How to Choose Skateboard Trucks
Trucks are the part of a skateboard people think about least and should think about most. They are the most expensive component to get wrong, the one you keep longest, and the single biggest influence on how a board turns.
The good news is the decision is mostly one number.
The short version
- Match axle width to deck width. The axle should sit flush with the deck edges, give or take a quarter inch.
- Most adults on an 8.0in to 8.25in deck: Independent 139, Thunder 147 or 148, Ace 44.
- Height: low for technical street and small wheels, high for cruising, bigger wheels and transition.
- Spend here. $90 to $140 buys trucks that outlive three or four decks.
- Change how it turns for $6 to $15: swap the bushings, not the trucks.
- Skip hollow and titanium unless you genuinely care about grams.
What we cover
Sizing · Getting it wrong · Height · Bushings · Brands · Anatomy · FAQ
What size trucks do you need?
Truck size is quoted as axle width, and it needs to match your deck. The axle should finish roughly flush with the edges of the deck. A quarter inch either way is fine, more than that and you will feel it.
Every brand numbers their trucks differently, which is the confusing part. Here is what actually lines up.
| Deck width | Independent | Thunder | Ace | Typical rider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5in to 7.75in | 129 | 145 | 33 | Smaller feet, technical street |
| 7.75in to 8.25in | 139 | 147 or 148 | 44 | Most adults. The default |
| 8.25in to 8.5in | 144 | 148 | 44 or 55 | Street and park crossover |
| 8.5in to 9.0in | 149 | 149 or 151 | 55 | Transition, bowls, bigger feet |
| 9.0in to 9.5in | 159 | 151 | 66 or 77 | Pools, cruisers, old school shapes |
| 9.5in and up | 169 | - | 77 or 80 | Wide cruisers and pool decks |
If you are between sizes, size down rather than up. Slightly narrow feels normal. Noticeably wide never does.
What happens if you get the width wrong?
Too narrow. The board feels twitchy and hard to hold steady, because you have less leverage over a shorter axle. The wheels also sit inside the edge of the deck, so on landings the deck can catch the ground before the wheels do.
Too wide. Turning slows down noticeably and the board feels heavy underfoot. The axles protrude past the deck where they hang up on coping, rails and ledges, which is both annoying and a good way to get thrown.
Neither is dangerous exactly. Both make a board feel wrong in a way that riders usually blame on themselves.
High trucks or low trucks?
Truck height is the distance from the deck to the axle, and it changes two things: how much room you have for wheels, and how much leverage you get when you lean.
| Height | Wheel range | Feel | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Up to about 53mm | Stable, quick response, less lean | Technical street, flip tricks |
| Mid | Around 53mm to 56mm | The middle ground | Street and park, most people |
| High | 56mm and up | Sharper turning, more clearance | Cruising, transition, bigger wheels |
If you are unsure, mid. The only time height forces your hand is if you want larger soft wheels, which need the clearance or you get wheel bite.
Bushings: the cheapest upgrade in skateboarding
Bushings are the urethane rings sitting around the kingpin. They are what actually compress when you lean, so they, more than the truck itself, determine how the board turns.
Trucks come with bushings suited to an average rider. If you are noticeably lighter or heavier than average, they are the wrong ones for you, and swapping them is $6 to $15.
- Softer bushings turn more easily with less lean. Better for lighter riders, cruising and carving. Independent conical cushions in 88a are the soft option.
- Harder bushings resist more and stay stable at speed. Better for heavier riders, roughly 80kg and up, and anyone getting speed wobbles. Independent 94a is the hard option.
If your board feels vague and mushy but tightening the kingpin makes it refuse to turn, your bushings are worn or too soft. That is the fix, not new trucks.
Which brand?
Independent. The default answer, and have been for decades. Turn predictably, grind well, and last. Standard pairs are around $110, with the Jason Jessee hollow set at $90 and Forged Titanium at $140.
Thunder. Lighter and lower than Indys with a quicker turn. Popular with technical street skaters. Around $100 for a standard set, $110 for the High Light and Lightstrike.
Ace. Wider hanger, distinctive geometry, strong following among transition skaters. AF1 sets run $130 to $135.
Honestly, all three are good. Riders who have used all of them tend to have a preference they cannot fully justify, which is a reasonable sign the differences are real but small.
What are the parts of a truck?
- Baseplate. Bolts to the deck.
- Hanger. The T-shaped part you grind on. Holds the axle.
- Axle. Runs through the hanger, carries the wheels.
- Kingpin. The large bolt holding it all together. Tension adjusts here.
- Bushings. Two per truck, above and below the hanger.
- Pivot cup. Small plastic cup the hanger pivots in. Squeaks when dry.
Almost all of these are replaceable individually, which is why a good pair of trucks lasts years rather than seasons.
Skateboard trucks FAQ
What size skateboard trucks do I need?
Match the axle width to your deck width. The axle should sit flush with the edges of the deck, or within about a quarter inch either side. For an 8.0in to 8.25in deck, that means roughly a 139 Independent, a 147 or 148 Thunder, or an Ace 44.
What happens if your trucks are the wrong width?
Too narrow and the board feels twitchy and unstable, and the wheels sit inside the deck where they catch on landings. Too wide and it turns slowly, feels heavy and the axles stick out where they snag on grinds and coping.
What is the difference between high and low trucks?
Height changes wheel clearance and leverage. Low trucks are more stable and better for smaller wheels and technical street skating. High trucks give more clearance for bigger wheels and turn more sharply, which suits cruising and transition.
Do expensive skateboard trucks make a difference?
Yes, more than any other component. Trucks are the part you keep longest, often across several decks, and cheap ones bend, seize and turn unpredictably. A good pair at $90 to $140 will outlive three or four boards.
What do bushings do on skateboard trucks?
Bushings are the urethane rings around the kingpin and they control how the truck turns. Softer bushings turn more easily and suit lighter riders, harder ones give stability at speed. At $6 to $15 they are the cheapest way to change how a board rides.
Are hollow or titanium trucks worth it?
Only if weight genuinely matters to you. Hollow kingpins and axles and titanium components shave meaningful grams for flip tricks, at a real price premium. For most riders a standard pair performs identically and lasts just as long.
Not sure? Bring the deck in
Bring your deck to 435A Bridge Road, Richmond and we will hold trucks against it. Thirty seconds and the sizing question is settled. Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $90. Call 03 9421 2293.
Keep reading: How to Choose a Skateboard · What Size Skateboard Do You Need? · How to Set Up a Skateboard · Skateboard Problems and How to Fix Them · How Much Does a Skateboard Cost?
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