How To Tighten Trucks on A Longboard

Trucks are arguably the most important part of any longboard setup. You cannot comfortably or safely ride a skateboard or longboard if your trucks are overly loose or even too tight. Many skaters struggle with how to tighten trucks on a longboard.

Simply place the socket wrench from a skate tool over the kingpin nut on each longboard truck and turn it clockwise to tighten it. Avoid tightening your trucks too much or it will be harder to pump and carve when cruising. Tight trucks provide more control and better prevent speed wobble when riding fast downhill when compared to loose trucks.

Make sure that your mounting hardware is as tight as possible so that your longboard and trucks are securely fastened. Only flip your longboard hanger if it has rake or you won’t notice any difference. Follow along as we explore how to tighten trucks on a longboard.

What Tool is Used to Tighten & Loosen Longboard Trucks?

A multi-use skate tool is all that you need to tighten and loosen longboard trucks. This t-shaped tool features a wrench that perfectly fits over the nut on each truck, and it’s the easiest way to tighten trucks on a longboard. Skate tools also include an Allen wrench and screwdriver head that you can use to adjust the hardware.

This is what a multi-use skate tool looks like:

Each side has a different socket size because trucks, wheels, and the hardware are all different size. See the latest price of the KVENI skate tool here on Amazon.

How To Tighten Trucks on Your Longboard

Tightening the trucks on your longboard takes one minute or less, and it only includes one step. All that you need to do is put your skate tool’s socket wrench over the kingpin nut on each truck and turn it clockwise. Keep turning the wrench until the truck is as tight as you’d like.Repeat the process with the other truck. Simply turn the wrench counterclockwise if you want to loosen your longboard trucks or to completely take off your hanger from the baseplate.

How Tight Should Your Trucks Be?

Medium tightness is typically ideal for the average longboarder. You sacrifice control if your trucks are too tight and lose speed when they are too loose. It takes some experimenting to find the perfect level of tightness for your longboard setup.

Keep your skate tool on hand when you go cruising so that you can adjust your trucks accordingly. I typically prefer loose trucks for longboards and skateboards alike because they make it easy to carve, but remember it is personal preference.

Beginners are better off having it a bit tighter so they can get their balance easier, slowly loosen them to get more comfortable turning on your longboard.

You can read our related post on how tight longboard wheels should be here. 

How Does the Tightness of Your Trucks Impact Your Riding?

Loose trucks are perfect for cruising and tight trucks are ideal for precise longboarding. It’s easy to carve and steer when your trucks are loose. However, you will be sacrificing control with loose trucks, so you won’t be able to hit high speeds as safely.

Downhill longboarders typically tighten their trucks to get the most control. You don’t have to worry about wheel wobble when riding fast if your trucks are tight. Loosen your trucks if you primarily ride on the sidewalk and street.

Longboard Truck Tightness	Riding Impact
Loose Trucks	Easiest to turn and carve Good for cruising Harder to Balance Not ideal option for downhill longboarding
Medium Tight Trucks	Good for cruising Good for turning and carving Easier to balance
Tight Trucks	Hardest to turn and carve Best for downhill longboarding Best for going fast Easiest to balance Not best option for cruising

What Does Flipping the Longboard Truck Hanger Do?

Flipping the truck hanger on a longboard can increase stability. This will put your board lightly closer to the ground which makes it easier for some riders to pump and carve while cruising. However, you cannot flip the hanger on all trucks.

You won’t notice a difference if you flip a truck hanger that has no rake. Only flip your truck hanger if the pivot axis and axle are offset or else there will be no effect. The main downside to flipping a longboard truck hanger is that your bushings are slightly less responsive in some cases.

How Tight Should the Mounting Hardware Be?

The screws that attach your trucks to the deck, also known as mounting hardware, should be as tight as possible. Each truck requires 4 screws, so double check they are all there!

Ideally, you should tighten the mounting hardware enough that the screws will be flush with the grip tape on the top of your longboard. This will keep your trucks firmly attached to the deck and they will not interfere with your grip/movement on the board.

Are loose trucks good for beginners?

Loose trucks are great for beginners learning how to push, pump, and carve. They make it easier to learn foot placement and weight shifting which is essential for cruising. However, it can be tricky for beginners to ride a longboard with overly loose trucks as it’s easy to lose control.

Do loose trucks make tricks harder?

It’s harder to land trick flips with loose trucks. With that said, most flip tricks are impossible on a longboard. Loose trucks only make it harder to perform tricks if they are loose enough that they wobble as you ride.

Are longboard trucks and skateboard trucks the same?

Longboard trucks and skateboard trucks are not universal. Skateboard trucks measure 144mm-148mm and longboard trucks measure 150mm-180mm. You would struggle to carve and turn if you put longboard trucks on a skateboard because wheel bite can occur.

Read related: Can You Put Longboard Trucks and Wheels on a Skateboard?

Final Thoughts

You must use a skate tool’s socket wrench to tighten the trucks on a longboard. Place it over the kingpin nut and turn the wrench clockwise until the truck is tight enough for you. Loose trucks make it harder to land tricks but are great for cruising and beginners.

Make sure that your trucks are tight if you frequently ride downhill and at high speeds. This will reduce the risk of wheel wobble which can be dangerous.