo arigato, Saitoshi-san.
The translation was literal, so I have in turn anglicised the phrasing and syntax, and converted km/h to mph.
I make no representations as to the accuracy of the information, and the card is presented here for you to use if you wish, at your own risk.
Link to the pdf file is in the nav bar on the left.

Haven't had the time, inclination or money to do any mods, apart from ripping out the Japan-only satnav system, as they won't work at all in Europe, and fitting a UK market stereo (freebie - thanks, Mark). 

So, if you're buying a Surf, DON'T let the vendor use an original satellite navigation system and TV as a selling point - the satnav won't work, and the TV is NTSC, not PAL (or possibly vice versa), so won't display UK TV pictures.

Driving the beast

.It's lovely to drive, without forgetting that it's a 2-tonne truck on Ice & Snow tyres - Yokohama Geolandar I/Ts, which came fitted when I bought it. The tyres are actually quite good in the wet, as they are designed for  Japanese winters, and therefore get warm enough under normal UK temperatures!
Japanese market tyres usually have a harder compound than is usual for UK market tyres, so they don't get really get warm enough to work properly, hence the common perception that Japanese tyres aren't very good. They are, when correctly specified for UK climates - I have had excellent results with Yokohamas before on a variety of vehicles from a Mini Cooper (the management's car) to an Omega estate (company car).

April 2006

Went off-road in France - got quite happily lost in the garrigue (scrubland) near Fitou, following road marked as metalled in the AA Road Atlas...

Yes, it really WAS that steep - click the pic to see a full-size photo. The ruts are not quite deep enough to scrape the diffs. The Surf didn't have a problem, but daughter Sarah wasn't quite so keen... Thanks to Helen for taking the photos.

Problems

No real problems thus far, apart from the alarm repeatedly failing on - sorted under warranty by Sexton's of Bristol, who originally fitted the unit. Good response from the Sextons MD, and a sound bunch at their Wandsworth shop.

07.01.06
CD autochanger is starting to act up - it skips dramatically whenever I go over a bump or when cornering. It seems to be worse when the unit has been playing for a while, so could well be a combination of worn dampers and an iffy voltage regulator. Either way, it looks like a replacement is imminent, or at least when I can afford it! Repair is going to be at least £80, so that doesn't really hold water.

21.02.06
Managed to knock off the rear fog light. It is a bit vulnerable, being mounted on the tow bar bracket underneath the back of the truck. I have had a look for some flushifitting units - these are a bit pricy, so I will have to fit another under-slung light for the moment, and look around some more for some lights to fit into the bumper.

11.08.07
Full service - changing all the fluids and all the filters, lubricating everything and checking settings according to the book. Passed the MOT later in the week with no problems, although with an advisory on the exhaust - centre box will need replacing before the world is very much older.

18.08.07
New tyre time -- another pair of Yokohamas, ATs this time, replacing the fronts, and switching fronts to rears.
They do seem somewhat quieter, although that may be just my imagination,  or reduced loading due to a much lighter wallet...