The Carlisle All-Truck Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is a melting pot of everything truck- and 4x4-related. From lowriders and semitrucks to monster mud trucks and rock buggies, it's a great way to spend a day drooling and dreaming about your next project. Even though it's called a truck show there is everything from pristine, never-seen-dirt pickups to battered, beaten, and abused off-roaders. And don't think you'll get out of there empty-handed. If your wallet isn't emptied from buying ice cream and funnel cakes, the swap meet certainly will take the rest with bargains on everything from engines to axles.
The Carlisle All-Truck Nationals is part of the Carlisle Events lineup where they put on events for all types of auto enthusiasts, not only us truck maniacs. So if you're going to be in the area, check out their website to see what to attend. Also mark your calendars for August 7-9, 2009, for the 19th edition of the Carlisle All-Truck Nationals. For more info contact Carlisle events at 717.243.7855, www.carlisleevents.com.
The coolest truck at the show in our view was this ultraclean army truck. The owner took a fully restored '42 Dodge Carryall and transformed it into a modern-day resto-rod. Under the hood is a supercharged GM V-6, and from afar the truck looks stock except for the blower intake poking through the hood. But as you crawl around this mean, green machine, you find a TIG-welded stainless exhaust, power brakes and steering, and craftsmanship that would put many fabricators to shame.
Not to be outdone by the rockcrawlers, the diesel guys were showing off on the dyno as well as in the inaugural tug-o-war. The crowd went crazy as competitors tried to outpull each other, and pickups were even hooked to semitrucks for the craziest show. Some competitors were heckled by the crowd after sneaking their buddies into the backseat for added weight, but when the smoke cleared, the trucks in four-wheel drive came away with the most traction.
The show-truck scene is still...
The show-truck scene is still alive and kicking, but we have to admit that there are some trucks that look like they were built back in 1985. Can you say crazy paint? This guy has the drip, the tribal, and the cracked concrete thing going on.
Lowrider and street trucks...
Lowrider and street trucks bore us, but the fact is that these guys have a few cool things going on. Check out this paintjob. We would destroy it in the backcountry, but you've got to admit it's very well done.
One of the largest factions...
One of the largest factions at the show was the International and Scout guys. There were beautiful restorations and trail rigs all running the IH badge. We even saw some of the rare diesel and crew-cab truck versions.
Not everything in Carlisle...
Not everything in Carlisle is pretty and polished. This big mud truck from the hills of Pennsylvania tells us there is a mud-bogging event hiding in the Keystone State we need to find out more about.
Notice how they are stuffing...
Notice how they are stuffing huge tires into their wheelwells and beds by removing all the metal in the way. This is something very interesting that we may need to borrow and bring over to the mainstream 4x4 guys who need to stuff a big round piece of rubber after coming off a jump.
The swap meet had treasures...
The swap meet had treasures galore. We saw trucks, axles, and tools that we would have dragged home if we could figure out how to get them through airport security. Internet prices on parts always seem inflated to us, but there were still plenty of bargains to be had at Carlisle.