If you’re new to sim racing, you probably want to try new things. Although virtual, sim racing is a widely played sport that extends its reach and market every day. If you have recently started taking an interest in the sim racing world, you must have thought of building a custom sim racing cockpit.
In this guide, you will learn about the essential components of a cockpit and all the items you will need for learning how to build a sim racing cockpit.
Essential Components of a Sim Racing Cockpit
In a way, a sim racing cockpit is the foundation of all your equipment. All the sim racing gear is mounted to the framework of your cockpit. Here is a list of all the essential components of a cockpit:
- Rig or cockpit
- Seat
- Monitor stand
- Pedal base
- Wheel mount
- Wheelbase
- QR Hub
- Pedal set
- PC
- Cables, nuts, and bolts
Rig or Cockpit
Let’s start with the sim racing rig or cockpit. It is best to invest in an aluminum profile cockpit as it helps in eliminating unnecessary movement of parts under heavy loads. This movement is called flex. When there is no flex, your cockpit will be easily assembled and modified.
Our top two picks would be the RCP Cockpit Sport and the Sim Lab GT1 Evo.
Both options are pre-drilled for easy installation of the other components mentioned above. The best part is that they both have aluminum profiles. Both of these cockpits even offer a wide range of monitor mounts to choose from as well. However, the RCP Cockpit comes with a sim racing seat too.
Seat
If you chose the RCP Cockpit, you don’t need to purchase a seat separately so that you can skip this step. However, if you opted for the Sim Lab GT1 Evo, you’ll need to buy a chair to complete your sim racing cockpit.
If you want a budget-friendly seat without compromising the functionality, investing in the OMP Racing TRS Steel Frame Seat is a great option. It comes with large shoulder harness slots to be adjusted according to height. The removable leg rests offer optimal comfort levels for prolonged usage.
Monitor Stand
For RCP Cockpits, there are two options for you, the Sim Racing Monitor Mount’s single monitor version and the triple monitor version. Both mounts come with nuts and bolts and pivot plates for easy installation.
Similar options for the GT1 Evo Cockpit are available in single and triple monitor mounts. The single-monitor mount is the more affordable option, but then again, if you want a more enhanced gaming experience, you can install the triple monitor mount. But it is important to note here that the single monitor mount does not restrict you in selecting the monitor size. It can be used on monitors of 65 inches and higher.
Pedal Base
A pedal base is not a must-have component of your cockpit. You can choose not to add a pedal base to your custom sim racing cockpit if the pedals can be directly mounted onto the framework. But the good thing about using either the RCP Cockpit or the GT1 Evo Cockpit is that they come with a Fanatec compatible pedal base, so you don’t need to get one separately.
Wheel Mount
Like a pedal base, the wheel mounts are often included in the rig. Both the options mentioned above come with a built-in wheel mount, so you don’t have to invest in one separately.
Wheelbase
The simulated forces are translated into the simulator software to Force Feedback (FFB) using a wheelbase. The FFB refers to the application of all the forces applied to your steering wheel, which stimulates real-life reactions of vehicles.
Simply put, it is the device installed behind your steering wheel. It installs electric motors, belt drives, and complex electronic systems.
An excellent option for wheelbase would be the Fantec CSL DD. The double drive technology of this wheelbase comes with a 5 Nm torque. Using the optional boost kit, you can raise the toque to 8 Nm, a great feature of sim racing gear. It also comes with a T-nut rail system on the sides and bottom, making it easy to install and perfect for adjustable hard-mounting.
It features ports for the power supply and a USB cable for both console and PC. Ports for Fantec DataPort cable, Shifter 1, Shifter 2, and handbrake are also available.
The wheelbase housing is made of aluminum, reducing the need for active cooling. The aluminum housing acts as a heat sink. Considering its price, you can get a great deal without compromising on quality.
QR Hub
The QR or quick release hub systems are generally compatible with your wheelbases. If you chose the Fantec CSL DD wheelbase, it already comes with an automatic-grade QR to fulfill that requirement. If you have an out-of-the-box QR hub system, it will also be compatible with the Fantec CSL DD wheelbase if you’re using the lower torque version (5 Nm). However, if you get the boost kit, you will need to spend extra to fit the higher torque (8 Nm) QR1 Wheel Side hub. It already comes with a pack of screws, so fitting it won’t be a hassle-free process.
Pedal Set
Sim racing is all about control, and pedal sets give you precisely that. Your pedals should always feel consistent and allow you to modulate the brake pressure when needed. The pedal set is sensitive to the inputs of drivers.
The Clubsport Pedals V3 is recommended for pairing with your sim racing rig because of its benefits. The 90 kg adjustable load cell allows you to apply intense pressure and precisely control the brakes. The D-shaped pedal plats make load adjustment a breeze. You can adjust the pedal set based on your racing style to get maximum comfort. The third-generation model has made it possible to change the brake stiffness without using additional tools.
PC
While GPU is the holy grail of sim racing, owing to bitcoin mining, that is not a feasible solution currently. But some PCs work exceptionally well for sim racing. The basic requirements for any PC to be suitable for sim racing include:
- Recent processor
- 16 Gb or higher RAM
- Motherboard
A great pick would be the CyberpowerPC Warrior Gaming PC out of all the options. It features 16Gb RAM and pre-installed Windows 10. Once the CPU arrives, you need to install the sim software.
The Warrior Gaming PC comes with Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti 8GB and AMD Ryzen 7 5700G CPU. Considering all the features it offers, it is reasonably priced and perfect for sim racing.
Cables, Nuts, and Bolts
Generally, the cables, nuts, and bolts come with the rig or cockpit. Moreover, other components discussed above also feature the required cables, nuts, and bolts. If an element of your cockpit does not come with these essentials, you can purchase them separately from any hardware store, and they don’t cost a fortune either.
Wrapping Up
By selecting all the essential components discussed in this article, you’ll know how to build a sim racing cockpit in no time. It is the first step that leads to fantastic racing experiences. You can always adjust your sim racing gear until it reaches the height of perfection.
Featured Image Source Jordiferrer, 2016 Festival de la Infància – 16, CC BY-SA 4.0
