Skateboard Wheelbase Explained (Decks)

[@timknapen]

"This the first of my 3 videos on wheelbase" 😂 This is so delightfully nerdy.

[@AmericaHighFive]

I absolutely love this channel. Ben, you’re very down to earth, and put out original, informative content that nobody else bothers with. Thanks!

[@cristiangutierrez9264]

I don't understand why you don't have more subscriber's because your channel has such good content

[@bendegros]

Thanks Cristian:)

[@timknapen]

Quality and amount of subscribers are inversely proportional. That's why.

[@mental3666]

@@timknapen perfect answer.

[@jasonwillis8264]

Man you created a demon in me lol, I’ve been going back and measuring all the old boards I really like riding and the ones I thought were weird or the ones where the tail felt too short bc I’ve never thought about wheelbase being an issue before until I watched this and realized it’s EVERYTHING

[@bendegros]

I wish I knew about it years before. I only clued in last summer.

[@reza_dc2]

Same here , now I’m thinking it’s the culprit for not popping like I use to.

[@bgab2211]

Ben, doing it again. Always learning from your videos. Ive been skating since mid 80's and I never considered wheel base. Finally i can understand some reasons why I didnt like decks ive ridden.

[@guitarnoob74]

I think i get just as much excitement waiting to see your next video as much as i get out of waiting for the next episode of Game of Thrones. Can't wait for the next episode. Thanks Ben

[@upscalingvids]

That's the type of content we all subscribed for! 📐🤓

[@pharmztko]

Thanks to your nerding out on specs for trucks, decks, wheels etc i've started realy paying attention to the details of parts rather than how they look. I know what I'm riding now and what i'd like to try in the future so now I know it will be something I feel good riding and I'm not just winging it.

[@ichfilmnur]

I should have never started paying attention to this type of stuff LOL right now I'm riding a GX 8.25 with a 14.25 wheelbase and 31.75 length and I don't want to skate anything else ever again. That board paired with some 149 Indy's on 1/8" risers and 56mm conical fulls is seriously so perfect for me

[@caketildeath6471]

this channel is awesome, thanks for all the good content dude

[@PhaseSkater]

Thank you so much for these videos. Past year I’ve been riding a 15 inch wheelbase deck that’s a solid 33 inch length. I thought my flip tricks getting worse had to do with me getting older or not skating as much. I just thought I should give up on flips and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Kickflips seemed to take so much effort now while a few years ago I was able to do tre double flips like it was nothing. I looked up those old decks and they were 8.5 like my current board, but they had 14 inch wheel bases and were about 32 inches in length. Holy crap dude. I swear if I get all my crazy flip tricks back with my new deck with a smaller wheelbase, I’m gonna give you the biggest shout out ever!!!

[@ryanlee9150]

did it work with a smaller wheelbase?? :)

[@PhaseSkater]

@@ryanlee9150 smaller is better

[@ryanlee9150]

@@PhaseSkater I see, but did it make the difference?? could u get all ur "crazy flip tricks" back??

[@PhaseSkater]

@@ryanlee9150 yeah. tre flips barely took any effort and gazelles came back

[@PhaseSkater]

@Purrington Wiskerton more stability when riding fast

[@thebigef8010]

Just watched all 3 wheelbase videos and they have been really helpful. I noticed the difference between decks since with my last one i can do a 360 flip out of 20 attempts and with the one before 1 out of 3. This technical informations will be very useful for my next one. New subscriber for sure :)

[@bendegros]

I 360 flip so much better on a short wheelbase but unfortunately that's the only trick that improves. I'm too tall to be comfortable on such a short wheelbase.

[@michaels775]

The 32 7/8 vs 31 7/8 dyslexic thing is why, if my cut is ever off, its exactly 1 inch off from my intended length. Also a carpenter. Thanks for your content, i love this aspect of things

[@bgab2211]

Here is something i never thought id chant......"MORE WHEELBASE VIDEOS....MORE WHEELBASE VIDEOS"

[@bendegros]

The next ones a little cut and dry. I think there is more useful info in this one and in the third.

[@pctroll]

One of the things that I enjoy about your channel is that thanks to your technical job skills, you're able to explain in depth some features that not everybody get to explain. I mean, even brands that have KZbin channel have missed this opportunity that you're making for yourself. Go Ben!! As always, my support from the other side of the continent. Kudos.

[@pctroll]

Also, it's funny how I need to translate in real time some words that I didn't know or use in English. Hahaha. Learning a lot today. I'm a good speaker, so the knowledge absorption goes smoothly and pretty enjoyable.

[@lizzieheath3200]

Great video. Wheelbase makes a lot more sense now.

[@keithg1313]

Great Job! I have a 15 year old house board, on the long side. It feels so heavy, and unwieldy sometimes. Manuals are not as easy as other boards on it, but the pop is pretty good; Now I know why. It's a great cruiser board, I'm looking into getting a set up that's the polar opposite of the board, just to see what's on the other side of the fence.

[@not2old2sk86]

Glad I enrolled in the Degros Skating Institute! Thanks for another awesome lesson Professor!

[@gwailotus9154]

@Ben Degros - do online skate shops put the wheelbase in the specs? Also i'm 6'4" very tall. can u recommend a wheelbase length for me? for tech/skatepark skating

[@RemyTrahant]

Dry but well-explained, thanks, Ben!

[@panagiotischrysostomou1513]

I assume having a short wheelbase with high trucks should be the ideal combo? Mellow feel and enough angle generated from the high trucks to pop higher?

[@roundrobinrecordings]

How often do you receive a deck that’s wheelbase is not what was stated on the specs, my current Girl deck states 14inch on both the board and the sticker on the packaging, yet I measured it as it was feeling off and it’s most definitely 14.25… is this common or a once in a blue moon event @ben

[@ssbsts1239]

Most important thing about a deck by far!!!!!!!!!

[@ssbsts1239]

@Kevin haha, dope!

[@user-zb8de8fc3d]

I was sold at fulcrum. Great video B.

[@nicolaslockheimers]

Holy f*k, I usually just buy decks based on a $20-25 budget! Thanks for the vid, I feel so much smarter after watching this...

[@signalpathproductions]

just got a deck with a 12.5" wheel base! nose and tail are still normal 7" and 6 3/4" i dont understand i only noticed while setting it up so i found this video. wonder how it will ride

[@signalpathproductions]

deck length is 31"

[@NuoxFN]

i found a complete with a 12.75 wheelbase help is that good I am a beginner

[@athlenick1502]

So Ben, my axle to axle wheelbase is 425 on a 14.25 deck…seems weirdly short (?). It’s a Alien Workshop complete.

[@cairomcintosh4744]

Guys had like 13.75-8 wheelbases in the 90s, am I correct?

[@robertolopez2282]

So interesting bro love your videos

[@bluhdrusst9596]

Liked your videos before but now, I'm loving them! Really like how you're explain why the pieces feel the way they do and how the variations affect them. It gives us a better understanding of the board and find the most enjoyable setup, or goldilocks formula hahaha. Thank you for time and effort, this is amazing and hopefully helps more ppl ride and get the most of what want from skateboarding.

[@SkateCrisis]

Just wondering how the wheelbase can modify the angle when you Ollie? 🤔 In my opinion, the length of the tail does.

[@taistyveg]

Lovin all this Ben. Looking forward to the truck one next. btw. My old chippy master taught me to measure twice cut once.

[@Justinbowling1]

I just converted my Enjoi board to a 15" wheelbase. Redrilled holes moving both trucks up a 1/2" or so. It's now 15" from bolt to bolt. 18 1/2" from axle to axle (Ventures). 31.5 x 8.25..... I kinda like it! I'm going to play around with riser pads or newer wheels to find the proper height. But I may decide to keep it low to the ground after all is done too

[@cristiangutierrez9264]

Keep up the good work

[@rxw5520]

Awesome video. Would you recommend one truck over another for an 8.25” creature deck for a beginner on 55mm wheels? Wheelbase I believe on the board is 14.375. I have heard you talk about the Ace 44 being shorter wheelbase relative to the thunder 148. Don’t know about Indy. Does it even matter for a beginner? Thanks

[@mushlove6933]

It’s irritating when a board company doesn’t put specs on their skateboard products. I buy it for $40+, end up not liking it and don’t want to go through returning it. I like to support smaller companies such as Dieta, 35th north skateshop, Magenta, etc. but all these smaller companies don’t put their specs on anything.

[@mushlove6933]

And i like a board where i can feel confident about a trick. Short wheelbases make me feel like i can’t ollie up a curb sometimes, depending on the tail/nose. Obviously i can but it helps to have products that feel good.

[@bendegros]

You gotta bring that tape measure. Of course that doesn't help if you are buying online.

[@bendegros]

I have the same problem with short wheelbases. I feel like I am on a kids toy.

[@slappycrook]

check skatewarehouse or tactics. they have the wheelbase measured on their product listings

[@makarovit]

Ben, and what is your shoe size?) It's 10,5 US? Your height - 6 foot 1 Your shoe size - 10,5 US And your favourite wheelbase 14 3/8 True? 🙂 Thanks for your advice and info)

[@slappycrook]

really solid info here

[@tet-life]

I've always assumed on your standard Popsicle deck the nose and tail were identical but after watching this I measured my decks and got similar results to you, tail slightly shorter. I'll have to see if it makes any difference to my skating because I've never thought about a skateboard having a front and back since the 1990's before double kicks came in. I always skate whichever way the board hits the ground as the front.

[@tet-life]

Back in the 1990's, when double kicks first came in, I thought the whole point was to make the board the same no matter which way around it was. Maybe they were initially? I never thought about it until now.

[@quedgeleyshredders7061]

Me too. I always thought you get more wear out of a deck that way too. Rather than just snapping down on one end predominantly. To be fair, at my level it doesn't make any difference - if I can stay off my arse I'm happy 😊

[@tresfordays9644]

I started venture lows, and after trying out some brands have fallen In love with Zero, but wanted to try primitive because they have a nice big Nose, but for an 8.25 deck Zero has a 14.25 wheelbase and primitive has a 14”, and I have great pop on the primitive board, and the big nose makes a lot of grinds easier, but that wheelbase screws up the timing on all my nollie tricks

[@leilanikaiawelacuesta7771]

This is insanely helpful. Great job on the breakdown!

[@eq8584]

Hey Ben, from what you’ve seen which trucks offer the shortest wheelbase?

[@mattpatterson3415]

Lately, I've been skating 14.25"wb and 32" long. Thunder highs to expand that a bit. The thing I tried that I love though is 1 riser under the back, none up front. It gives me a heavy tail but a massively light nose.

[@edwardlbc562]

Wait? You mean this isn't Fun with flags, with Sheldon Cooper. Just kidding! Thanks for all your work on this. Impressive!

[@mrsemifixit]

Good info. This raises the question why boards don’t label wheelbase on them or even online descriptions. How are we supposed to know what we’re buying if we have a wheel base preference?

[@trevorbaird3827]

Regardless of where you start, do you find that as the wheels go from 53 to 43mm (while the deck razor tails on both sides), you’ll end up popping at a similar angle throughout the life of the setup?

[@sontiyo7113]

bro this like a whole new world opening to me lmao im in germany, sadly my town dont have a local shop. So i order online. Im glad sk8deluxe lists everything for decks. Every wheelbase etc etc. So im ready to take a deep dive

[@sontiyo7113]

reporting back: I developed full skate ocd. the slaps hardware threads dont help either LOL currently rocking a krooked full shaped with 14.75 wheelbase. I have some Thunder Hollow High 151s with it currently

[@dmcm93]

I guess the madness doesn’t stop, 5 years later and here I am again😂

[@capnslufox]

Thanks for these, ever since you mentioned the distance between the truck and the nose/tail it's gotten in my head and is messing with my pop

[@AnthonyTran]

I'm gonna enjoy this series!

[@KavaKavana]

I had that exact same real deck. I feel like it was more responsive yet mellower than what I’m used to but it also was chill cause it took less energy to get a fairly nice yet stable pop.

[@whiteout475]

Im 5’7 ft tall is 14” wheel base alright for me?

[@fathallah.b1728]

is it easier to do an ollie if I shift a single trucks a few centimeters like 1 or 2cm inwards? THANKS

[@dylanlewis3668]

Would you say length 32.25 wheelbase 14.50 is bigger than usual or the standard?

[@alfredtavares837]

Dude your the Man with the master plan!!!

[@ryanalam5669]

If you put the deck on its side and trace out with a pencil the side profile of the top part of the deck, that wouls make it pretty easy to measure.

[@juanshady7949]

lol yoo thats crazy wheel base affects the melow feeling....and yo it looks like u got a hair cut. Also Great video by the way

[@jfrog9457]

great vid ben!

[@jimmybreeze00]

this is such a key vid. ive been skating the full se real board with a 14" wheelbase. damn i've been struggling away on long wheelbase decks for so long. question - who else is making 14" wheel bases?

[@unknownj5129]

Girl GO27 shape, Palace s25 and a couple primitive & WKND

[@Anthony_Goes_Outside]

Thank you very much for making these. I'm in my late 30s and my son has me shredding again and it's been awesome. Things are coming back way faster than I expected. I never put much thought into all this stuff back in the day. If you know right off, what do you think would pair nice with an Anti-hero classic 8"? I know you don't know every preference or deck but I'm just curious on your thoughts. Rn I'm just running house generic trucks because I wasn't sure what to go with and just wanted to get back skating. Ant input is really appreciated. Thanks again for all these videos. 🤙🏻

[@bendegros]

Indy's or thunders

[@robertohart6192]

What's good Ben, I have a couple questions. 1.how tall are you? 2. Would wider wheel bases essentially equate to more landing room? 3. What do think of 8.5+ boards (more like 8.75-9) with short wheelbases? This wheelbase stuff makes every bit of sence but it's totally tripped me out lol.

[@bendegros]

Hi Roberto:) 1. I'm 6 foot 1 2. Sort of but I think a lot of it might come down to a comfortable standing width and that seems to be around 14"-"15" wheelbase for most people and it probably has something to do with shoulder width, and centers of gravity. So even if you have a wider wheebase you might not necessarily need more wheelbase for a comfortable landing stance( I'm just theorizing here). 3. I have never tried a wide deck with a short wheelbase but my guess is it would genuinely help with certain tricks like 360 flips and just generally being in a comfortable stance for technical tricks. When I ride decks with a 14.5 "and up wheelbase I really notice it making flip tricks more difficult for me.

[@makarovit]

@@bendegros Ben, and what is your shoe size?) Thanks for your advice and info) It's 10,5 US? Is it true? And your favourite wheelbase 14 3/8?

[@Justinbowling1]

I've been wondering.... After seeing so many good skaters around 5' tall and 140lbs, I realize I have gotten more top heavy as I age and it effects my center of gravity. I'm 6' tall , wide shouldered, long legged, and 235 lbs. I've been wanting a longer wheelbase to widen the base of my triangle when jumping off a little 3 step. I just don't feel secure anymore unless I can widen my stance. I'm considering a board that is 15%-20% bigger in wheelbase and trying to balance it out with super light trucks and wheels. So... Question? How crazy would it be for a grown man to skate a 35-36" deck about 8.5" wide, if all the extra 4" of length was all just extra wheelbase? And have you ever seen this for sale?

[@bendegros]

35-36 is like a serious bowl rider board verging on small longboard. You could try it. You may be surprised how much bigger it actually feels. But you won't know unless you try.

[@posmaster22]

As example the use the same molds and reduce the wheelbase, when really they should be subtracting from the center of the board and having a separate mold for shorter wheelbase, maintaining the nose and tail proportions, resulting in the same pop.

[@OnWind]

I have been trying to understand how wheelbase works for the longest. Preciate you for providing clarity on this subject. Also, I have a question for you and you may end up answering it the next part but, I noticed when I ride a board with I wider wheelbase (on 149 Thunder Hollows) I’m feel more comfortable on loose trucks but as I go shorter I can’t even ride on the thing without wheelbite after every Ollie or shuv could you help me undertake that is?

[@bendegros]

In theory, shortening your wheelbase will make you turn quicker. It could be that it also makes you get wheelbite a bit faster because of that. I haven't thought about it until you mentioned it.

[@robbie7298]

Perfect I skate a vx deck with nearly a 15 inch wheel base and feels way more stable than a 14 & quarter

[@cameronadams4366]

(Not related to vid) Your accent remind me of Ben Stiller from Zoolander. Is this the typical Canadian accent? 😂

[@bendegros]

We have a lot of accents in Canada. Mine is a pacific northwest accent.

[@foreroa]

Just to confirm. Wheelbase on its own is not the full story. It also matters how long the deck is in relationship to its wheelbase?. For example a 31.75 deck with 14.25 wheelbase will have the same length-to-wheelbase differential as a 31.50 deck with a 14.00 wheelbase. I would assume these 2 decks would feel similar? Ben you agree?

[@bendegros]

Yes. Similar pop feel.

[@ritchie2484]

You can have all the pop in your board, but if you are heavy and cannot jump high...what's the point. So loose weight!!

[@Shakshuka69]

Wouldn't it technically not matter what the 'wheelbase' on the deck is because of the variation of the trucks and wheels? Like, aren't the only metrics that matter ultimately the distance from contact patch to contact patch on the wheels, as well and the sitting height of the deck?

[@Shakshuka69]

Edit: Nevermind. I get it now. Now I know why my enjoi 8" feels so much heavier than my Baker 7.75".

[@bandoboybrendo9169]

Whats your favorite trucks or the best trucks you have skated?

[@calebwilson6298]

I’ve never considered wheelbase until these videos and now I am measuring every deck. You messed me up:) Have you ever figured out a way to figure out the different concave shapes and measurements? My last board was so flat it didn’t even get slide marks in the middle and my current board feels like I am standing on a canoe.

[@bendegros]

I did think of something. I will try to make it and post it.

[@robertohart6192]

Thinking of redrilling my current deck (8.75/15wb) to a 14.5 or 14. Does anyone know why board only come double drilled at the nose end instead of both sides?

[@getrekt9899]

this is just what I needed, thanks!

[@kevinspahr1576]

Great content big ❤️ from Germany

[@tomthexton7813]

Would a longer wheel base give you more speed in longboarding terms???

[@mchungleplumble]

It'll add stability for sure

[@jamalydude]

Very informative and there are hardly any good wheelbase videos out so Thank you so much

[@its_snow_5668]

never gonna get a respond but i need to know the term for bolt to bolt inside a a single truck i have a decent truck but idk if it will fit

[@stpbasss3773]

I understand you measure the bolts but like you said all trucks are different and have different axel positions so two different trucks on the same deck will have two different wheelbases.

[@skaterhead3]

I would still skate the crap out of all those decks !

[@bendegros]

I'm a bit of a princess. I like new decks.

[@Just_Skating]

Hey! Your videos are rad! Super helpful. Hey. I got a 8.25 Flight Deck, shape 248, with 147 Thunder Titatinium 3s and Bones STF 54mm. The tail is way too short and makes the nose hard to lift. The nose is perfect. I'm thinking of redrilling the holes for the back truck, as to shorten the wheel base from 14.25 to 14. That way my tail becomes easier to pop. Do you think this is a bad idea? Have you tried redrilling on a deck before?

[@worldofdre2232]

My balance is a bit off on landing tricks with a short wheelbase like the chocolate boards, i definitely perfer the wider wheelbase

[@frostshock13]

So would having 'hi' trucks with a long wheel base end up giving an overall higher tricks, just naturally, based on the attack angle you get compared to say a short wheel base with 'lo' trucks?

[@bendegros]

Theoretically. Provided it didn't go taller than your comfortable height for performing certain tricks. For example it might make you ollie higher but take away your ability to 360 flip properly.

[@frostshock13]

Makes me wonder if the energy requirements end up the same to get the lower board as high as the higher set up. Digging these different types of skate videos your doing..

[@bendegros]

It's hard to say. I find that a wide wheelbase with tall trucks is doing a lot for me these days. It's all about finding your personal Goldilocks zone. 14.38 with indys is pretty poppy.

[@chriss.1593]

There is a pretty cool video with Spencer Nuzzi and Prof. Schmitt about how to ollie higher. The cool part about the video is Prof. Schmitt goes into some of the physics about "pop" in relation to truck height. That tid-bit alone makes the video worth watching (it's easy yo find on youtube, just search for "Pop Higher Ollies With Science - Spencer Nuzzi & Paul Schmitt").

[@frostshock13]

Chris S. Hey, thanks I will check it out, physics is interesting for me.

[@esk8jaimes]

What about the wheelbase on electric skateboards and longboard decks?

[@jonahk6989]

It doesn't matter because you dont do pop tricks with those

[@esk8jaimes]

@@jonahk6989 True, yet there's actually quite a few videos of people doing tricks with them. The 2ah kits are probably the lightest ones though.

[@posmaster22]

I need to make a response video so this topic can be discussed further. I can't believe they just figured out to make twin tip boards for example. I can help.

[@Нетнет-ш9н]

Ты молодец! Спасибо!!!

[@donalddarko3676]

Considering how much he bangs on about concave now this deck looks pretty mellow.

[@restr103]

Do shorter/longer wheel bases change the length of a nose and tail?

[@bendegros]

If the deck is the same length then yes.

[@puma0210]

Wheelbase is even more important than width. If your wheelbase was too long. You wouldn’t be able to steer your board in midair. The closer your front foot to the front bolts. The more control u have in midair. If wheelbase was too long. Your front foot would be farther from the front bolts. U would have less control in midair.

[@bizzlezip]

awesome!

[@ThanatosWings]

Ben Nighy the science guy

[@beepgonzales4686]

how tall are you ben?

[@bendegros]

6 foot 1

[@MinhAnh-yt7cg]

Thank you

[@Jacobp_RC]

I do that alot😅 you got 1 inch-itis!

[@brat1175]

Wheelbase is wheelbase, quit goofin on the rubes. The wheel is the round things you roll on. Wheel base is that distance on centerline. Truck spacing is just that. The spacing on the truck. By design truck spacing and wheelbase are not usually the same.

[@Robocopter_fpv]

nice!

[@toddt.]

Short wheelbase is a toy Long wheelbase is a weapon

[@Sk8AndDestr0y]

mhm your tail wont get longer with a longer wheel base...

[@claymationwaves]

Ben you wanna scrap.. jk nice channel

[@QuickRipzz]

how tall are you, bro? For reference...

[@bendegros]

6 foot 1

[@Ukjuh]

Why doesn't they teach this in school!!