4×4 Magazine Australia — November 2017

when you get it off-road and the tracks feel super tight – with

the Marks portal axles and +35 offset ROH wheels, the 6x6

is 150mm wider than your garden variety LC79. Justin also

mentioned the amount of work that went into fabricating the

custom wheel-arch flares, so there was no way I wanted to

scrub them against a tree or bank.

I again questioned Justin’s sanity when we stood at the

bottom of a deeply rutted climb and I asked him if he’d

rather drive his car up there himself. “Nah mate, you’re here

to drive it so better you break it than me.”

The first pinch was a fairly straightforward rocky climb

with a step as it veered left. I wanted to see what sort of

traction the six-wheel drive gave, so I only switched in the

rear locker which would work with the soft locker in the

other rear axle. The Cruiser crawled up the first part with

ease, but as the track turned and the left front went up the

step – lifting a wheel on the second axle and the outside

front – it scrabbled for grip and forward momentum. The safe

option was to ease back and put the front locker in, and it

breezed on up.

The next obstacle was a deep, rutted gorge barely wide

enough to pilot the Cruiser up, and again I was conscious

of keeping those fender flares off the walls. With front and

rear lockers in, the Patriot Cruiser never wanted for traction;

but, taking a cautious line soon had the front left wheel

hoiking high as the rig leant in toward the bank. The safest

way forward was to run the synth line out from the TJM Torq

12,000lb front winch (there’s another one mounted at the

back) to pull the car across to the left as it edged further up.

Tight passes between trees were the only other difficulties for

the big 6x6, while power and traction were never in doubt.

This is one seriously capable truck, but its size dictates that

it’s better suited to open country rather than tight bush

tracks. It would be a weapon in the desert or up on The Cape,

and we’re sure we’ll see more on that when it appears on the

Patriot Games TV series.

IT’D BE A WEAPON IN THE DESERT OR UP THE CAPE

344 http://www.4X4australia.com.au

CUSTOM PATRIOT CAMPERS’ LC79 6X6