Which skateboard trucks are the best ?
What size skateboard trucks to choose?
The easiest way to choose the right trucks is to consider the total width. That is to say the measurement of the axis on which the wheels are mounted. This is expressed in inches and it should be as close as possible to the width of the board. Here is a table below which summarizes the models according to the brands in order to simplify the comparisons.
| Manufacturer | Model | Axle length | Recommended platter size |
| Thunder | 143 | 7.125" | 6.8" > 7.4" |
| 145 | 7.62" | 7.4" > 7.9" | |
| 147 | 8.0" | 7.9" > 8.125" | |
| 148 | 8.25" | 8.125" > 8.38" | |
| 149 | 8.5" | 8.375" > 8.6" | |
| 151 | 8.75" | 8.62" > 8.85" | |
| 161 | 9.125" | 8.9" > 11" | |
| Independent | 109 | 6.9" | 6.25" > 7.6" |
| 129 | 7.6" | 7.4" > 7.8" | |
| 139 | 8.0" | 7.8" > 8.2" | |
| 144 | 8.25" | 8.125" > 8.38" | |
| 149 | 8.5" | 8.375" > 8.6" | |
| 159 | 8.75" | 8.6" > 8.9" | |
| 169 | 9.125" | 8.9" > 9.5" | |
| 215 | 10" | 9.5" > 11" | |
| Tensor | 5.0 | 7.625" | 7.4" > 7.8" |
| 5.25 | 8.0" | 7.8" > 8.2" | |
| 5.5 | 8.25" | 8.125" > 8.38" | |
| 5.75 | 8.5" | 8.375" > 8.6" | |
| 6.0 | 8.75" | 8.62" > 9.0" | |
| Film | 5.25 | 8.0" | 7.8" > 8.2" |
| 5.5 | 8.25" | 8.125" > 8.38" | |
| 6.0 | 8.75" | 8.62" > 9.0" | |
| Venture | 5.0 | 7.62" | 7.4" > 7.8" |
| 5.2 | 8.0" | 7.8" > 8.2" | |
| 5.6 | 8.25" | 8.1" > 8.38" | |
| 5.8 | 8.5" | 8.375" > 8.6" | |
| 6.1 | 8.75" | 8.6" > 9.0" | |
| Ace AF1 | 22 | 7.75" | 7.4" > 7.87" |
| 33 | 8.0" | 7.8" > 8.2" | |
| 44 | 8.25" | 8.1" > 8.38" | |
| 55 | 8.5" | 8.375" > 8.75" | |
| 66 | 9.0" | 8.75" > 9.25" | |
| 77 | 9.5" | 9.25" > 10.0" | |
| Ace Classic | 00 | 6.5" | 6.3" > 6.8" |
| 11 | 7.0" | 6.8" > 7.4" | |
| 22 | 7.6" | 7.4" > 7.8" | |
| 33 | 8.0" | 7.8" > 8.2" | |
| 44 | 8.35" | 8.1" > 8.5" | |
| 55 | 9.0" | 8.75" > 9.25" | |
| 66 | 9.35" | 9.25" > 10.0" |
The different models of trucks and their particularities
Thunder Trucks
- Team edition: these are the classics from Thunder trucks. With a height of 50mm, they are known for their maneuverability
- Team Hollows: They offer the same characteristics as the Team edition with a height of 50mm. The wheel axles and kingpin are hollow to save weight.
- Lights: The standard height is 49mm. The baseplate is made of forged aluminium and the kingpin is hollow to save weight.
- Hollow Lights: Lighter with the same characteristics as the lights except the wheel axles are hollow. The height of the truck is 49mm and the baseplate is made of aluminium.
- Titatium Lights: This is the Rolls Royce of skateboard trucks. They offer the same specificities as the Hollow lights with even more lightness and solidity thanks to their titanium axles. The titanium also offers a better resistance to corrosion. The height of the truck is 49mm.
Venture Trucks
- Team edition : these are the simplest trucks at Venture. They come in two heights, Low 48.5mm and High 53.5mm.
- V-Lights : A more technical version with forged baseplates and a lighter Kingpin
- V-Hollows : The same characteristics as the V-lights with the addition of a hollow wheel axle to save weight
- V-Titanium : Same as the two previous models with a titanium axle as their name indicates which is not hollow but relatively light because of the quality of this metal. The solidity is also reinforced.
Independent Trucks
- Stage XI: These are the simplest trucks at Independent. The height is 55mm, which is higher than Thunder and Venture. The quality of Independent trucks is well known among many pros. They tend to be a bit heavier than average.
- MID: This is the latest model of Independent trucks. The height of the truck has been lowered to 52mm and the Kingpin is reversed for easy grind like the Feeble or Smith.
- Hollows: This is the lighter version of the Stage XI. This is the lighter version of the Stage XI's. This is due to the King pin and the hollow wheel axle. The height remains 55mm
- Forged Hollows: A little more advanced, these trucks have a forged baseplate, kingpin and lightened axle. The profile is lower than on the STAGE XI with a height of 53.5mm
- Forged Titanium: These are the lightest and strongest trucks at Independent. The baseplate is forged and the profile is "mid" with a height of 53.5mm
- Cesar Eelsen
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