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Loose skateboard trucks are definitely a different beast compared to their tighter counterparts. While many might think that tighter trucks are easier to manage, the reality is that loose trucks require a unique set of skills, balance, and a touch of creativity. Riding trucks that are loose enough to wobble when you shake the board is not as simple as just unscrewing the kingpin nut. This approach could lead to painful experiences with your hanger flying off mid-ollie. Mastering the art of loose trucks involves pushing the boundaries of your equipment and requires a personalized approach. Several professional skateboarders are known for their exceptionally loose setups, and they’ve shared insights into how they achieve this unique riding style.
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Daewon Song’s Wobbly Setup
Daewon Song achieves his signature wobble by using just the bottom bushing and washers on the front truck. In the back truck, he sands down the smaller bushing to create more give. He often switches out the washers because they become bent and mangled, sometimes even wrapping around the kingpin bolt. Daewon explains that his back truck is slightly more stable, while his front truck is exceptionally loose. He likens riding his board backward to being on a marble with a piece of wood, highlighting the unique and challenging feeling. Daewon’s loose truck journey began with Grind King trucks, which naturally loosened over time. He got so accustomed to this that it felt good. When he switched to Tensor trucks, which initially didn’t turn well, he experimented by removing all bushings and using only washers. This eventually led him to sand down his back bushing and the top bushing on the front truck, inspired by Matt Rodriguez. While he acknowledges that loose trucks might cause him to lose some tricks, he values the feeling of just rolling around. Daewon believes that personal preference is key; whether you ride tight, loose, or medium trucks, it’s all about what you’re comfortable with.
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Max Palmer aka “Loose Trucks Max”
Max Palmer, also known as “Loose Trucks Max,” takes a more casual approach, riding Independent trucks with extra-soft Independent bushings or soft Doh Dohs. He doesn’t focus on tweaking the setup much, allowing the bushings to naturally break in over time. Max replaces the bushings when they break, but notes that new ones are always tighter and require breaking in. He recalls that his first pair of trucks became really loose and worn after about three years and that he simply liked the feeling and continued with loose trucks ever since. He admits to experiencing a hard slam when his truck fell off mid-ollie at high speed, but ultimately he advises others to do what feels right, and not overthink it.
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Nestor Judkins’ Super Glue Solution
Nestor Judkins uses soft, yellow Bones bushings and retains his old nuts, particularly for smith grinds, as they are higher up the kingpin. He uses ground-down nuts to maintain a “worked-in” feel. To keep his trucks extremely loose and prevent them from falling off, Nestor super glues the top nut, allowing it to sit barely on the thread. This prevents the trucks from vibrating off, which has happened to him before. Nestor says he doesn’t remember choosing to ride with loose trucks, they’ve always been that way, but when Venture changed their truck design, he had to search for new options to maintain his style. His advice for others is to experiment to see what feels comfortable. He also suggests super gluing the nut, using soft bushings, shaving new bushings, removing washers, or waxing wheel wells to prevent wheel bite, as ways to get your trucks looser.
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Frank Gerwer’s Truck Tinkering
Frank Gerwer, who is lighter than most skaters, finds it challenging to achieve his desired looseness, but says he doesn’t like them rattling. He switches out the original top bushing for a smaller one, allowing him to keep his trucks as loose as possible while still securing the nut. He is a self-proclaimed truck “goon” and has spent years figuring out his perfect setup. Frank was inspired by Dave Drummond, who rode his trucks very loosely, similar to Matt Rodriguez. While he acknowledges the fun in extremely loose trucks, he prefers a setup that prevents the pivot cup from popping out when going downhill. Frank recalls getting lots of wheel bite when his trucks were overly loose. His advice to others is that tinkering with your setup is part of the skateboarding experience. He believes there’s a sense of pride in owning your unique board setup and says that loose trucks help him turn, do cool tricks and get out of the way of obstacles.
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Matt Rodriguez’s Loose Truck Philosophy
Matt Rodriguez prefers to avoid new trucks, but when necessary he either razor blades or grinds down the bushings. He also carves around to help break in the pivot cup and get some gouges on the hangers. Matt’s loose truck approach came from watching older Sacramento skaters who had loose trucks before flip tricks were popular. He gradually loosened his trucks over time, reaching a point where the bolt didn’t even matter, then realized that shaving down the bushings could solve that problem. He feels that loose trucks provide no help in landing tricks, and that you must land on the center of the baseplate. He also explains that loose trucks require a different way of doing flip tricks because you don’t have as much spring from rail to rail. Matt believes that skaters should slowly work their way into loose trucks and learn to appreciate the carving aspect of skateboarding, which he says is lost on many skaters today.
Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Truck Setup
Ultimately, the key to riding with loose trucks lies in experimentation and personal preference. Whether you choose to sand down bushings, use softer bushings, or super glue your nuts, the right setup is the one that feels most comfortable and allows you to express your unique style on the board. Remember that while loose trucks can offer a unique riding experience, it’s essential to prioritize safety and be aware of potential risks such as speed wobbles and wheel bite. The most important thing is to have fun, be creative, and carve.
Illustrations: Michael Giurato
Words: Ian Browning
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