Longboard trucks are the metal T-shaped parts of a skateboard that mount onto the underside of a longboard deck. They hold your wheels and are essential to the way your board turns and handles.
The purpose of longboard and skateboard trucks is much the same, however longboard trucks are very different in terms of size and construction. In this article we’ll explain all the components that make up a set of trucks and the differences between those you’ll find on a longboard and those on a classic skateboard.
Skateboard Trucks Components
The parts that make up a set of skateboard or longboard trucks are:
- Baseplate
- Bushings
- Hanger and axle
- Kingpin
- Pivot cup
All trucks, no matter the style of skateboard will feature these components, as you can see in the diagram below:
The baseplate part of the truck lays on the underside of your skateboard deck and is fixed with four bolts. The main part of the truck, which runs width ways to the deck, is actually made up of two parts. In the diagram you can see the exposed hanger, and on each end of the hanger is the axle which passes through the wheels’ centre. The wheels, fitted with bearings, simply slide on and are held in place by screws with washers on either side.
There are two points of contact to attach the hanger and baseplate together: the kingpin screws through the hanger from the baseplate with bushings sitting either side of the hanger. Bushings are soft rubber rings which allow the truck to move when the rider shifts his or her weight around the board.
At the other end of the baseplate sits the pivot cup. This contains a soft rubber cup which houses the cylindrical part of the hanger pointing down towards the plate. This is designed so that the truck can lean and move freely, allowing the rider to change direction, again with their weight distribution.
As a general rule, a bigger skateboard or longboard deck means a wider truck. Where possible, your truck width should match your deck width, as this means you’ll have greater control.
Longboard decks are almost always wider than your average, classic board so you’ll find they come complete with wider trucks. Sometimes you may see two measurements: axle width and hanger width.
Axle width is the measurement that should match your deck width. Take a look at the diagram below which compares a single truck from our Classic logo skateboard and one from our Bamboo model longboards. The wider truck allows for greater control and is better at handling speed - exactly what you want from a longboard.
Truck Kingpins
Another major difference between longboard trucks and skateboard trucks, which may not be obvious to the untrained eye, is the orientation of the kingpins. On a regular truck, the kingpin is in the inside of the hanger—the side closest to the centre of the deck.
On the other hand, a longboard truck almost always features a reverse kingpin. This is when the kingpin is on the side of the hanger closest to the nose or tail or the longboard deck. This allows the trucks to sit lower, offering a more stable ride. This is often a requirement for longboarders looking to ride at speed downhill.
Bushings
Skateboard bushings often vary between different styles of trucks, but you will also find that all experienced skaters have a preferred bushing option, which will be dependent on their style of skating. Much like longboard wheels, these are measured by the Durometer A Scale which goes from 1-100 to indicate the hardness of the urethane material, with 100 being the hardest.
Softer bushings are easier to compress which makes it easier for the rider to turn the board but may lack stability and be more prone to speed-wobble. Alternatively, harder bushings result in a stiffer and more stable ride but will mean your setup lacks manoeuvrability.
Because of this you will often find that longboards come complete with bushings at the harder end of the scale, to provide that extra stability which allows riders to skate more comfortably at speed. For example, our bamboo range of longboards come with 92A bushings because we want to offer control without compromising manoeuvrability too much.
We hope that answers any questions you may have about the difference between longboard and skateboard trucks but if not, please get in touch and our expert team will be more than happy to help you. And if you’re looking for purchase your first longboard take a look at our longboard buying guide.
