Owning a Hilux Surf is a bit different to owning most four-wheel drives. The trucks themselves are easy enough to fall in love with. Finding the right parts, knowing what fits, and sorting through years of forum posts to find the answer you're actually looking for is another story entirely. That's something Campbell Pryce discovered not long after buying his first Surf in 2018.
After a couple of trips to Muriwai Beach in a mate's truck, he spent about a month hunting down one of his own before finding a 1996 third-generation Hilux Surf SSR-G. It was the top-spec model, complete with the sort of features that made Japanese imports of the era so appealing: a sunroof, power rear window, power mirrors and plenty of '90s woodgrain throughout the cabin. Three months later, the factory cylinder head cracked.
The $3,500 repair bill was only the start. Like many older Surfs, the truck needed continual attention as worn components were replaced and years of previous maintenance caught up with it. Campbell found himself spending more and more time on forums and Facebook groups looking for answers, but while the information was out there, it wasn't always easy to find. Sourcing parts wasn't much different, often meaning searching multiple New Zealand suppliers or ordering from overseas.
By 2021, Campbell had noticed something else. Owners in the United States had built huge communities around the Toyota 4Runner, while Hilux Surf enthusiasts in the UK had communities of their own. There wasn't really anything similar for New Zealand owners. Surf Syndicate started as an attempt to change that.
What began as a Facebook group quickly became a place where owners could share advice, compare builds and organise the occasional meet-up. Around 10 vehicles attended the first gathering at Muriwai Beach. The latest attracted more than 30, while the Facebook community has grown to more than 8,500 members from around the world.
Running the group also highlighted another problem. The same questions kept coming up, not just about technical issues, but about where to buy parts. Campbell had already experienced the same frustration himself after seeing products on Instagram that were either expensive to import or difficult to source locally. Finding the right component often meant searching through multiple suppliers before eventually tracking down what you needed. The Surf Syndicate online store launched in early 2023 to simplify that process.
Rather than manufacturing its own products, the business began by bringing together parts from established New Zealand suppliers, including Airplex, Rugged Valley, Trundles Automotive, Flatout Offroad, Anomaly Offroad and, later, North Shore Toyota. Campbell also produced Surf Syndicate stickers and window banners himself, drawing on his background as a signwriter.
The catalogue has continued to grow with products sourced from Japan, Australia, China and the United States, covering everything from replacement interior parts and dash mats through to indicators, lighting and other accessories. International shipping followed, opening the business to owners well beyond New Zealand.
One of Surf Syndicate's biggest customer bases is now the United States, where imported right-hand-drive Hilux Surfs often require parts that aren't available through the domestic 4Runner market. Earlier this year, the business supplied its 1,000th customer across seven countries.
More recently, Surf Syndicate has begun producing free resources aimed at helping owners get more out of their vehicles. The Buyer's Bible covers all six generations of the Hilux Surf and Toyota 4Runner, along with the different engine options used across the platform, giving prospective buyers a better understanding of what to look for before handing over their money. Engine-specific Service Guides are also due to launch, with the aim of helping owners stay on top of maintenance before small jobs become expensive ones.
They're the sort of resources Campbell wishes had existed when he bought his first Surf. If they save another owner from the same costly mistakes, they'll have done exactly what they were designed to do.
You can check out their website here: https://www.surfsyndicate.co.nz/
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