PATRIOT CAMPERS FJ49 SET TO OPEN SEMA 2022

Patriot Campers is known for taking the 4×4 world by storm with some of the baddest 4×4 Builds in the world, a reputation that started with the iconic LC79 “The Black Truck” and continued to grow with the 6×6 LC79 “Megatourer” and the Ram 2500 “Superam”. In 2022, the Montesalvo boys are back at it again with another world first, the “FJ49”. You can watch the entire build now on Patriot Games  TV. 

The FJ49 will be on display at the SEMA Show is Las Vegas from November 1-4, 2022, located at the Toyota USA Booth #22200. The SEMA Show offers an attendee experience like no other trade show on the planet. It’s the best place to see thousands of the newest automotive performance products from new and iconic exhibitors, discover the latest product and vehicle trends, and develop essential skills by attending any one of the 70+ free education sessions – all of which are led by top industry professionals.

BACKGROUND 

The FJ49 has been a coming of age project for the Montesalvo Twins, Christian and Ashton, as they approached getting their driver’s licenses in 2021, both boys set out to purchase their first vehicles. With a Patriot Campers legacy to uphold, the decision was no easy task.  Christian and Ashton have spent every school holiday working at Patriot HQ since they were pre-teens, and were excited to take their skills to the next level with the FJ49 Build. 

After years of saving wages from Patriot Campers, Ashton was able to purchase a 45 Series LandCruiser just a few months before his 17th birthday, just in time to get his provisional license on the Gold Coast. Proud Dad and Director of Patriot Campers, Justin Montesalvo, then pitched in with company resources to help Christian and Ashton complete the build. A reward for many years of hard work.

THE CONCEPT 

After a failed first outing at Gordon Country, a local four-wheel-drive park and camping ground, Ashton decided that he wanted to update his iconic 45 series LandCruiser, to give it the reliability and performance of a modern day 79 Series LandCruiser, which is considered by many to be the pinnacle of reliability and performance in the off-road category. 

With this in mind, the teenagers set out to complete a full engine and driveline conversion utilizing an ex-mining, 2011 V8 Diesel 79 Series LandCruiser. The finished FJ49 would keep its original chassis, and borrow its engine, transmission, air conditioning components, differentials and springs from this donor vehicle, before adding in several other modern enhancements.

PERFORMANCE 

The FJ49 is engineered with a set of Harrop Eaton ELockers, which are designed specifically for four wheel drive systems, giving the driver the ability to lock or unlock the differentials when necessary. When locked, the ELockers perform as a full locker, capturing 100% of the available torque and sending it equally to both ends of the axle. Next, the team added a PWR Performance radiator and intercooler, which work together to maximize cooling efficiencies and disbursement of heat. A must for any off-roader looking for performance. 

The leaf-sprung suspension has been upgraded to a one off coil system on the front only utilizing the 79 series LandCruiser components, with the back featuring a JMACX Heavy Duty Diff Upgrade for the leaf suspension, which acts to correct the track to match the front differential as factory units are 100mm narrower. All of this performance gear rounds out with the Stainless Steel Exhaust, which acts to cool down gasses from the vehicle and prevent overheating. The team at GSL provided their expertise during the fitment of all the gear, helping out with the intake and intercooler plumbing, before Dyno Tuning the FJ49 at the GSL head office in Toowoomba, QLD.

EXTERIOR 

One of the first features that you might notice on the FJ49 is all the custom barwork, courtesy of the Engineering Team at Patriot Campers. Using 3D Scanning, the Engineering team were able to design and manufacture fully customized flares, bar work, tow bar and an EXOCAGE Roll Cage exclusively for the build. All design and fabrication work was completed in-house at Patriot Campers’ state of the art facility utilizing the most modern manufacturing techniques and with access to top shelf machinery, including Fronius welding equipment.

PCOR® Signature 261 Wheels were selected for the build in order to take advantage of the vehicle’s maximum legal track, which is a possibility thanks to the unique offset. Wrapped around the wheels are a set of BFGoodrich 35″ All-Terrain tyres, thanks to the team at Bob Jane T-Marts, who worked with Christian and Ashton on the right tyre for aesthetics and capabilities. The all-terrains deliver just that, with an aggressive tread pattern which continues through the robust sidewall design. Mounted to the front of the vehicle is a Warn High Mount Winch, which is the fastest of the WARN range and features the longest rope length. The winch motor has 10,000 lb. of capacity thanks to its 6 horsepower motor.  Fitted on board is also an Twin air compressor, which the team chose for its known reliability over time, as all of the Patriot Games vehicles have been running these compressors for the last few years without issue. 

A full suite of quad-optic LED driving lights are also fitted to the vehicle, which feature Multiplexer Projection Technology from the team at X-Ray Vision. The kit includes new headlights, and two lightbars; one 900mm and one 1200mm.  Opting for a tray back set up without canopies, Ashton has chosen to go with a more flexible setup. For weekends away, he’ll power his Dometic CFX 55L fridge with the onboard Redarc electronics suite. Rounding out the look on the exterior are a set of PCOR® MAXTRAX XTREME, which offer the most advanced 4WD recovery track on the market, so the boys can get out of whatever trouble they get themselves into in the FJ49. And of course, you can’t miss the Patina paint job.

INTERIOR  

In a 45 Series LandCruiser world-first, Redarc Systems manage every electrical input and output using a combination of a Manager 30 and a Redvision TVMS. Two lithium cranking batteries from Mega Life Batteries power the whole system, including a 350 watt Redarc inverter, which will allow Ashton to charge small items like phones, and power a small stereo system. 

A Boost and EGT Gauge monitors the engine performance, and a TowPro Electric Brake Controller has also been fitted, both from Redarc.  The TowPro has been installed as a part of the PCOR Trail Connect system, which  is a complete wiring solution for the tow pro and anderson plug connection, which allows for an uncomplicated wiring set up and fast, no fuss installation. 

An interior of any Patriot Games build wouldn’t be complete without an XRS Connect UHF Radio system from GME, which features bluetooth and game-changing XRS Connect Location Services via a smartphone app. Other prominent features of the cab include a Nardi steering wheel, custom upholstery and an overhead console.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FJ49

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