PATRIOT CAMPERS FJ49

The Montesalvo twins have big shoes to fill

- ANYA MURPHY

We all know the best part of turning 17 (or 16, depending on where you are in the world) is getting your driver’s license. But when your dad is Justin Montesalvo of the famous Australian Patriot Campers, getting your license means a whole lot more than just getting behind the wheel to drive. The 45 Series Land Cruiser FJ49 you see on these pages is the result of the hard work of twin teens Ashton and Christian Montesalvo, who used their savings from working in Dad’s shop to buy the FJ49 just months before their 17th birthday.

Inside the Patriot Campers Garage 

You’re probably familiar with some of the most famous builds to come out of the Patriot Campers garage, and you may have seen the few that made the trip from Down Under all the way to SEMA Show back in November 2022. The Queensland-based shop brought over their best “supertourers,” including the massive 6x6 “Megatourer” and basically indestructible “Black Truck,” as well as two trailers, the X3 and XN-1 Limited Edition, in addition to the FJ49.

At SEMA, the boys’ FJ49 was on display at the Toyota USA booth, alongside some other really cool rigs. This Land Cruiser is what the Montesalvos are calling their “biggest build yet,” and “the baddest FJ in the world.” With the power of Patriot Campers behind them, Ashton and Christian are well on their way to achieving their dream.