Toyota 4 Runner / Surf (differences between)

[thrower78]

Hi all someone can probably answer this for me very quickly.

What is the difference between the 4 runners and the surf's or are they essentaly the same vechicle? Did they have different engines or was the Surf just the up speced version of the runner? If they are different vechicles what were the differences.

Where the all IFS or when did they change from Solid axle to IFS?

Thanks Andrew

[GippsSurfer]

The SURF is obviously a fully imported model and as such has a few differences... TURBO being probably one of the bigger items... Most will have full electrics and AUTO... I have a 92 model and mine is IFS (I think from the 2nd gen model on they are IFS)

[FourXfouR]

Hey mate from what I gather the surf is a specced up version and ran the 2.4 and 3.0 turbo diesel engines. The 4Runners ran the 2.4, 2.8 N/A hilux diesel engines and the 3.0 V6 petrol and the 22R i think

earlier 4Runners had solid axle but not sure what year the change over was

[Struth]

Another difference will be the extra charges you receive for insuring a Surf v a Runner. The Runners being Australian delivered are cheaper to insure.

Another is the look of disdain you get when you ask a Toyo dealer for Surf parts, even though most are identical to the Runner.

a third is that a Surf will generally be cheaper to buy than a comparible 4 Runner.

You need an SR5 Runner to get electric windows, cruise, etc whereas I beleive most Surfs will have these.


Cheers

[thrower78]

thanks guys the surf then had the more powerful motor 3L TD same as the one in the lux

[Spoony's Nightmare]

try here for all surf and 4runner info
ToyotaSurf Australia Site (http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au)

Basically after the first GEN surfs and 4runners (the 2 door one like mine with the removable canopy on the back)... 4runners were no longer sold as diesels in Australia. So the main difference from 2nd GEN onwards in Australia is

4runner = petrol
Surf = Diesel

yes there are petrol surfs in Japan.. but I dont think anybody has ever bothered to import one to Australia.

[A1 Mech]

ozzy 4runners came out with 2L(2.4D), 3L(2.8D), 22r(2.4 petrol) and 3.0V6. Much the same motors as the hiluxs of the same era. The surfs however ran either 2Lt or 2Lt-e (2.4TD) or 1kz-te (3.0TD). Also the later model surfs came with a possible 3.4 V6 prado powerplant. As far as chassis, drivetrain and body they are virtually identical. The surfs tended to have more gadgets such as sunroofs, elec windows, and fancy seats. Wer as 4runners (unless SR5) wer basically a hilux interior with sum carpet.

All gen2 on 4runners/surfs are 5link coil on the rear and Tbar IFS in the front. I cud be mistaken but I also think that gen1 4runners wer leaf wer as surfs of the same year wer IFS. Cheers

[Trojan]

Basically after the first GEN surfs and 4runners (the 2 door one like mine with the removable canopy on the back)... 4runners were no longer sold as diesels in Australia. So the main difference from 2nd GEN onwards in Australia is

4runner = petrol
Surf = Diesel

yes there are petrol surfs in Japan.. but I dont think anybody has ever bothered to import one to Australia.

*N130 4Runners came with a Diesel, the same 2.8L Diesel as the Hilux, just never in turbo form. It even has the same model deignation as the 2.4L Surf as an LN130.

As for "full electrics and better seating" myth, aussie SR5 4Runners can be found with nearly all the same electric options and exactly the same seats and interior using the exact same material. Surfs just can be found with the Recaro option interior aswell. You're just going to find a fully optioned surf easier then 4Runner, for the simple fact importers only even really bother importing higher specced models.

[Spoony's Nightmare]

ozzy 4runners came out with 2L(2.4D), 3L(2.8D), 22r(2.4 petrol) and 3.0V6. Much the same motors as the hiluxs of the same era. The surfs however ran either 2Lt or 2Lt-e (2.4TD) or 1kz-te (3.0TD). Also the later model surfs came with a possible 3.4 V6 prado powerplant. As far as chassis, drivetrain and body they are virtually identical. The surfs tended to have more gadgets such as sunroofs, elec windows, and fancy seats. Wer as 4runners (unless SR5) wer basically a hilux interior with sum carpet.

All gen2 on 4runners/surfs are 5link coil on the rear and Tbar IFS in the front. I cud be mistaken but I also think that gen1 4runners wer leaf wer as surfs of the same year wer IFS. Cheers

WOW i did not know that.... I was sure they stopped the diesel 4runners after gen 1.. well you learn something every day.

and you are mistaken about the leaf and ifs front of gen 1 surfs and 4runners.
I have owned both and they were both IFS.. HOWEVER, the earlier LN60 (till 86) 4runner is solid axle leaf. I have never seen an example of an imported gen1 surf with a solid axle... but wow what a find if they are out there..

[A1 Mech]

yer I wasnt sure about that one as I no of 2 gen 1 4runners/surfs and the surf is an ssr limited IFS and the 4runner a solid axle. similar year. Yer u dont c to many gen2 4runners with the 2.8D, Mine is one of them and I think only the DX and deluxe models had them, let me tell u they Benefit greatly from turbo charging lol.

[Spoony's Nightmare]

yea i can imagine...
spare a thought for me tho... i'm still running the non-turbo 2.4!! good ol 2L.

I'm re-building a turbo 2L tho to go in some day soon.

[A1 Mech]

hehe gota love sluggishness. If u fit a 3L head to the 2L does it increase the capacity? or is it in the actual bore of the cylinders?

[Spoony's Nightmare]

god i wish that was the case....its in the bore... unfortunately
the only reason its fashionable to fit a 3L head is that the 2LTE heads are notorious for cracking and really not built for Australian climates... the 3L has way bigger cooling galleries... hence its far more reliable.

[Nemesis]

The early Gen2 base 4runners (around 89-90) had leaf rear IFS front ;)

[A1 Mech]

Really? in our shape bryan? Havent seen one of them b4

[Trojan]

Yer u dont c to many gen2 4runners with the 2.8D, Mine is one of them and I think only the DX and deluxe models had them

The *N130 SR5's could be had with all engine options in the first couple of years of manufacture (1989/90) including the 2.8L Diesel (i have one) before the V6 was introduced in 1991. Once the V6 came out, you could only get SR5's with the V6 and the Diesel only available in the DX or Deluxe, whichever was considered the base model for that year.

[billdoggy]

The early Gen2 base 4runners (around 89-90) had leaf rear IFS front ;)

this was an optional choice on the change over models. toyota had too many gen 1 chassis with the ifs front and leaf rear to just tip em. by end of 90 you couldnt get a leaf spring any where near a 4runner or their foreign counterparts. (at least thats what the info i have tells me. mine is a gen 1 body on a late 89 chassis that can have a gen 2 body bolt on without skun knuckles.)

[Crunch]

Gen1:

LN - Diesel (L - 2.2D, 2L 2.4D)
YN - Petrol (3y - 2.0L, 4y - 2.2L; both carby)
60 - Leaf front/rear (84-85)
63 - IFS, leaf rear

All surfs are IFS, including Gen1's, and from 86 onwards.
Brown, Dark Blue, Grey interiors Chronologically.

89 was the gen1/gen2 change over year

Power options were only available in Gen1 SURFS.
SR5 power options available in Gen2. - But that may only be in SR5 Limited too, not 100% sure.

[taresk]

From what I understand, all but the base model Surf's (very rarely imported) had a very different t-case aswell.

[MRF-Dru]

yeh its interesting to see the differences, because its possible that could be my next car is either the runner / surf depend what i can find once my lux sells next year :S Would love to find a nice cruiser to work with but $$ could prevent that. V.hard to find a good condition runner nowadays and id rather not use a surf, dunno what it is just dont really seem to like em.

Another possible buying my parents maza 6 and keeping the lux as long term build. :S been talking to boof, twisty and few of the other guys about this because im really torn between what i want to do as far as 4x4 build up goes, if i do end up keeping my lux expect a v8 lexus in it early next year tho :D


Cheers,
Andy

[Spoony's Nightmare]

Gen1:

LN - Diesel (L - 2.2D, 2L 2.4D)
YN - Petrol (3y - 2.0L, 4y - 2.2L; both carby)
60 - Leaf front/rear (84-85)
63 - IFS, leaf rear

All surfs are IFS, including Gen1's, and from 86 onwards.
Brown, Dark Blue, Grey interiors Chronologically.

89 was the gen1/gen2 change over year

Power options were only available in Gen1 SURFS.
SR5 power options available in Gen2. - But that may only be in SR5 Limited too, not 100% sure.

all ture except that the 61 is the IFS, leaf rear.. not 63 (thats a model of hilux)

lol.. i'm feeling pedantic

[Crunch]

all ture except that the 61 is the IFS, leaf rear.. not 63 (thats a model of hilux)

lol.. i'm feeling pedantic

Survey says... buh bow.
Here's a screen shot from the REPCO catalogue, should clear it up... although it doesn't help much with the original question :p

(I'm also feeling pedantic :p)
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4180/screenshotrepcoug9.jpg