Comparison Table
- SCORE9.6
- BrandWhite Wave
- Prime
- SCORE9.0
- BrandRIMABLE
- Prime
- SCORE9.6
- BrandAtom Longboards
- Prime
Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
Choosing the Right Skateboard Trucks
Skateboard trucks are the metal T-shaped pieces that mount onto the underside of the skateboard and keep your skateboard wheels and bearings securely attached to the deck. They are a key component to creating your own skateboard, and can affect the way you ride your custom complete.
Skateboard trucks are composed of several different parts: axles, hangers, kingpins and bushings. All these parts impact your skateboard's performance and the type and size of skate trucks you choose – or that will fit your skateboard – directly affect your stability. Choosing and maintaining the right skateboard trucks is also key to avoiding wheel bite, which happens when your wheels rub against your board and cause you to stop on impact during a trick or turn.
Trucks can easily be adjusted to perform tighter turns or tricks on your board, but you can also choose softer bushings for easy turning, or hard bushings for stiff turning. How loose or tight you keep your trucks really depends on how you prefer to skate, but it all starts with choosing the right trucks and building the appropriate type of skateboard for your style.
Warehouse Skateboards carries skateboard trucks in lots of sizes and colors, and we have a huge selection of brands to suit your personal taste.
Features of skateboard trucks
Skateboard trucks are made up of several main components:
Axle
The axle is the long pin that runs through the hanger and attaches to the wheels. For the best fit, the ends of your axle should line up (or come close to) the sides of your skateboard. Different brands use different scales to measure the axle width, but generally stick to either measurements in millimeters or inches.
All axle nuts require a 3/8 inch wrench socket.
Hanger
The hanger is the triangular metal piece that is the largest part of the skateboard truck, and supports the axle, which runs straight through it.
Kingpin
The kingpin is the big bolt that fits inside the bushings and holds the skate trucks parts together. Recently, hollow kingpins (and axles) have been on the rise because they weigh less, but don't compromise strength or durability. Just remember that even solid kingpins can break, mostly because it controls the amount of overall pressure placed upon bushings. When deciding between a solid or hollow kingpin, assess whether you need a lighter option, or one that will hold up longer under tighter pressure settings and with more impact-heavy tricks.
All kingpin nuts require a 9/16 inch wrench socket.
Bushings
The bushings are the soft urethane rings fitted around the kingpin to allow the board to turn and pivot smoothly.
Materials
Generally speaking, you can expect to mostly find aluminum hangars and steel axles when shopping for your skateboard trucks. There are a few other options out there, though: like titanium and even brushed steel. Overall, what you buy depends on how you typically ride your skateboard. If you know you’re an avid skater who needs trucks that will hold up under pressure, go for the heavier metals when assembling your skateboard.
Regardless of what type of board you're rocking, you will need quality trucks. However, if you are riding a vintage board (pre-1990s), your skateboard won't fit most of today's trucks. Contact our customer service to inquire about vintage skateboard fittings.