Features
Freeride - You need responsive trucks with charged rebound and a large turning radius to lock in stand up slides and pre-drifts like a boss. Freeride trucks generally have a higher degree between the base plate and axle. This gives the rider a steeper slope of motion for the hanger making it easier to get in and out of a slide with control. You will often find a barrel/cone or cone/cone bushing assembly in these trucks for the same reason. The higher the quality the truck is, the less you think about it as you ride. A good truck will give you more board feel and more stability. Don't forget to look at customizing the bushings to rider weight and skate style.
Downhill - Dreams of dry mountain pass roads, switchbacks for days, and the rush of going into a corner at top speed all take good machining to make a reality. Downhill trucks are meant to have no slop, giving you ultimate board control. Just think, lower degree equals stability. As the angle between the base plate and hanger is reduced, stability is gained so if you have graduated beyond your neighborhood 10 second rush, start thinking about getting some trucks specifically designed to give you confidence at speed. Often stocked with a barrel/barrel bushing assembly, this is the traditional downhill setup. However, don't forget to check out different bushing options and try different durometers until you get your board dialed-in to your needs. Downhill trucks eliminate slop with details like pivot cup and bushing seating, strong kingpin materials, and precision machining. This being said, don't overthink it. Some of the best skaters have no clue about their gear, they just skate every day. So, if you are looking to fulfill your need for speed, you are in the right spot.
> 50° - Good for more effortless turning and carving, or for handling boards with longer wheel bases.
The truck angle you select will switch up how your longboard or cruiser handles. A lower angle truck will require more lean for your turn, where as a higher angle will give you more turn for your lean. Generally speaking, higher angle trucks will be more suited for turning and carving and lower angle trucks will be more stable and better suited for speed.
Raked Hanger (Offset) - Raked hangers change the way you approach a corner. With a raked hanger, you can lean a lot further into a turn without the truck responding, but once you lean in far enough you'll get a lot of turn, fast. Because your wheels will be going straight for longer you will go faster so if you can handle it, go for it!
50° - Good for more effortless turning and carving, or for handling boards with longer wheel bases.
The truck angle you select will switch up how your board handles. A lower angle truck will require more lean for your turn, where as a higher angle will give you more turn for your lean. Generally speaking, higher angle trucks will be more suited for turning and carving and lower angle trucks will be more stable and better suited for speed.
Barrel/Cone - If you like cruising and carving, but also enjoy the thrill of the hill, you need a wide range of motion. With a boardside barrel and roadside cone you'll benefit from both stability and turnability. This the most common stock setup.
Risers from the following brands are not compatible with the baseplates of these trucks.
Note - Every skate truck brand represents their sizing a little differently, so it's easy to get confused. Take a look at this graphic and then reference the size chart.
Reverse Kingpin - Reverse kingpins offer increased stability at high speeds and generally provide more strength when compared to traditionally mounted trucks. The reverse nature of the kingpin makes the truck higher and usually heavier, giving you the best controlled turns for downhill bombing.
