How important are longboard trucks for your rides?

If you are really into longboarding, you should definitely know what your longboard consists of. Well, it obviously includes the deck and the wheels, but another very important part of every skateboard or longboard is the trucks.

The longboard trucks are used to attach the wheels of the longboard to the deck. They can be made of either metal or strong plastic. The trucks influence the stability of the board, the speed of riding, and the ability to turn.

Most people think that certain trucks are better for speedy riding, but others are more stable. In fact, this information is not true. The trucks can be stable, but contribute to fast riding as well. The speed and the stability also depend on how you can distribute your weight on the longboard, along with your riding experience. The front longboard trucks are the ones you can rely on when you feel like losing control on the road. Just lean forward to shift your weight to the front and your confidence will be back. The position of the trucks affects how the longboard pushes. It is much easier to push the longboard with the lower mounted trucks.

The easiest way to select trucks for your longboard is to choose those trucks which are closer to the width of the board. If the trucks are close to the width of the deck it will be easier to properly choose the wheels for the longboard.

Now, let us take a look at different styles of longboard trucks. The “standard-kingpin” trucks can be most often seen on street skateboards. They are generally recommended for cruising longboards with kicktails, because they allow to get the most benefit from the use of the tail. Reverse kingpin trucks, preferred for carving, are those which you would often see on longboards on the sidewalk or on the downhill racing track. The reverse kingpin is constructed to allow for more turn-ability and maneuverability.

The choice of longboard, as well as its parts, such as trucks, depends greatly on what you want to do with your deck. Will it be used for carving or cruising? Do you need more maneuverability or a stable smooth ride? If you are not sure yet what you are going to do with your longboard, go for the standard trucks, and you will be just fine.