In order to be able to ride to the best of your ability, you need to make sure you know how to measure skateboard trucks.
In this article, you will find information you need to understand how to measure the width, choose the appropriate size for you, as well as information about the truck’s length and truck size.
Luckily, all you need is a measuring tape, an understanding of how to get an accurate measurement, and a skate tool to replace your trucks.
It’s important to know that there is a significant difference between a low, high, and mid-size truck, as well as the right width.
Firstly, when measuring skateboard trucks in the U.S, the size of a truck is almost always measured in inches.
However, if you’re located elsewhere, make sure to do the correct conversions when you measure skateboard trucks.
For example, in Europe, trucks tend to be measured in centimeters, so remember that approximately 2.54 cm corresponds to one inch.
What Is a Skateboard Truck?
The skateboard truck is the metal component on the board that looks like a T.
It’s the most durable part of the board, and for good reason, since they are very subject to wear and tear, as well as attach the wheels to the truck, which then allows the board to turn in a specific direction.
As soon as you mount your deck, your trucks will provide you with stability and allow you to do tricks and grind obstacles.
Skateboard Truck Components
A typical truck has four parts: an axle, hangers, bushings, and kingpins.
- Axle: Your axle runs through the hanger and is what you secure the board’s wheels to. The axle is held in place by axle nuts.
- Hanger: The axle is held in place by the hanger, which is a solid triangular part used as part of a trick, specifically a grind.
- Kingpin: Kingpins run perpendicularly to the baseplate and connect the hanger to the baseplate. Here is where you will tighten or loosen the bushings by adjusting the bolt.
- Bushings: Bushings look like donuts and are attached around the kingpin with soft urethane rings. This determines your truck’s stability. Hard, medium, and soft bushings are available.
Why Are Skateboard Trucks Important?
All of these truck components are critical to the way that your skateboard performs.
Your riding style, board size, and different types of trucks will determine the types of tricks you can do based on the sizes.
Even though there are standard skateboard truck sizes, you should also remember that sizing style may vary from brand to brand.
To avoid any measurement or sizing issues, make sure you read the product descriptions carefully or check with an employee before making a purchase. The type of truck you choose will also depend on personal preference.
How to Measure Skateboard Trucks
Skateboard trucks are measured by measuring the width of the axle (outer width) and the width of the hanger (inner width). The truck’s length is a critical measurement component.
Truck widths should be the same as your skateboard width, and since your center of gravity can shift to the side of the deck when you ride if they’re too wide, you should avoid wider trucks that extend beyond the edges of the skateboard deck.
What’s more, trucks that aren’t measured and fitted correctly can affect the feel of your deck when you skate, as well as your ability to perform tricks.
Even though a standard skateboard truck can be measured using the hanger width, it’s often better, and slightly easier, to focus on axle width, since some manufacturer information about truck sizes can be quite confusing.
Choosing a Skateboard Deck
Once you’ve accurately measured the axle width with a measuring tape, you can start to choose the best skateboard trucks for you. Make sure the axle width matches the deck width as closely as possible. However, there usually won’t be any issues with an additional 0.125′′ margin.
For example, a truck with an axle width of between 7.875′′ and 8.125′′ is ideal for a deck of 8′′ wide. Typically, a setup that has a plus or minus 0.25′′ axle width margin will negatively affect your ability to ride and so should be avoided.
You should always bear in mind when selecting your trucks that truck sizes for skateboards are often similar, but unfortunately not standardized across all different brands and manufacturers.
During the manufacturing process, small variations can occur in width measurements, so small deviations should be expected.
The Importance of Truck Height
The width of your trucks isn’t the only important measurement you need to understand. The height of the trucks is also critical for proper performance. While low skateboard trucks appear to be virtually identical to high trucks, mid trucks, and standard trucks, there’s actually a big difference.
Ultimately, the height of the trucks you choose comes down to the size of your skateboard’s wheels and your height. As the truck becomes higher, the easier it is to pop the tail of your board.
Since the deck acts as a lever in this scenario, the angle of the board will be steeper because the board’s tail has to travel a long way before it hits the ground. As a result, higher pop-offs are possible with higher trucks.
However, your height will have an effect on whether or not you can work with high trucks. For taller people, higher trucks can be practical because they usually have sufficient power to drive the trail of the board all the way to the floor.
Smaller adults and children should stick with low trucks because they might have trouble skating with a tall setup.
Conclusion
All parts of the skateboard are important in order for riders to perform to the best of their abilities and have the ideal skating experience. Trucks are certainly no exception.
Make sure you know how to measure skateboard trucks and enquire about correct sizing from different manufacturers before settling on the right trucks for your board.