A guide to trucks
Choosing the right truck for some can be a little challenging for those who are just getting into the sport. We want to make the decision making process as easy as possible. There are without a doubt many different types and style of trucks that all come with their own benefits and characteristics. The quickest way to narrow it down is to ask yourself what kind of riding you want to be doing. If you plan on doing a whole lot of downhill then you will probably want a stable truck with a lower degree angle, where as if you wanted to do a lot of freeride then you will want to look for a higher degree angle to give you a bit more turn out of your lean.
Lots of the time your truck will depend on personal preference so its never a bad idea to experiment with different set ups. If you are looking into your first board we recommend choosing from either Paris, Bear, or Caliber. The reason we have narrowed it down to these three brands in particular is because these trucks are a very solid starting point for setting up your ride and are widely used by both new comers and veterans a like.
Bear Trucks are the stock trucks that you will find on almost all Landyachtz completes. Bears are reliable, durable, and hold at speeds. Bears are mostly found on more downhill oriented set ups. Paris trucks are very responsive freeride trucks, that give you a lot more lean which makes it easier to initiate a slide. Caliber Trucks hold at speeds and also provide enough lean for freeride.
Components to trucks:
Trucks are made up of several parts; The Hanger, King-pin, and Baseplate. Trucks come in many different shapes and configurations with variations on the components.
The Hanger:
The hanger is the component that the wheels are mounted on. The Hanger includes the axle which can ocme in different lenghths which varies from brand to brand. The standard that you will find on most longboard trucks is 180mm however many companies including Surf-Rodz, Sabre, Navigator all develop trucks with a variety of axle lengths ranging from 150mm to 190mm.
Many truck manufacturers make their trucks with some form of negative or positive rake. The rake is the position of axle in relation to the pivot point. Bears are a prime example of a truck with positive rake. If you were to flip the hanger then the trucks would then have negative rake which will make the ride lower and more stable but you will be giving up a little bit of turn.
So if you feel you could use a little more stability in your ride, try flipping the hanger and see how it rides.
The Baseplate:
Types of trucks:The baseplate is what influences the angle of the truck. At the same wheelbase, a higher angle pivot-axis will give you more lean than a baseplate with a lower angle. If you are looking for more stability for your ride then you should aim for a truck with a lower angle degree, where as a higher baseplate angle would fit a more freeride oriented set up.
Trucks range in types depending on what kind of riding you are going to be doing. RKP (Reverse King-Pin) is what you will find on most longboard setups, however TKP (Traditional King-Pin) trucks are seeing a lot more use in longboard applications.
Reverse King Pin:
Reverse King Pin trucks (RKP) are the standard for longboards. These trucks excel in truning through lean and carving and hold at higher speeds in comparison to traditional kingpin trucks. RKPs are simply more maneuverable. This is primarily why RKPs are more widely used in longboarding.
