Rkp vs Tkp trucks: What's the difference and what's for me?

Trucks are one part of a setup that can very easily be overlooked. They aren't connecting you to the ground or to the pavement, but they bring the board, or the deck, and wheels together. They also completely determine the way you turn and maneuver, so trucks are certainly an integral part of any shredder’s setup!

Today we’ll be looking at my pick for a longboard style truck as well as a skateboard style truck that will aid in making any rider successful. But first let’s clear up the differences between longboard and skateboard style trucks.

The two different truck designs are just that, different designs that utilize different geometry to achieve a different feel or ride. When trying out both types of trucks, which are more technically referred to as traditional kingpin vs reverse kingpin style, the strengths and weaknesses make themselves abundantly clear. Skateboard or traditional kingpin/tkp trucks are more suited for tricks because they have much less turn, so the trucks won’t start turning as you’re trying to land on your board. And then with longboard style or reverse kingpin/rkp trucks, they are the opposite, extremely turny by comparison. This turn allows the rider to handle higher speeds with more maneuverability and turn back and forth in a motion called carving that can actually reduce or increase the rider’s speed if they happen to be skilled enough.

When it comes to finding a solid longboard truck, there are just a few things I look for. Make sure the baseplate angle is 50 degrees if you want full turn, or go lower angled for a stiffer, race-like feel. Also look for something with an axle that has been reinforced somehow or you’ll bend them eventually.

My pick for a longboard style truck has got to be the 50 degree Caliber Truck co.’s. This truck has the two thing I look for in a truck and as far as feel goes, they are my personal favorite. Buy these trucks if you want something that’s good for all around longboard shredding and riding, but you’re not much into racing/bombing. On the other hand, if you are big into bombing hills and getting speed opt for the Caliber Truck co.’s 44 degree trucks. This slightly lower baseplate angle allows the rider the reach higher speeds without getting any speed wobbles and still turn enough to safely find your way down the hill.

http://calibertruckco.com/

And then on the opposite side of the spectrum, my pick for a solid skateboard or street style truck. When picking one of these out just make sure they have a similar axle width to the width of your deck. This helps the setup look more correctly built as well as keeps the wheels completely under the deck so you’re not stepping on them as they come out the sides.

For a street style truck it’s got to be the Attack truck tkp series. These trucks look great and they function just as well. They come in a variety of widths as to accommodate any smaller street deck you may be looking into. They have also perfected a technology in which they hollow out the axle in a process that strengthens them while removing material and weight.

http://www.abec11.com/

I hope that my picks helped some of you out, be sure to comment if you’re looking for any specifications or any more technical specifications on the products I’ve shared today. Or if you don’t think either pick is for you, hit me up with your questions and I’ll help find something that’d be good for you and your desired riding!