Simracing Rigs – Product Overview and Recommendations

Simracing comes in many forms. It ranges from arcade racers like Trackmania to hardcore simulations like Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing. Similarly, the range of suitable equipment extends from simple controllers to high-end direct drive wheel bases. However, all simracers have one thing in common: The hardware must be positioned in such a way that it can be comfortably operated.

Desk setups, wheel stands, aluminium rigs and more.

The solutions currently on the market can be divided into various categories, some of which overlap or flow into each other. Below is a breakdown that will most likely be expanded in the future.

• Desk setup: Most sim racers start out simply by mounting their first wheelbase directly to an existing desk. With the mounting solutions provided with cheap wheelbases, this can usually be done quickly and easily. However, larger problems are often caused by the pedals, which, without a secure support, and in combination with a rolling office chair, can often be challenging. DIY solutions (often involving lots of tape and alternative feet for the office chair) are often the first choice here, until one decides to upgrade.
• Wheel stand: Wheel stands are probably the cheapest way to quickly mount the wheel base and pedals and also very quickly set up and take down. However, even when they are used in a living room environment in combination with a TV, the question of a suitable seat often remains a problem. At the same time, the Wheel Stands, which are usually available in the price range of €100 to €200*, often have a relatively low stability. Generally speaking, you won’t be happy with a Wheel Stand in the long term, especially if you want to upgrade to a Direct Drive Wheelbase at a later date. If space and budget allow, upgrading from a desk to a higher-quality rig is often a much better option.
• Entry-level rig/all-in-one rig: The next level is the all-in-one rig. These offer the greatest variety of designs within the classes presented: from folding solutions starting at €250 to Direct Drive compatible rigs such as the Playseat Trophy that we tested. Almost all rigs come with a seat and can be assembled in a few minutes to a few hours. However, you usually have to sacrifice flexibility and are very limited in terms of adapting the seat position and making later additions.
• Aluminium rigs: Aluminium rigs are currently the most popular rig category by far. They combine high stability with almost unlimited flexibility and compactness, and look good too, depending on the design. Rigs are usually made of aluminium profiles of different sizes. Starting with profiles measuring 80×40, they are available in all conceivable sizes up to massive versions with 160 aluminium profiles. In most cases, rigs with 80 mm profiles are sufficient to mount Direct Drive systems without any problems, while high-end models sometimes have rigs with a considerable total weight without significant flex. Further differences can be found in the solutions for pedal mounts and wheel bases, as well as in the available accessories, which can often be combined with those of other manufacturers. Seats must usually be purchased separately and are rarely included in the rig.
  • DIY rigs: DIY aluminium rigs were the first choice for a long time when it came to building aluminium rigs. Retailers of aluminium profiles such as Motedis have offered the S-Dream-Rig, designed by Michael Herrmann, for a long time. This rig has had a significant influence on the designs of the various manufacturers’ rigs available today. Based on this, you can find a variety of rigs and their component lists online today. Although you can often save money by buying parts individually rather than as a complete kit, accessories such as covers and angles can be expensive and reduce the price advantage to a minimum. A DIY rig is still a great project, but should only be undertaken if you want to achieve a particular, unique design or simply enjoy the project itself.
• Custom Rig: In addition to the categories presented here, there is of course a wide range of special solutions: There are Rigs for children, complete vehicle replicas and Rigs with actuators (motion rigs), which come in almost every conceivable form and colour. Prices rarely start under €5,000 and can go up to the value of a sports car.

Aluminium Sim Rigs compared

The following list provides an overview of many of the most common aluminium Sim Rigs currently available within the EU:

Rigs Comparison

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Compare		Brand	Model	Length (mm)	Width (mm)	Base	Pedals	Profiles	Colour	Price
			GT Cockpit ClubSport	1316	736	Side	Profiles	80mm	Silver	449 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			F-GT Elite 160	–	–	Front, Side	Profiles	160mm / 120mm	Black	1.299 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			GTElite	–	–	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	80mm	Black	699 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			GTElite Lite	–	–	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	80mm	Black	599 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			PSR1	1315	660	Fron, Bottom	Profiles	160mm / 120mm	Black	729 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			PSR3	1350	570	Bottom	Profiles	80mm	Black	449 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			GT1 Evo	1350	580	Bottom	Plate	80mm	Black	373 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc5	⇄
			GT1 Pro	1350	580	Bottom	Plate	80mm	Black	638 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc5	⇄
			P1X Pro	1350	580	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	160mm / 120mm	Black	864 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc5	⇄
			P1X Ultimate	1350	580	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	160mm / 120mm	Black	982 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc5	⇄
			K1	1450	685	Bottom	Profiles	80mm	Black	707 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			580	1250	580	Bottom	Plate, Profiles	80mm	Black, Silver	460 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			X80 GT	1250	660	Bottom	Plate, Profiles	80mm	Black, Silver	480 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			XT120 GT	1350	660	Front, Bottom	Profiles	120mm	Black	790 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			XT120 GT	1350	660	Front, Bottom	Profiles	120mm	Black	790 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			XT160 GT	1350	660	Front, Bottom	Profiles	160mm / 120mm	Black	899 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			SRR1000	1400	580	Front, Bottom, Side	Plate	90mm / 45mm	Black, Colour	799 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc	⇄
			SRR2000	1400	580	Front, Bottom, Side	Plate	90mm / 45mm	Black, Colour	899 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc	⇄
			SRR4000	1400	580	Front, Bottom, Side	Plate	90mm / 45mm	Black, Colour	1.149 €VIEW SHOP*COPY simracingpc	⇄
			Series One	1400	660	Front, Bottom	Pforiles	160mm / 80mm	Black	701 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			TR120S V2	1455	660	Front, Side, Bottom	Plate, Profiles	120mm	Black	599 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			TR160 V5	1455	560	Front, Side, Bottom	Plate, Profiles	160mm	Black	699 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			TR40S	1455	660	Bottom	Profiles	40mm / 80mm	Black	299 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			TR80S	1455	660	Bottom	Profiles	80mm	Black	449 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			Ace	1175	660	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	160mm / 120mm	Black	638 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			CXX	1175	660	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	120mm	Black	540 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			One	1175	580	Front, Bottom, Side	Profiles	80mm	Black	418 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄
			Rookie	1175	580	Bottom	Profiles	80mm	Black	324 €VIEW SHOP*	⇄

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Buying recommendations

The purchase recommendations are divided into different price ranges and always refer to a rig system that includes a seat (except for wheel stands). Monitor mounts are not included in any of these recommendations. Rigs without a seat are subject to a flat-rate surcharge of €300, which roughly corresponds to the cost of an affordable standard seat, including mounting hardware.

These recommendations are intended as a guide and may not always meet individual needs. This is especially true if you have specific requirements for a sim rig.

<250€

Recommendations up to €250 should be taken with a grain of salt. A solution like the FS3 STEERING WHEEL STAND from Trak Racer is undoubtedly an improvement over a wobbly desk, especially thanks to the aluminum profiles used. However, the design imposes certain limitations, and you’ll usually have to use it in combination with an office chair.

The situation is similar with the Next Level Racing GT Lite racing cockpit, which is available for around €250. Especially when paired with, for example, a G29/G920/T300 Wheelbase and basic pedals, you can definitely have a lot of fun with this setup. However, if you’re tall and, above all, heavy, you should probably opt for more expensive solutions just to be safe.

~500€

In the next higher price range, you’re straddling the categories a bit, and your budget isn’t quite enough for aluminum rigs with full-featured seats. One of the best alternatives right now is probably the PlaySeat Trophy, which performed very well in our test (link). Even when paired with a direct-drive wheelbase, it combines stability and seating comfort for around €500. This extremely lightweight rig is currently probably the best solution for a living room and can be stowed away in just a few simple steps.

Other all-in-one rigs, such as the Next Level Racing F-GT, are likely the most common alternatives in this price range, but they do not receive a clear recommendation to buy here.

5% Sim-Lab Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc5

~750€

Once prices reach around €750, the fun really begins, and you’re spoiled for choice. Countless manufacturers now offer aluminum rigs priced under €500, which, when paired with a seat of your choice, make for an excellent overall package. The differences here usually lie in the finer details or what’s included in the package. Even though a total of at least €700 isn’t exactly chump change, the bottom line is that you’re likely getting the best value for your money here. If you want to save even more, you can, for example, use discarded car seats. Listed below are three popular manufacturers of sim rigs in the price range of under and around €500. You’ll find a wider selection below the recommendations.

5% Sim-Lab Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc5

~1000€

In the €1,000 range (or a bit more or less, depending on the features), you can enjoy rigs with solid profiles up to 160 mm x 40 mm in size. This makes them not only extremely heavy but also virtually free of flex. Accessories such as feet, trim strips, and more complex mounts are often included in the package. Which rig you choose in this price range is often primarily a matter of design and features. Popular examples include the TR160 rig from Trak Racer and the P1-X rig from Sim Lab.

5% Sim-Lab Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc5

Seats

Since aluminum rigs are usually shipped without a seat, you’ll naturally need a seat to complete the cockpit. There are several options available:

• Sim racing seats: Many manufacturers now offer seats designed to fit their rigs. These are mostly replicas without safety certifications, which—for the purpose of sim racing—are, of course, not necessary. In terms of quality, there’s a very wide range available, starting at €100 and extending to models with integrated cooling (O-Rouge Cold Fusion Series) starting at €750. We recommend, for example, GT seats starting at €300 from Sim-Lab, Trak Racer, and other manufacturers, which look very similar. In addition to standard racing seats, there are also a few Formula-style seats available, though these should only be used with rigs designed for that purpose.
• Car seats: Standard car seats are also a viable alternative. These are generally a bit more comfortable and often come with built-in adjustment features. The drawbacks are the often inconsistent mounting systems (which frequently require some DIY work) and the high prices. We therefore definitely recommend visiting your local junkyards, which often sell very well-preserved passenger seats for very little money.
• Sports Seats / Bucket Seats: Also very popular are seats designed for use in race cars and sports cars by brands such as Sparco, Momo, and others. In the price range between €200 and €1,000 (with a few outliers that are significantly more expensive), you can find very high-quality seats here, which are typically mounted on the sides. With bucket seats in particular, it’s especially important to pay close attention to finding the right size and, if possible, to definitely test drive the seats.

Seat Moutning

Of course, the seats also need to be attached to the rig. In many cases, this requires side mounting brackets, which can either be ordered directly from the store or must be purchased separately. It’s definitely important to check for compatibility here. The only real limitation on the rig’s side is the maximum width; with a little skill and, if necessary, additional profiles and brackets, you should be able to use almost any combination of seat and rig.

We also highly recommend additional seat sliders, which allow you to slide the seat back and forth after installation, just like with a regular car seat:

• Sparco Seat Slider (~50€): Amazon*
• Trak Racer Seat Slider (~30€) Trak Racer*

Monitor Mounts

In addition to proper seat installation, the monitors are another factor that should not be underestimated. Generally, there are two options to choose from

• External mounts: Mounting one or more monitors on external mounts offers a high degree of flexibility in positioning. You can also easily move the mount or set it aside as needed. The disadvantages are the often higher price compared to other options and the increased space requirements.
• Integrated mounts: Almost all manufacturers now offer their own solutions for mounting one to four monitors directly onto the rig itself. While this makes it easy, for example, to attach a single 49-inch ultrawide monitor to a rig with 80×40-millimeter profiles, you should be careful not to overload the rig, especially with large triple-screen setups. This is because the heavy weight of the monitors generally makes the rigs more sensitive to movement, and the monitors can shift significantly during quick steering maneuvers.

Mounts are available from a wide variety of manufacturers. The biggest differences lie in how the monitors are positioned, which can be done more or less easily and, therefore, more or less quickly.

Sim Racing Hardware Compatibility

Wheel Base

Most rigs are natively compatible with the three major manufacturers Fanatec, Logitech, and Thrustmaster if they come equipped with a plate as a mounting solution for the wheel base. For other manufacturers, it’s worth checking the compatibility list provided by the respective rig manufacturer. If you can’t find your base listed there, ready-made adapters are often available (e.g., Simucube Frontmount to Fanatec hole pattern). Alternatively, if in doubt, keep a metal drill bit on hand and simply ensure compatibility yourself. If you want to install ready-made mounting solutions that are screwed directly into the rig’s side mounts, you should always check the width of the rig first, as this is usually the key factor for compatibility.

Pedals

The same general principles apply to pedals as to the wheelbase. Popular models are often directly compatible, but for less common setups, you may need to drill holes or use adapters if in doubt. Be careful with pedal sets that are screwed in from below. These cannot be mounted directly onto aluminum profiles; in such cases, you’ll need brackets or similar accessories.

Accessoires

Once you’ve finished assembling your cockpit and installed the appropriate sim racing hardware, your rig is essentially complete. But at some point, almost every sim racer asks themselves: What’s next? Fortunately, there are now countless products and DIY projects available to further expand your rig. If you browse this site a bit, you’ll come across many of them; here are three possible upgrades out of many.

Buying Used

You don’t always have to buy rigs brand new. On the relevant online marketplaces, you’ll often come across good deals, but just as often, you’ll find bad ones. So here are a few tips for buying used equipment:

Things to avoid:

• Complete packages with refurbished components: Even though it may seem tempting to buy supposedly inexpensive packages, you should avoid them if possible. Unnecessary hardware is a hassle to resell, and the price is often only attractive at first glance.
• Old (all-in-one) rigs: Many sim racing rigs from the past are simply no longer up to date. No one wants to drive with a bar between their legs, and a lot has changed in the meantime when it comes to stability.
• Aluminum rigs in exotic colors: Even if you’re the biggest fan of an exotic color, buying a rig in, say, a fancy purple will immediately present several potential problems. Any upgrades become a challenge, since finding matching profiles can be either impossible or very expensive. Plus, exotic colors are often very prone to showing dust and/or scratches.
• Shipping: This should be self-explanatory: Due to the typically heavy weight and the often bulky, numerous individual parts, shipping should be avoided whenever possible.

Here, on the other hand, is where you can snap up a bargain:

• Aluminum Rigs: Aside from the color, you can’t really go wrong here. Just make sure to choose a standard profile size and a package that includes as many components as possible. Anything else can be easily replaced if necessary.
• Local offers: Nothing beats testing the product in person. Unfortunately, you can only set it up and try it out right there on the spot. That’s one more reason to prioritize these offers.
• (All-in-one) rigs from well-known manufacturers: If you want to be able to buy additional accessories later on, you should opt for rigs from manufacturers that have been on the market for a while. That way, you’re less likely to find yourself empty-handed in the future.

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