Believe it or not, buying an electric mountain board kit and building your own off-road longboard is much cheaper and more fulfilling than buying an already assembled one.
Even though some people are just not naturally good at DIY, these kits are so easy to use that even the most inexperienced boarders won’t have too hard a time following the instructions.
There’s something about building your own longboard or off-road electric skateboard. Not only do you get the satisfaction that often comes with accomplishing something, but you also get to customize your board as you wish. Think about it this way: you could combine a wide array of specs to create your ultimate longboard.
- Do you want massive tires and a bigger battery pack? You got it.
- How about a more flexible and longer deck? Why not?
- What about the trucks? Do you want them made out of titanium? Sure thing!
All this is possible when you decide to use an electric mountain board kit to build your own longboard.
Is it Cheaper to Use an Electric Mountain Board Kit?
Is it always cheaper to use an electric longboard kit than to buy a new one? More often than not, yes, it is, but not always. The overall price depends on the components and customization parameters you place on your longboard. However, it is much cheaper if you stick with standard skateboard conversion kits that supply the essentials.
What are Electric Mountain Board Kits?
An electric mountain board or skateboard DIY kit is a package that comes with the components you need to build your own electric mountain board through the DIY method. A good example is this Dual Motor Set or this Mountain Skateboard Conversion Kit, both of which can easily be bought online or in your next-door pro shop.
The idea is to use these components on an existing board to create your own assembled mountain board that is in keeping with your specifications.
One of the biggest reasons these kits are so popular is that every skateboarder or mountain board enthusiast is different and has personal needs. What is excellent for one rider might not be the best fit for another. With a conversion kit, you can now make your own mountain board to fit your personal needs. Furthermore, this is a DIY project that is not only fulfilling but, quite essentially, never finished. You can essentially upgrade your board as your needs change.
- Needless to say, you will need tools to carry out this Do-It-Yourself project.
- A screwdriver
- A Y tool or a skate-style T tool
Thankfully, some kits come with the necessary tools to complete the job, so you don’t have to worry about buying those as well. They’ll also come in with the inevitable maintenance steps.
What’s in an Electric Mountain Board Kit?
Note that even though every mountain board conversion kit is different, some components tend to be standard in most of them. What you get in the DIY kit depends on which one you buy. For example, some kits are fully modular. Some come with things like wheel adapters and the tools you need to complete the job, while others won’t include these tools.
That said, the electric longboard kit you buy will have everything you need for its purpose except the deck. Here is a typical list of what you might expect to find in your mountain board conversion kit:
- A battery
- A charger
- The charging cable
- Wireless Remote control
- Front truck
- Deck screws
The best part is that you don’t have to buy a specific kit if it doesn’t come with everything you need. You can easily assemble your own kit by buying the different components separately, provided they are all compatible with one another. However, this takes a lot of time and effort. That’s why most enthusiasts prefer to buy the kit as is since it comes with all the necessary components.
Important Components in Every Electric Mountain Board Conversion Kit
The success of this kind of DIY project often depends on the parts you get. While every kit is different and depends on what you want, there are some components that you must pay close attention to if you are to succeed. These include:
The Battery
Electric mountain boards are battery-operated, which makes this one of the most (if not THE most) important components in any conversion kit, highlighted by the fact that the type of battery included in your kit directly determines the price of the kit. Not only that, but it also determines just how far your mountain board can ride without needing a recharge when it’s finished. Larger capacity batteries provide a better purchase.
Typically, you’ll find kits with 5–10-mile range batteries included. However, you can easily order a kit that has a battery that offers an extended range. But as mentioned, that will cost more. Another alternative is to order the battery as a stand-alone component. As a rule of thumb, make it a habit to read up on the type of battery included in the kit before you buy. All the best components in the world are reduced to rubble if the battery isn’t up to standard.
Wheels
As mentioned, most kits come with everything you need except the deck, so you get wheels as well. This is where many issues come into play because the kind of wheels you choose determines where and how you can ride.
How to Choose the Best Electric Mountain Board Conversion Kit?
Since the market is flooded with these conversion kits due to their popularity, it’s conceivable that you might end up buying something substandard but very well marketed. Here are some factors you need to keep in mind when choosing the best electric mountain board conversion kit for you:
- Quality of components: Start by looking at the most reputable brands with good reviews online and a long history of professionalism in the industry. Professionalism is quite important if you need to return a part or need help using it. The best brands have excellent customer support departments and even better warranties.
- Ease of assembly: These are not complicated machine parts. That is not to say that there aren’t brands that make their components unnecessarily difficult to install. Find a brand that has clear instructional videos and manuals.
- Electric Speed Controller: Every electric mountain board or electric skateboard needs an electric speed controller that is well built and reliable. Without this, you cannot effectively balance the battery size and the motor power to get an efficient output.
Building your own electric mountain board can be a lot of fun, provided you get the right electric mountain board kit. These kits are easy to find online, and the best part is that you can buy each component separately if you can’t find a complete kit that meets your expectations.
See also: our guide to DIY mountain board projects with 3D printers