A truck, as a vital part of an electric skateboard, is not only used to hold the wheels but also to enable turning. Today, let’s talk about the trucks for electric skateboards. Hope this will help you choose the right trucks for your setup or DIY your skateboards.
Basic Components of A Truck
- Axle
- Hanger
- Bushings
- Pivot Cup
- Baseplate
- Kingpin
Each part of a truck can impact performance, and even small modifications can create a different ride experience:
Axle: The axle is the metal rod extends from the hanger to hold the bearings and wheels. It’s typically made of steel to withstand high forces. Axles come in different diameters, typically 8mm or 10mm.
Hanger: The hanger mainly works for turning. It is attached to the baseplate through bushings and a pivot cup to ensure rotation. The width of the hanger determines the e-skateboard’s stability and agility. A narrow hanger increases flexibility, while a wider one offers more stability at high speeds.
Bushings: Bushings are rubber or urethane rings embedded in the center of the hanger to provide resistance during turns. Carving smooth is highly dependent on the stiffness of the bushing.
- Soft bushings: Allow for more movement and sharperturns, giving a looser feel.
- Hard bushings: Provide more resistance, resulting in tighter turns and more stability, especially at higher speeds.
ESK8 riders can swap bushings to fine-tune their trucks to match their riding style, speed, and terrain.
Pivot Cup: The pivot cup is a small urethane or rubber component seated in the baseplate where the hanger’s pivot point fits. It absorbs shock and allows the hanger to rotate smoothly during turns. Proper maintenance and replacement of the pivot cup is important to ensure smooth turns and reduce wear on the hanger.
Baseplate: The baseplate is the part that attaches the truck to the skateboard deck. Different baseplate angles affect how the e-skateboard leans and turns. A higher angle allows for sharper turns, while a lower angle emphasizes leaning, resulting in smoother rides.
Kingpin: As the largest bolt on the truck, the kingpin holds the bushings and washers on the hanger. Kingpin is a crucial part of a truck, and there are three main types used in electric skateboards.
In the present market, three popular types of trucks are designed according to these three types of kingpins.
Main Types of Trucks in the Market
Reverse Kingpin Truck (RKP): The reverse kingpin truck is the most prominent truck type used in electric skateboards. RKP trucks have a kingpin that leans at an angle and are typically wider than TKP trucks. These trucks tend to offer smooth and responsive turning while maintaining stability at high speeds, making them popular for longboards and electric skateboards used for cruising or commuting.
Traditional Kingpin Truck (TKP): The traditional kingpin truck is primarily designed for street skating or trick skating. These trucks are lower to the ground and more compact, making them ideal for sharp turns and technical skating. They are typically used for non-powered skateboards, but are also suitable for electric skateboards used in urban.
Double Kingpin Truck (DKP): The double kingpin truck resembles traditional kingpin truck, but has two kingpins. These trucks provide an extremely loose, surfy feel, making them great for carving and quick directional changes at low to medium speeds. Compared to RKP and TKP, DKP is usually less stable at high speeds. But after properly tuned, OMW Boards solved this problem. Best combo of OMW DKP truck with 100A+ bushings brings a wobble-free and stable riding experience even at a top speed.
Production Processes for Trucks
The common material for electric skateboard trucks is metal. According to different manufacturing processes, commonly used trucks can be categorized into three types: cast trucks, forged trucks, and CNC machined trucks.
Cast Trucks: Molten aluminum is poured into molds, providing a variety of shapes but cast trucks may be more susceptible to breaking or cracking over time. They may not be as strong as forged trucks, especially in high-stress areas.
Forged Trucks: Shaped under immense pressure, offering offer an excellent combination of strength, precision, and lightness, making them an ideal choice in high-stress applications like electric skateboarding but a little heavier.
CNC Machined Trucks: CNC machined trucks offer a significant advantage over traditional cast trucks due to their precision, strength, and customization potential. The CNC manufacturing process allows for tighter tolerances, a more consistent grain structure, and the ability to create complex geometries. These factors result in improved ride quality, durability, and performance. Additionally, CNC trucks can be customized to meet the specific needs and preferences of individual riders. For this reason, CNC trucks are more expensive to manufacture compared to other processes.
OMW currently launched a set of high-performance CNC Trucks including DKP trucks and TKP trucks. Additionally, Through an Instagram giveaway event, red and gold were selected as the most popular colors. Riders can choose their preferred color combinations for the hanger and baseplate to suit their style.
With these information, hope you could choose the electric skateboard trucks best meets your specific needs and preferences. In summary, choosing the right truck also depends on your goals for skateboarding, the terrain you ride on, the feel you want from the trucks, and whether you prefer a DIY approach.
