When I was building my skateboard 5 years ago I chose Indy’s because I was scared of breaking Thunders. 5 years later, I still do not know how to Ollie.

I just got passed my truck madness and here you go posting this and making me want to try Thunder Lights again.I can't go back haha

Seeing Ben theory crafting skate equipment is all I need in life :)

new skater unlocked: handrail ben

The standard axles and lighter everything else would in theory move the center of rotation for flip tricks more around the trucks and not up near the board. Would be interesting to see super slow motion footage of the same trick with both setups to see if the roll center changes.

I have created a type of "FrankenTruck" thanks to Kelly Hart's setup video. Silver (Indy) bushing washers, silver kingpin & axel nuts (again Indy), with White 90a Thunder bushings. Doesn't seem too wild, but Im proud of them!

Really love your no bullshit approach to these videos Ben. Such a breath of fresh air!

PS- 👏💕👍🤙 that bag of handrail tricks!!! 😱😲🤯

The new Royals with Ace Hard Bushings made the pain go away..

I'm actually really happy to see you playing around like this. For the past 6 months my Indy setup has been the forged mid base plates with titanium hangers. Super light, and just a smidge higher that the standard mid height. Not sure how that works, but the titanium hanger compared to the forged mid hanger are slightly different. Either way, it's been my perfect truck setup! Been playing around with quite a few Indy setups and this has been my favorite so far.

Indy lights!!! I wish they would sell forged baseplates separately.

I did an Ace hanger, grind king inverted king pin, Indy base plate, and thunder bushings to make the perfect truck

Right now I’m rocking regular ace hanger with Indy hollow baseplate. Did the switch a few weeks ago not complaints yet.

I love your gear tweaks, they're next level. I went through a major truck madness phase last year. Now I just ride Thunder Lights.

Rebuilding trucks, yet another skate rabbit hole I've purposely avoided. Thanks for the encouragement, Ben

Independent needs a truck model with a Magnesium hanger.

BEN! My favorite truck is the thunder light 149 I've been preaching about these things for a while now. Dope idea with the Indys. The Indy titanium is sort of what you're looking for, except the obvious titanium axle.

Haha, that‘s exactly what I did a few months ago and I love it! I also did the same with an ACE 8.35“ hanger, forged indy baseplate, indy bottom bushing and the standard ACE top bushing, works also just as fine. That’s what I currently ride, because I don’t have any Indy 144s and I don’t like the ACE baseplate and bottom bushing at all so that‘s a nice combo. Next up are Venture 5.6 and 5.8, both v lights (I‘ll try them on a chocolate g052👌🏻)

I’m currently riding Frankenstein Indys that are forged hollow inverted kingpin base plates with titanium hangers. Super light, low, and the IKP makes smith grinds less scary to me. It’s my favorite truck I’ve ever ridden (unfortunately).

As a fellow 90s skater, I recently got some Indy Forged baseplate Hollows (kingpin & axle) to reminisce of the lightness of my old 7.62"s with Venture lows, but now on an 8.75" with Indy 159s. With the heavy board the added lightness of the trucks evens it back out keeping indy geometry for the bowls 🤙

Noseslides on the downrail were tight 👌👌

This is crazy, because that is the setup I’m using on my Andy Anderson. Forged Hollow baseplate with 169 standard hangers.

Oger- "Nnneeeerrddddssss!" The more broker and disparate we get then we figure what does and doesn't work. Thanks for the confirmation!

I found for me the best truck: just thunder lights 148 with indy bushings... makes them more responsive in turning so they are loose but they dont wheelbite instantly if you land a bit offcenter...

I ride a MID Indy hanger Hollow with the forged Baseplate. Buying always two pair of trucks and selling the regular Hollow hanger with the IKP baseplate for around 30 Bugs in total :-)

You can buy individual forge base plates, and hangers to make this truck less expensive

I have been _riding_ Indy Standard 149's. Keep it simple!

Ben, you're flatground is looking so damn good. Dare I say pro quality flip tricks?!? Yes, I dare say it

I've always gone the opposite and gone with a cast baseplate with the lightest hangers I could find. I've convinced myself the cast baseplates slide better because their softer.

Hi Ben I have tried this, I'm a truck nerd that has tried everything and I totally agree with this video. There both nice and have there purpose, I continue to go back to standards because of there solid feel. After many hours of skateboard madness I'm realizing standards are beneficial to leg and ankle strength and at 40 yrs old it's help keeping my legs strong to continue skating, and just feels good having that weight to maximize board feel.

lol zero sponsor me tape 😆. You're awesome Ben! Thanks for all the tips & tricks you've shared all these years.

Been going thru skateboard madness disease for what seems like years now to find the perfect Frankenstein truck combo. Here’s what I’m rocking now and It feels absolutely amazing: thunder 151 team hollow hanger on new gen stage IV baseplate, kept the red stage IV bottom bushing and put a red top bushing from a tracker dart. Sounds crazy I know but if you can find a legit thunderpendent combo I recommend trying it out. Not a fan of mixing two different brands of trucks but it feels so good

Love the experiments, mate! Can´t seem to get enough of your truck info vids... To the point that i rewatched the GH Truck Tier List collab :D Keep it up,please, it´s highly appreciated - though it kinda sends me down a rabbithole in order to find my perfect combo. :D

Bro just took diy to a whole notha level out here welding trucks 😂

The perfect indy is one with an ace baseplate, ace bushings, and ace hanger

Ive had 2 set ups. One with thunder lights and the other indy forged titaniums. I stacked a few boards to test their pops and i found that the titaniums were SO light that my board seems to "flutter" under my feet. The thunder lights had more weight to them and the pop felt like it had meat. the board wasnt flapping under my soles. But the thunders were too stiff even on its loosest setting for me but still tolerable. The titaniums are just TOO light. Also they are high trucks so my pinches and locks feel extremely aggressive and forceful. I think the best option for me personally as i am 165 pounds 6' tall with a size 11 shoe, is gonna be the indi mid hollows. Somewhere in the middle weight wise. Not absurdly high for smoother pinches and locks. And of course the turning is top tier and not stiff. And the board should have enough heftiness. Remember if it "flutters" under your feet its TOO light. Thats my advice. -T

My theory on solid axle is it makes the board want to land wheels down like jam on bread. Hollow axle = less jam 🤔

Ace AF-1 Lows have a hollow kingpin, solid axle, and a shaved down cast baseplate. Kinda apples/oranges but maybe worth a try

I'm going to try an Indy mid hanger on a cast baseplate with a normal, hollow kingpin. The clearance won't be so great but I'm not too worried about it. I really like the idea of a 52mm Indy that isn't too light.

Ben out here doing God's work 🤣 I'm a Thunder light guy, can't go for the hollow axel but like the balance and slight weight advantage of the hollow kingpin and forged plate.

Love the Spitfire shirt! 🔥

This is the exact crazy that I love about your channel hahaha

You know what? It woulda been so fitting if you were wearing the black Zero shirt with the white skull... I wonder if anyone gets this movie reference lol

One day your on venture lows, the next videos your mixing up parts from different Indy's. You got the madness you don't even realize it. You need an intervention and rehab where you pick one truck brand and stick with it for a long period of time

I ride stage VII (7) 156mm hangers on Ace Classic baseplates. The geometry works perfectly, but you can also use stage 11 hangers if you want. Gorilla brand epoxy to hold the nut in the baseplate, and inverted Kreper kingpins. I just like the way Indy grinds vs. Ace's so that's why i do the frankentruck thing. Plus, Ace doesn't make an 8.75" Classic truck. They have it in the AF1 offering, but i didn't care for them.

ive been riding the venture mids with the orange doh doh bushings seems to be the perfect feeling once broken in , 8.25 trucks on a 8.0 board but im gonna go back to 8.25 deck after skating 8 for almost a year again

Ben should definitely play Hanks in Castaway 2. Same island, same smarts and determination to stay alive, except Ben has a bunch of skate gear at his disposal to use as tools of survival.

Back in 2017/18, when Indy moved factories and materials, I stocked up on the red and blue painted GT hollow standards (nobody seemed to want painted trucks) - made in USA version, because I love the grind of the shitty US steel on unwaxed curbs and ledges. All the other trucks I've tried using the higher grade Chinese steel need a ton of wax to grind anything or they stick, which sucks if you're just street skating new spots and are from the old school and just like to grind shit and move on without any fuss

I'm currently riding indy hollows with a forged baseplate on the front truck and a cast/regular plate on my back truck and i really enjoy it :D i had to change one baseplate because it was worn down to the pivot cup from sliding but the skateshop only had a cast one as a spare part and i took it. Now my back truck is higher than my front truck, but i honestly cant spot any big difference, it feels absolutely fine.

I’ve been skating thunder standards on every size 8 board. However, when I tried a girl board, I noticed it was a little longer and a little heavier than other 8 inch boards I’ve tried. I couldn’t skate the girl board as well as I would like on a thunder standard. Tried thunder hollow lights and they were good, but too light. After watching this video, I’ve took the standard axle and put them with the forged baseplate/kingpin making a thunder light. I think I’ve found my go to truck and board combo: thunder 147 lights with an 8 inch girl board (G008 shape). It’s perfect for flat ground and gives so much pop. Because the girl wood feels sturdy, I can skate stairs well, even on a lighter truck. The manuals are awesome too.

I like all the cool experiments you do with skateboard equipment.

Sick concept, great video as always Papa Ben! ...Stage 4 video??? C'mon man, one last truck review!!!!

I used the same baseplates on my Indy's for almost 10 years because I swapped old school GrindKing Kingpins into a Stage 8 149. I just bought new trucks and put the hangers on those plates and bushings. I kept my hardware tight because loose hardware is what ruins baseplates more than anything else. Just reuse the bases until you wear them out.

This video just inflicted me with the madness

I recently just did the same thing, I love how the titanium Indy’s feel but I’ve broken about 3 pairs of them so I took the regular hanger from a Indy standard and used the forged baseplate and it’s the best truck combo ever

I've put and Ace 66 classic hangers on a indy standard baseplates. Really wanted a 9.5/9.3 indy for while, but with indy not making a 9.5 truck had to try it. Works really well. No mods needed, the indy bushings fit perfectly and it behaves just like a stage 4 indy truck.

it's not a true forge, but forging could also refer to forging the piece of stock and then milling it (billet).

the perfect indy is an ace

Ben turning into a rail chomper? 😮

I like my independent hollow trucks with wide wheels. I bought the new nano cubics and I like how stable the my setup feels. Also I wanted a bit wider truck, so the wheels worked great 🤘

The Flatground game is next level, and that handrail session at the second park was crazy. Zero boards are on the way. Haha.

I put the indy mid hanger and a standard indy baseplate together, it feels super good

Currently running this with 49 and 59. Forged plate standard 49 hanger. Standard plate forged hanger on the 59. Perfect balance for both of my set ups.

Great to hear Indy knows what they’re doing. 😂😅

Ive done thunder truck mixed with orange indy bushing (the conical shaped 90a) it makes my skating better. The turns were good. The bushing feels more solid than the regular white (90a) thunder bushings.

Damn, you killed it on those handrails man!

Im on the lizzie armanto indy hollows and they are my favorite trucks so far. Still haven’t tried thunders but i plan to get them when i need new trucks

Funny you should post this, I actually created the same truck over the the weekend as I needed an 8.75 set up and found some old Indy 159 hangars at work. They sounded a lot more solid and less tinny and I don’t know if it was just a placebo affect but my pop felt fantastic (used Bones Hardcores)

I’m riding a 8.6 creature with Stage 4 166 independent’s & tbh they’re amazing! Lighter than the classics, great feeling on transition and street & with such a wide board I can skate impact great

Can you please make a video about the new improved concave that control made? 🔥

Currently i just ride Aces stock for the most part. On my big bowl setup ive changed top (small) bushings to hard, while keeping bottom ones stock, this increased stability at high speeds and kept most of the turn.

I've tried this and I enjoyed it! Have also tried: - Hollow axle / standard baseplate (Hollow Standard as it's now sold as) - Standard axle / forged hollow baseplate

At one point a year or two ago Indy offered a forged baseplate with hollow kingpin replacement. Yes it’s an extra purchase but at least you don’t need to get the hanger too

Also: a heavier axel actually helps a flip stabilize to the downward position. Buttered bread theorem in effect.

Ben, look up the specs on the Winkowski Indy truck. 55mm height like the standards but you get everything hollowed out vs the forged hollow 53.5mm height.

I've tried this combo. I remember liking it but I only did it because I had 149 standards and 144 forged hollows. wanted to skate the 149 but felt they felt really heavy after an ankle injury so I put the forged hollow baseplates on to lighten them up.

u are shredding ! greetz from germany

Started doing this last year and it’s perfect

I’ve been doing this for years! Forged baseplate lasts for years so I just put on new hangers

Sometimes too light is just too light !.I find to have less control if there’s not that happy medium. I tried tensor mag lights and it was too much for me. There’s definitely a lot of variables, if your very tech it may be better to have light trucks . but I’m old now so I like to know where the board is with alittle extra weight . Awesome vid Ben !!🤟keep it up

Indy Titanium are still my favorite.

could you do more bro vs dad segments? I think you should do an overview of vancouver skate spots and parks with a ranking or review of them, that'd be a fun video to hear you ramble on about haha

My Indy forged titanium’s are still pretty solid so far just the top bushings starting to give out.

Great minds think alike. Regular indys 159 with forged baseplates and a modified hollow thunder kingpin inverted. Next to be tinkered with are my 151 stage IV 😊

Switched from my thunder hollows back to regular old Indy 149s today and I must say… nothing can compare to the indy. using the clear blue stock thunder bushings and it feels amazing.

i've been riding tensor mags BUT with the indy inverted kingpin baseplate since those are heavier. i also weighed it down riding big ol conical fulls

I’ve tried this combo and personally it just felt off. Even if I could skate normally it was messing with my head. Everytime I try to veer off from Indy standards I always end up right back on them. If I have a bad session I usually blame my setup and the trucks are the first thing to go. This is a pretty nasty habit and something I’ve been trying to break. All in all I think the standards are the gold standard for a reason. They last forever and if you can put up with the weight they will take good care of you!

I ride the standard 139's 👍🏻. They do a pretty good Job actually 😁👍🏻

Reminds of Bucky Laseks Carbon fiber Baseplate some months ago..super light but not advisable on street i think

I love the titanium axles with the hollow baseplate, but not the forged ones, with 52-54mm spitfires and 8.25-8.3 deck

I do that with the mid’s for long time and i really recommend. I feel even the turning is better with the raw hanger. And no i dont agree. The Hollow axle feels to light (specially at Indys because of the light Pop)

I know this is about Indys but since Lurpiv are about to be back I’d love to have you try them. We know you’ve liked Ace. I couldn’t skate Lurpiv with the stock bushings - too loose and turny. But with harder bushings, really nice!

I prefer ACE trucks but I do still have one set of Titanium 149s that I really like. One thing I have to do is put in the Krux inverted kingpins on all my trucks.

What you gotta do is throw the titanium hanger on a reverse kingpin with riptide pivots, a krux kingpin, and some low aftermarket hard bushings. The bushings compensate for the lower kingpin and looser feeling.

I ride indy mid hollow with the venture bushings, those with the top bushing shorter, so, I got a better grind clearence, After this, I will try the the indy mid forged hollow, again with the venture bushings for a better grind clearence. Those with the 52 mm wheels works good.

I didn't like the forged baseplate without a riser to make up the height difference. It changes the pivot point and the nose feels heavy.

Ben have you ever tried the Titanium Indy hangers on the OG baseplate? I've had a set like that lying around for awhile but waiting til my Aces hit axle before trying them out

The best combi is for me the standart baseplate with the titanium hangar. I need the 55mm height.

For some reason every pair of hallow axel trucks I get (both Indy and Thunder) something happens with the threads and after 6 moths or so and the nut wont tighten with a tool you can always spin it with your hand. And I end up making sure it is tight after every trick so my wheel doesn't fall off.

Yo have you ever tried the Thunder Titanium trucks? They are just like that but they are still super light with a solid axle! Great video we got the mad scientist mixing truck parts 😅