MEGA 6×6 | Patriot Campers Monster Land Cruiser

The now famous LC79 4×4 ‘Black Truck’ just wasn’t enough. Justin Montesalvo, director of Patriot Campers, had to go bigger and more extreme and show the world what his team was truly capable of. The love for Toyota Land Cruiser is strong at Patriot, so taking a LC79 and turning it into a 6×6 on portals was the next evolution of the Supertourer program.

The team at Patriot calls this monster the Mega6x6. It’s rolling on 37-inch BFG KM3 mud-terrains, has up to 8 inches of lift, and has a fully functional six-wheel drive system.

“The largest strength … is its massive ground clearance and low center of gravity. This of course is because of the portal axles, adjustable air-ride suspension, and massive tires.”

The build debuted at the Melbourne 4×4 Show in 2018. Since then, it has done a wide range of serious overland adventures across Australia and recently the U.S., after its SEMA Show debut in 2022. It is currently on the auto show circuit with Toyota U.S.A. between off-road excursions.

While there is no doubt this truck was built to turn heads and showcase the top-notch work at Patriot Campers at big shows, it was also built to be a real-world capable vehicle for long-range overland travel. Montesalvo and his team at Patriot Games TV have shown this time and time again by taking this beast on properly difficult off-road adventures and sharing those adventures on YouTube.

Mega 6×6 Updates

The only big issue the Patriot team has dealt with on the Mega6x6 over the years is the transmission. It started life with the stock 70-Series Land Cruiser 5-speed manual transmission, but in 2022 it was updated with a Wholesales Automatic 6-series gearbox from a 200 Series Land Cruiser. The Patriot Campers team often had to replace the clutch when coming back from trips due to the big loads it was being put under, particularly when off-roading and towing heavy loads. This was the driving factor behind their decision to switch to an automatic transmission.

A smaller issue was the suspension setup, which has gone through a few iterations of airbag systems. A setup from Airbag Man Air Ride System eliminated those early issues and has been working flawlessly for a few years now.

The only other updates over the years to the Mega6x6 have been tweaks to the PCOR canopy system. The build currently has a Half Canopy fitted to the tray, but over the years it has had different iterations, including a 3/4 Canopy and no canopy at all, depending on the trip demands it was undertaking at the time.

“The love for Toyota Land Cruisers is strong at Patriot, so taking a LC79 and turning it into a 6×6 on portals was the next evolution of the Supertourer program.”

Because 6×6

You don’t see a lot of 6×6 Land Cruisers because they are overkill for most people, aren’t easy to build well, and aren’t inexpensive. The Mega6x6 uses a JMACX Off Road Solutions 6×6 conversion kit, which was developed as a revised chassis to accommodate the extra axle. The system weighs 772 pounds more than the standard 79 Series chassis and is thought to be the lightest of its kind on the market. The chassis upgrade provides a gross vehicle weight rating upgrade of up to 13,669 pounds. A coil conversion kit ditches the leaf springs and provides a much improved smooth and comfortable ride for long distance touring.

Taking this build a notch further are Mark’s 4WD Portal Axles, which offer more ground clearance without a big lift kit and help to allow big 37-inch mud-terrains to fit on this LC79. Helping stop this huge vehicle and six big heavy tires are WP Pro Brakes with 14.2-inch rotors and 6-piston calipers.

Strengths & Weaknesses

We asked Montesalvo what the strengths and weaknesses of this special truck are. Few would know the weaknesses of such a build because few are built and even fewer are actually used for serious off-road travel. Montesalvo has continuously put the Mega6x6 to the test, so he knows firsthand exactly what it can and can’t do.

The largest strength Montesalvo said the Mega6x6 has is its massive ground clearance and low center of gravity. This of course is because of the portal axles, adjustable (up to 8 inches) air-ride suspension, and massive tires. Stability is also a big strength, provided by the wide track width portals and six wide tires. Of course, all those tires—all six of which are powered—also offer an incredible amount of traction.

A few other strengths include the massive amount of space, load-carrying capacity, impressive towing capability, and range of the vehicle. Two replacement fuel tanks are fitted, which combined hold 63 gallons of fuel. An auxiliary switch manages fuel distribution between the tanks, while a pre-fuel filter kit keeps the fuel lines free of impurities.

“Montesalvo has continuously put the MEGA6x6 to the test, so he knows firsthand exactly what it can and can’t do.”

Add in 18 gallons of onboard drinking water and a massive amount of onboard power and you get a machine that can stay out on big adventures for extended periods without issue. Montesalvo also notes that the custom interior is a refined and comfortable place to be, making long-distance touring a breeze.

The only thing Montesalvo could come up with as a weakness is that “parallel parking can be challenging.” We have no doubt that could be a difficult task in a 23-foot-long truck, with six wheels, where only two wheels help turn it. Its length and width are also a challenge on some tight trails, especially those requiring tight turns between immovable objects.

Adventure is Calling

With 354 horsepower on tap from the 4.5L V8 twin-turbo diesel that has been upgraded and modified by GSL Fab, now backed by a LC200 automatic transmission, not only can the Mega6x6 tackle impressive off-road terrain, but it can also eat highway miles with ease. A full host of X-Ray Vision LEDs mean driving at any time of day is as safe as possible. Also, with all its area lighting the Mega6x6 looks like the alien mothership has landed at camp.

Speaking of camp, this big truck has all the creature comforts of home. A large Dometic 55L fridge/freezer drops down out of the canopy, keeping perishables and beverages cold and even ice cream close at hand. The Half Canopy is a lightweight and robust solution that offers just the right amount of enclosed secure storage while keeping a large section of the tray available to transport big bulky gear like swags, motorcycles, and UTVs.

Be sure to check out this incredible vehicle in action on the Patriot Games TV YouTube channel. Watching this beast crawl through mud, rocks, and snow while fully loaded and towing a big trailer full of more fun adventure toys is a sight to behold.

UPGRADES

Patriot Campers 6×6 Megatourer

Chassis: LC79 w/Jmacx Offroad Solutions 6×6 Kit

Powertrain: 4.5L V8 Turbo Diesel, Upgraded Turbocharger, Snorkel, Custom Air Box, Stainless Exhaust w/Dual Stacks, Toyota LC200 Automatic Transmission Conversion

Drivetrain: 14.2” Disc 6-Piston Caliper WP Pro Brakes Airbag Man Air Ride System, Mark’s 4WD Portal Axles,

Wheels & Tires: 17×9 Bob Jane T-Marts Monster Wheels, 37/12.5 R17 BFG KM3 tires

Accessories: PCOR Tray & Canopy w/Twin Spare Tire Carriers, Custom Metal Fenders, Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform, Hayman Reece X-Bar, PCOR Custom Bullbar & Side Steps, X-Ray Vision LED Lighting, Front & Rear Saber Offroad Winches, 240L Aux Fuel Tank, 70L Water Tank, Dometic CFX3 55L Fridge, Custom Nappa Leather w/Suede Trim Interior, 8” Alpine Infotainment System, Redarc Electronics Power Management System, 2 Lithium & 2 AGM Batteries, Twin Air Compressors, Twin Air Tanks, Redarc Solar Panels

Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in TREAD July/August 2023.