There are few concepts in contrast in longboarding as futile as the scene surrounding how tight the trucks of longboards should be. At one end, the stiff and rigid trucks need the stability of crushed bushings. Conversely, loose trucks cannot take the longboard if the kingpin nut is threaded into the nylon.
So, how tight or loose should longboard trucks be?
The answer is very simple to this question, and both concepts are right. However the tightness of trucks depends on personal choice, so it’s your choice you can make it loose or tight because you have to ride on it.
How Tight Should Longboard Trucks Be for Downhill?
Adjusting the tightness of longboard trucks for downhill riding is crucial for safety and performance. The ideal tightness depends on personal preference and riding style, but there are general guidelines to follow for downhill enthusiasts. For high-speed downhill rides, tighter trucks can provide better stability and control, reducing the risk of wobbles that can lead to falls. However, they shouldn’t be so tight that they restrict smooth turning or make the ride uncomfortable.
A good starting point is to tighten the trucks until they feel firm but still allow for responsive turning with some effort. It’s essential to test ride your longboard in a safe environment, making incremental adjustments until you find the perfect balance between stability and maneuverability. Remember, what works for one rider may not work for another, so personal experimentation is key. Always ensure your equipment, including trucks, is in top condition to handle the demands of downhill riding.
How to Adjust the Truck Tightness?
In longboard, making the adjustments is very simple, and you can go for it by torquing down the nuts on the trucks and axle bolts. However, it is tough for kingpin adjustments as there is no way to set and tighten the nuts up to the accurate height in one go.
You will need a 9 to 16-inch long wrench and an exact path of open pavement.
Steps to Adjust Your Longboard Truck Tightness
Adjusting the tightness of your longboard truck can significantly impact your ride. Whether you prefer a more stable and controlled feel or a looser, more agile ride, here are the steps to adjust your longboard truck tightness:
Gather Your Tools
You’ll need a skate tool or a wrench that fits the nuts on your trucks.
Find a Level Surface
Begin on a flat, smooth surface where you can work comfortably without the board rolling away.
Identify the Kingpin Nut
The kingpin nut is the large nut located at the center of the truck, connecting the hanger to the baseplate. This is what you’ll be adjusting.
The board should offer stability when you put your body weight on its edges. However, the tilting in the panel will cause a pivot in trucks which permits you to steer. If the board does not tilt to too much extent on both trucks, lose the kingpin nut on them.
Determine Your Preference
Decide whether you want your trucks tighter or looser. Tighter trucks offer stability and are ideal for downhill or high-speed riding.
Looser trucks provide more maneuverability and are suitable for carving and tricks.
Loosening Trucks
If you want looser trucks, use your skate tool or wrench to turn the kingpin nut counterclockwise (lefty loosey).
Turn it just a quarter or half turn at a time to make gradual adjustments.
Test the feel by gently rocking the board back and forth. Repeat until you achieve your desired level of looseness.
Tightening Trucks
To tighten your trucks, turn the kingpin nut clockwise (righty tighty).
Again, make small adjustments, a quarter or half turn at a time.
Test the board’s stability by rocking it gently to find your preferred tightness.
Balance Both Sides
Ensure that you adjust both trucks equally to maintain balance and avoid uneven steering.
Test and Fine-Tune
Take your board for a test ride. If it still doesn’t feel quite right, continue making minor adjustments until you achieve the perfect balance between stability and maneuverability for your riding style.
Lock the Nuts
Once you’re satisfied with the tightness level, use your skate tool or wrench to tighten the locknuts (the smaller nuts above the kingpin nut) to secure the adjustment in place.
Safety Check
Always check for any loose or damaged parts on your longboard before each ride to ensure your safety.
Therefore, you must make your trucks tight or loose in your longboard. So it is imperative that the trucks on both sides should be tight to an equal extent. If there is a difference in front and back trucks, it will be clear when you ride off the nose.
Advantages of Tighter Longboard Trucks
- Fewer wobbles at higher speeds.
- Better board control.
- Easy to pop up the board.
- Easy to do manuals and manual variations.
Advantages of Looser Trucks
- Better for carving parks and bowls
- Easier to turn the board
- Best for some freestyle tricks
When to Tight the Longboard Trucks?
If you are trying to get control of your longboard or want to ride with traditional street-style longboarding tricks, the trucks should be tighter to a great level. If you are skating with speed, like cruising or bombing hills, then tight trucks are essential.
Speed wobbles are a process where loose trucks will cause to crash and start to shake. So it is best for beginners to start longboarding with tighter trucks and, after this, try to lose the trucks when they feel comfortable with their longboard.
When To Lose The Trucks
The trucks in your longboard should be loosened for those who want to turn and carve their longboard quickly. Loose trucks are more forgiving when there is a matter of landing tricks to roll away still. This aspect will let you put together longer lines but can allow you to go for bad habits in your longboarding experience.
Loose trucks are good for changing your riding style, and skating appears more flowy and wavy.
Should Loosen My Longboard Trucks?
So if you want to know if the trucks in your longboard are too tight, look for the following signs.
- You can turn your longboard easily
- You will find your riding style still too hard
- Just to change the direction you shave to go for King’s turn
- You cannot do tricks with your longboard unless the land is even
FAQs
How do you know if your trucks are too tight enough?
Depending on the rider’s preference, longboard trucks can be tight or loose. The trucks in your longboard should be loose enough to turn the board while skating around quickly. Closed trucks are best for beginners because of more control and don’t wobble with speed.
Should my longboard trucks be loose?
The trucks should be loose to the level up where you will feel comfortable riding fast. So make sure to keep the bushings intact while adjusting your trucks. Once you get comfortable with your board, lose your trucks to the level where they feel slightly uncomfortable.
Is it better to have loose or tight trucks?
If you want to ride faster, your longboard trucks should be very tight. Tight trucks of the longboard offer stability and control at higher speeds, thus catching the dreaded speed wobbles.
Final Words
So regardless of how tight the trucks of longboard downhill should be, you have to go extremely fast on the skateboard to determine the speed wobbles. They should be much faster than you could push them. Loose trucks in the longboards are relatively safe, but tight trucks can be. The closed trucks in your longboard will also make the radius tight.
So tight trucks can you take in the struggle to steer when you need to avoid something terrible.
