Advice on trucks for an 8.25" deck

[moeb74]

Getting back into this skating stuff after almost 20 years... All I knew years ago was Indy or Thunder. Seems like a lot more is available now.

What would be recommended for an 8.25" deck for flat and street skating? I guess running a 52-54mm wheel, BBS/DLX deck

When I was younger I bought whatever they had. Now Im older, I wanted options but do I? lol. Too many options. Looking for some veterans here to help me out with truck sizing.

tldr: What truck for an 8.25" street/flat setup running 52-54mm wheels and a BBS/DLX made deck. I know venture and thunder has other heights etc

[Xen]

Getting back into this skating stuff after almost 20 years... All I knew years ago was Indy or Thunder. Seems like a lot more is available now.

What would be recommended for an 8.25" deck for flat and street skating? I guess running a 52-54mm wheel, BBS/DLX deck

When I was younger I bought whatever they had. Now Im older, I wanted options but do I? lol. Too many options. Looking for some veterans here to help me out with truck sizing.

tldr: What truck for an 8.25" street/flat setup running 52-54mm wheels and a BBS/DLX made deck. I know venture and thunder has other heights etc

Thunder 148s - Standards or Team Hollows should do you well enough. Or Indy Forged Hollow 144s

[z_tx]

thunder 148
venture 5.6

[Mantracker]

Thunder 147 or 148
Ace 44
Indy 144
Venture 5.6

I recommend Ace 44.

Whatever you do get a raw truck and not a pro/coloured one

[1121317]

What wheelbase is your 8.25 deck? If it’s 14.25 and below; get Thunders or Venture. Mind you that Ventures pushes out the wheelbase a lot more than Thunders. 14.38 and above, get Aces or Indy. And Ace has less wheelbase than Indies.

[Skatebeard]

I run Thunder 148s and switch between 8.125/8.18/8.25... works well on all with some 50mm spitfire F4 99 classics.

Thunder Lights with the forged baseplate, hollow kingpin but solid axle are a nice compromise between price and weight...if you're feeling more spendy, the hollow lights are a shout. I found the titanium hollow lights too light personally.

[moeb74]

Thanks guys. Haven't settled on a deck yet. Deathwish or DLX branded one is in my head now...

[Ok]

One way to size your trucks is to think about what you might get in the future, for decks. As an example, 8”-8.5” decks, I’d get an 8.25” truck. Plus/minus .25” works for most people as a ratio.


A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

[moeb74]

One way to size your trucks is to think about what you might get in the future, for decks. As an example, 8”-8.5” decks, I’d get an 8.25” truck. Plus/minus .25” works for most people as a ratio.


A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

This is what I was thinking. But what about heights? Does weight truly matter? I haven't read the above replies yet, but am here Shortly

[TurdyBird]

Riding 5.6 ventures with 94 thunder bushings on a 8.25 baker and I'm really digging it. 54 satoris conicals

I was riding a girl board the same size but shorter WB and I hated it.
Might want to think about that when picking out trucks.
 
Getting 8inch axels will help you get more leverage for flip tricks. I kind of wanna try, but don't wanna spend the money and digging what I going now.

[Mr. Stinky]

What wheelbase is your 8.25 deck? If it’s 14.25 and below; get Thunders or Venture. Mind you that Ventures pushes out the wheelbase a lot more than Thunders. 14.38 and above, get Aces or Indy. And Ace has less wheelbase than Indies.

This is my rule recently (Thunders for 14.25" wb, Ace 44s for longer than that) and I don't even really have to adjust to different setups because they feel pretty similar.  It's a good situation.   

[CBP]

I don’t think you could go wrong with either Venture or Thunder for a set up like that.

Can’t weigh in on the hollow versions but if you like more weight in your set up and want to skate bigger wheels I’d go Venture. Otherwise Thunder.

[ballintoohard]

Thunder 148 Team or Indy 144 Forged Hollow. These are in the middle of the wheelbase range and pretty standard types of turns. Puts them as the same height as Ace or Venture should you want to inch towards surf or tippy/stable respectively.

[manysnakes]

I recommend Ace 44.

[moeb74]

Thanks. Looks like the thunder 148s are popular... On the thunder teams... Are they just one mm higher? That's it? What's the benefit of that ?

[theloniousmonk]

Expand Quote

One way to size your trucks is to think about what you might get in the future, for decks. As an example, 8”-8.5” decks, I’d get an 8.25” truck. Plus/minus .25” works for most people as a ratio.


A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

[close]

This is what I was thinking. But what about heights? Does weight truly matter? I haven't read the above replies yet, but am here Shortly

Just throwing it out there, but tensor mag light trucks rule if you like to grind, and they are crazy light. I started with the atg which are the same height as Indy, and am now skating the tensor lows which are the lowest trucks I know of at 45.5. I just celebrated my 40th bday and they remind me of the venture lows that I was skating in 1995. They come in 5.5 which is a lil under 8.25. You can also add more speed rings to push the wheels out and if you get slim axle nuts you can run 3 on the inside and that pushes them out to 8.25.
That said, I’m planning to skate the Indy mids once the forged/hollows come out this spring.

[Ok]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

One way to size your trucks is to think about what you might get in the future, for decks. As an example, 8”-8.5” decks, I’d get an 8.25” truck. Plus/minus .25” works for most people as a ratio.


A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

[close]

This is what I was thinking. But what about heights? Does weight truly matter? I haven't read the above replies yet, but am here Shortly

[close]

Just throwing it out there, but tensor mag light trucks rule if you like to grind, and they are crazy light. I started with the atg which are the same height as Indy, and am now skating the tensor lows which are the lowest trucks I know of at 45.5. I just celebrated my 40th bday and they remind me of the venture lows that I was skating in 1995. They come in 5.5 which is a lil under 8.25. You can also add more speed rings to push the wheels out and if you get slim axle nuts you can run 3 on the inside and that pushes them out to 8.25.
That said, I’m planning to skate the Indy mids once the forged/hollows come out this spring.

What size wheels? I love low trucks. I think.

[DarthDingusMaximus]

Expand Quote

Getting back into this skating stuff after almost 20 years... All I knew years ago was Indy or Thunder. Seems like a lot more is available now.

What would be recommended for an 8.25" deck for flat and street skating? I guess running a 52-54mm wheel, BBS/DLX deck

When I was younger I bought whatever they had. Now Im older, I wanted options but do I? lol. Too many options. Looking for some veterans here to help me out with truck sizing.

tldr: What truck for an 8.25" street/flat setup running 52-54mm wheels and a BBS/DLX made deck. I know venture and thunder has other heights etc

[close]

Thunder 148s - Standards or Team Hollows should do you well enough. Or Indy Forged Hollow 144s

All of this is valid however, depending on how you like board to wheel looking down, do you like a bit of wheels sticking out or just underneath?   144’s and 149’s are going be a good suit all depending on your preference.

[rocklobster]

A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

I like this logic, I've seen a lot of older guys coming back size up, going from 7.5/7.75 to 8 only to find it's still too small, before settling on 8.25. 148 trucks work on both 8.125 and 8.38, maybe 8.5 if you go the extra washer route.

Thunder are my truck of choice, the standard 148 is lighter than the Indy 144 and Venture 5.6, so it will be easier for an older guy returning who may not have the leg muscles yet to handle. Lights or Hollow if you can spend the extra cash, but the standard 148 already light enough, the weight reduction only gives marginal improvement to board lightness.

[HugeBodBoyle]

8.25 you say? Ace 33 or Indy 139. Thunder 147's.

I hate my axle even with the edge of the board.

[Mbrimson88]

Just in case the size numbers of different trucks are confusing and you can always look up size charts, but here are general measurements for deck size with corresponding trucks that match:

Deck size around 8
Indy 139
Ace 33
Venture 5.25
Thunder 147

Deck size around 8.25
Indy 144
Ace 44 (actually 8.38 so sits a fraction wide)
Venture 5.6
Thunder 148

Deck size around 8.5
Indy 149
Ace 44 (sits a fraction under)
Venture 5.8
Thunder 149

Also note, quite a few people (including pros) who skate more street than anything else ride wider decks with not quite so wide trucks, eg Andrew Reynolds rides Indy 139 on 8.25+ decks.

Transition skaters will often ride wider trucks than street skaters, or at least trucks that fit with the wheels to the edge of the deck, eg Indy 149 on 8.25 size decks.


Truck heights do come into play when looking at bigger wheels or looser trucks (and heavier skaters) and although some people never put risers on lower trucks like Thunder, I go with thin risers on any Thunders but don't need risers on Indy or Ace with reasonable size wheels and fairly loose trucks.

[Ok]

8.25 you say? Ace 33 or Indy 139. Thunder 147's.

I hate my axle even with the edge of the board.

This is also my personal preference, but ....

[Peepeeboy69]

I enjoy thunder 149's on my 8.25 decks

[Xen]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

One way to size your trucks is to think about what you might get in the future, for decks. As an example, 8”-8.5” decks, I’d get an 8.25” truck. Plus/minus .25” works for most people as a ratio.


A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

[close]

This is what I was thinking. But what about heights? Does weight truly matter? I haven't read the above replies yet, but am here Shortly

[close]

Just throwing it out there, but tensor mag light trucks rule if you like to grind, and they are crazy light. I started with the atg which are the same height as Indy, and am now skating the tensor lows which are the lowest trucks I know of at 45.5. I just celebrated my 40th bday and they remind me of the venture lows that I was skating in 1995. They come in 5.5 which is a lil under 8.25. You can also add more speed rings to push the wheels out and if you get slim axle nuts you can run 3 on the inside and that pushes them out to 8.25.
That said, I’m planning to skate the Indy mids once the forged/hollows come out this spring.

I'll second the Tensor maglites but in ATG (taller truck) since you are just getting back into it. They get a lot of hate on the forums for being 'too light' and being 'Tensor' but the ATG turn great (get bones medium bushings in them ASAP and you won't regret a thing), are super light, and grind better than any other truck out there.

[Gray Imp Sausage Metal]

Expand Quote

I recommend Ace 44.

[close]

[theloniousmonk]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

One way to size your trucks is to think about what you might get in the future, for decks. As an example, 8”-8.5” decks, I’d get an 8.25” truck. Plus/minus .25” works for most people as a ratio.


A simpler answer is, get an 8.25” truck. The 4 most popular brands are Indy, Venture, Thunder, Ace. All are good. I favor Venture and Ace.

[close]

This is what I was thinking. But what about heights? Does weight truly matter? I haven't read the above replies yet, but am here Shortly

[close]

Just throwing it out there, but tensor mag light trucks rule if you like to grind, and they are crazy light. I started with the atg which are the same height as Indy, and am now skating the tensor lows which are the lowest trucks I know of at 45.5. I just celebrated my 40th bday and they remind me of the venture lows that I was skating in 1995. They come in 5.5 which is a lil under 8.25. You can also add more speed rings to push the wheels out and if you get slim axle nuts you can run 3 on the inside and that pushes them out to 8.25.
That said, I’m planning to skate the Indy mids once the forged/hollows come out this spring.

[close]

What size wheels? I love low trucks. I think.

I’m riding 52mm radial slims now, and might set up 54 next, no risers, but I did make wheel wells with a dremmel  tool. Most people say 51mm or lower for lows.
And yes, the Atgs turn great as well.

[Fat Tony]

I had some questions on this recently and the advice in my thread helped a lot:

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=114003.msg3439178#msg3439178

To summarize, I went with 5.8 ventures and have a 8.25 real full se deck now and love it. I hated the Indys I went with first; could not make them stable. I actually just set them up on a rainy day board and they still are just awful to me.

If you’re looking for stable, I’d say venture, and bones hard bushings. Also keep both washers on.

I think I like my trucks to stick out a little, although I hardly notice it. I guess these should have an extra .125” on each side of the board.

[munchbox]

the replies are hilariously overblown. guy is coming off a break almost as long as my entire life, dont drive him mad before the first ollie

just get something that fits and relearn how to skate. the semantics dont apply without your skate legs

[rocklobster]

the replies are hilariously overblown. guy is coming off a break almost as long as my entire life, dont drive him mad before the first ollie

just get something that fits and relearn how to skate. the semantics dont apply without your skate legs

Advice for guys just coming back: avoid Shoes & Gear and Slap in general.

[j....soy.....]

Thanks. Looks like the thunder 148s are popular... On the thunder teams... Are they just one mm higher? That's it? What's the benefit of that ?

1mm, helps a bit with wheelbite....thunders are pretty low.. I like this truck a lot....I prefer cast baseplates too...just look better.