How to Choose Longboard Trucks: Start with the Basics

Most buyers look at a longboard and think about the deck, the wheels, and maybe the graphic. Trucks are the last thing they consider. That is backwards. Trucks control how your board turns, how stable it feels at speed, and how much effort it takes to carve. If you get trucks wrong, a board with a great deck and good wheels will still feel off.

There are three variables that matter when choosing good longboard trucks: truck angle, bushing setup, and truck geometry (RKP vs TKP). Everything else — color, brand logo, finish — is decoration.

Truck angle controls your turning radius. A 50-degree baseplate angle gives you a sharper, more responsive turn at low speeds. A 40-degree angle spreads that same lean over a wider arc, which feels more stable when you pick up speed. What this means for you: if you are cruising campus at 8–10 mph, 50-degree trucks feel lively and fun. If you are bombing a hill or commuting long stretches at 15+ mph, 40–44-degree trucks keep you from feeling like the board is wobbling underneath you.

Bushings are the urethane cylinders inside your trucks that control how much the trucks compress when you lean. Softer bushings (around 85A) compress easily, giving you quick turns with less effort. Harder bushings (90A+) resist lean, which adds stability but makes the board feel less responsive to small weight shifts. Bushing shape matters too — barrel bushings sit more securely in the truck seat and resist wobble; cone bushings compress more freely and allow deeper lean. We will get into this in detail below.

RKP vs TKP is the geometry question. Reverse Kingpin (RKP) trucks are the standard for almost every longboard and cruiser. They turn in a way that feels fluid and predictable. Traditional Kingpin (TKP) trucks are what you see on standard street skateboards — they turn quicker and sit lower, but they are less stable once you exceed cruising speed. For longboard-specific riding, RKP is almost always the right call.

If you are still figuring out what kind of board you want, our types of longboards guide breaks down deck shapes and riding styles before you get to the truck decision.

RKP vs TKP Trucks: Which One Fits Your Riding?

This is the first question to answer, and it is simpler than most articles make it sound.

What this means for your decision: if you are buying trucks for a longboard — for commuting, campus riding, cruising, or carving — you want RKP trucks. They are purpose-built for the kind of sustained, directional riding that longboards do. The geometry distributes your lean into a predictable turn arc rather than a sudden snap.

TKP trucks are not bad. They are just designed for a different job. If you are putting together a street skateboard for ollies and kickflips, TKP is the standard. On a longboard, they will feel twitchy at speed and less comfortable over distance.

One nuance: some very short cruiser boards (under 30 inches) use TKP trucks for portability and a lower ride height. That can work. But once your board passes 32 inches and your riding includes any real distance or speed, RKP trucks are the safer starting point. Our beginner longboard guide goes deeper on how board length connects to truck choice for first-time riders.

Bushing Setup: The Key to Customizing Your Turn

Here is something most first-time buyers miss: the bushings that come with your trucks matter as much as the trucks themselves. Two identical RKP truck models can feel completely different depending on what bushings are installed. This is the part where the “best trucks for longboard” question becomes personal — because bushing preference depends on your weight, your riding style, and how much lean you want.

Bushing Durometer (Hardness)

Bushing hardness is measured on the same A-scale as wheel durometer. The practical translation:

• 80A–85A (soft): Easy to compress, quick turns, less effort to carve. Good for lighter riders (under 150 lbs) or anyone who wants a surfy, responsive feel at cruising speed.
• 87A–90A (medium): The default range for most complete longboards. Enough resistance for stability without killing turn response. Works for riders in the 150–200 lb range on flat commutes and casual cruising.
• 92A–97A (hard): Resists lean, adds stability, reduces wobble at speed. Better for heavier riders (200+ lbs) or anyone doing downhill or fast freeride.

The most common mistake I see in buyer conversations: someone at 130 lbs rides a board with stock 90A bushings and says the trucks feel “dead.” They are not bad trucks — the bushings are too heavy for the rider’s weight. Swap to 85A cones and the same trucks wake up.

Bushing Shape

• Barrel + Barrel: Maximum stability. Both bushings sit firmly in the truck seat and resist excess lean. Standard for commuting, downhill, and heavier riders.
• Barrel + Cone: A balance of stability and turn. The roadside cone allows more lean at the top of the turn while the boardside barrel holds the base. This is the most common stock setup on mid-range longboards.
• Cone + Cone: Maximum turn, minimum resistance. Feels loose and surfy, great for slow-speed carving on flat pavement. Not recommended for speeds above 15 mph or for new riders who are still developing balance.

If you have never changed bushings before, start with what your board came with. Ride it for a few weeks. Then ask yourself: do I want this to turn more easily, or do I want more stability? That answer tells you whether to go softer or harder, cone or barrel. Our longboard category includes boards with different stock bushing setups so you can see the range.

Matching Trucks to Your Riding Style

This is where the buying decision actually lives. Not in brand names or color options — in the match between your route, your speed, and what you want the board to feel like under your feet.

In our buyer conversations, the wrong truck setup is usually not about buying a bad product. It is about buying a setup designed for a riding style the rider does not actually do yet. A beginner who buys 40-degree trucks with hard bushings because a review said they are “stable” will find the board hard to turn and frustrating to learn on. For most new riders, a 50-degree truck with medium bushings is the right starting point. If you want a full breakdown of board selection beyond just trucks, our best longboards guide covers the complete picture.

Avoid These Common Truck Buying Mistakes

I have talked to enough riders at this point to see the same mistakes repeat. Here are the ones that matter most:

1. Ignoring truck angle entirely. Most complete longboards ship with 50-degree trucks, which is fine for most riders. But if you buy a separate truck set without checking the angle, you might end up with something that does not match your speed or terrain. Always check the baseplate degree before you buy.
2. Skipping bushing swaps. Stock bushings are designed for a “middle” rider — roughly 150–180 lbs, casual cruising. If you are lighter, heavier, or want a specific turn feel, the cheapest upgrade you can make is a $10–$15 set of aftermarket bushings. The difference in ride quality is immediate.
3. Buying based on brand name alone. This one comes up constantly. Someone asks me, “Is Brand X good?” — and the honest answer is that it depends on the specific model. Some well-known brands have excellent flagship trucks and mediocre budget lines. Some less-known brands punch above their price. Look at the angle, the bushing setup, and whether the truck matches your deck’s mounting pattern before you look at the logo.
4. Forgetting about compatibility. Trucks need to match your deck’s truck mounting pattern (top-mount or drop-through), your deck width (trucks should be roughly the same width as the deck or slightly narrower), and your wheel size (larger wheels may need riser pads to avoid wheelbite). Buying trucks without checking these three things is how you end up with a board that does not fit together.

If this is your first time buying or upgrading trucks, you do not need the most expensive option. You need the right angle and the right bushings for your weight and riding style. Everything else is refinement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Longboard Trucks