How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and use, not by brand, and do not quote prices. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you.
Claims about cockpits on this page come from the companies that make them, and we label them that way. We found no independent measurement comparing how much different kinds of rig flex, so we do not rank one construction over another on rigidity.
Why cockpits exist
Sim-Lab, which makes aluminium-profile cockpits, tells the history this way: once direct-drive wheels from the Open Sim Wheel project appeared, their servo motors could no longer be clamped to a desk or ordinary furniture, so purpose-built extrusion rigs became necessary. It describes extrusion rigs as very rigid, light and modular. That is the maker's claim, but the underlying point is useful: the stronger your wheel base, the more the thing it is bolted to matters.
Fanatec, a wheel-base maker, calls direct drive the design with the strongest forces, and makers' own figures show how much a base can weigh. Simucube lists three direct-drive bases on its specification page at 8.7, 11.0 and 13.0 kg. A cockpit has to hold that weight still while the motor pushes against your hands.
What to check before you buy
- Your wheel base and pedals are listed as compatible. Check that the cockpit maker lists the base and pedals you own or plan to buy.
- The pedal mount can take hard braking. A load-cell brake works by sensing how hard you press, and Simucube rates the load cells in its top pedals to 2,000 N. Check that the pedal plate is meant for load-cell pedals if you use them. See sim wheels and pedals.
- Room to grow. Sim-Lab's case for profile rigs is that they are modular. If you expect to move from a gear-driven wheel to direct drive, or to add screens, check what the cockpit can take later.
- A seat. Check whether a seat is included. Racing-equipment makers sell for sim racing too: Sparco's US site, for example, lists sim cockpits and sim racing seats in a gaming category.
- Your screens. How you plan to see the track changes what you need from the cockpit, as the next section explains.
Plan the cockpit around your display
Trak Racer set out the trade-offs in a July 2023 article:
| Display | What Trak Racer says | What it means for the cockpit |
|---|---|---|
| One monitor | Often sits far from the eyes, forcing a very low field of view; place it as close to your eyes as possible. | A stand or mount that brings the screen close. |
| Three monitors | Peripheral vision lets a lower field-of-view setting still work. | A free-standing triple stand, or a triple mount built into the cockpit. |
| VR headset | A wide view and better depth perception, but it needs a powerful PC and graphics card, can cause motion sickness (especially in newcomers), and a headset can feel heavy over long sessions. | No monitor mount needed. |
Trak Racer concludes the choice is personal preference. If you are considering VR, check your sim's requirements first: iRacing, for example, says a VR PC should meet at least its recommended specification. More on each platform's needs is on sim rigs.
Set it up safely
A strong wheel base can move suddenly. A review hosted on Moza's blog describes a hands-off protection mode meant to prevent injury from sudden strong wheel movements when your hands are off the wheel. Follow the cockpit maker's assembly instructions, tighten the base and pedal mounts as they specify, and read the wheel maker's safety settings before your first session.
Our picks by setup
Aluminium-profile cockpits
Sim-Lab, a profile-cockpit maker, calls them very rigid, light and modular. Confirm your wheel base and pedals are on the maker's compatibility list.
Best for: Direct-drive owners, and anyone planning to upgrade
Cockpits with a built-in monitor mount
Trak Racer notes that triple screens can mount on the cockpit itself. Check the mount suits the size and number of screens you plan to use.
Best for: Drivers who want screens and rig as one unit
Free-standing monitor stands
Trak Racer's advice for a single screen is to bring it as close to your eyes as possible. It says triple screens can also go on free-standing stands.
Best for: Single or triple screens beside an existing cockpit
For the sport itself, see sim racing.
Sources
- Sim-Lab, aluminium sim racing cockpits (2023)
- Sparco USA, product range
- Trak Racer, VR vs triple screens (2023)
- Fanatec, gear, belt or direct drive wheel base
- Simucube, Simucube 3 specifications
- Simucube, load cell technology for sim racing pedals
- Moza Racing blog, is the R12 enough torque (2024)
- iRacing, system requirements