Each part of a skateboard plays an important role in your skating performance. Similarly, your skating skills are wasted if you do not choose the right skateboard trucks for your ride. Choosing the right trucks for your skateboard depends on your riding style and whether you want to perform on the streets or you want to go on long roads. That is how skateboard trucks really matter.
There is a large variety of trucks available for your skateboard. Some are high, some are low, some are lengthy and some are short. But here, the question is, what size do you think is the best for your skateboard? Moving forward, if you want to know how skateboard trucks affect your performance and what size will be best for your skateboard, this article is going to tell you all about skateboard trucks. Keep reading!
How To Choose The Right Skateboard Trucks?
Choosing skateboard trucks is as important as choosing other skateboard equipment. If you know all about skateboard trucks, then it will be easy to pick the right trucks for your skateboard. There are many things to consider when choosing trucks. What are all those things, let’s know.
Size Of Skateboard Trucks
The size of skateboard trucks is the most important factor that helps you to perform efficiently and improve your skating skills. Skateboard trucks come in different sizes and shapes. You need to choose a specific length and width of trucks according to your skateboard and your riding style. Moreover, keep in mind while picking skateboard trucks, what height and weight will be ideal.
1. Width Of Skateboard Trucks
When you are buying a skateboard, it is important to consider the width of the truck. To get the right width, measure the width of the board and the axle. Neither a narrow truck is perfect nor the wider one. Instead, Go for the skateboard trucks that are medium in size.
If the trucks are too narrow, you will be uncomfortable throughout the ride because they are unable to maintain balance and are less stable than those wide trucks. Furthermore, you might get into a wheel bite. Consequently, you can fall down from the board and might be injured.
If the trucks are too wide, they also can bring some issues but are more stable enough than narrow trucks. The first drawback of having wide skateboard trucks is that you can not perform tricks. Moreover, your feet might be stuck with wheels due to their outside extension can cause accidents.
2. Height Of Skateboard Trucks
The height of a truck is the second most important thing that should be considered while buying a board. The height of the truck is basically the distance between the board deck and the wheels. The longer the distance, the greater will be the height, and vice versa. The shorter height will take your board closer to the ground and deliver much stability. Greater height is not an issue if you are a beginner. choose high trucks if you want to ride on streets and parks otherwise low trucks are the best.
3. Weight Of The Trucks
Along with choosing the right width and height of your board trucks, you must keep in mind what weight of the truck will be ideal to get a smoother ride. If you are a beginner, it will be difficult to skateboard for you. You will have to put in a lot of effort and probably you will get tired. So lightweight trucks are ideal for beginners to perform better. The heavyweight is not a cheap choice if you are a pro at skating. Initially, you will struggle to run the board. Heavyweight skateboards run faster comparatively.
Components Of The Skateboard Truck
All the trucks are not the same and are made of different materials including steel, aluminum, and brass. Because of these metals, they are hard and durable. A skateboard tuck consists of many components. All these components make the truck work accurately. Following are the components of the skateboard truck.
- Baseplate
- Kingpin
- Hanger
- Axle and nuts
- Bushings
- Pivot cup
- Washers
- Bushing seat
Trucks For Skateboarding On Ramps
If you want to run your skateboard on ramps and other hurdles, you need trucks that deliver stability and a good balance while skateboarding, you must go for independent or venture trucks. Also, the wider trucks and wider boards are extremely helpful in performing outstandingly on ramps and bowls.
Loose Trucks Vs Tight Trucks
Loose trucks perform better in taking sudden turns. Street skaters love to use loose trucks because they need a responsive board. Whereas when you are performing on ramps, tight trucks will give you stability and help to perform tricks. So it’s your choice whether you are comfortable with loose trucks or tight trucks.
When Does A Skateboard Truck Need To Be Replaced?
When you find your truck producing a noisy sound, it’s time to replace or maintain it.
For maintenance of the trucks, put wax or other lubricant material in the pivot hole. It still produces sound, which means it is too old and needs to be replaced.
If your truck is in poor condition and produces noisy sounds, it can be broken and may cause accidents. So replacing it at the right time is essential for a smoother ride and to prevent getting injured.
Does A Truck Affect Skateboard Speed?
Trucks and wheels do not affect the speed of a skateboard. However, the length, width, height and weight of the truck affect the skateboard speed. Moreover, the shape of a truck is also a considerable factor that affects the speed of a skateboard. The main purpose of the trucks is to maintain a good balance and stabilize the skaters.
Conclusion
A skateboard deck matters in all aspects of skateboarding. Choosing the right skateboard truck keeps you away from security risks and lets you perform awesomely on the roads. First of all, the size and shape of a truck matter a lot in skateboarding. Secondly, the height of the truck is an important factor. And lastly, the weight of a truck also affects the performance of a skateboard. So when choosing a skateboard, take care of these important things in order to make your journey adventurous.
