While Two Bare Feet skateboards come as complete setups and there’s no building involved, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are completely ready to ride. All skateboards should undergo thorough checks before being ridden straight out of the box. This is for safety purposes first and foremost, but also to help you tailor your skateboard to your liking and ensure that it is properly setup for the type of skating you’d like to do.
Here we’ve created a comprehensive guide showing how to inspect and check your skateboard, as well as going into the finer details about truck and wheel setup and the adjustments you can make to alter the feel of your board. Read on for a written explanation, or press play below.
Step by step skateboard or longboard setup for wheels and trucks
Once you've pulled your new board out of the box and admired it, it's time to run through some checks and make a few adjustments. First, start with a brief inspection:
- Check all wheels are tightly secured and spin freely
- Check the trucks are free to move and are tightly connected to your deck
- Inspect the profile of the deck for any cracks or defects
Once you're happy that your skateboard is in correct working order, it's time to stand on the deck for the first time. This will help you get a feel for how the board is set up out of the box and which changes, if any, you want to make.
To work on your skateboard, we recommend you find a good spot at home such as a work bench if possible. Then, you'll want to gather a few tools:
- a universal skate tool
- or failing that, 14mm, 12mm, 10mm sockets
- Phillips screwdriver
- a set of allen keys
- An adjustable spanner may also be useful
Once you've got a good spot set up, it's time to work on your board. It's worth noting that the following steps should be regularly repeated to ensure your board is properly mainted and safe to ride.
Your trucks are fixed to your deck with 4 bolts each and you should make sure these are tight enough to securely hold the truck baseplate in place. Use a small socket to hold the nut on the underside whilst tightening the bolt on the top of the deck with a screwdriver. It helps to have the board resting on its side so you can access the top and bottom of the deck simultaneously.
Some of our longboards feature a top-mounted truck which can be easily tightened in the same way.
How tight should skateboard wheels be
The next step is to decide how tight you want your wheels to be. Generally, tight wheels run smoother but slower as they require more momentum or a heavier rider to get them moving quickly. Looser wheels are a bit less dampened but do roll more efficiently.
It's important not to go too loose however. Make sure there's no play between the wheel and the axel nut as this will cause vibrations which can damage your bearings. To tighten or loosen your wheels, grab your skate tool or 12mm socket and simply adjust the axel nut.
How tight should skateboard trucks be
The tightness of your skateboard trucks is all down to your preference. It can depend on your weight, the type of skating you are doing and generally just how you want your skateboard or longboard to feel. You may find that you adjust, ride and repeat a number of times before you get it right.
The tigher your trucks are, the more stable your board is going to be, especially at speed, but it will mean the board is harder to turn. The looser your trucks are, the more manoeuvrable your board is going to be, but it will lack stability and require more rider skill at speed. For a mix of both, you may also like to run a loose back truck and a tight front truck.
Don't ride your skateboard trucks too loose
Your skate trucks are too loose if there is play between the hanger and the kingpin. This makes your board very unstable and can also cause your kingpin to break more easily. If you find any play, we recommend tightening in half turn increments until there is no play. This will allow you to still ride a very loose truck without the risk of damaging your boards components.
By standing on your board, you also want to check that when you shift your weight around, the wheels don't come into contact with the underside of the deck. This is known as wheelbite and if it happens when you're riding, it will cause the board to stop suddenly and you'll be thrown off.
To adjust your trucks, simply grab your skate tool or 14mm socket and adjust the kingpin nut to tighten or loosen.
Check the truck's bushings
Ensure the rubber bushings in your trucks are seated properly within the kingpin washer. If they are excessively bulging out of the washer, they begin to split or are misaligned then you'll need to loosen your trucks.
It's worth noting that your truck rubbers will need a bit of wearing in at first and may need to be tightened regularly in the first few weeks of skating your board. You may also find that your trucks start to turn more in one direction. This is quite normal and with more regular skating the bushings will wear in.
Skateboard grip tape
Finally, it's always a good idea just to check over your grip tape. Check around the edge of the deck for any spots where the griptape might overhang. You can use a hard metal object such as the edge of an allen key or screw driver to rub all the way around the edge of the deck making sure the griptape is firmly stuck down around the edges.
Some skaters also like to scratch their griptape down to make it slightly less grippy. This will help your shoes last a little longer and can also help the board feel more comfortable if you plan on popping tricks straight out of the box.
That's all you need to know about setting up your skateboard or longboard straight out the box so get out there and get pushing. You can also find more useful guides in our Skateboard Blog category and if you're still looking for your first skateboard, or an upgrade, you can find a huge selection in our Skate Shop.
