Best Skateboard Truck Reviews 2018

The material used for making the skateboard truck is the major factor that affects its pricing. The high-end Titanium trucks can cost up to $90 while the less expensive aluminum alloy trucks which are also sturdy and durable will go for around $15. There are also cheap skateboard trucks that carry rock-bottom price tags. We do not recommend these unless you’re willing to risk your truck breaking on you after you land your first trick. Hopefully, it won’t involve too much air, and we trust you will be wearing some protection.

Skateboard trucks are arguably the most important part of a skateboard. It holds the tires and it is primarily responsible for how the skateboard moves, feels, and what tricks you can land. If you intend to build your skateboard, here are some ideas about what to watch out for when selecting your truck:

• Material
• Profile
• Width
• Bushings
• Extras

As you read on, you will understand how these features affect the performance of a truck, and therefore the performance of the skateboard. Hopefully, that will help you decide on the best skateboard truck for you.

Skateboard trucks essentially hold other parts of a skateboard together. They should be sturdy and durable to withstand everyday grinding and heavy impact. Different brands use different materials to make their trucks. A certain brand uses Titanium alloy for its axel and chrome-molybdenum steel for the hanger. Some use magnesium for the advantage of the light weight. Aluminum alloy is also a popular construction material. A particular brand also boasts of making indestructible trucks and it backs this claim with a lifetime warranty on the workmanship and materials. How awesome is that?

A skateboard truck profile is the distance between the base plate and the hanger. The three types of truck profile are:

• LOW – This is the truck with the least distance between the baseplate and the hanger. It offers more stability allowing you to pull flip tricks easily. A low truck profile is recommended for smaller wheels.
• MID – Mid-trucks combine the advantages of both profiles. They allow you to use larger wheels and with them you can better handle park and street skating.
• HIGH – Wheel bites occur when the wheels rub against the deck of your skateboard. You can say goodbye to wheel bites with a high-profile truck puts sufficient distance between the wheels and the deck. These trucks will give you the needed assistance with ollies.

The consensus in the skateboard world is that the width of your truck and your deck—the board you stand on—should be a match. If your truck is too wide, your leg might make contact with the wheels when you push; if it is too narrow, your skateboard will not be stable. If you already have a deck, let the width determine the width of the truck you will get. If you’re getting the truck first, then it should be the reverse. Whatever your case is, make sure the width of the truck and the deck are the same.

Bushings are more or less the steering apparatus for your skateboard. They control the handling and how responsive your turning is. They are the hollow rings that house the kingpins, which hold the entire truck together. They are usually made with urethane. The type of bushings you choose with your truck should suit your riding style. Barrel bushings, which have a regular diameter, are suited for any riding style. They offer stability and are easily maneuvered at high speeds. The conical bushing is more suited for the cruising and carving riding style, as it makes handling a lot easier. The standard bushing is the combination of the other two giving you more or less the advantages of both. It is best suited for the freeride style.

The hardness of your bushing, often called the durometer affects the maneuverability of your skateboard. The hardness dictates the amount of resistance you get from your board. The harder the bushing, the more the effort you have to put in, when you make a turn, and vice versa. It is also important to state that the heavier the rider is, the harder the bushings need to be.

A skateboard truck has different parts that come together to give you the desired performance. The following are the parts of a skateboard truck:

• Base Plate – This is the other end of a truck which is flat and has holes in it to connect the truck to the deck. Base plates usually have four mounting hole which match those on the deck. A perfect match is a good way to know you have the right deck.
• Kingpin – Perhaps this chunky piece of metal got its name because it holds other parts of a truck together. It is the piece of metal that connects the base plate with the rest of the truck.
• Bushings – This is the rubber tubing that houses the kingpin and is responsible for the feedback you get from your movements. If your skateboard is not turning as you want it, you should check your bushings.
• Hanger – This is the T-shaped lump of metal that makes up almost half of the truck. It is made up of different types of metal, which depends on the brand that makes it. There are sturdy and lightweight trucks that are available with a high price tag. It provides a holding support for the axels.
• Axle – This is the thin line of metal that protrudes out of the hanger on either side and is what the wheels attach to. When a skateboarder grinds, he’s probably doing it on the axel. If you catch air and land heavily, this sometimes causes the axle to shift causing one wheel to jut further out while the corresponding one shifts inwards, hence, creating an imbalance. Some brands have countered this by fitting their trucks with non-slip axels. With these types of axles, you can chase ‘Tony Hawk’ into the air.

With this information, you would find it easy to make up your mind on the features you want on your skateboard truck. This will, in turn, help you choose the best skateboard truck for your riding needs.