Introducing Skater’s New Best Friend

[@ChemsFB]

Yo! Thanks for making the video dude! There are definitely endless reasons and ways to mod your wheelbase, nose, and tail length! I usually mod a wider deck like 8.75” and 9” deck using the 3/8” tool. I mod it on the tail end making the tail 3/8” longer and in turn making the wheelbase 3/8” shorter. This gives me the perfect pop leverage and pop timing that I need for wholesome kickflips and just about any other flip trick. It also makes my nose and tail length almost identical. I can also better lock into tail slides with the slightly larger flat surface on my tail before the angle starts. Hope that helps anyone reading! Thanks again for the video!!!

[@happyfingers55]

Dude yes! Exactly! They need to make decks like that already!

[@Jesticles85]

i think changing the wheelbase on a deck is different than getting a deck with a longer or shorter wheelbase from the factory because you're altering the nose and tail length (and fingers of flat before the nose or tail). for turning, the results might be similar in both cases, but pop timing and leverage will be different for sure.

[@JaviersChandeliers]

I use mine to make the tail longer. Usually shoot for a deck in the 14.5 range, will yield 7" tail and nose (typically) and 14.125 WB.

[@TrevFlips]

I fell into wheelbase madness recently. Ran the numbers… tons of equations involved with all my old decks. I found a company that made my exact dimensions and ordered it. Dude! The wood was terrible and i just went back to shop decks… So this is intriguing

[@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo]

well... out with it ... whats your preferred wheelbase and the maker ! 😂

[@ZackDowdy]

Would you try this tool?! Please consider hitting the like button under the video if you enjoyed this experiment.

[@SuriSanJose]

I will totally try this. It'll be interesting to see how it helps or doesn't help my skating.

[@joshgross8741]

Imagine cutting the board in the middle and removing a .5 inch slice. This does not change where the trucks are in relation to the nose and tail. This is what a true change in wheel base does, it only increases or decreases this area in between the trucks, it does not re arrange where the trucks are on the board.

[@randalltyrer9874]

Instead of “trial and error” I say “trial by failure” haha I have to mess up learning too

[@ramrunsfast]

Thanks for the shout out Zack, I really appreciate it. After watching this video it made me wonder how a twin tip board would feel that have an identical nose and tail or something like an Andy Anderson board where the nose and tail are the same length. I honestly would buy this tool just to play around with my Anderson board and switch between it's 15" wheelbase and bring it down to 14.25" just to see how it feels.

[@randalltyrer9874]

I agree, I would re-hole my VX decks I have sitting around bc I only stopped riding them once the tail gets too small

[@ShmoopyFB]

Been waiting for this video for a min lol. Been checking your channel to see if you uploaded 😂

[@djweeks_maui]

Thanks Zack! I am 6'3" and my natural stance fits 16" WB perfect. Shorter than that and I start creeping too far over the bolts. Super hard to find 16" so I just ordered the Chem tool. I did a mod on a couple decks just eyeballing it but this will work perfect.

[@leredditcommander8208]

20" wheelbase here we gooo

[@abbeyglencircle]

I have been looking for something like this for a long time, thanks.

[@carlosroubert8646]

You should try a 16” or 15” wheel base board. It makes a lot of difference when you’re an old dude or your weight is in the 200 pounds.

[@mulekezicanorole]

props for trying new things. cheers from Brazil.

[@LonnieHutchinson90]

Thank you for this video! I’ve always wanted to adjust my wheelbase to know how the different lengths skate and now you’ve shown me the tool to do so !

[@KyleAndersonSkates]

very cool video! when you were riding the shorter wheelbase, like at 8:08, I thought there was going to be a lot more of the nose hitting the ground!

[@PHeMoX]

Most of that actually balances out. A longer nose with still the same angle, will still roughly have the similar characteristics as the 'normal' setup. It mostly only affects timing and not the physical effect of a pop. The more inward your wheelbase ends up, the more _mellow_ the angles actually become when popping the ground. People always get this wrong. The other thing is that for each _angle_ of a nose or tail, there's an optimal wheelsize / truck height and wheelbase for the most 'normal' and responsive pop. Using anything too far away from this optimal setup will result in the board requiring a lot more effort to pop or control or timing you would have a hard time adjusting to. Contrary to what some people think, a slight delay on a pop is a benefit, because it'll give time for your flick to start and end. In fact, everything comes down to sweetspot setup anyway and how it matches with the person and type of skating.

[@theaustralianhulk]

Haha. I just use a spare riser to mark the new holes. I’ve done this a couple times to extend the front holes for surfskate setups. Often you lose axle to axle length with a surfskate because the front trucks are reversed so changing the wheelbase can make a dramatic difference especially front foot placement and consequent nosediving. Like you, I like tinkering 😁

[@patrickredmond1498]

That sunshine and palm trees looked really nice, spring time up here in Canada.

[@MC_795]

15 inch wheelbase is perfect for me

[@garretteverett2613]

These are really cool tools. I usually just use a set of normal risers to add holes but these would save time and be less sketchy to line up. I've only really seen newer downhill boards that have a bunch of options for mounting and it seems like a shame for other boards to be missing out. I mostly longboard so I ride everything from a 14.5" to a 33"(!) wheelbase. Anything under 18" feels so squirrelly for the first bit of riding, but my bigger boards could definitely go for shorter options.

[@BlackMarketHoney]

My rule of thumb is that the wheelbase is proportional to the size of terrain. I like a shorter WB 14.25 for street and pools and I also have a longer WB 14.5 set up for a huge flow park in my neighbourhood. I would guess that the Mega Ramp warriors go even longer! 🤔 All the best, Rich in Sweden.

[@_jase]

Just skated that same polar deck. Felt really nice

[@gorryman]

14 for life Ace Trucks

[@furiouslester]

Keep in mind what each adjustment does to nose/tail length. Which will change the angle of pop and mess with fingers of flat (the distance between front of the front truck and where the nose angle begins and vice versa for the de tail). Wheel size, risers and truck geometry can fuck with each if these also. There's a ton of other factors. Just remember each of these factors changes every other one in its own way. Welcome to The Madness. I'll check back in a year to fuck up every yhung you've figured out again. Wheel duro, contact patch, shape of wheel...bushing duro, thickness, the angle of the kingpin versus pivot point. And just reiterating, any change to one factor changes every other factor. Man, I love The Madness. There tons of other shit. But there's a start to get climbing the walls. Keep searching. Skate straight!

[@Cruzing808]

Im right there with you on the compounding factors

[@furiouslester]

@@Cruzing808 dude dude dude! Alright. I somehow started down this rabbit's brown-hole maybe two years ago. So yeah, if you wanna break why you love shredding. But find a just shit tons of reasons you didn’t realize why you love it and never…shit i gotta get going...I’m gonna be late… And get all fucked up with Board Madness… Throw a set of trucks on backwards. K. Why does that happen? Then, with the backwards board, why does a tail manny do what it does versus a correct setup every day nose manny? I can’t even start with what happens. But that’s what i’m working on understanding at this point. I got some blem decks that I’m cutting up probably tomorrow. If you wanna follow me down the rabbit’s brown-hole. Hurry hurry hurry, I’m gonnna be late. I either profusely apologize, or….

[@stefaniepetermichl3680]

That is a nice tool! I am 5'2 and slim with a narrow natural stance. I experimented with a 7.3" 13" kiddy board - terrifying in the bowl but so easy to control otherwise. It is extremely difficult to find anything under 14" wheel base unless you go under 7.5". I am still a beginner but I find wheel base way more important than width at my level of skating.

[@christianpopp7404]

Try the heroin ‘mini mutant’ or ‘mini egg’ there both about 13.5’ wheelbases but 8.88 with for mutant and 8.38 for egg there’s also a little egg that’s 7.9 with u think a 13’ wheelbase but not sure in that ine

[@MarkPuke13]

That’s cool wassup from Guam!

[@BigAlSkateTutorials]

Looks beneficial in ways may have to try it out!

[@holdenwilky4922]

Zack…. Your videos are great man

[@happyfingers55]

I’ve always re-drilled my back truck a tiny bit to give a tiny bit bigger tail and shorter wheelbase.

[@robthegod1]

That funny I do that to the nose. Usually shaped boards are fun to play with.

[@happyfingers55]

@@robthegod1 nice! I’ve done it with the nose before too, but it throws my balance off on nollie tricks I’ve noticed.

[@ChemsFB]

Same!

[@happyfingers55]

@@ChemsFB yeee!

[@morganconklin8849]

I’m learning that a decks wheelbase most definitely isn’t the only thing when choosing trucks. I got a 14.0 and thought venture would work. And sure it is stable feeling but I got 1.3 fingers of flat on my tail and I’m not liking it. I’m gonna try some ace lows on it and see if that’s better. May feel weird leverage wise at first but as long as my nose and tail feel the same weight I’m happy

[@davidleeashkenazi8992]

I love 14”

[@likespinningpats]

This is not what I expected the tool to be. I thought it would be some sort of adjustable riser pad. This is better. Such a simple idea.

[@DailyHodler]

i actually need this tool. saw you made a video in the park i always go to melba bishop in oceanside area super rad

[@ZackDowdy]

Loving that place!

[@DailyHodler]

@@ZackDowdy super nice you guys were right about ur review very low key and good for beginner park

[@18JR78]

Woaaah someone actually made this. I should’ve cashed in 😭

[@Xx__Pro00_Gamer_xX696]

Intro says im beautyfull😌

[@chrhadden]

its not just you.i bought a dressen dogtown deck that has a long wheel base and it messed me up the same ways you described. you convinced me to change it.i thought it might weaken the board

[@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo]

i've been learning transition and ramps, i've learn to drop in already. i was riding a board with 15" wheelbase , and on bigger ramps like 6-8" i feel hella unstable , i need to put a lot more effort in keeping the front and back balance. i found a lucero cross deck with a 16" wheel base and its been awesome, its a big board, heavy , but wow stable. i wonder why wheelbases top out at 15" for 99% of the skateboards out there

[@seanmilnes2947]

Zack, you're sort of missing some key points here. If you buy a board with long wheel base you won't lose nose or tail length. The adjustable wheel base tools work well for wood shops and such, but home use it changes more than just the wheelbase in your application.

[@xJeremy75x]

Thing is...you also change the "fingers of flat" when you change the wheelbase.

[@ChemsFB]

Very true but sometimes that’s what we are after. “Fingers of flat” is actually less important as it’s very vague. Length length of nose/tail/wheelbase in combination with your trucks/wheels/risers and the angle of kicks is what makes all of the differences. I usually end up modifying my 8.75” & 9” decks to make the tail 3/8” longer and in turn the wheelbase 3/8” shorter. This allows me a more wholesome kickflip by slightly lessening the amount of force required to pop and my tail hits the ground a millisecond sooner. This also adds 3/8” to my “fingers of flat” on my tail but that flat only helps the tail slides lock in better for a long slide.

[@warhammer1]

Won’t drilling all those holes reduce the strength of the deck in that area? Making it easier to crack in those spots..?

[@ChemsFB]

One would think so, but I have been skating modified decks for the past 7 decks I’ve skated and they hold up just fine. I kickflipped a 5 stair on a deck that I had already been skating for two months and it was modified 3/8” on the tail. No breaks or cracks and it took me way too many tries

[@slimshady5130]

I recently tried to give my friend new trucks, but he didn't have the right wheel base, and the trucks only had 4 hole instead of 6, so having this tool could be really handy.

[@PHeMoX]

If a board has six holes, it's probably already compatible with two different wheelbases for you to pick. Modern trucks these days have only four holes, never 6. And I believe before baseplates got standardised, you could also have like an odd length baseplate, which could also be why there are two extra holes. Basically it is still meant for trucks with 4 holes, just in a different location/distance from each other.

[@slimshady5130]

@@PHeMoX his board doesn't have 6 holes, his trucks did, but the trucks I was going to give him only had 4, and wasn't the right wheel base because it didn't line up with the holes, but I was saying it would be nice to have the tool in the video to put new hole so the trucks would fit

[@grutzz3359]

I know Indy 159s and up have the 6 holes on the trucks and 149s and below only have 4 holes. Not sure about any other brands tho

[@slimshady5130]

@@grutzz3359 they where no name trucks that came with his complete,

[@Avaddon911]

I’m a short guy (5’5”) and I prefer bigger boards so it’s hard to find a smaller wheelbase. This product may come in handy in certain situations I guess

[@Jiggityjax]

Trucks affect the wheel base there are benefits to switching up and finding your "thing"

[@Sproutt]

Yo this is pretty lit actually

[@PHeMoX]

I don't know about transition to be honest. I've seen people skate a literal 7.75" with definitely a 14" wheelbase in vert and half pipes. No problem with stability, as long as the trucks are medium to tight. The real issue is going to be when a wheelbase is so long it becomes a mismatch based on the person or style of the person skating. Not everyone with long legs and huge feet diggs the biggest boards. And plenty of 90s era skaters swear by narrow decks. Even on vert. The real thing is, people can get used to a width of a deck fairly easily. But probably would take more effort to get used to a significantly bigger wheelbase. And I also think a lot of 8.25" to 8.5" decks are a lot more manageable with a 'normal' 14.25-14.50" wheelbase. Personally I feel a 14" wheelbase is my preferred wheelbase length. Deck width is less important, although bigger boards also tend to become heavier, which definitely does matter to me a lot.

[@timcorey3967]

New drinking game, take a shot Everytime you hear the word wheelbase lmao

[@AmIGoneMusic]

What size wheels are those ??

[@ZackDowdy]

I got them at 56mm they're about 55-54mm now.

[@CJWest]

Dude can you make a video on how to do that no comply tail slide trick? Idk what it's called but I really want to learn how to do it

[@ZackDowdy]

I made one awhile back! Such a fun trick.

[@stevensonenator]

Nice I like a 14.5 wheelbase and only company I can find that has a true 14.5 is Zero. I love zero so not an issue

[@wowyoursister]

cool tool 😊 Any affect on board integrity, pressure cracks, etc. with the additional holes?

[@PHeMoX]

It definitely has an impact, at the same time it's really only a few holes. No deck should start to snap because of those honestly. I wouldn't generally be too concerned, however there's definitely a few things to watch out for. Don't make the holes too big or your truck will wiggle around annoyingly and over time get loose. By the way, pressure cracks really are a result of over tightening your trucks. Hasn't got much to do with deck quality. It's 99% of the time user error.

[@ZackDowdy]

Not yet, but Chem Skates does make it clear that drilling holes will effect the integrity of the deck. I tend to abuse my boards so much just riding them that I don't think it'll effect the lifespan too much.

[@ChemsFB]

I’ve modified and skated my last 7 decks with no issues at all.

[@wowyoursister]

GREAT FEEDBACK, THANK YOU, IM DEFINATELY INTERESTED IN MODIFYING SOME OLD DECKS TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT, I just realized this was all caps but honestly I'm not going to retype it; sorry in advance

[@burneraccount9829]

feel like some of this depends on your body size (height/inseam)...at least for me i find for transition i like to be comfortable dropping in with my front feet over the bolts and for me a board with longer wheelbase feels less comfortable for that for me...but i also like riding a pretty short deck for a 8.5....but yea its pretty personal...

[@likespinningpats]

Maybe it's just the people in my circle but there seems to be a market for an 8.5 with a 14.0 wheelbase. It wouldn't be for me but I've noticed people's interest in that shape.

[@MaLaCoiD]

Great lines at MLK! Wish you'd wear helmet & knee pads. Just got my clavicle pinned from a slam on the transition there.

[@PsychoCitySkateboards]

Been had one 👊

[@sk8er-dad]

Cool, that’s what I need, sometimes I like shape and size of board but wheel base is 15” but I like 14.25 😇

[@Sjur_sm57]

What board do you ride? I’m looking for more 15" WB boards, they’re really hard to find for some reason.

[@vorpalblades]

​@@Sjur_sm57 there's not many 15"". I have a few. Flip - Lance Mountain Crest. Powell - Andy Andersen 9.14 deck. Madness - Saturn Eating His Son. Anti-Hero - Jeff Grosso Double Driller.

[@mathewharmer478]

Maybe a bigger board fells better with a longer wheelbase a smaller board smaller wheel base the kick on the nose or tail can change it to

[@joshhenry2446]

I don’t care about wheel base. I just need a 8.38 or 8.5 and anything over 32 in length and I’ve been skating over 20 years

[@leejordan5937]

14 inch .

[@michaelaguayo1541]

Heck yes?!

[@mattw301]

First time hearing the term "disa-benefits"

[@ZackDowdy]

The amount of times I wanted to edit that though, lol.

[@joshgross8741]

This is not changing the wheel base, it is changing where the trucks are on the board. This in turn changes the wheel base. If you were to try two identical skateboards with different wheel bases, the area inside of the trucks would get larger or smaller. The trucks would still be the same distance from the tail on the short wheel base and the long wheelbase. Only the area inside the trucks would change in length, not the position of the trucks on the board.

[@amberruby4896]

I don't really get what you mean, kinda seems like you just contradicted yourself between the first and second sentence

[@goldleader6169]

That was a complicated way of saying , yes it changes wheel base...

[@PHeMoX]

The wheel base is the distance between the wheels on two trucks, usually measured from the center points of the front and back truck holes closest to the middle of the deck. It has nothing to do with distance to the tail or nose, actually. And it will alter the location of the trucks on the deck.Swapping out trucks is not the only way to change wheelbase, you can also drill new holes and physically relocate the trucks..... which is what is done here.

[@joshgross8741]

@@PHeMoX if you have two identical boards and then you cut out a cross section of the board between the trucks you are reducing the wheel base but the trucks are still positioned the same in relation to the nose and tail. If you move your trucks further out the distance between the nose and tail to the trucks has changed. Also its measured from the two truck bolts that are closest to eachother. So inside truck hole to inside truck hole of the other truck.

[@joshgross8741]

@@goldleader6169 it also changes the distance to the nose and the tail of each truck. if you cut out a cross section between the trucks the wheel base will be smaller but the trucks will still be in the same place in relation to the nose and tail.

[@sk8fm448]

Why not buy a deck with the right wheel base. Great video 👍

[@ChemsFB]

Unfortunately there are manufacturer “standards” that don’t necessarily fit everyone’s needs. This is why we change the length of our nose/tail/wheelbase to fit our needs with the decks that are available to us

[@pnksmigge5324]

Yo, can you make a tutorial on how to be this damn cool? See yourself out god damn, let us live.

[@leekthomas737]

I need one of these. I'm sick of 4.5 wheelbases. That's Trump's wheel base

[@likespinningpats]

The common theme here is that it changes the nose and tail size. I think it'd be good to experiment with but to get the most out of it you'd want to have something in mind that you're trying to achieve other than changing the wheelbase. You'd want to know all of the dimensions of the board you're changing, not just wheelbase and width. With your standard popsicle there is such a wide variety of sizes available you might as well just buy one sized how your want. Some of the more unique shaped decks I could see someone wanting a different wheelbase but liking the shape enough to be willing to shorten or lengthen the nose or tail.

[@ChemsFB]

I mod my decks to lengthen the tail and shorten the wheelbase at the same time. It gives me perfect pop leverage for more wholesome kickflips which then translates well to all of my other tricks. It also allows for solid lock in on tail slides with that tiny bit of extra flat before the tail

[@likespinningpats]

@@ChemsFB I'm riding a street plant board right now. The Svitak model is 8.25 w/ 14.25 wheelbase and a 6.75" tail. I had another street plant that had a 7" tail. I like a longer tail and a lot of boards have small tails less than 6.5"

[@CarnivorousSwarm]

disebenefits isn't a word.

[@Daggermouth8k]

you’re late to the game