Skateboarding has been around for several years, with some countries considering it a sport. It grew more recently in popularity, making it important to understand.
The truck is one of the vital parts of a skateboard. Manufacturers usually use metal when producing it. If you are new to the sport, we think understanding the basics will go a long way. Else, you may want to stick around in case you missed to know something.
Summary
To find the right truck size for your skateboard deck, you can use the buyers’ guide & chart below. It’s important to know that the right truck size depends on the brand that you are buying from. However, here are the general recommendations as we’ve taken them from the brand Independent:
- The right truck size for a 7.75″ deck is 129.
- The right truck size for an 8″ deck is 139.
- The right truck size for an 8.25″ deck is 144.
- The right truck size for an 8.5″ deck is 149.
Continue reading
This guide should take you to everything to know about trucks, which includes the differences in brands and measurements in particular. Why is this important? So the next time you come looking for replacement parts, you know what you are looking for.
Table of Contents
Skateboard truck size charts
The tables below show different truck sizes for each skateboard deck size. There is no standard truck length because it varies per brand.
For example, a deck size ranging from 7.4 to 7.8 inches may have a 129 mm truck size from Independent but a 145 mm truck size from Thunder.
On the other hand, a deck ranging from 8.4 to 8.6 inches may have a 5.8 inches truck size from Venture but a 5.75 truck size from Krux.
When you’ve figured out the one you need, find it through the link below and have shipping taken care of. You can also find helmets & knee pads if you need them!
| Size Guide | ||||||
| Smallest Deck Size: | Widest Deck Size: | Hanger Length | Axle Length | Independent | Thunder | Venture |
| 7.4″ | 7.8” | 5.0″ | 7.75″ | 129 | 145 | 5.0″ |
| 7.8″ | 8.125″ | 5.25″ | 8.0″ | 139 | 147 | 5.25″ |
| 8.125″ | 8.4″ | 5.5″ | 8.25″ | 144 | 148 | 5.6″ |
| 8.4″ | 8.6″ | 5.75″ | 8.5″ | 149 | 149 | 5.8″ |
| 8.6″ | 8.9″ | 6.0″ | 8.75″ | 159 | 151 | – |
| 8.9″ | 9.25″+ | 6.5″ | 9.0″ | 169 | – | – |
| Size Guide | ||||||
| Smallest Deck Size: | Widest Deck Size: | Hanger Length | Axle Length | Tensor | ACE | Bullet |
| 7.4″ | 7.8” | 5.0″ | 7.75″ | 5.0″ | 22 | 130 |
| 7.8″ | 8.125″ | 5.25″ | 8.0″ | 5.25″ | 33 | 140 |
| 8.125″ | 8.4″ | 5.5″ | 8.25″ | 5.5″ | – | – |
| 8.4″ | 8.6″ | 5.75″ | 8.5″ | 5.75″ | 44 | 150 |
| 8.6″ | 8.9″ | 6.0″ | 8.75″ | – | 55 | – |
| 8.9″ | 9.25″+ | 6.5″ | 9.0″ | – | 66 | – |
| Size Guide | ||||||
| Smallest Deck Size: | Widest Deck Size: | Hanger Length | Axle Length | Royal | Krux | Theeve |
| 7.4″ | 7.8” | 5.0″ | 7.75″ | 5.0″ | 5.0″ | 5.0″ |
| 7.8″ | 8.125″ | 5.25″ | 8.0″ | 5.25″ | 5.25″ | 5.25″ |
| 8.125″ | 8.4″ | 5.5″ | 8.25″ | – | 5.5″ | 5.5″ |
| 8.4″ | 8.6″ | 5.75″ | 8.5″ | 5.5″ (5.8”) | 5.75″ | 5.85″ |
| 8.6″ | 8.9″ | 6.0″ | 8.75″ | – | 6.0″ | 6.0″ |
| 8.9″ | 9.25″+ | 6.5″ | 9.0″ | – | 6.5″ | 6.5″ |
What are trucks doing?
If you recently learned about the sport, you might ask, “what are trucks?” The first thing you should know is it should fit the deck. They are available in high, mid, and low. We will discuss it in detail below.
We use the American unit of measurement inches when taking truck sizes. For conversion, 1 Zoll = 1 inch, which translates to 2.54 centimeters. However, some manufacturers use the metric system to measure, such as Thunder and Independent.
Most skateboard trucks have:
- a hanger
- kingpin
- base plate
- kingpin nut
- washers
- and bushings.
The part where the wheels are attached is the skateboard axles, while the washers you can find in it are named speed rings. Without the speed rings, your bearings will rub against the axle nut or hanger. The speed rings also help in cleaning.
The following are the parts of a truck.
Baseplate
We also refer to the baseplate as the foundation or base layer of the truck. We mount it to the skateboard and use four bolts to secure it. The pivot cup and the kingpin are other parts you can find in the baseplate.
Kingpin
The kingpin bolt connects the baseplate and hanger. You will find the interchangeable kingpin nut on top of the kingpin. Some manufacturers use a hollow kingpin, which has significantly less weight than a regular kingpin. Several replacement parts are available in-store and online.
Hanger
The hanger is the next main component of your truck from the base plate. The pivot is the part you find at the hanger’s bottom that sits in the baseplate’s pivot cup. Moreover, the hanger connects the bushings and kingpin with the baseplate. This part gets most of the grind.
Bushings
You will notice skateboards can turn to the left or right. The bushings part is responsible for controlling such behavior. It uses polyurethane as the material.
You can find the bushings between the hanger and the baseplate. They are available in a different firmness, which you can quickly swap using a skate tool. Why are they available in varying degrees of firmness? Some users prefer turning with more sensitivity, while others prefer less sensitivity.
Axle
The axle is a continuous bar that goes through the hanger. Manufacturers usually use steel or titanium because of their durability. The bearings and the wheels mount to the axle’s visible ends. A thread wraps around the axle, serving as a protection layer.
Axle Nuts
The wheels mount the axle secured by the axle nuts. Several replacement parts are available in the market should you need them.
Washer
The washers are metal discs you will find below and above the bushings. It brings the board back to its starting position after turning right or left. The washers also ensure the force has even distribution throughout the board. However, not all bushings need a washer because some have a plastic layer acting as the washer.
Speedrings
The speedrings are smaller washers. It has a similar size to the bearings’ core, which you can find between the hangers and bearings.
You can also find the same between axle nuts and bearings.
