Guide · Setup
Longboard Setup Guide
A longboard is not just a long skateboard — it's a different geometry, different truck type, different wheel spec, and different riser requirement. This guide covers every component of a longboard setup, the differences between riding styles (cruising, dancing, freeride, downhill), and complete build specs you can follow directly.
1. Deck
Longboard decks range from about 28\" to 50\"+ in length and 8.5\" to 10.5\"+ in width. The shape determines stability, foot placement, and what style of riding it's suited for.
Deck shapes
| Shape | Length | Profile | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pintail | 38\"–46\" | Top-mount, tapered nose/tail | Cruising, carving, beginners |
| Drop-through | 38\"–44\" | Trucks mount through deck cutouts, lowering ride height | Freeride, commuting, easier pushing |
| Drop-down | 36\"–42\" | Deck drops below truck mount level | Downhill, stability at speed |
| Mini-cruiser | 28\"–33\" | Short, often kicktail | Urban commuting, transit gaps |
| Dancing / freestyle | 42\"–48\" | Wide platform, symmetrical | Dance steps, cross-steps, flat tricks |
| Directional / pintail | 38\"–44\" | Longer nose, shorter tail | Directional carving, downhill |
Flex
Many longboard decks have flex — they bend under rider weight. Flex absorbs road vibration and makes carving feel more dynamic. Flex rating is typically 1 (very stiff) to 5 (very flexy), though the scale varies by brand.
- Stiff (flex 1–2): stable at speed, good for downhill and heavier riders
- Medium (flex 3): most versatile; comfortable for cruising and mild freeride
- Flexy (flex 4–5): pumpy, lively feel; good for carving and lighter riders; not for high speed
Top-mount vs drop-through
On a top-mount deck, trucks bolt to the underside in the standard way. The deck sits on top of the trucks at full height. On a drop-through deck, the baseplate is recessed through a cutout in the deck, lowering the center of gravity by 10–15mm. Drop-through decks are more stable at speed and easier to foot-brake, but sacrifice some carving leverage compared to top-mount.
2. Trucks — TKP vs RKP
The biggest difference between longboard and skateboard trucks is the kingpin orientation.
RKP — Reverse Kingpin (most common on longboards)
In an RKP truck, the kingpin faces outward (away from the center of the board). This geometry creates a more responsive carve at low speeds — leaning the board generates more turn per degree of lean than TKP. RKP trucks are standard for cruising, carving, and freeride longboarding.
Typical RKP baseplate angles range from 40° to 55°. Higher angle = more responsive carving. Lower angle = more stable at speed. A 50° front + 43° rear combination (split-angle) is popular for carving setups — the higher front truck initiates turns; the lower rear truck adds stability.
TKP — Traditional Kingpin (standard skateboard trucks)
TKP trucks have the kingpin facing inward. They're more stable at higher speeds than RKP at the same tightness. Downhill riders often prefer TKP for predictable high-speed stability. Some mini-cruiser setups use TKP to allow more trick-oriented riding.
| Truck type | Carve responsiveness | High-speed stability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RKP (high angle, 50°+) | Very responsive | Moderate | Carving, cruising, dancing |
| RKP (low angle, 40°–44°) | Moderate | Good | Freeride, moderate downhill |
| TKP | Low–moderate | Excellent | Downhill, mini-cruiser |
Truck width
Match truck axle width to deck width. Longboard trucks are typically available in 150mm, 163mm, 180mm, and 184mm axle widths. A 9\" deck pairs with 150mm–163mm trucks; a 9.5\"–10\" deck with 163mm–180mm. Going too wide or too narrow affects stability and turn feel.
Bushings on longboard trucks
Longboard trucks use the same bushing logic as skateboard trucks — softer bushings for lighter riders and responsive carving; harder bushings for heavier riders and speed stability. The barrel/cone combination matters more on longboard RKP trucks because the carving geometry amplifies bushing compliance. Many longboard riders run a barrel (road-side) + cone (board-side) for balanced carve with return-to-center feel. See Skateboard Bushing Guide for durometer by weight.
3. Wheels
Longboard wheels are larger and softer than street skateboard wheels, designed for smooth high-speed rolling and grip through carves.
| Style | Diameter | Durometer | Lip shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruising / commuting | 65–70mm | 78A–82A | Wide, square-ish | Smooth, grippy, handles cracks |
| Carving | 65–72mm | 78A–84A | Wide, square lip | Maximum grip through carves |
| Freeride / slides | 65–72mm | 80A–86A | Round lip | Breaks traction predictably for controlled slides |
| Dancing / freestyle | 60–65mm | 78A–85A | Square or rounded | Lighter for foot movement on deck |
| Downhill | 70–76mm | 75A–80A | Wide, sharp square | Maximum grip, high-speed stability |
Core placement — many longboard wheels specify inner-set, center-set, or offset cores. Center-set and offset cores allow the wheel to be flipped to even wear. Inner-set cores provide a smoother ride and better high-speed grip.
For more on sizing logic, see Skateboard Wheel Size Guide and How to Choose Skateboard Wheels.
4. Bearings
Standard ABEC 5 or 7 bearings work fine for longboarding. The bearing spec matters less than cleanliness and lubrication — a well-maintained ABEC 5 bearing rolls faster than a dirty ABEC 9. Bones Reds or equivalent steel bearings are the standard choice.
For high-speed downhill riding, ceramic or higher-grade steel bearings can reduce heat buildup at sustained high speed. For general cruising, standard bearings serviced every 1–3 months are adequate. See Skateboard Maintenance Guide for bearing care schedule.
5. Riser pads
Longboard wheels are large and require significant riser height to prevent wheel bite. This is especially important on drop-through decks, where the deck is closer to the wheel than on top-mount setups.
| Wheel size | Top-mount riser needed | Drop-through riser needed |
|---|---|---|
| 60–64mm | 1/4\"–3/8\" (6–9mm) | 3/8\"–1/2\" (9–12mm) |
| 65–70mm | 1/2\" (10mm) | 1/2\"–3/4\" (10–15mm) |
| 70–75mm | 1/2\"–3/4\" (10–15mm) | 3/4\" (15mm) or more |
| 75mm+ | 3/4\"–1\" (15–25mm) | 1\"+ (25mm+) |
These are starting points. Always do a physical wheel bite test after installing risers: lean the board hard to both sides by hand and check the gap between the wheel edge and deck. For carving setups where you lean aggressively, this test should simulate your actual lean angle. Use the Wheel Bite Tool to model clearance before buying parts.
After adding risers, your mounting bolts must be longer to accommodate the added height. See Bolt Length Calculator and Skateboard Hardware Guide for the right sizes. Typical longboard setups need 1.5\"–2\" bolts.
See Riser Height Guide for a full breakdown of riser sizes and effects on ride height.
6. Hardware
Longboards typically need longer hardware than standard skateboards due to thicker decks and riser requirements.
| Setup | Riser height | Bolt length |
|---|---|---|
| Top-mount, 65–70mm wheels | 1/2\" (10mm) | 1-1/4\" (31mm) |
| Top-mount, 70–75mm wheels | 1/2\"–3/4\" | 1-1/2\" (38mm) |
| Drop-through, 65–70mm wheels | 1/2\" | 1-1/2\" (38mm) |
| Drop-through, 70–75mm wheels | 3/4\" | 1-3/4\" (44mm) |
| Drop-through, 75mm+ | 1\"+ | 2\"+ (50mm+) |
7. By riding style
Cruising / commuting
The goal is smooth, comfortable rolling over varied terrain. Stability at low-to-moderate speed, easy foot-braking, and long roll distance between pushes.
- Deck: 38\"–42\" pintail or drop-through, medium flex
- Trucks: RKP, 180mm, 50° baseplate
- Wheels: 65–70mm, 78A–82A, wide square lip
- Risers: 1/2\" (10mm)
Carving
Carving prioritizes responsive, deep turns — surfskate-style movement on a longer platform.
- Deck: 38\"–42\" top-mount pintail or directional, medium-stiff flex
- Trucks: RKP, 50°–55° front / 43°–48° rear split-angle
- Bushings: soft (85A–90A) barrel + cone
- Wheels: 65–72mm, 78A–84A, square lip
- Risers: 1/2\"–3/4\" (10–15mm)
Freeride / slides
Freeride involves initiating controlled slides (heelside and toeside standies, Coleman slides). Wheel choice is critical — round-lipped wheels break traction at a predictable threshold; square-lipped wheels grip until they suddenly let go.
- Deck: 38\"–42\" drop-through or drop-down, stiff flex
- Trucks: RKP, 44°–50° or TKP
- Wheels: 65–72mm, 80A–86A, round lip for predictable slide
- Risers: 1/2\"–3/4\" (10–15mm)
Dancing / freestyle
Dancing uses the deck as a platform for footwork — cross-steps, Peter Pans, manuals on a long board. The deck needs to be long and wide enough for footwork, with enough flex to feel lively but not so flexy it's unstable for pivots.
- Deck: 42\"–48\" symmetrical dancer deck, medium flex
- Trucks: RKP, 180mm, 48°–50°
- Wheels: 60–65mm, 78A–84A
- Risers: 3/8\"–1/2\" (9–10mm)
Downhill / speed
Downhill prioritizes stability, grip, and predictability at high speed. Stiff deck, lower truck angle for stability, grippy wheels.
- Deck: 36\"–42\" drop-down or drop-through, very stiff
- Trucks: TKP or low-angle RKP (40°–44°), wide
- Wheels: 70–76mm, 75A–80A, wide square lip
- Risers: 1/2\"–3/4\" (10–15mm)
8. Complete build specs
| Component | Cruiser beginner | Carving | Freeride | Downhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 40\" pintail, medium flex | 40\" top-mount, med-stiff | 39\" drop-through, stiff | 38\" drop-down, very stiff |
| Trucks | RKP 180mm, 50° | RKP 50° front / 44° rear | RKP 44° or TKP | TKP or RKP 40° |
| Bushings | 87A barrel/cone | 84A barrel + 80A cone | 90A barrel/cone | 95A barrel/cone |
| Wheels | 67mm 80A | 70mm 80A square lip | 68mm 83A round lip | 72mm 78A square lip |
| Bearings | ABEC 7 steel | ABEC 7 steel | ABEC 7 steel | Ceramic or high-grade steel |
| Risers | 1/2\" (10mm) | 1/2\"–3/4\" (10–15mm) | 1/2\" (10mm) | 1/2\" (10mm) |
| Hardware | 1-1/4\" bolts | 1-1/2\" bolts | 1-1/4\" bolts | 1-1/4\" bolts |
Longboard Setup FAQ
What size longboard should a beginner get?
A 38\"–42\" pintail or drop-through deck is the most forgiving starting point. Longer decks are more stable and give more foot room for learning. Avoid very short longboards (under 34\") until you have balance confidence — they're more maneuverable but less stable at low speed.
What's the difference between TKP and RKP trucks for longboards?
RKP (Reverse Kingpin) trucks are standard on most longboards — they carve more responsively at low speeds. TKP (Traditional Kingpin) trucks, like on a standard skateboard, are more stable at high speeds and preferred for downhill. For cruising, carving, and dancing, use RKP. For downhill and speed, TKP or low-angle RKP.
Do longboards need riser pads?
Yes. Longboard wheels (65–75mm+) require riser pads to prevent wheel bite. Most setups need at least 1/2\" (10mm) risers; drop-through decks often need 3/4\" (15mm) or more. Always test clearance by leaning the board hard to both sides before riding.
What wheels should I get for a longboard?
Beginners: 65–70mm at 78A–82A with a wide square lip — smooth, grippy, handles pavement cracks. Freeride: 65–72mm at 80A–86A with a round lip for predictable slides. Downhill: 70–76mm at 75A–80A with a square lip for maximum grip.