How to Build a Complete Longboard or Skateboard
This page will guide you through all the components you need to put together your own custom skateboard or longboard.
“Trucks, wheels, board.” Seems simple, right? This is all you need to build a complete. You could have any wheels, trucks and deck that you want and simply piece them together. “But how will the wheels spin?” Oh, right, don’t forget about bearings. “How will I attach the trucks to the deck?” Oh, that’s right, you’ll need some hardware. “What size hardware do I need?” Depends on the setup. “Am I going to get wheelbite?” That depends on the truck and wheel combination, and don’t forget about riser pads. “Why do I need riser pads?” Because it gives you more wheel clearance.
Uh oh! This is starting to sound more complicated than just “trucks, wheels, board.” Let’s break things down to show you how easy it is to build your own complete from scratch and how it gives you so much more freedom to design the board exactly the way you want it. In this tutorial, you and I will build our board together, one component at a time, until we arrive at a finished product that’s ready to shred.
#1 It’s a good idea to always start with the deck. Do you want a big deck or a small deck? Do you want a kick tail? Do you want flex or stiffness? Well, keep in mind that kick tails are good for tricks, stiffness is good for stability, big decks are more forgiving, small decks are more nimble and agile. These are all things to consider when choosing your deck.
#2 You want to make sure the trucks roughly match the width of the deck. “Should I use RKP or TKP?” For cruisers, use TKP. For drop through longboards, use RKP. We have lots of boards that offer the ability to use both RKP & TKP, so just remember that RKP are more turny and TKP are more stable.
#3 Wheel choice gives you an enormous amount of freedom to determine the way your board rides. The key point to remember here is that you don’t have to stick to one wheel type on your setups! Use a small wheel for lightness and agility and a big wheel for steamrolling, sidewalk smashing speed to roll over any obstacle. Our Fatty and Chubby wheels will grip the road quite a lot, giving you traction and cornering ability. Wheels like EZ’s and Supremes will be lightweight and slippery on the pavement, giving you the option to slide the wheels, slash around and flip the board at will. Pay attention to the diameter. Generally speaking, cruiser boards will max out at 63mm while most longboards appreciate a 70mm wheel. It’s important to remember that all our wheels are quite soft, at 78a durometer, so they all work great for cruising.
#4 Bearings are universal. Our bearings use the same industry spec that all brands adhere to, so they will fit any truck/wheel combo. A lot of bearings require speed rings and spacers, but Spaceballs already have these built into the structure of the bearing so you can plug and play with no hassle, and you can swap wheels much easier. If you’re riding in the rain a lot, use the ceramic bearings so they don’t rust. You won’t get very far without bearings, so don’t forget these.
#5 Hardware. Panhead or Countersunk? If it’s a drop-through deck, use panhead. For everything else, use countersunk. Are you using a ½ inch riser? Use 1.5” hardware. For everything else, use 1.25” hardware.
#6 Risers. If your board is top mounted, use a ¼ inch riser. For drop-through mounted boards, it’s impossible to install a riser, so don’t buy one! If you need extra wheel clearance, use a ½ inch riser. If you want to change the way your trucks turn, use an angled riser!
Don’t be scared to mix and match! Setting up a board is such an amazing experience and something that should be done many times, because history shows that each time you put a board together, it will be better than the last one! The only tool required to do it is a simple T-tool. Don’t be intimidated by the numerous pieces that you need. The reality is that once you receive your package from Landyachtz, open it up, and hold all of your shiny new pieces in your hand, you will see that they fit together like Lego. Oh and don’t forget to pick a truck color, wheel color, and board graphic that you really like!!
