Product Guide: Independent Truck Co

Product Guide: Independent Truck Co

Buying trucks for a skateboard can be a bit of a minefield. With truck sizes differing from brand to brand, and more materials, kingpin and baseplate variations available now than ever before, we're putting together a buying guide for each truck brand to try and shed some light on the range of alternatives available. While this is by no means meant as an exhaustive list, and an individual’s choice of truck ultimately comes down to personal preference, we hope this can help to alleviate some of the stress and confusion surrounding buying a set of trucks.

First things first, we’re starting with a skateboard truck brand with one of the deepest heritages in the skateboarding industry, Independent Truck Co. Founded in 1978, Independent are often regarded as the benchmark for quality and consistency when it comes to trucks, and their team boasts some of the biggest professional skateboarders in the industry including Tiago Lemos, Grant Taylor, Louie Lopez, Andrew Reynolds and John Cardiel.

See below where we break down Independent’s truck sizing and some of the different options available. N.B. All sizes and weights are provided from a raw, polished truck, and are approximate. 159, 169 and 215 models feature a 6-hole universal baseplate with the old and new school mounting pattern.

	Independent Size Guide
Independent Truck Size	Axle Width (inches)	Deck Size Range (inches)
109	6.90	6.25 - 7.6
129	7.60	7.4 - 7.8
139	8.00	7.8 - 8.2
144	8.25	8.2 - 8.375
149	8.50	8.375 - 8.6
159	8.75	8.6 - 9
169	9.125	9 - 9.5
215	10.00	9.5 - 10.5

 

Independent have a range of trucks to choose from, which we have broken down as follows:

Independent Truck Co Mid

Mid-profile truck featuring an inverted kingpin and a lower profile hanger, coming in at 52mm tall, for technical street skating, and Independent recommend using a wheel size of 53mm and under for optimal turning performance. 

Weight (per truck):

Size 129 - 383 grams / Size 139 - 392 grams / Size 144 - 402 grams / Size 149 - 409 grams / Size 159 - 412 grams

Independent Truck Co Stage XI

Independent’s all-round, utilitarian truck designed to suit any type of skateboarding. With a higher profile hanger compared to the mid, coming in at 55mm tall, this truck is ideal for use with a wheel size of 56mm and under to avoid wheel-bite, and provided Indy’s famous turning control. The standard Independent Stage XI is NOTE's most popular and best-selling truck, being the cheapest option, and coming in the widest-range of sizes. 144's are the most popular size, correlating to an 8.25" deck.

Weight (per truck):

Size 129 - 367 grams / Size 139 - 376 grams / Size 144 - 387 grams / Size 149 - 394 grams / Size 159 - 402 grams / Size 169 - 411 grams

Independent Truck Co Stage XI Hollow

Independent note that this truck comes in at 7% lighter compared to the standard Stage XI outlined above, due to its hollow axle and kingpin, and is designed to create a lightweight truck without compromising any of the durability and control of its standard counterpart. This truck also measures 55mm tall.

Weight (per truck):

Size 139 - 351 grams / Size 144 - 363 grams / Size 149 - 369 grams / Size 159 - 472 grams / Size 169 - 380 grams

Independent Truck Co Forged Hollow

An even lighter weight, mid-profile truck, thanks to the forged baseplate, hollow axle and hollow kingpin. These trucks measure in at 53.55mm tall for use with wheels sized 54mm and under for optimal turning performance. Weighing 10% less compared to the standard Stage XI, this truck offers maximum performance with minimal weight.

Weight (per truck):

Size 129 - 331 grams / Size 139 - 338 grams / Size 144 - 348 grams / Size 149 - 358 grams / Size 159 - 362 grams / Size 169 - 379 grams

Independent Truck Co Forged Titanium

Weighing 15% less compared to the standard Stage XI, Independent’s Forged Titanium trucks are an ultra-lightweight mid profile truck providing minimum weight without compromising any strength or control that people expect from Independent. The trucks measure at 53.55mm tall. Featuring a titanium axle, these are Independent's most expensive offering, however, they are the lightest truck Independent offer due to the combination of titanium and the forged aluminium baseplate.

Weight (per truck):

Size 129 - 312 grams / Size 139 -  323 grams / Size 144 - 335 grams / Size 149 - 340 grams / Size 159 - 345 grams / Size 169 - 357 grams

Independent Truck Co Forged Hollow Mid

The newest offering from Independent, the Forged Hollow Mid, is designed to provide a lower profile hanger and inverted kingpin for optimum street skating performance. With a forged aluminium baseplate meaning the trucks measure in at 50.5mm tall, these trucks are ideal for use with wheels sized 52mm and under, with the hollow axle providing a lightweight, high performing truck.

Weight (per truck):

Size 129 - 352 grams / Size 139 - 360 grams / Size 149 - 376 grams / Size 159 - 379 grams

Bushings:

Depending on whether you like your trucks tight or loose, you can change the bushings on a set of Independent trucks. The range of Independent bushings starts with Super Soft (76a). The number equates to the hardness of the bushings, with the higher the number, the harder the bushings.  For those who like really loose trucks, we recommend softer bushings. Generally speaking, the harder the bushings (and therefore tighter the trucks), the less they will turn, which can help stability, but much like anything with skateboarding, it is entirely down to personal preference. Some people note that softer bushings ‘break in’ more quickly.

The range of of bushings starts with Super Soft (76a), Soft (88a), Medium (90a), Medium Hard (92a), Hard (94a), and Super Hard (96a).

Independent bushings also come in two different shapes, cylinder and conical, and it is personal preference as to which you would prefer.

Risers:

As noted above, Independent recommend riding wheels of a particular size according to how high the trucks are, that being said, by adding a set of independent risers to trucks, you can increase the size of wheel that you may be able to use without getting excessive wheelbite (where your wheel catches the underside of the board).

Professional Trucks:

Whilst this guide covers the fundamental bases of the trucks that Independent have on offer, they also produce a wide variety of variations under the above headings, for example, an Andrew Reynolds Hollow MiD, and have collaborated with companies like Supreme, Fucking Awesome, and Vans, and routinely produce professional model trucks for skaters, with those bestowed such an honour including Anthony Van Engelen, Milton Martinez, Mason Silva and Tom Knox. For an example of someone proving that these trucks really are "Built to Grind", see Tom Knox applying his immaculate technique and trademark quick feet to a range of iconic Berlin skate spots below. "They last for ages... they grind well, trustworthy, sturdy, what more could you ask for?" Not our words, the words of Mr Knox himself.