How-To Guide
Longboard Truck Direction: How Angle and Bushing Control Your Turn
Longboard truck direction comes down to three things: which way the kingpin faces, what angle the baseplate sits at, and how stiff the bushings are. Get those three right for your weight and riding style, and the board turns the way you expect. Get one wrong, and nothing feels right no matter how much you adjust your stance. This guide explains each one in plain terms so you can set up trucks that actually match how you ride.
What ‘truck direction’ actually means on a longboard
When people say longboard truck direction, they usually mean one of two things: the physical orientation of the truck under the deck, or the turning geometry built into the truck itself. Both matter, but they affect your ride in different ways.
Most longboards ship with RKP trucks — reverse kingpin — already installed. On an RKP truck, the kingpin nut faces outward, toward the nose and tail of the board. This orientation is standard because it lets the truck turn through lean: push your heels or toes, and the board carves. The relationship between how much you lean and how much the board turns is direct and progressive, which is why RKP trucks feel intuitive for cruising, commuting, and general riding.
TKP trucks — traditional kingpin — work differently. The kingpin faces inward, between the trucks. These are standard on street skateboards. They give a snappier, more responsive turn near the center of the steering range, but the lean-to-turn relationship is less linear. If you have come from skateboarding, TKP trucks will feel familiar. If you are buying your first board for cruising, you will almost certainly be on RKP trucks, and that is the right place to start.
What this means for you: If you bought a complete longboard from a reputable seller, the trucks are already facing the right direction. Direction matters most when you are buying longboard trucks separately or swapping them between decks. Check the kingpin: on RKP longboard trucks, the nut should be on the outside.
For a broader look at how truck choice fits into different board shapes, see our guide to types of longboards.
How truck angle changes your turning radius
The baseplate angle — measured in degrees — is the single biggest factor in how sharply or broadly your longboard turns. This is the part of longboard truck direction that most riders never adjust but always feel.
According to standard truck geometry, higher baseplate angles produce more turn per degree of lean. Lower angles produce less turn for the same amount of lean, which translates to more stability in a straight line.
| Baseplate Angle | Turn Character | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 50° | Wide, responsive carve — more turn per lean | Cruising, campus commuting, flat-ground carving at moderate speed |
| 42° | Tighter, more stable arc — more lean needed for the same turn | Downhill, faster riding, longer straight sections |
| Below 40° | Very stable, minimal turn input | High-speed downhill only — not recommended for casual riding |
In practical terms: if you commute on flat ground and want fluid carves between cracks and pedestrians, 50° trucks are the standard starting point. Most complete longboards in the beginner-to-intermediate range ship with 50° baseplates. If you ride steeper hills regularly and want more control at speed, 42° trucks narrow the turning radius so the board does not overreact when you are going fast.
I once had a buyer ask me whether he needed 42° trucks for his 1.5-mile campus commute. He did not. His route was flat, he was pushing at moderate speed, and the wider turn radius of 50° trucks would have been easier to manage — especially since he had never ridden before. He went with the 50° setup, and three weeks later sent a photo from his commute route with no caption. That told me enough.
For riders still choosing between board types, our beginner longboard guide covers how deck shape and truck setup work together. And if you are weighing a longboard against a skateboard entirely, the longboard vs skateboard comparison lays out the steering differences clearly.
How bushings affect turn feel and stability
Truck angle sets the turning geometry. Bushings control how much effort it takes to use it.
Bushings are the urethane cylinders inside your trucks. When you lean, the bushings compress — that compression is what makes the board turn. Softer bushings compress with less force, which means easier turns and more carve. Harder bushings resist compression, which means more stability but more effort to initiate a turn.
Bushing durometer by rider weight (industry convention):
- 80A–85A: Under ~150 lb — easier lean, more carve, less resistance. Good for lighter riders and casual cruising.
- 87A–90A: 150–200 lb — balanced lean and stability. The most common range for general longboard riding.
- 92A+: Over 200 lb or downhill riding — firm resistance, more control at speed, more effort to turn.
Most longboard trucks ship with a barrel and cone bushing combo. The barrel bushing (bottom) provides a stable base and resists excessive lean. The cone bushing (top) has a narrower profile that compresses more easily, which lets you initiate turns with less effort. This combo is a reasonable default for cruising and commuting.
What this means for you: rider weight matters more than bushing brand. A 130 lb rider and a 200 lb rider on the same stock bushings will have completely different ride experiences. The lighter rider may find the board feels loose and twitchy. The heavier rider may feel like they are fighting the board to turn. If either of those sounds familiar, the bushings are the first thing to check — not the trucks themselves.
If you are setting up longboards for cruising and commuting, starting with medium-soft bushings (85A–87A) and adjusting from there usually gets you closer to the right feel than guessing at the extremes.
RKP vs TKP: which truck direction suits your ride
This is the choice most riders do not realize they are making when they buy a complete board.
| RKP (Reverse Kingpin) | TKP (Traditional Kingpin) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it turns | Through lean — progressive carve | Through steering input — quicker center response |
| Standard on | Longboards, cruisers, drop-throughs | Street skateboards, short cruisers |
| Best for | Cruising, commuting, carving, distance | Tricks, street skating, very short decks |
| Ride height | Generally higher (unless drop-through) | Generally lower |
| Lean-to-turn feel | Smooth, linear, forgiving | Snappy, responsive, less lean needed |
For most longboard riders, RKP trucks are the correct default. They match the deck length, the riding posture, and the kind of slow-to-moderate-speed carving that longboards are built for. If you are buying longboard trucks as an upgrade or replacement, start with RKP unless you have a specific reason to go TKP.
TKP makes sense in two situations: you are riding a very short cruiser deck (under 30 inches) where RKP trucks would feel oversized, or you already have years of skateboard experience and prefer the snappier steering input. In our experience, swapping truck types changes the board’s character more than changing wheels or bushings — so this is not a casual upgrade. It is a fundamental shift in how the board rides.
Step-by-step: checking and adjusting your truck setup
If your board feels wrong — too loose, too stiff, pulling to one side — the trucks are usually the reason. Here is how to diagnose and adjust.
- Check kingpin orientation. Flip the board over. On RKP longboard trucks, the kingpin nut should face outward, toward the nose and tail. If both nuts face inward, the trucks are installed backward. This is rare on complete boards but common on custom builds.
- Stand on the board on flat ground. Lean gently left, then right. Note if one side feels different from the other. If it does, the kingpin nuts may be tightened unevenly.
- Adjust kingpin tightness in half-turn increments. Tighten to add resistance (more stability, less turn). Loosen to reduce resistance (more carve, less stability). Test after every half-turn. The bushings should have slight give when you press the hanger by hand at rest — if they are completely compressed, the kingpin is too tight.
- If the board still feels wrong at neutral tightness, the bushing durometer is probably mismatched. A 200 lb rider on 80A bushings will feel unstable. A 120 lb rider on 95A bushings will feel like they cannot turn. Swap bushings before blaming the trucks.
- Ride a familiar route after any change. Compare the new feel to your baseline, not to a vague memory. Small adjustments compound — half a turn on each side can be the difference between fighting the board and riding it.
When I test a board, I start on flat ground, then find a mild slope, then ride over rougher pavement. The flat ground tells me if the turn is balanced. The slope tells me if I feel in control or if the board is steering me. The rough pavement tells me whether the bushings and wheels are absorbing the road or transmitting every crack into my feet. If any of those three feel off, I adjust before I make a judgment about the board.
Common mistakes with longboard truck direction and setup
Based on buyer feedback and the questions we get most often, these are the errors that make good trucks feel bad:
Overtightening the kingpin
This crushes the bushings, eliminates turn, and makes the board feel dead. New riders often tighten trucks all the way down because they think it is safer. In practice, moderately loose trucks let you absorb bumps through lean, which is more stable on rough pavement than a locked-up setup. Bushings should have slight give at rest.
Mixing truck brands or angles front to back
Different trucks have different turn geometries. If your front truck is 50° and your rear truck is 44°, the board will turn asymmetrically — it will feel like it wants to go one direction. For new riders, this creates unpredictable steering. Use matched trucks unless you have a specific reason not to.
Ignoring rider weight when choosing bushings
This is the most common cause of “my board feels too loose” or “my board feels too tight.” The stock bushings on most complete boards are set for a 150–170 lb rider. If you are outside that range, swapping to the right durometer is the cheapest, most effective upgrade you can make — usually under $15.
Assuming tighter trucks mean a safer ride
Tighter trucks reduce turn, which sounds safer. But they also reduce your ability to absorb uneven terrain through small weight shifts. On cracked pavement or brick sidewalks, a board with some lean gives you more control, not less. The goal is tuned resistance, not elimination of movement.
Common questions, answered straight
Which way should longboard trucks face?
RKP trucks face outward with the kingpin pointing toward the nose and tail. Most longboards ship pre-installed in the correct orientation. If you bought trucks separately, the kingpin nut should be on the outside of the board.
Does truck direction matter for turning?
Yes. Truck angle — the baseplate degree — controls how sharply or broadly the board turns per unit of lean. A higher angle (50°) produces more turn. A lower angle (42°) produces more stability at speed. This is the single biggest factor in how your longboard handles.
Should I get RKP or TKP trucks for a longboard?
RKP is the standard for longboards. It gives you a fluid, progressive carve that matches longer decks and cruising posture. TKP trucks are better for short cruisers under 30 inches or if you prefer the quicker, snappier steering feel of a skateboard. For most longboard riders, RKP is the right call.
What bushing hardness should I use?
Match bushing durometer to your weight. Riders under roughly 150 lb usually feel best on 80A–85A bushings. Riders in the 150–200 lb range are well served by 87A–90A. Over 200 lb or riding downhill at speed, look at 92A and above. The stock bushings on most complete boards are tuned for 150–170 lb — if you are outside that range, swapping bushings is the fastest way to fix how your board feels.
Ready to dial in your setup?
If your trucks feel off or you are upgrading from a stock setup, browse longboard trucks matched to your riding style — each one is listed with baseplate angle, bushing info, and what kind of riding it suits best.