Longboard trucks

If you want to put together your perfect longboard yourself, you should take your time, especially when choosing the trucks. It's worth paying attention to detail here, because once you've found the ideal trucks with the right settings, they will significantly support your riding style and make longboarding even more fun. Here you can find out what to look out for when choosing your trucks ###

Trucks: an eye for detail is important

The trucks are the part of the longboard that connects the wheels to the deck. It is therefore an essential and very important component.

Furthermore, trucks can have a significant influence on the riding behavior of the longboard and should therefore never be underestimated. When choosing the right trucks, it is important to select and weigh up exactly what is particularly important to you when riding. 

The individual parts of the truck are

• Hanger
• Base plate
• KingPin
• possibly bushing

Wide axle vs. narrow axle

First of all, it is important that you adjust the hanger width of your axles to the width of the deck. As a rule of thumb, you can remember this: The ball bearings must always be on the outside of the deck. As it will be difficult to find trucks that are perfectly flush with the width of the deck, it is better to choose a truck that is slightly wider than too narrow. The hangers of longboard trucks are usually between 150 and 180 mm wide. There are also a few models that are narrower or even wider. The upper limit is 200 mm. 

To avoid wheelbites, i.e. the wheels being braked out by the deck, you can also equip narrow trucks with so-called riser pads. When choosing the width of the hanger, you must observe the following principle:

• Narrow trucks are very easy to steer and agile and are suitable for cruising and carving boards.
• Wide trucks are more stable and therefore suitable for downhill use.
• Freeride longboards are also usually equipped with a wider truck. 

There is a suitable truck for every area of use, helping to make your longboard the perfect means of transportation.

Reverse KingPin trucks vs. traditional KingPin trucks

In the longboard sector, the Reverse KingPin truck has now established itself. This is an axle on which the KingPin sits at an angle and points outwards. This makes longboards much easier to steer than skateboards. The reverse KingPin axle is responsible for the characteristic surf-like movement of the longboard.

This contrasts with the Traditional KingPin axle, which is flatter and more sluggish than the Reverse KingPin axle and is therefore primarily used for downhill riding. Some retro and cruiser boards are also equipped with a Traditional KingPin axle. In general, however, the Traditional KingPin trucks are more commonly found on skateboards and are considered an exception in the longboard sector. 

Large angle vs. small angle

If you want to customize your trucks even more to your riding style, it is important that you also pay attention to the base plate angle before buying. A high angle of around 50° ensures that your longboard is particularly maneuverable and easy to steer. These trucks are a popular choice for carving boards. The situation is different if the angle is smaller and is 42°. In this case, the axle is much more stable and the board is automatically lower. The result is a safe ride that is designed for high speeds. 

Tip: If you want to use your longboard for downhill riding, you should never choose two trucks with a small baseplate angle. It is important that you can still steer well and precisely with the front axle. We therefore recommend choosing two axles with different angles, while the angle of the front axle should be greater than that of the rear axle.

It is also important that you adjust the axles not only to your riding style, but also to your weight. The easiest way to do this is with the so-called bushings, which are available in many different shapes and degrees of hardness. They are located under the KingPin screw and influence the handling of the axles as desired:

• Conical bushings make steering easier.
• Flat bushings make your longboard more sluggish.
• Chubby bush ings block the steering from a certain point.

Truck design - another point that can be important for you

In addition to all the technology, the eye also needs to be satisfied - so it's no wonder that you can choose from different truck designs. There are three classic distinctions:

• Classic axles in black or silver
• Colored axles in blue, green, red and other colors
• Eye-catching trucks with stylish patterns

In our longboard store, you will find different trucks from different manufacturers. Almost all brands offer trucks that can also be flipped. This means that you can mount them on your deck from both directions, giving you even more freedom when determining your riding style. Within our range you will find trucks from: 

• Bear
• Bolt
• Caliber
• Carver
• Globe Slant
• Gunmetal
• Independent
• Paris Truck Co,
• Upholstery
• Randal

It is important to us to give you the widest possible range of different types of trucks so that you are guaranteed to find the right model for your longboard. 

In the product descriptions in our store, you will find lots of information about the trucks to help you find the right one for your purposes. If you still have any questions, feel free to ask us. We will be happy to help and advise you.