The trucks are the mounts for attaching the wheels to the board, and provide the steering mechanism for the board by turning in the direction of the rider's lean. A set of trucks is made up of a baseplate which screws to the deck, a hanger which holds the axle—which in turn holds the wheels. They are connected by a kingpin with flexible polyurethane bushings to control turning.
CHOOSING TRUCKS 101
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TRUCK HEIGHT
TRUCK WIDTH
BUSHINGS
SPRING LOADED TRUCKS
MATERIALS
RISERS
ANGLED RISERS (AKA "WEDGES")
HARDWARE GUIDE
TRUCK HEIGHT
For the most part, you’ll see trucks ranging in height from Low, Medium to High. Higher trucks are found primarily on longboards which allows for a skater to use larger wheels which will help increase speed and make your ride a little smoother when rolling over debris and rougher terrain.
Street skaters should use lower trucks because of the smaller wheels used. They create a lower center of gravity allow for faster flip tricks. If you need a good all around truck for both street and vert stick with a medium height.
TRUCK WIDTH
As a general rule, the size of your trucks will relate to the width of your deck. You’ll find trucks ranging from 4.75 inches up to 10 inches wide and beyond. Please note that traditional skateboards typically measure using inches with the exception of Independent trucks which uses millimeters (129mm). For the most part, longboard trucks are measured in millimeters. (i.e. 150mm) however that’s not always the case.
If you’re skating street, you’ll want to keep your truck width within about a 1/4 inch in of your deck width. This will stop your wheels from sticking out of the sides. Most street skaters use trucks from 4.75 to 5.5 inches wide. Wider trucks will provide more stability and easier landings but keep in mind you’re also adding weight to your board which might hurt performance when doing flip tricks.
Longboarders, and the guys still skating old school boards, will use much wider trucks for added stability when cruising or bombing hills. They also provide a better turning radius. Truck widths for longboards can be upwards of 10 inches wide or more. Two of the most common widths are 150mm and 180mm. Unlike traditional skateboard trucks, some companies now are using inverted kingpins, springs and variable tilt designs.
The Gullwing Sidewinders, pictured to the right, can be found on many top name longboards. The design allows the truck to pivot in two places allowing the skater to carve twice sharp and twice as fast as your traditional truck, while the momentum creates speed at every turn. Take these for a test drive if you get a chance.
TRUCK WIDTH DECK WIDTH
4.75” up to 7.5" wide decks
5.0” up to 7.75" wide decks
5.25” up to 8.125" wide decks
5.25 " or wider 8.25” or wider decks
Keep your trucks within 1/4" of the size of the deck.
BUSHINGS
Bushings are the rubber piece of the truck that allows a truck to turn. These rubber bushings vary in degree in hardness but typically you’ll find most trucks come with a medium hardness. The softer the bushing, the easier it is to turn your trucks. Most street skaters will user harder bushings in order to keep their board under control when performing flip tricks. Longboarders usually prefer softer bushings which make it easier to carve.
SPRING LOADED TRUCKS
Spring loaded trucks, also known as torsion trucks, are used exclusively for longboarding. Companies like Original and Seismic have perfected the unique skating experience. Trucks with springs create a different feel when compared to your traditional truck. That’s why it’s suggested to carefully pick out the right trucks when moving to springs.
Seismic trucks are great example of a spring loaded truck that is good for both carving and bombing hills. They are stable, adjustable and versatile.
Original trucks have one single spring resistance mechanism which has made it one of the best carving boards out there. The risers are typically higher on Originals and allow for an amazing carve. This truck is not recommended for those looking to bomb steep hills. Make sure your board has proper clearance when considering these trucks, because with such great turning ability you can easily get wheel bite.
MATERIALS
Research is constantly being done by truck manufacturers to produce the strongest truck with the lightest weight possible. While all trucks are made from alloy metals, higher end trucks made with titanium deliver superior strength and are extremely lightweight.
RISERS
Risers are the plastic pieces of varying height that are placed between your deck and the truck. Soft risers are also known as shock pads.
They perform two main functions.
1) Prevents wheel bite
2) Reduces the strain your trucks deliver to the skateboard deck
Simply put, risers give you more clearance between the deck and the wheels which prevents wheel bite. Using a riser prevents stress cracks that can occur where your trucks meets the deck.
STANDARD SIZES
Risers can be found in 1/8”, 1/4" and 1/2” in height. If you’re riding wheels on the smaller end (less than 56mm) you would only need an 1/8 inch riser to help absorb some of the shock.
As your wheels get larger you’ll need higher risers. The 1/2” risers are used exclusively for longboarding.
ANGLED RISERS (AKA "WEDGES")
The truck’s geometry is the angle that a particular truck will turn. You can adjust how much a board will turn by using angled risers, also known as wedges. These are almost exclusively used on longboards.
Angle both risers toward the outside for an increased, deeper turning angle. If you want a more stable ride, angle the risers toward the inside of the deck. Slalom skaters typically choose to make the back truck stable and the front truck more maneuverable.
