Find the Right Longboard Trucks for Your Setup

Want to upgrade your longboard with new trucks? Then you’ve come to the right place. The same goes if you want to build a brand-new longboard from scratch. At Titus Skateshop, you’ll find a great selection of long board trucks from various manufacturers. There are many differences among longboard trucks. To help you find the right truck for your board, we’ll break down features like geometry, height, and width.

If you’re looking to buy your first longboard, complete boards are an excellent alternative to building one from individual components. With longboard complete boards, you’ll quickly and easily find perfectly matched setups. Check out the cruiser complete boards if you’re looking for a slightly shorter board.

Longboard Truck Designs: Inverted Kingpin Trucks vs. Standard Kingpin Trucks

Two types of trucks are used in longboarding: inverted-kingpin trucks and standard-kingpin trucks. Which type is right for you depends on your expectations for handling. With the popular inverted-kingpin trucks, the kingpin is routed underneath the hanger. Their very agile steering makes them the top choice for most longboarders.

Standard kingpin trucks feature the typical design of a classic skateboard truck, which is also used on many cruisers. Due to their design, they are lower than inverted kingpin trucks and have a more sluggish steering response—characteristics that also make them appealing for downhill and freeride.

The Width of Longboard Trucks

Generally, the width of the trucks should match the deck. The ball bearings of the wheels should sit on the truck pin roughly at the level of the deck’s outer edge. So it’s not quite as strict as with classic skateboards. Longboard trucks can also be slightly wider than the deck.

So far, so good. But does the width also affect the truck’s handling? Absolutely! If you’re looking for a particularly agile truck, narrow models are recommended. Their agile handling results from the shorter distance the wheels travel when turning. Narrow trucks with a 150 mm-wide hanger are suitable for decks up to 22 cm wide. With their high maneuverability, they’re well-suited for slalom, carving, or cruising. All other longboards are typically ridden with 180 mm trucks. At high speeds, wider trucks offer more stable handling. That’s why even wider trucks with 200 mm hangers are popular in downhill riding.

The Impact of Longboard Truck Height

The height classification— Low, Medium, or High —makes it easier for you to choose the right longboard trucks. Depending on your riding style, a different height profile will suit you better.

Flatter trucks, with their wider turning radius, offer a smoother ride. You’re closer to the ground on the board, which many longboarders find comfortable when pushing. This makes flat trucks a good choice if you use your longboard for cruising.

Taller trucks can take tighter turns and work well with soft steering settings. Slides are easy to control—features that make tall longboard trucks popular for freeriding and downhill.

Longboard Trucks with Rake

Some inverted kingpin trucks are what are known as rake trucks. On longboard trucks with rake, the truck pin and the hanger’s pivot are not aligned . Rake allows you to influence the truck’s height and handling by flipping the hanger. When the hanger is mounted with positive rake, the truck feels “livelier.” When the hanger is flipped 180°, the truck has a negative rake. This makes it flatter and provides a smoother ride.

Axles with Different Baseplate-Pivot Angles

On inverted kingpin trucks, the baseplate pivot angle can vary. Some models have a flatter angle, while others have a steeper one. Differences in the angle affect both the height of the truck and its steering response.

Trucks with a flat angle—around 35°—are lower and ride more smoothly. This makes them ideal for beginners in downhill or freeride, as they remain very stable even at high speeds and are easy to control.

Unless you’re specifically riding downhill or freeride, axles around 50° are ideal. Axles with a steep angle strike a good balance between stability and agility, which will make cruising or carving a lot of fun. Steeper angles allow for significantly more agile handling on inverted kingpin axles.

Titus Longboard Guide

Still hungry for more knowledge? Then check out our Longboard Guide. There, we’ve compiled even more detailed information on longboard trucks and all other longboard components for you. We also cover the basics of longboarding. Learn everything about topics like “pushing correctly,” “braking on a longboard,” or “longboard assembly.” Trick tips for beginners and advanced riders round out the Titus Longboard Guide.