Whenever you are to set up your longboards, trucks will always play an important role in that. Every truck is different from the other ones and that difference also reflects on the performance of the longboard. This is why you should choose the truck carefully keeping in mind your preferences and requirements. You need to have adequate knowledge about how tight should longboard trucks be to ensure that you get the maximum out of your longboard trucks. You can make custom changes on your longboard trucks if you are knowledgeable enough to get professional help to build a board that suits your riding style. A good skater is always concerned about his truck whether it’s loose enough to be comfortable and not so tight enough to hinder turning smoothly.
So, how tight should your longboard trucks be? Here, we bring you a detailed answer to this query, so let’s dive in….
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How Tight Should Longboard Trucks Be…?
How Tight Should Longboard Trucks Be for Cruising?
Cruiser longboards have more flexibility in them due to their role. Its trucks are built in such a way to absorb maximum shocks and vibrations while you are on your way. The trucks on a cruiser longboard are loosened up a bit to provide you that curvy and bouncy feel a skater requires. You also want drop-through mountings in your board that make it closer to the ground. These drop-through mountings also help in getting a wider turning radius in your longboard truck.
All this is combined with the best longboard wheels and you have got everything you want for cruising. You don’t need to stop and pick up your board at every crossroad and sharp turn while cruising around the neighborhood. Because these trucks are loosened up, you can move around a lot quicker with better stability and balance.
How Tight Should Longboard Trucks Be for Downhill?
When you are going downhill using your longboard, your ultimate aim is to maximize your speed and being as aerodynamic as possible. You need to control your movements at such speed and turn corners as well so you don’t bump and fall over. You need your longboard to be stiff with less wobbly trucks while you are riding downhill. It means you need tighter trucks in such a scenario to be in control while riding and performing tricks.
The longboard specialized for downhill movements provides great gripping for your feet. This way you are safe from slipping and falling while moving downhill. If going downhill is your main purpose, it is great to have a W-groove on a top-mounted unidirectional deck.
How Tight Should Longboard Trucks Be for Pumping?
Pumping longboards are essentially aimed at having medium-sized longboard wheels. This is because you need to find a balance between speed and controls while pumping as small wheels are good for gaining more speed while large wheels are good for control they offer. You need to have the front wheel thicker, stiffer, and less grippy so you can have more flexibility and control. Pumping also requires setting up an excellent wedging angle. This can be set at 15° in the front truck and 7° on the rear while keeping both at the same riser height.
The back truck on your longboard can also be fitted with harder or spring bushings for more seismic balance. You just need to keep your front truck a little less tight and more flexible than the rear so you can take an easy turn while keeping the board stable during each pump. A pump can still be initiated without falling off and at a good speed while you are in a standing position. You can keep your forward feet in position while shifting balance and thrusting in between each pump if you have an excellent broad concave and a toe-stop at the front.
Are Tight Trucks Better for Performing Tricks?
Yes, you can use longboard trucks for performing tricks but it is a feat of more experienced riders. So, you need to have a little more knowledge about longboards rather than knowing the thickness only before performing any tricks. The board you have should be widely concave and long with proper grip stickers. It is recommended to set the trucks tight with 50° rotation. It should also be bent a little bit for more flexibility during whacky tracks. For performing basic tricks, you can use the standard caliber brushings as they offer enough flexibility for that. But, for performing more advanced maneuvers, you need to have specialized cone brushings.
Wrapping Up
Longboard trucks always play a vital role in the performance of the longboards. You need to adjust these trucks depending on the requirements and situation. The above guide presents an efficient solution to how tight should longboard trucks be in different scenarios. If you are completely unsure about the tightness of the trucks, it is recommended to go for medium tightness. Medium tightness gives you the liberty of turning the board and doing basic tricks without any pressure.
