Does Skateboard Truck Size REALLY MATTER?

When you're trying to pick out the right pair of trucks we're always told to match our axle width with our deck width, or at least stay within a quarter inch difference

But exactly how much play can you get from the width of your trucks compared to the width of your board???

In this video I test out how a set of trucks suited to an 8.5" board feels on a 9" deck and the results are surprising!

What size trucks do you guys ride in comparison to your deck width?

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[LeonPaxton]

Do you guys match your axle width with your board width?

[ejlopez]

Another thing you can do to help size smaller trucks to a bigger board is to get wider wheels. Asymmetric wheels that are offset are the best, but they’re kind of hard to come by. The best example is the oj mini combo shape. Other than that there are a lot of old school wheels like the powell mini cubics and rat bones, but they’re usually 60mm and up.

[LV_Bach]

That 9 inch anti-hero has a wild wide wheel base too. Plus thunder trucks, they make it even wider. So that alone is going to make your board feel way heavy when popping it. I rode that board with ace 66 classics (9.35 axle width) it felt great and super fun.

[bwest]

I love the trick tip of adding extra washers to adjust truck width 👍

[Clarke]

Nice video and solid skating. I did the same thing 3 years ago, I went up to a 9" from 8.5. To help with the weight difference I put 8.5 Tensor Mag lights on (30% lighter than industry average) and, same as you, I put 4 washers on each axle to help push the wheels out a little. Narrower trucks help flip tricks too as the physics of it flip the deck quicker.

[skwibblez]

Andrew Reynolds and a lot of the Baker crew rode 8.5s with 139 (8”) Indy’s back in the day. It’s definitely doable

[Drghoulie]

My most recent board setup is Ace 55 8.5 inch trucks with a thank you 8.675 board and I feel like it’s a perfect setup.

[JackFuego-vu]

Much needed video. Imma 6'3 skater and I find it hard to flip in to tricks with my 151 thunders so I'll get 149 plus hollow light on a 8.75 💯 thanks

[EnjoiSweatshopMoney]

8.5 trucks (which are technically 8.375) on an 8.25 deck, 3 speed washers on the inside, 52mm green powell dragons. Edge of deck and wheels are perfectly flush. Works perfect for my flips.

[fitch]

I just like my 8.5 trucks. I rode my 149s on 8.38, 8.5, 8.75, 9 inch shaped decks, all fine. For the hell of it I set up a 8.1 with 139s and it was hard to control the flick, put on 149s and it's much more manageable and fun.

[TheReal_DeanD]

That slam at the very end didn't look good and I hope the homie didn't have a bad shoulder injury after that. Good to know about the skateboard truck size for a 9" deck. I do have some Indy 149s and I do fancy some 8.8" to 9" decks. I'll try the 3 washers so it will save me some $$$. Thanks for the super helpful video again.

[uffu]

I have that antihero deck and, like the green giant, it ranks amongst my favorite shapes. It’s incredible how consistent Deluxe is in terms of quality.

[jkdootsu]

This is interesting, I've heard about other skaters actually sizing their trucks up a half size for more stability and heft for flip tricks. However when I tried this it became really annoying as the board would become extremely sensitive to scoop. I'll keep this in mind as ive been trying to lighten my setup as well so maybe i'll go for the even/smaller truck size. Love the content man!

[_freedumb]

In my experience, and kind of logical, slightly smaller trucks than deck flips easier/better, while slightly wider trucks than deck have better stability. Much wider trucks than deck make it feel like a monster truck though. Much smaller trucks give that magic carpet feel, which I kinda like more haha. For me 8.38 with 144 or 149 is a pretty good all around setup. (shoe size us10)

[AmputeeAdele]

I ride with 3 washers on the inside of each wheel and personally think it's a pretty good idea 😊 I can't remember who I saw do it but ever since then I've done the same 👍

[PHeMoX]

I definitely prefer to have the axle flush if possible, so any kind of primo stand won't 'snap to the floor' like a mousetrap the wrong direction should you ever land primo or purposefully try freestyle stuff. Thing is, one of my boards is the 9.13" version of the Andy Anderson 7-ply deck and I have 8.5" trucks with wider freestyle wheels on it. It's still flush with the deck that way too. Just like the washer trick. And unless you really want to have the most comfortable balance point in like 5050 grinds locked into one side (heel or toes), you probably won't really notice it much. With your setup I would say the direction the board would tip over from primo position is the correct direction and probably not something unmanageable. But I had setups were it would snap to the floor the board direction (from primo to flat on the ground) and stuff like that destroys my back. I definitely prefer a flush setup and stable primo, should it ever happen accidentally or purposefully. To be honest, I never understood why some people would go wider than their deck. Makes no sense to me.

[Fortuna_]

Definitely matters, I hate when the trucks are too narrow, its like a tight rope effect trying to pop

[maxcarlson]

I ride a size 9 board with 8.25 trucks 4 washers on the inner side of each wheel no washers on the outside and the bushings on the trucks are 2 top bushings👌🔥

[mikerobinson]

Hell yeah homie good sh8t mane I'm stoked I came across your channel you have hella good content so I subscribed after the first video I came across 💪🏾 keep it come homie✊🏾

[ryanwalters]

I’ve been thinking about trying an 8.25 deck with thunder 147s. I’ve been used to skating 8 inch decks, but would upsizing the deck and keeping the same trucks make it easier to skate? Would fliptricks and ledge tricks be easier?