I don’t think even the people who make these trucks have thought this much about them

The only man whose reviews I trust

glad someone is finally talking about trucks. i've been skating over 20 years and nobody knows the specifications of their trucks. but trucks are like the soul of your skateboard. trucks are a commitment. you get a new deck every month, sometimes every week, new wheels every few months.. but trucks are there for the long haul and most skaters don't even know if they're hi or low or anything

wow you applied both math and science into a legitimate every day situation it helped

It makes me so happy to see a skateboard informational video that is actually explained well with good reasoning. Generally all of the popular channels who make videos like this are so terrible at trying to explain what they actually mean, and they even say things that are completely wrong or contradict themselves. Well done.

Cool vid , very informative 👍 I've been skating Indy's since 1979 , 159/69s rule☝️ and they ROCK 🤘 plus they have a lifetime warranty . 54 in January and still skating Vert 💥🤘😎👍

Just found you today, I started skating almost 20 years ago. Decided to get back out there after a long hiatus. I have always wanted this explained. And you did that perfectly! Looking forward to checking out more of your vids! Thanks!

Love your channel, best unbiased, in depth reviews. Ive been skating 10+ years and have never even considered most the stuff you talk about, very helpful.

So glad I found this channel, literally so many explanations for things I had no idea mattered but it’s good to know

When I first started skating 15 years ago I was all about indy trucks then switched to venture lows and I loved em. Got out of skateboarding for a couple years then got back into riding and venture lows and indys weren't working for me. So I got some thunder 147s and never wanted to think about other truck companies. Great video i know it's been out for a while but but i appreciate your knowledge and take on the true physics of skatebaording.

The Scotty Kilmer of skateboarding lol awesome

I love how you're filming a review, and in the background is a kid finishing up skate lessons. WIth his parents picking him up.I swear the teacher glanced at you killing it, and thought. Oh shit this dude could take my job.

I like this channel a lot. This dude actually talks about skateboarding

I've just found this vid and ur channel and I love the way u're explaining everything, I'll stay here long for sure!

Wow i just found your channel, watched a few of your videos and you definitely earned a subscriber. Just bought thunders today with bones bushings in them and i love them already.

Watching this video after watching ur latest videos....Jesus u have gotten so much better and smoother in 3 years....it gives hope to me, a 42 year old man who only skated 4 times in the last 12 years!

Happy that I found out your channel, you surely deserves some recognition

That skatestop on the inside corner at UBC cracked me up... I loved the physics lesson. Great review. I will forever view trucks as paired with boards from now on.

After countless hours of reading reviews and watching videos I finally decided to get independents as an upgrade for a wider board. The old trucks I had were made by an european company "Iron" and the moment I stepped on the boars with indies I felt so much more control over my board! I am not sure if it was the correct width for my deck, softer bushings or the height, but something made me feel more comfortable overall. Anyway, thanks for the review!

this is probably one of the most informative and factual skateboard videos i've ever seen. well done.

I’ve been riding Indy’s since 1984 still riding them .. just can’t change now

I have Louie Lopez indi trucks and I love them! I can’t imagine using another type of truck.

it took me a while to realise that you were skating UBC. i used to love skating that park. so fun. Vancouver has rad skateparks.

Really enjoyed the video. Also, the amount of wax you put on that coping was terrifying.

What a great informative video. really solidified you as my favourite skateboarding youtuber. cheers

I have been riding for years and have always thought about these things but never put them into practice...THANKS for this very informative video!!

Thank's man!) I skating 17 year's and only now think about the different space between base and ''begin of concave''(sorry for my English))). Look's like the big space is very good for the nose slide's and tail slide's and I newer pay attention to this moment when I by a new deck.

I'm 89 years of age and working on tre flipping a 12 stair. I think that thunders just feel good under my feet. Might try indys just because I've heard such good things about them. Thanks for the video!

ive been skating for 28 years and ive never taken into consideration the distance between the bolts and the concave! this just blew my mind!! also, in my many years of skating Ive never skated indys. lol. stated with Gullwing, then Krux, tracker, Mercury and now Thunder. Im gonna check out my current setup and make some adjustments to fit my needs. its funny how i remember skating better with certain boards more than others. maybe this is the reason why. thanks for the video!

Incredible video. Your videos are very informative

Any time I have a skate related question it takes me right to your channel thank you Ben!

It’s funny, my buddy hates Indy’s because he said they have soft pop. It’s awesome to see the physics behind his claim. Thanks for making videos that solve the true questions in skateboarding.

Awesome video man, Gave me a lot of insight in getting the right truck and the science. I don't want to be a equipment rider haha but at the same time i know how important all that stuff is to suit your style of riding.

I just bought some Independent trucks for my first skateboard. Thanks for all your videos! I'm bingeing as much information as I can to get started right.

You’re just like me when it comes to what you like about both trucks. I found out that I have to bring my front foot back a little bit for 360 flips on thunders, and they feel soooo good.

Nice video, really in depth talk, never heard this on youtube!

Great videos Ben ! I’m turning 44 soon and haven’t skated in 30 years . I’ve been experimenting also and your videos have really helped me out . Keep up the good work ! 👍👍

There's a shortage of trucks and decks lately, I wanted to get the thunder lights 147, but there's only titanium indys available locally right now... I'm still debating if I should get both to see which set I like the most... I havent owned a skateboard in 15 years, and I just ordered the only steep concave deck i could find, and now you've just made me realized that i might get less or more pop depending on which trucks i run... Thanks, great info! And great channel! Cheers from Ottawa...

Very informative. Excellent job.

I only ride Indy’s and if you want a great board for it with a steep tail and nose, go for a deluxe full board, like antihero, Krooked, or Real

Thunders are my go to trucks. I have been skating them for as long as I can remember. I have tried Indy’s for about a year and there is something about them that doesn’t fit my skating for some reason. I will always like them, but just not for skating. Great video! Keep it up man.

Ben, because of your comparison video I ordered a set of Thunder Light Hi’s, 147’s. It will be the first time switching from Indy’s in about 14 years! Current set ups: Chocolate 8.1, 139’s, STF V3 52’s.(now I know why Ollie’s were crap on this setup lol) Creature 8.3, 149’s, SPF 58’s( big bowl setup) Bronson’s in both( like them). New setup will be: Shop deck 8”(first time, pressed in Montreal, we’ll see) the new Thunders, SPF V3 52’s(favourites) with Bones Super Swiss 6(had them before, awesome). Bones bushings in all. Thanks for making these great vids, really enjoying them!

I'm so gutted I discovered you the day after I finally chose indies and ordered 2 sets, one for 7.75" and one for 8.5" I'm trying to find my perfect set up. and from what you said about thunders I think I'd be very comfortable on them

Just started on a set of thunders after skating venture and indy for a while, and nollie heels, and most flip tricks for that matter, all of a sudden became a piece of cake.

Never new that great example how new there was so much in a skateboard

I think examining your favorite setup for these factors can help you pin-point your preferences. All of these impact your boards pop pretty dramatically: - Tail length (from the end bolts to the tip of the tail) - Tail height in relation to the top of the bolts - Tail shape and angle - Truck axel position forward or backwards in relation to the bolts - Truck axel height - Wheel diameter These are just the most impactful in my opinion. There are other factors as well.

Wow, awesome vid! I'm in my workshop and can't hear really, but your hand gestures taught me all I need to know... Lol, jk...subscribed, gonna watch it later.

11:00 Jon West did a front feeble in Foundations Artbars... But I guess I'll get nothing and like it!

Never considered this. Great lesson man!

Omg i had the wrong combination and I couldn’t skate any more, I was so frustrated, thank you so much

Been skating 12 years, had a good amount of both and they both work great. For whatever reason, if I have the choice, I'll always go thunders......maybe because they tend to be lighter. Anyway, great video

Finally some practical technical talk very helpful thank you

I had Trackers with the plastic baseplate in 85' and they broke. Then I got my first Independents and skated them down to the axle. My third trucks were the very first edition Thunder trucks in 1986. They had these evil skulls cast into the kinda thin baseplate. Cool looking but they broke. My friend Sterling told me Indy and Thunder were interchangeable. I tried it and it worked. I had Independent baseplates with Thunder hangers and they ruled! These trucks were on my street board for probably 2 years. They are super ground down and I still have them. Cool channel by the way!

My 9inch board setup with 149 Thunder hollow lights is lighter than my 8inch set up with 139 Indy hollows. Both setups have 52mm wheels too.Now I realize just how heavy Indy trucks are.

Thanks for the no filler informational skate vid Thanks for explaining the WHY

I never gave the space between bolt and curve of nose a single thought. I only tgought about liking size and shape of truck. I loved thunders in my hey day. Great video!!!

Nice review! I have been riding Indy hollows but just got the new thunder marianos. It will be interesting when I change the setup!!

i just bought myself a pair of thunder 149s after your pinchy video. so hyped to try them out this season

Ben - you are awesome, keep up the good work!!

This channel deserve more recognition

food for though.. I'll be playing with tweaking my set ups later lol thanks

Great video and very interesting. The leverage part is definitely worth considering. My friend and I spotted something important relating to how trucks turn. Look at the base plate from the side and the angle between where the pivot cup sits and the king pin goes through. The relationship of these two surfaces is really important to how the truck turns. He had just bought some re issue Gullwings and they turned really strangely. We noticed that this angle didn't line up, it didn't really make a V shape. I guess there is some basic geometry rules in effect here. It's a shame because they are such cool looking trucks, but he had to go back to his old trucks. I wonder if he could switch out the base plates and keep the Gullwing hangers?🤔 Sounds like an interesting experiment.

noooo one does reviews as good detailed as YOU. GREAT

Started skating again a few weeks ago. I picked up Venture High 5.2's for the first time. I'm enjoying them with a 8.25 og mellow baker.. I was tempted to try thunders but wasn't feeling it in the shop.

I have gone back to skating thunders because I feel like there are more boards that thunders work well on and I enjoy how light they are. Heel flips are so much easier for me with thunder trucks and I don't care what people say about how well indys grind...I always have noticed I can grind faster and further on thunders, it's like the metal is a little softer. The downside to that is that they do get worn down more easily. So you will have to replace your trucks more often if you skate thunders. However, Thunder's motto is "more control" and after riding indys for a year+ and now having switched back to thunder 147 polished trucks, I can confidently say they are going to be my main trucks from here on out. I don't think you really need the hollow thunders or the titanium thunders, that's just kind of getting to be excessively light and unnecessary. I also notice I can tweak my ollie based tricks more more easily so my ollies and 180s tend to be very "snappy" (as in they have a very exaggerated teeter totter motion when you do the trick which I think looks awesome). Also I can launch my pop shuvits super high and with a great amount of power, and my front shoves, which I have always struggled with, feel a little easier with thunders. So for me, I'm going to be skating thunders from here on out. Thunder 147 Polished trucks with 52mm Spitfire Tablet wheels. That's my perfect setup at least for right now. It just works and feels comfortable...More control, as to go along with Thunder's slogan.

Thank you for taking the time to make this!

The only person to explain what to look for in trucks. Love this vid man. Easily earnt a sub and like from me

I switched from thunder to independent and when I took the thunders off there was a huge difference between the two base plates. It was strange

Thank you for your help!!

That park looks sick!

Been really appreciating your vids the last couple weeks, hope you continue for a long time and i wish more skaters had this kind of analytical mind... but i gotta take issue with just one thing (and i hope you've learnt the error of your ways in the time since this video + I'm almost entirely a street guy too, but) have you never rock to fakie'd on coping you didnt know someone just waxed? I've folded my knee doing it, there's strong cause for not waxing coping like, ever - not just to preserve the ideals of bowl skaters. Coping is for both grinding and stalling, ledges and rails are generally for grinding. Hence, danger skyrockets on coping stalls, certainly when you're not expecting it. In fact, PSA to anyone reading this, please dont wax coping. Otherwise, keep it up and by all other data you're a legendary human and thank you and well wishes 😊🙏

Cool video man and you got yourself a new sub! I'm a beginner at 50 but have been experimenting a lot with different decks and trucks. Even though I am new to skating I still know what I like...first I bought a complete from a friend and it was a shop deck with Thunder 149's-8.25-hated the feel of the deck but liked the trucks. Then I got a Baker 8- O.G. Mellow concave and it is too flat! Finally I found some Thunder Titaniums dirt cheap and put them on a Deathwish 8.38 and I love this set up! I did get some Indy's too-147's-changed the bushings and just couldn't get into them-even for the simple shit I am doing! I am practicing my ollies while holding onto these rails for stability and I got the board about 14 inches off the ground the other day! Cheers man!

These concepts will always melt your mind, I've always rode Indys if I even try anything else all my flips tricks are gone. Indy 144 hollows. Nothing else turns the same.

Very good explaining the difference between trucks even i didn't know that

man this explained so much. i just got a quasi board and put my thunders on it and for some reason i just could not get the board to pop like i was used to with my previous board and many boards before that. then after watching this i looked at the space between the bolts and the start of the slope of the tail and noticed that there was hardly any flat before the tail started going up. so i looked at my older boards, which were mostly all shop boards from the same skate shop, and they all had at least a finger with or two of flat before the tail started sloping up. and that’s when i realized that this had to be the problem i was having with my new quasi board, there just wasn’t enough flat space before the tail started. maybe if i had indys it wouldn’t be so bad but like you said with thunders you get a much longer wheelbase. before watching this and seeing everything explained about all the different variables i realized that it was just the way my board was shaped and the position of the drilled holes that was making it so awkward feeling to pop. at one point skating i almost lost my mind wondering why i had so much trouble popping ollie’s and popping flip tricks. it felt like i had to learn them all over again which just made no sense, i was always able to pop my kickflip really good and catch them. so when i wasn’t able to with this new deck, it was driving me crazy! you know the feeling i’m sure. another thing with the quasi board i got is that the flat space from the front bolts to the start of the nose is a good two, probably a two and a half fingers wide! which is a huge difference from the tail, which almost has no flat before the nose starts at all. making the front of the board also feel very awkward. and like you said having almost no flat from the bolts to the tail makes it very hard to stomp that pop down. thanks so much for bringing all this up and explaining it so thoroughly. i honestly never thought about the bolt to nose/tail space before i saw this and it really does matter and makes a difference in how your board feels. back when i first started skating none of this mattered, if i couldn’t pop or flip something it was because i still sucked at skating and just hadn’t perfected it yet. but after so many years, and thousands of kickflip, when your starts not doing what you want it to do, you know for sure somethings off. and knowing those kinds of small differences in feel is only something you learn to notice and understand after years of skating. keep up the good work, i really enjoy your videos and you always kill it with your bag of flat ground regular and switch tricks! you’re so consistent i love watching you go through all your tricks when trying out a new board or new trucks or wheels. keep up the good content and i apologize for the super long comment. i know i’ve just kept rambling on and on but i just wanted to get everything in i wanted to say!! haha sorry!

The drywall guy skates too? So detailed on trucks, never noticed these things and thought the trucks were always mounted in same place. Good to know. Drywall vids helped me before too, thx!

Great job. Thanks for the info.

Lmao my dad says the caddy shack line to me and my siblings. Never thought I’d hear someone else say it. Also thanks for the video! I liked the physics lesson

I once found a skateboard at the park near my house and it was spray painted on the bottom so I couldn't tell what type it was but the trucks were thunder. I miss that board

Not sure if you're aware Ben but if you use Bones bushings in Indys without the lower washer that the truck comes with it changes the geometry of the truck quite a lot. (lower/shorter wheelbase).

This is the first time I've ever watched a "review"/tutorial video where I didn't have to correct the person or ask them about the many factors/features they've missed/didn't mention. Awesome job Ben.

Great informative video 👍👍

Finally a smart guy doing a good trucks review !

Really well done video. Thanks!

I have ridden Indys since 84, I tried other trucks but always came back to Indys. Recently my friend gave me a board with Thunders on it and I rode around on it for a day to see what it was like. I ride loose trucks so turning felt the same but the main thing I noticed was the kingpin on the Thunders seemed to stick out more, I felt I was grinding on it more than the axle hanger, which annoyed me. So I'm going to assume there is a bit of difference geometry-wise between the 2. I think the Thunders were lower as well but it may have been the board, the tail seemed to hit faster when doing pop tricks. But whatever. Both are great trucks and it might just be personal preference at some point. Keep it up with the videos, Ben. They're phenomenal and you provide such a wealth of information.

Hey the best boards for indes for me were the habitat bamboo ply boards.

Super helpful explanation of the leverage involved!! Thanks for that. Curious if you've ever tried the Tensor Maglights? I switched from Indy's to those sometime last year and have been loving them ever since. I'm not quite on par with your grind game (mostly just transition grinds), but you may like how light and snappy they are.

Got yourself a sub! I’m 18 and appreciate this video because I always look out for these small technicalities that can go a long way in someone’s skating. You’re killin it man. Also you should do a video suggesting ideal board setups for certain types of skating, as you hinted at in this one

Nice vids man great work!

I have been riding psynce phyction boards with my indys and it feels perfect I ride 8.25 with high trucks at factory tightness and 55mm spitfire lock ins and that set up works better for me they have a 14.25 wheel base on the board

I really enjoyed this video you understand trucks and didn’t pointed out the best for both trucks I subbed and liked and am probably gonna whatch you other vids

Really good vid. 👍. From what I know indies are based on bowl skating that's why they are bulkier, where as thunders are street trucks and are more modern. 👍👍

Thunders all the way!!!

Been on Indy's for life man, I don't ride hard anymore though at age 45 now I just cruise on my retro's these days...

Glad to see the wrist guard..im trying to get back into skating but cant afford to destroy my hands and wrists like i use to lmao

I stopped riding Indy about 25 years ago. The axle starts slipping after awhile. After it hangs you up a few times you’ll switch. I was talking to a kid a couple weeks ago. I didn’t talk bad about his Indys but started talking about the axle slipping. He said Ya they start slipping after a few months. I told him he should try something better. At this time I am riding Venture low hangers with a Grind King base. I’ve always loved the flipped king pin.

That makes so much sense! Such a great review. thanks.

Very interesting topic

Good video. I've been going back and forth on Indys and Thunders for the last few months, too. I noticed one other difference that you didn't mention in the video; The amount of effective nose/tail space is BIGGER on Thunders because of the hole pattern on their baseplates. In addition to this, because Thunders have the axle "further out", there can often be less wheel clearance when doing nose/tails slides on Thunders (e.g. wheels hit side of ledge, because end of baseplate does not stick out AS FAR as Indys do).

You have the right idea on principal......good video