One of the most vital parts of a longboard is its truck. It forms an important part of your longboard riding experience, and cheap longboard trucks are known to provide the best longboard riding experience. If you are a beginner skateboarder or beginner longboarder, then you should know what trucks to use on your skateboard or longboard.
When you start looking for longboard trucks online or at a physical brick-and-mortar shop, the sheer variety of longboard trucks might put you off and confuse you. There are different kinds of longboard trucks for different riders, and one truck might be suitable for you, whereas a different kind of truck might be suitable for someone else’s style. That is why this review and buying guide for the best longboard trucks for freeride will try to answer all the important questions related to a longboard truck and give you the best trucks which are suitable for a wide variety of riding styles.
This article will shed light on the different aspects of a longboard truck and how they function inside a longboard and offer you the best of the best trucks that are available currently on the market to buy.
#1. Yocaher Longboard Skateboard Truck
The Yocaher Longboard Skateboard Truck is one of the best-selling longboard trucks in the online shop, and it comes with a combo set. The combo comes with wheels with the truck, making it a good value proposition for longboard enthusiasts.
The Yocaher Skateboard brand is known for making great products at a fraction of the cost compared to its competitors. This longboard cheap truck may be fitted with parts but functions admirably well compared to the more expensive parts. The truck is made from durable materials, offering you a long-lasting product that does not require much maintenance or attention.
The Yocaher Longboard Skateboard Truck comes with a 175 mm pin that is reversible, and it measures 9.675” to the side. This pin is ideal for all kinds of longboards. The longboard wheels are durable and long-lasting, offering a complete package for a minimal amount of money. In essence, this is an ideal product to start this longboard truck guide as it has all the essential elements of a great product.
#2. Sector 9 Gullwing Sidewinder II Longboard/Skateboard Truck
The Sector 9 Gullwing Sidewinder II, Longboard/Skateboard Truck, is another favorite longboard truck among the skateboarding community simply because of its ability to turn any longboard into a carving machine. Many people have rated it among cheap longboard trucks for carving because of its unique kingpin design.
Gullwing is a very famous brand in the longboarding industry, and they have managed to make an award-winning product with a simple design that packs powerful performance and the best freeride longboard trucks. The Gullwing trucks are small compared to other longboard trucks, and they can be fitted with only four screw holes.
Users have said that the Gullwing longboard truck offers a snowboarding experience due to its smooth riding experience. Many users have also likened this amazing experience to that of surfing. The most stable version from this manufacturer is the 10-inch version which offers a more stable longboard truck. The Gullwing truck offers a fun experience, and it is very easy to maneuver across tight spaces. Thus it makes our list as one of the best longboard trucks for sliding.
#3. Caliber Trucks Cal II 50° RKP Longboard Trucks
The Caliber Trucks come with a pair of two trucks that can fit perfectly with your longboard. It can be fitted in many ways according to the type of riding style that you prefer, offering you a very customizable longboard riding experience.
The setup consists of a reverse pin and a 50-degree slant. The components of this truck are made with brushed aluminum, which is a very durable material, and it can last for a long time. The Caliber brand has a long history of manufacturing the best longboard for cruising trucks, and with the Cal II 50°, it is no different from the others. Currently, this is the flagship product in the arsenal of the Caliber brand, and this product does justice to such a reputable brand due to its stable performance and solid construction.
The Caliber Call II trucks are 184 mm wide, and it is placed at a 50-degree angle to its baseplate. The bearings that come with this package are very hard and offer any longboard owner an excellent setup. If you are looking for the best downhill longboard trucks, the Caliber Cal II truck offers that at an affordable price tag.
#4. Paris V2 180mm 50° Longboard Skateboard Trucks
The Paris V2 Longboard Trucks offer one of the smoothest and fluid curves during turns. The bushings that come with the Paris V2 trucks are very responsive and rebound easily. Because the Paris V2 trucks can last for a long time due to the use of durable parts in its construction, this is one of the best-selling longboard trucks on the online market, and many users have rated it as one of the best trucks due to its smooth and stable riding performance.
The Paris V2 trucks are 180mm wide, which allows for sharp turns and a responsive feel. The 90A bushings are designed so that you won’t feel a thing even when riding across rough surfaces. The Paris V2 trucks are made to last across all weather conditions. Another important thing about this longboard truck is that this product is guaranteed for life by the makers of this longboard truck.
Paris has so much faith in its truck that it offers a lifetime guarantee of the V2 trucks because they have full faith in their manufacturing process. Last but not least, the V2 trucks also offer universal mounting, so you can fit these trucks with traditional longboards, as well as the new types of longboards that come with different mounting options. These factors make the Paris V2 Longboard Trucks the best longboard trucks for downhill currently available online.
#5. Paris SAVANT 180mm 43° Longboard Skateboard Trucks
The Paris Savant Longboard Truck features this longboard truck guide due to its precision design. Paris trucks are one of the most sought-after brands in the cheap longboard trucks market, and for a good reason.
The products under the Paris brand are known for quality and strength, and the Savant is no different. The truck hangars are made with high-quality materials that are incredibly strong. Thus, you can experience a very smooth and enjoyable longboard ride when you fit with the Paris Savant trucks.
The design was geared towards delivering extremely superior performance, and it manages to do so due to its parts that keep the longboard wheels in alignment even under considerable stress. The tighter bushing and the pivot, geared towards stability, can keep your longboard performing optimally under high speeds. The Paris Savant is available with a 50-degree and 43-degree baseplate, and you can rest assured to enjoy smooth turns across tight spaces with this longboard truck.
#6. Caliber Trucks Cal II 44° RKP Longboard Trucks
The Caliber Cal II 44° makes this longboard truck guide due to its predecessor’s improved performance and snug fit. The parts are very solid and offer a stable riding performance to the longboard rider. The special 44-degree angle of the Caliber Cal II allows the rider to reach higher speeds without worrying about performance.
These trucks are specially designed for superior downhill performance, thus making them one of the best longboard trucks in 2018. Caliber has used upgraded manufacturing techniques to manufacture strong parts that can withstand all sorts of weather conditions and offer the longboard rider a great riding performance even while riding across rough surfaces. The baseplates are reinforced, and the pivot pin has a snugger fit with the baseplate.
The Caliber Cal II trucks also offer smooth turns across tight spaces and are specially designed for carving. The trucks are made with a special aluminum alloy that makes them last for a long time.
#7. Paris V2 180mm 43° Longboard Skateboard Trucks
The Paris V2 trucks feature in this longboard trucks guide due to their solid parts and stable performance. The trucks are made with virgin aluminum, which is a very strong and durable material.
The Paris V2 trucks are also very responsive and offer a smooth riding experience even at high speeds. The trucks are designed in such a way that even when you take your longboard across bumpy roads with potholes, you won’t feel a thing, thanks to its superior design.
Paris, which is the manufacturer of the V2 trucks, is so confident with their product that they guarantee them for life, which is unique for longboard trucks. The V2 trucks come with universal mounting options, making them easy to fit in with any longboard. The Paris V2 trucks are built to last a long time, and this is why these trucks are one of the best products currently available on the online market.
Buying Guide for the Best Longboard Trucks
To make it easier for you to select a great truck, this guide will focus on a few key aspects of a great truck. These features are must-haves and can be the difference between a good longboard truck and a poor one.
Design
The design is one of the foremost features behind any product and for longboard trucks. Design plays an important part in the longevity of a longboard truck, and a product with superior design can deliver a great riding experience.
Stability
This is another important feature that separates the best trucks from the not-so-good ones. Trucks made with stability in mind can offer a smooth and stable riding experience even under high speeds. Trucks that have reverse kingpins are good for the stability of a longboard.
Materials
The best trucks are made with strong and durable materials that make them fit for rough use. If you see a truck with its baseplate made with Virgin Aluminum, you can feel confident about its performance as this is a very strong material.
Noise
Longboard trucks with good bushing seats offer less noise than their counterparts. Noise can be an inconvenient experience and can hamper you while riding your longboard. Thus, if you have a longboard truck that gets squeaky while turning, use tape to seal it tightly to your longboard so that it does not make much noise.
Price
The best trucks should be competitively priced to not put you off from buying a great product. Most of the longboard trucks featured in this review all fall under a hundred dollars, so you can enjoy a superior product without paying a hefty price for it.
FAQ
What kind of baseplate width is perfect for my longboard?
Longboard trucks with a baseplate of more than 100 mm are perfect for accommodating longboards of all sizes.
Which materials are durable for longboard trucks?
The best trucks are made with virgin aluminum, which is a very strong and durable material. This aluminum alloy is also good at absorbing shocks and can make your longboard truck last for a long time.
What makes a longboard truck stable?
Longboard trucks with a reinforced baseplate and reversible kingpins can make a truck stable while turning across tight spaces.
What to do if my longboard truck is squeaking while carving?
Some longboard trucks are known to be noisy while making turns or while carving, so if your longboard is guilty of making excessive noise, fasten your longboard truck with duct tape, which usually gets rid of the loud and squeaky noises.
Where can I buy a good longboard truck?
Nowadays, all the best products are available online. Shopping online is very convenient for getting your favorite products right to your doorstep. The big online market is the biggest online retailer, and it has all the great longboard trucks that have been reviewed in this guide. A good thing about shopping online is checking the user reviews before buying your favorite longboard truck.
Conclusion
I hope this buying guide will make it a lot easier for you to buy your favorite longboard truck. Even though initially it may prove to be a daunting task to sift through all the reviews and various products, when you narrow down your target and know exactly what features you are looking for, your task will become a lot easier. All the great longboard trucks reviewed in this guide offer great value for your money and will last for a long time. So, you can forget about maintenance all the tedious tasks of repurchasing another truck once you buy from this list.
