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This is yet another example of the folks abroad getting something sweet that Americans can only dream of. It’s the LC79 Supertourer [2], made by Patriot Campers [3] in Molendinar, Queensland, Australia.
Right away, we can tell this vehicle is based on a trusted foundation. This would obviously be the Toyota Land Cruiser, which has been manufactured since the 1950s and on into today. Patriot Campers picked the 70 Series as the perfect platform to build off of.
[4]The LC79 is built off of the Toyota 70 Series Land Cruiser, and is made for severe off-roading and overlanding expeditions. Here, it was being loaded up in Dubai and headed on to California.
With its 4.5-liter diesel V8, the 70 Series makes decent numbers: 202 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Not much for what we’re used to here in the States, but for the rest of the world, it’s plenty. At the very least, it’s enough to push around the LC79, even with all of its gear.
Speaking of which, let’s talk about gear for a second. Clearly, gear is one of the driving forces behind the LC79, as it appears to have a lot of it. It appeals to the overlanding crowd, which is rather large in the land down under. The bevy of options available on the LC79 can make a rich man salivate.
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A heavy-duty antenna, snorkel intake, 70-liter water tank, and front and rear winches are just a few of the features of the LC79. There’s also a crazy amount of storage out back, fit for placing air compressors, extra fuel, or spare tools and parts. The extra foot of frame added to the LC79 no doubt helps with accommodating all of this extra stuff.
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The LC79 has space for everything you could ever pack up into an SUV.
Suspension is a big concern here. It has to be sturdy enough to carry all of the LC79’s weight, but also smooth enough to not make it feel like a barge with wheels. Patriot Campers upgrades it to an EFS 3760 suspension system, which increases the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating significantly.
As for wheels and tires, the LC79 is no slouch here, either. The wheels are 17-inch ROH [8] Octagons, while the tires are 33-inch Mickey Thompson [9] ATZ P3s. These are all-terrain tires, making them ideal for the LC79.
“I really like what Patriot Campers did with these Land Cruisers,” said Mickey Thompson’s Willy Woo. “They’re unique and built for a purpose, just like our Baja ATZ P3 tires. With their three-ply PowerPly sidewalls, the ATZ P3s are a great choice for these vehicles, and will perform well and stay durable.”
[10]The ATZ P3s have been around for a while now. We first got to check them out back in 2013, and they proved to be a potent add-on to a Wrangler JK [11] that we took out in the foothills of Southern California. They should quite at home on the LC79 with its globetrotting attitude.
Land Cruisers don’t grow on trees, and neither do Patriot Campers’ LC79s. They start at $124,990 Australian ($98,801 American). But for that price, you’re getting one hell of a rig.
Check out more about the LC79 on the Patriot Campers website [12]. Also, learn all about the ATZ P3 on Mickey Thompson’s website [13] and Facebook page [14].
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