Skateboard Trucks
Understanding the Skateboard Truck
Skateboard trucks are the T-shaped metallic components located beneath your deck, responsible for converting your movement energy to the board’s motion. Acting as axles, they connect the deck to the wheels. It's essential to select the appropriate trucks for your skateboard, as they significantly affect your performance.
Skate trucks are comprised of several smaller parts, including the baseplate, hanger, axle, kingpin, and bushings, each serving a distinct purpose. Trucks vary in hanger and axle widths, which are typically measured in inches. It's crucial to bear in mind that truck sizes aren't uniform and can differ between brands.
Which Skateboard Trucks Are Right for Me?
Selecting trucks that correspond to the size of your board and your riding style is essential. Generally, the axle width of the truck should align with the deck's width to avoid potential difficulties during rides. Our Skateboard Truck Size Guide offers insight into finding the correctly sized trucks for your deck.
If you lean towards technical street skating, opting for low skateboard trucks is beneficial as they enhance stability and facilitate board pops. For high skateboard trucks, which are further from the ground, choose them if you enjoy rapid speeds in bowls or making deep turns. Mid-height trucks offer a balanced approach suitable for both street and park skating.
Consider the weight of the trucks as well. Lightweight skateboard trucks are ideal for executing tricks and jumps, whereas heavier skateboard trucks are preferred for grinding. Generally, aluminium and titanium trucks are lighter, while Chromoly steel trucks offer more weight but also greater durability.
For further information on the attributes of skateboard trucks, explore our detailed Skateboard Trucks Guide.
Differentiating Skateboard Trucks from Longboard Trucks
A major distinction between skateboard and longboard trucks is found in the baseplate and kingpin design. Standard skateboard trucks dominate skateboarding, whereas reverse kingpin trucks are prevalent in longboarding. In reverse kingpin trucks, the kingpin screw orients away from the board, contrasting with the inward-facing kingpins in standard trucks. Additionally, reverse kingpin trucks are typically broader, taller, and offer more agility for swift, surf-like rides and deep carves.
Visit our Longboard Trucks Category to discover reverse kingpin trucks.