Are Tight Trucks worse than Loose Trucks?

[@nekro9t2]

Tight trucks were the norm in the late 80s/early 90s. It was all about having a solid sounding setup. When mini-ramps were popular, most skaters did straight lines and the only people that carved with loose trucks were the old dudes who used to skate the bowls in the 70s.

[@Blugrazz]

That’s right, but the first guy I knew who could kickflip in ‘88 rode magnesium Gullwing trucks that rode loose as hell!

[@angry_zergling]

I started skating late nineties and always rode super tight trucks. Cranked down so much you couldn't turn by shifting your weight hardly at all. Almost like the beginning of the video. Getting back into skating now and I still like my trucks tighter than most but my old configuration was a bit excessively tight. xD

[@crownedinterror9]

The sheer joy on your face after each trick with medium tightness says it all. Great skating as always Ben!

[@memorysometimers3067]

And the gunshot snappy pops. 🔥👍

[@therealpoka]

For the longest time I could only skate really tight trucks. I learned all my flip tricks on tight trucks. It felt like I had more control and pop. But I gradually became more of a medium tightness guy.

[@geezuschrist2734]

Same

[@6Diego1Diego9]

did it help?

[@nicetryskateboarding]

No right or wrong. Found that tight trucks are alot easier for beginners to manage, thereafter as our students get more comfortable and confident on the board, we would loosen it progressively.

[@SeanDalyDJ]

as someone who only started skating within the last 2/3 years I can 100% agree! i started on tight trucks as i had no balance but have slowly loosened over time and now ride medium/loose

[@thenocomplyy]

Been skating tight trucks for 25 years, only time I adjust them if i gain or lose weight 😂

[@SlickMcWillie]

For anyone else over 200 lbs like myself, hard or very hard bushings with medium-loose tightness is a nice balance. Still be able to turn but not get wheel bite on every trick. Love the content Ben! Mini ramp part 4 please!?

[@Skriot]

Absolute facts!!! I've always skated my trucks medium-loose...back in the 80's(as a teenager) it was with medium hardness bushings. As I got older(and heavier) ...harder bushings were swapped in.

[@lmn0potts]

Same here. Started skating at 40, bounced in weight and I'm over 200lbs currently and felt super unbalanced on the standard Independent bushings with wheel bite marks on the board, Bones hard bushings definitely helps... now I just need to put the hours in, haha.

[@ejlopez6637]

Kind of interesting how truck preferences come To be. I used to tighten my trucks down so tight that it would start to bend the washers. Then I learned to snowboard one winter. Then when I hopped on my skateboard for the first time the following spring, it felt so gross. I slowly started riding it looser and looser. Now I’m a certified turny boi. I basically ride the nut flush with the kingpin with bones medium bushings. Loose, but no rattle. I’ve been riding it a hair tighter than normal recently though.

[@chrhadden]

so if you think about what you found is your sweet spot . im pretty sure there is no time i ever stepped on someone elses board and felt like it was set the same as mine.i could be wrong though

[@barrydworak]

Snowboards are much more versatile. One good all around twin might not be perfect for everything, but you can make it do everything from flatground tricks to freeriding big hills. To really do what you can make that one snowboard do, but on wheels, you would need freestyle, popsicle, surfskate, and downhill boards at a minimum. That's one cool thing about learning more board sports. It makes your want to try out even more options.

[@alexdangerjarman1994]

All of ben’s bails on tight trucks look exactly like me when I miss my flip tricks. I ride really tight trucks but have been loosening them up slowly. After watching this I’m going to loosen them even more. Thanks Ben, I’ve learned so much about board setup from your vids 👍

[@chrhadden]

i tried as loose as i could then tighten little by little and found out i was the wrong settings for months.it really does make a huge difference even in ways i cant explain.my board is faster now somehow. i had no idea that would happen

[@RoyChewbacca]

I broke a few kiingpins back when I rode tight trucks. If you're wheel doesn't bottom out on the deck (wheelbite) all the force levers through the truck. It's definitely not good for the bushings either. Also, I recently noticed a surprising increase in speed after loosening half a turn - something to do with how the wheels undulate over the bumps... from a drop in and pump over the funbox, I was definitely getting higher up the opposite flatbank than before!

[@-DigitalDarkness-]

When I was younger and skated tight, I'd set the trucks so putting the wheel in my palm and squeezing it to the deck with one hand, I'd JUST be able to touch the wheel to deck with maximum effort. Then I would usually back off on the front truck just a little bit to account for most of my weight being over the back truck usually so it was a little bit more consistent feeling when carving around And because the back bushing is going to wear in quicker with all of my weight pounding it doing tricks. Now I'm older and don't really care as much, but my most consistent skating was when I did this consistently on new setups. And don't forget to always break in your bushings at the stock settings and slowly tighten over a few sessions instead of cranking them all down at once and blowing out the bushings.

[@JHOLE21]

As far as Chris Cole is concerned, the closer to too tight the better. Apparently helps with locking in flip tricks and ankle stability. Obviously not so tight that you cant turn.

[@chrhadden]

then try barely more still and then realize thats exactly what he was talking about.we all said the same thing in different ways

[@memorysometimers3067]

Always nice to verify what’s been going through our skateboard rabbit holes. I rocked Doh Doh reds for many years. Medium tightness, right in the middle.

[@rylaningram9644]

Doh doh is ogee

[@samboyd2999]

The first half of this video is about what it’s like to ride Krux K4s

[@titancheat]

My experience on them is the reason I can't buy k5s. I tried every bushing on the k4. It didn't make a difference lol

[@samboyd2999]

@@titancheat I feel ya there. I put on Indy Soft bushings and still got no turn out of them. then I went from the K4s to Aces so it was a pretty extreme difference 😂

[@Tomdipasquale]

I admire the contrast in opinions lol people hate krux so much but I prefer that tight and “square” feeling. I ride krux down lows with bones hard bushings and I reversed the kingpin so the nut is on top and I tighten them to the max (probably 5 threads showing). I also ride an 8.75 symmetrical rectangular board with 39-49mm wheels (42’s are the perfect size but I’m trying new things)

[@memorysometimers3067]

Makes sense because Johnny Giger rides KRUX and he just does flat ground so that explains what they’re good for. That is all.

[@galvanizedgnome]

What is like to chew 5 gum

[@zThisPlay]

unreasonably medium trucks next

[@bendegros]

😂 that’s what I ride

[@theJACK__]

I prefer the term "supple."

[@fiore_adriano]

"Yeah! I can turn, I can pop, I can grind" 😂❤

[@JonnyDIY]

Nollie Bigspin Flip, nollie 360 flip and nollie half cab heel 👏💕👍🤙 You make it look too easy. I can barely nollie any more

[@gunfun7772]

I used to skate really tight when I started and decided to loosen up so I would get a bit better at control of my board. Yesterday, I finally skated after a long time and I realized my pop was off because of the looseness. One or two quarter turns and it felt way more stable and loose enough. I was able to land the ollie to manual way cleaner and controlled.

[@chrhadden]

i just realized we are all saying the same thing. that we all found our just right settings.started tight and went looser over time etc... just with different words

[@SongJLikes]

When I broke my collar bone and was in a sling, I tightened my trucks up for stability.. but once I regained use of my arm, it was back to reasonably loose

[@mr.e8561]

A completely obedient setup ( tight trucks) is helpful to someone starting out without the right lower body muscle development. Early Chris Cole video footage shows what kinda "tic/tac", "powerslide", good posture skateboarding comes with efficient tight truck skateboarding.

[@coliimusic]

Calf and lower leg exercise with style! 😂💪💪

[@premonemo]

In a flatground environment these are the potential negatives I experience. Extremely tight: Smaller margin for popping technique, poor handling and tic-tak landings. Extremely loose: Smaller margin for foot placement, wheel bite and curved roll away. (I work at an indoor skatepark and I’m often requested to test other peoples setups, I prefer slightly loose unless hillbombing, vert or large gaps)

[@lovelesstv]

i spent my first few years of skating with ultra-tight trucks. every turn was a tick-tack and i broke a few kingpins a year. the only upside was 5050's on rails without needing to pinch. literally the only upside(which sounds strange in retrospect). i no longer skate but this made me remember something from my early teens, cheers

[@nuthinguseful]

I like turning too! everyone I skate with has tight trucks, but coming from snowboarding it just feels so unnatural. Just hearing you say "I like turning" made me realise to stick to my guns :D

[@georgethedford1428]

The best thing I noticed about Ben's flatground tricks with super tight trucks is at 4:25 the board actually "says" the words "kick-flip"...check it out!!!

[@businessrips]

Those switch heels after you loosened back up were beautiful!

[@poppunkdave6823]

I used to snap too many kingpins when i was skating tight trucks (Indy stage 8/9). Going to a nice medium is the way forward. I do like my front truck just a little looser than my back though. Gives a nice surfy feeling to Indy stage 11standards, not that they need help in that department. Great video, Ben 👊😁

[@chrhadden]

even china made indys are still the best i have had. i still need to try them all to be sure but i just dont have the money for that. you cant really tell within the return window if any.that feels like a douche bag thing to do with skateboard stuff (to me anyhow)

[@poppunkdave6823]

@@gabriell9715 I'd say half a turn. It'll still be stable and not wobble 😁

[@micksterminator3]

I just saw a 15 year old clip of me skating today. It was an ollie over a tipped over oil barrel trash can, kickflip, push, then tail grab a 6 stair. I could tell I rode tight trucks cause I was tick tacking and looking all weird and swervy on the landing. I ride loose now but not on the floppy side. So much nicer in my honest opinion.

[@chrhadden]

same thing except for the video part.i just remember keeping them pretty tight.really seems to all be the break in period for trucks we all love so much

[@christisgreaterthanculture9255]

I love tight tucks, they just make everything easier or more consistent for me.

[@dadboard]

Loose trucks _for me_ just feel right. Not like Daewon loose, reasonable loose. Idk how anyone skates tight trucks but more power to you. Skateboarding is so subjective and so many variables depend on so many factors you really do just need to try all the settings and load outs until something clicks.

[@Gabbycatty]

if I bend down for a trick with loose trucks I lose my balance lol

[@fenderman1984]

do you not get wheelbite?

[@dadboard]

@@fenderman1984 you kinda learn to mitigate it over time. I’m 185 and ride 54mm conical fulls with no risers and while it does happen sometimes you kinda adapt and learn to land with your weight centered more.

[@fenderman1984]

@@toast2325 no

[@aleksbars8416]

At 12 years old started with tight for stability and learning, understandable. Later years when I got good went real loose. Not shaky but extra loose enough for people to notice riding the board. Now it's a happy medium-loose. Can cruise turns well and still balance them tricks.

[@acidnave]

ive always skated really tight trucks. as i started it gave me stability and confidence, and i kinda got used to it. i just put extra effort into my tre flips. + its nice not to wiggle while ure riding rlly fast.

[@darkXwolf17-UD]

Honestly ben you should learn tic tac’s and pivot turns.(it’s really useful to have in your wheelhouse so you can improve your skateboarding even better than it already is.)

[@chrhadden]

thats funny

[@robolinoschmidt8676]

I love super tight trucks..i think nyjah huston does the same and he gets tricks haha. The flips feel more precise and stable with tight trucks ..in my humble opinion. All hail Ben 🙏🏻

[@jebgordon6608]

The super tight setting with the looks like what you want for a huge vert ramp. I like mine tightened to the point that I just get wheel bite and then between 1/4 and 1/2 turn tighter, so I avoid wheel bite.

[@mRSasha-dv3mb]

I the last pair of trucks I had needed to be retired because the kingpin nut actually broke through the washer and not only exploded my bushing but it also got the nut stuck no matter what I did.

[@dolphinitely_bro3944]

When you do switch heel you most definitely use counter pressure on the tail and mid of the board, so i think some give in the trucks will def help pop and flip! Great video ben

[@SatelliteSoundLab]

Every set up in my quiver has wildly different truck tightness, wheel hardness, etc etc. As Ben has pointed out before, this does not help with trick progression. At the same time, the variety keeps things interesting. Maybe one day I'll solve the puzzle but I kinda hope i don't. Thanks for all the great content, i love this channel.

[@MongoPlant]

Trick progression is overrated.

[@thepancakemann]

I agree with the homies above. I wanna have fun on my board doing specific things. I just built a 9" boat with loose aces for slappies. It does not like to flip, but if I wanted to do that I'd ride my 7.75.

[@l.j.i]

​@@thepancakemann...are you me? We have the same set-ups! 😂

[@chrhadden]

i was the kid that spent more time setting up slot car tracks etc... then playing with them. the world needs us.

[@surfingizm]

14:15 almost classic Ali's "My hass is out" 😄

[@dont4get2wipe]

Weird how comments show user handles now rather than username

[@theJACK__]

its annoying

[@derekgatzxx]

i was just wondering this so i loosened my kids trucks to see if he liked it better and when i was riding it i noticed i thought it felt great, until i tried to land some flat tricks and couldnt keep my balance. but i think im going to try to get used to it

[@rbdzn_]

i think this is how i set up my board years ago when I was a beginner. i was just practicing how to ollie and the tighter set up made it easier to have a sturdy pop

[@chrhadden]

we all seem to agree .it must be true.then they eventually end up set perfect

[@dimitarfroze8046]

Wonderful channel. + 1 subscriber

[@michaels775]

Man i have really enjoyed really loose trucks for the tight easy carves, but this may be what I'm missing on my flip tricks(of which i have none) I keep thinking the balance will come, and i should just get used to it, but maybe I'll go a little tighter and see if that helps. Thanks again Ben! Edit, this probably should go on the loose trucks video, but I watched both before I decided

[@chriscas-ToolAficionado]

Remarkable difference in the way you skated and the way the tricks looked when you readjusted!

[@STOMPFTL]

Tight trucks are the way, I used to ride Daewon level trucks but eventually started going tighter and tighter. Just less room for error and less to think about. But as a side note loose trucks force you to understand your balance points really well it gives you a sense of where to land and is prolly the best way to learn board and landing control.

[@TheEinart]

Your videos is really enjoyable, love what you trying out how different setups feel like. I have begin to skateboarding again but still riding my 20yr old GK trucks, im mainly a aggressive inlineskater, but now i try to boost up my board skills and set up the old bushings with new bushings in 92 or 96a rated bushings for the trucks, instead of tighing the heck down the old original it felt awfull, lol. So maybe i can find a setup i like to ride, since i dont like to loose trucks,but right now the old bushings don't feel responsive at all. Keep posting videos 😊

[@chrhadden]

you cant judge trucks that are brand new mainly because of bushings i find. to a lesser extent wheels as well. i like constantly tinkering with everything so im perfectly fine with it.

[@kaderedmond8475]

I find pressure flip variations easier on tight trucks too. Can spring load them.

[@chrhadden]

that makes sense

[@Sammy31Dee]

I really enjoy my Ace trucks with hard bushings ...i dont run em tight but its feels like a great hybrid combo

[@dantelavante]

By far the most comical video you’ve done

[@bananaclipper7692]

10:49 “i really like turning” - Dad

[@bendegros]

☺️

[@kernelrom2349]

Depends on how fast you ride.

[@kevindiaz8689]

Can u make a video on independent titanium vs grind king disruptor

[@zz10arf]

i swapped my inverted indie bushings to hard from medium after your video. Feel WAY better, but to me the inverted indies are way too loose out of the box with the red bushings.

[@lcrilley93]

13:30 basically what your saying is send the loose truck video to my friend who can scoop all day long but can't pop and if you stand on his board it feels like you need to have one foot one the bolts at all time or you die level of loose

[@coliimusic]

I like tight-ish medium with some harder bushings, the firmness just feels right and I can still carve if I set my body weight into it

[@maxime.moineau]

I'll do it the opposite way : i have kind of low indies and a long 8.8, wasn't feeling that good gri.ding So i tried indy bushings with cupped washer on thunders on that board with risers (board really long): better but not turny enough From what i understood harder is better than looser as long as you turn enough so... i'll try flat roadside thinner washers tomorow Thanks for your point of view !

[@jp_vc]

Ben! Great to see a new vid as always :D

[@kryptichands968]

I used to bomb hills alot when I was a kid. I got used to just leaving them tight. However as years past I eventually have been ridong medium tight with the back on 1/2 turn tighter

[@hagwagtoob]

Get harder bushings rather than cranking down soft stock bushings. You've basically fucked the geometry cranking then down like that.

[@Notch200sx]

Definitely like medium on my trucks hate them when super loose and hate them when super tight.

[@FuzzDistortionOverdrive]

My brother liked his trucks as tight as possible. I never understood it

[@Collin-ic9ct]

Thunders are a game changer. But I just picked up a few other trucks. Indys, Ventures, and Destructos. The Destructos look like they have a similar geometry to Indy's and I dont understand why they get bad press. In our day, we honestly didnt care what we rode on street. I think I rode Ventures and Destructos without even stressing on the brand. Today, I literally have board madness. If you're heavier, I recommend an Almost deck. It lasted me a long time. I think having two different setups isn't a bad idea but having a consistent set up makes more sense. If you skate bowls more you're probably going with a slightly higher truck,not venture los. But today kids are experimenting. And, it's exciting to watch. I've seen insane skating on giant soft wheels by groms. Hmmm....maybe I should shut up and sk8

[@vix_in_japan]

Over tightened ventures 😂 has to be loose for me, all about that loose surfy style for me although I recently tightened them so that the kin pin thread is just about showing as I’m skating more transition right now.

[@angel_skates6165]

Ben, what are you thoughts on shock pads? Should a slappy skater be using shock pads? please review! Also, great skating as always, super enjoyable to watch🤠

[@kryptichands968]

Anyone should rock em, they cut down vibration transference and decreases stress on your joints, slappys aren't really any dfferent with or without them. Ive been skating 39 years.

[@chrhadden]

i agree with the other guy

[@brycely2233]

Hi Ben! I couldn’t help noticing, but the thumbnail caught my eye! How are you liking the new spitfire F4 lock in fulls? Review incoming? :)

[@rosscoepsssft1627]

Let’s get to the real news. How do bones bushings effect different trucks heights and kingpin placement. Plus other after market bushings added to trucks.

[@SchwappSchwopp]

Let’s talk about those April boards, mine is almost done, too😁

[@SchwappSchwopp]

I really like the mellow tail, had to adjust to it for one session though. I also like the fuller nose (it‘s not full shaped) and the tail being more on the tapered side. I also noticed that my trucks were way to loose on the 14“ wheelbase, so I tightened them. Felt kinda small overall at first but my tech tricks were a lot easier compared to 8.38“ full 14.25“ WB

[@SchwappSchwopp]

Can anyone compare them to primitive boards?

[@MantisMann-w2n]

Ben's like a ripping skate scientist!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work G.

[@RaisinBran777]

congrats on 100k ben

[@nickfaust-nb8xy]

It’s a good day when you wake up and see there is a new Ben Degros video!

[@dickiesmalls1789]

when should I know to change my board? cause I think my board is loosing pop

[@jacksacks6687]

Are super tight trucks something all little kids do? I remember for the first few years I skated I had mine cranked down and so did all my friends. Not sure if that was an age thing or a trend of years past

[@bendegros]

I think it’s age more than trend. I don’t think there has ever been a tight trucks trend.

[@lockedinlachlan]

can you please review Silver Trucks? Nyah, Josh Kalis, Prod skated them in the day, and I bought a pair for $30. Felt like a Venture and a Thunder combined. Would love to hear ur thoughts

[@AgusGonzalez1998]

Ben teasing the lock-in fulls on the thumbnail 🤨

[@domskateproject]

When I was younger I used to ride super tight trucks, but when I started skating again, i tried to ride my new trucks (Indies) as they come.. Took a while to adjust to it, or in other words, i had to learn skating from scratch again. 😅 But it began to feel way smoother when you can turn easily and don´t have to tictac all over the place. It also improved my board control by a lot.. I mean, I´m still a pretty bad skater, with a very flat learning curve, so it takes forever to learn new tricks, especially the "advanced" stuff like 360 Flips, Varial Heels and so on which, unfortunately i haven´t learned earlier. But I think, learning new tricks is way harder anyway when you get older, so kids, learn your tricks when you are as young as possible! 😄

[@chrhadden]

im relearning way faster than the first time through i noticed.that could be because of the parks avaiable but i didnt forget everything and that helps too.like how to pump for example.

[@rmhfpv9225]

Is that April deck their 8.25"? I LOVE THE APRIL 8.25"!! The long mellow tail makes tech tricks so much more consistent for me. 6.8" long tail with a 14" WB and 5.6" ventures is my all time favorite combo. Can you make a video talking about the April 8.25" tail? I also found the Primitive made in USA 8.25" deck to be almost the exact same shape but their tail has very slightly more kick up.

[@tatplug]

I love my primitive 8.25

[@KyoHazuki]

Ben - best heelflipper out there.

[@Priyan0000]

R u fully recovered from Insertional Achilles tendonitis????? 😊😊

[@georgethedford1428]

You actually looked really good riding that "rolling crime scene". It's wrong to put a beginner on a board that wont turn to come back under them when they lean.They have to learn all that.

[@rwirtz77]

I run hard bushings but i don't tighten em, like 1/2 a turn past flush. I've def stood on peoples boards with tight trucks, it's terrible and so is loose.

[@Invertcurt]

As someone that has a vert setup that’s tight. And a street board that’s loose. Tight trucks are almost mandatory if you don’t want to eat shit skating vert. Just ask your local vert skater if his trucks are tight

[@Lazy_Prophet]

I've always liked my trucks moderately tight, much easier to ride and tricks look a lot cleaner on tighter trucks imo. I can't skate stock bushings on any trucks, always need to get harder ones (im 180lbs), like 94 to 98a.

[@Azul_y_Blanco]

Test skating with a helmet and/ or other safety stuff like pads, no one has ever reviewed that! Would like to hear your thoughts on this matter Ben!

[@justinmuir9163]

Looks like you skated better with the tight trucks.

[@BN99239]

It's fine to have tighter trucks if you know what you're doing already. Beginners need to have looser trucks because that's how you learn to balance. If you push balancing onto your trucks, you're not going to learn and your body won't get used to it. Also, you can always improve with loose trucks to get better control but you can't really do anything with very tight trucks since you're sacrificing mobility.

[@boogie..]

Or get harder bushings if you like tighter trucks. That way you dont have to crank them down and you can still get a little turn.

[@JoeKyser]

I guess it depends on your bushings.

[@themoog924]

Most used trucks I've got off eBay are usually that tight. I have to instantly release that pressure, just the look of it makes me feel bad.

[@chrhadden]

why do you get used ones? most of the stuff on ebey have high shipping costs that could cover the price if you bought new ones from a local shop.

[@jcanuck163]

I used to skate with them so tight they would turn. Then broke 4 axles within a year. Now I ride as loose as the thunders will allow me

[@lukevonah8235]

Off thing and not important but I guess I was wondering about how you think the tightness of trucks effects your manuals

[@joshco3090]

Jah would be proud

[@Robebabu]

Now do squeaky trucks vs. quiet trucks.

[@tylercreason]

It's so funny each time you think you will hate something you still do tricks just as well or not better than your regular set up lol

[@timfuji3796]

Ben is that a 8.25 april? I truly believe that prod had something to do with that board shape. I heard it came from primitive, and basically feels like it was made for venture highs, the super long kicks are amazing. I’m on my 10th deck of this shape. It’s a heavy duty board for 14”WB. If that’s not the 8.25 then nvm 😂

[@mlevy88]

What size board and trucks are you on these Ben?

[@jessereddragon7617]

Nyjah skates really tight trucks not as tight as you made them but pretty damn tight, but because he's a big guy and he skates big so it all depends on your size and skate style

[@jonasbernauer752]

Nyjahs only like 5‘8

[@jessereddragon7617]

@@jonasbernauer752 he's easily 5'10" 170lbs

[@leftovermike4663]

I skate my thunders on 1 thread I believe feels like a good medium. I can’t skate super tight or super loose

[@diplenski]

i'd rather too tight than too loose

[@Horrordelic]

Yeah me 2

[@liggerz87]

I had my trucks tight like that I couldn't do much I still can't I started in like late 90 early 00s I have dyslexia and dyspraxia so not a very good mix for skateboarding I learnt again to have nut flush took some getting used to rolled my ankle about a month ago doing a kick flip foot rolled off edge I hit deck ankle still swollen till today

[@franciscoramirez9867]

I feel like that place is called Victoria gardens or somethin like that

[@Dezshredz]

I once met a guy that had his bolts loose but trucks super tight... and he was actually super fucking good

[@bricemenaugh4828]

Loose trucks is what I prefer for street and transition skating. My freestyle setup is super tight tho