Degrees of Luge Trucks - What You Need to Know

[Buzzed Trucks]

First off, I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong thread.

Now in order for you guys to understand the basics of a luge board, I'll give you a short rundown.

Here is a skateboard (or luge) truck. It consist of the hanger and baseplate. The hanger is what the wheels are attached to and it rotate on a pivot axis. The pivot axis is determined by the baseplate, the piece that is attached to the board. When you lean on the sides of the board, the bushings (red pieces) compress and allow the hanger to turn. In this picture, the baseplate is 47 degrees.

Now a luge board typically consists of 3 trucks, 2 in the front and one in the rear. The rear truck usually consists of a 35 degree baseplate (can vary due to rider preference) and the two front trucks usually consist of 55 degree baseplates (also can vary due to rider preference). I will distinguish the 3 different trucks with numbers. Truck 1 will be the very front truck, truck 2 will be the 2nd truck, and truck 3 will be the rear truck. The distance between truck 1 and 2 is, let's say, 9cm. The distance between truck 2 and truck 3 is 106cm. Here is a picture of a typical luge board.

Now if you think about it, since all 3 trucks are turning, there is a slight problem by having the 2 front trucks the same degree. I guess you can say it doesn't allow for a "perfect" turn. I want to figure out what degree to make truck 1 to allow for that "perfect" turn. I am guessing it will be a degree slightly larger than 55 degrees. Let me know if there are any variables that you would like to know. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance. Let me know if I left anything out or if you have any questions.

 

[AndyW]

Hello,

Thank you for providing such a detailed explanation of the luge board and the specific issue you are trying to solve. I can understand the importance of finding the optimal degree for truck 1 to allow for the best turn on the luge board.

One important factor to consider is the speed at which the luge board will be traveling. The speed will impact the forces acting on the board and the trucks, and therefore, the degree of truck 1 may need to be adjusted accordingly. Additionally, the weight of the rider and the distribution of weight on the board can also affect the turning ability.

Another variable to consider is the type of surface the luge board will be used on. Different surfaces may require different degrees for truck 1 to achieve the desired turn.

It may also be helpful to conduct experiments to test different degrees for truck 1 and gather data on the turning abilities at different speeds and on different surfaces. This data can then be analyzed to determine the optimal degree for truck 1.

I hope this information helps and I wish you luck in finding the perfect turn for your luge board. Let me know if you have any further questions or if I can assist in any other way.