A skateboard may look like just a board on wheels, but it is actually a complex apparatus with many parts. The "trucks" on a skateboard are the metal attachments that connect the board with the wheels. These are complicated pieces of machinery that significantly influence the way the board rides. The differences in truck design lead to many different types of these items. In most cases, truck design has a direct impact on how the skateboard turns.
Pivot Angle
A skateboard truck includes a piece called a "hanger" that protrudes at an angle away from the board towards the wheel axle. The degree of this angle is one way to distinguish different types of trucks. The pivot angle of the hanger affects how easy it is to steer a skateboard by leaning in one direction or the other. A high pivot angle makes it more sensitive to leaning and thus facilitates steering by leaning. A low pivot angle is generally less sensitive to leaning which makes it more stable. When speed is the goal, low pivot angles are preferable as they reduce instability. These truck design varies in this way depending on the needs of the rider.
Axle Width
Trucks vary in the length of the wheel axle. A shorter axle puts the wheels closer together than a wider axle. Short axles makes it easier to turn a board, while wider axles make the board more stable. While this is one way to adjust the way a board rides, often the width of the board itself determines the length of the truck's axle. You do not want wheels to extend beyond the sides of the board. It is common practice to select trucks that offer the same axle width as the board, though customizations are possible for riders that require different skateboard behavior.
Bushing Hardness
A truck's "bushings" are the components that connect the truck to the board. Bushings vary in material, and the hardness of the material affects how the board rides. Bushing hardness is a way to distinguish between different types of trucks. Soft bushings make it easier for the truck's hanger to pivot on the board. This facilitates turning. Hard bushings keep the hanger locked in place. This reduces the hanger's sensitivity to the rider's leaning on the board and thus makes it harder to turn.
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