Electric Skateboard Trucks Guide 2023: How They Could Affect My Ride?

What effect do the trucks have on your e-Skateboard ride?

Electric skateboard trucks are the bone structure on which the rest of the skateboard sits.

Their position and functionality mean that not only do they hold the wheels in place, but they also support the rest of the board.

Believe it or not, they will shield the ESC and battery from any potential small rock on the road.

They’re also the part of the skateboard that allows riders to turn.

 

In short, you should give a lot of consideration to your skateboard trucks.

 

If you have not already started doing that, here are some tips to get you more familiarized.

 

Types of Electric Skateboard Trucks

The placement of their kingpin usually defines truck types.

There are two (2) prominent kingpin placements: reverse and traditional.

However, an upcoming addition to the list is double kingpin placement.

Please find out more about them all below.

 

Reverse kingpin (RKP)

This placement can be said to be the official electric skateboard and electric longboard truck.

While they can be used for other kinds of boards, you will get the best out of them on longboards.

A good example could be the ones used by WowGo 3X or any of the Backfire electric skateboard models.

They are usually characterized by the following:

– Ample stock baseplate selection.

– Better turn at high speeds.

– Stability of movement at high speeds.

– Higher ride height than traditional trucks.

– The wider base makes them good choices for off-road electric skateboard trucks.

We would also say that the RKP is more convenient for e-skateboards if the battery or ESC is too close to the trucks.

 

Traditional kingpin (TKP)

Unlike the reverse kingpin above, this configuration is designed for those who like to perform tricks on the board.

Those more familiar with riders will know that this kind of truck can prevent seamless downhill movements and free rides.

Fortunately, this truck can be tweaked to support that, also.

A couple of other selling points that make TKPs worth the money include, but are not limited to:

– Less grip than the RKPs.

– More progressive turning system.

– Better-suited hanger to enable grinds.

– Lower ride height for better trick performances.

We would advise people who’ve been skating for a while to go with the TKP because of how tricky it can get for new users – especially at high speeds.

 

Electric skateboard trucks double kingpin (DKP)

This is more of a modification than a standard, but it does get the job done.

Out of the box, it is closer to the TKP than RKP. You could remove the piece in the middle and get a TKP straight away.

 

 

That means it shares some of the same features and disadvantages, such as high-speed instability.

Due to the ‘double’ nature of this one, you also need more parts to keep it going. That means double the bushings, among other things.

 

Although, you can get a better fluid response from using these trucks.

 

Just imagine getting double the silky-smooth feel of the TKP that could allow you to perform all of those tricks in the first place. They can also double as off-road electric skateboard trucks with the right tweaks.

Most high-end electric longboards have a DKP configuration, such as the MetroboardX.

 

Trucks Components

No matter which of the above types you pick, these are the parts that make that truck do what it does best:

– Axle (8mm or 10mm) – this is the part of the truck where you fix your wheels and bearings to hold them in place

– Baseplate – baseplates secure the truck to the skateboard itself. They can be fashioned to different angles for different turning modes

– Bushings – they center the hanger and inject some resistance during turning. Typically, you would need four (4) bushings in all – two at the top/ roadside and another two at the base/ board side

– Hanger – This is the part of the truck that allows you to turn. Although securely fastened to the truck, its suspension will enable it to rotate also.

– Kingpin – you’ve learned about these above. It represents the largest bolt on the truck, which connects and secures the hanger, bushings, and washers.

– Mounting Holes – as the name implies. The part of the baseplate that allows you to screw the baseplate to the electric board deck.

– Pivot cup – the pivot cup is responsible for some of the operation of the hanger during turning.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

Mounting holes can either be in the new-school or old-school format. Make sure to check the mounting style on a truck and e-board holes to be compatible with one another.

 

It is believed that old-school holes are more stable than the new-school kinds. The good news is that most boards come with allowance for both holes – so you can choose which one to try out or switch it over later.

 

E-board Trucks Material

The trucks might look the same when they’re of a similar type, but their mode of construction also tells us a lot about how they perform.

Three (3) primary materials are supported in the current electric skateboard truck market. These are:

 

Cast construction

Cast trucks are the most common and inexpensive kind out there.

When most people talk about electric skateboard trucks, we know that they are referring to cast trucks. After all, this construction mode accounts for over 90% of e-Longboards and e-Skateboards.

As the name implies, metal is heated to a high temperature and poured onto a mold. When the metal dries, the truck is removed from it.

Due to this method, cast trucks are not highly precise since you can’t cut intricate shapes into the mold. They last long, no doubt, but not as well as other forms of construction.

 

Unfortunately, the majority of the cast trucks out there have poor finishing.

 

It’s a relief to know that most electric skateboard brands are taking it seriously and finishing their cast trucks to a better level.

Finally, high-weight riders might get some bending in their cast trucks. If this is the case, inspecting them from time to time is recommended.

 

Precision electric skateboard trucks

Also known as the CNC trucks, we believe they will be the future of electric skateboard trucks.

They are also made from aluminum, but this material has better strength than the one used for cast trucks.

The aluminum is fed to a CNC-coded machine which cuts the truck at precise angles and dimensions for the most streamlined, practical experience.

Sadly, of course, this doesn’t come cheap. They are costly – both on the initial purchase and keeping them running.

However, there is rarely a chance that you will see an electric skateboard truck as beautifully finished as these.

 

Forged trucks

Forged trucks offer the best compromise between cast trucks and CNC precision trucks.

They cost more than cast trucks – due to the time, effort, and material usage – but lesser than precision trucks.

Most manufacturers will even forge the main parts of the trucks and employ CNC for the precision parts. This gives the best of both worlds.

On the other hand, forged trucks are the strongest build you can find. You will find them applicable at a decent price point if you are a heavy rider.

However, this also means that your e-Board will be heavier. After all, the metal had to be beaten into shape, resulting in a more densely packed small space.

 

Ride Height?

We mentioned the ride height when discussing the trucks. Does this refer to the height of the rider? Absolutely not.

 

It is, instead, concerned with the height of the truck, taken from the baseplate to the middle of the axles.

 

The ride height is important for a series of considerations. For example:

– Lower ride height – faster traction regaining, better for large wheels, makes trucks lose, less high-speed stability, harder to brake on foot, better at turns, great for tricks

– Higher ride height – better high-speed stability, easier foot braking, easier to predict, the tendency of wheel bite, fewer surfings when turning.

Depending on your weight, what you need the electric skateboard for, your need for speed, and other considerations, this should help you choose the best ride height.

 

Electric Skateboard Trucks Wrap Up

Trucks are not just one-size-fits-all models that are there to make the electric skateboard setting complete. As you have seen, they are also very important.

It is very often to think they could have little impact on the ride, but depending on the setup and configuration, you will have specific control of the e-board.

It is always advisable to check the conditions of the bushings. Not one, all of them. If you observe little cracks or a change in shape, it is time to replace them.

Remember that loose trucks will give better turns, which is excellent at very low speeds. On the contrary, tight trucks respond better at high speeds.

All in all, no matter what electric skateboard trucks the manufacturer has decided to use, we are sure they have been built to perform as required for the specific e-board you buy.

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