Basically, it’s true that we have sim-racing setups that are very similar in terms of certain peripherals. It has to be said that you can’t do sim-racing without a steering wheel, a base, a pedalboard, a monitor and a platform (PC or console). That’s the basics. But some riders have setups with added products to provide a solution to a problem of space, immersion and realism, or all at the same time.
For immersion and realism, apart from upgrading your sim-racing peripherals to more powerful ones (such as a Direct Drive steering wheel, Load Cell/hydraulic pedals, etc.), you have the option of a cockpit that will give you a good dose of immersion for your money. In fact, there’s no better way to feel like you’re in the cockpit of a racing car than in a cockpit with a bucket seat. Nevertheless, it can sometimes be expensive, especially if you choose a quality product specific to a motorsport discipline.
There is an alternative to all this, of course, and it can be cheap in some cases. I’m talking about steering wheel mounts that allow you to attach your sim-racing peripherals and fully enjoy the discipline we all love. In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to the best shuttlecock holders available on the market.
What is a steering wheel support?
A steering wheel mount is, as the name suggests, a product that can be used to attach the steering wheel, base and pedals for sim-racing sessions. You can think of it as a console for the steering wheel and other peripherals. This kind of product is ideal for runners who have a setup without a desk or table, especially those who are on consoles in their living room. As you can probably imagine, console gamers use large televisions as monitors, and having a desk in the middle of your living room isn’t ideal, either for decorating or for sim-racing. So the solution is a steering wheel mount that sits halfway between a desk and a cockpit, but has the advantage of being lightweight and easy to move.
Next Level Racing Wheel Stand Lite
Next Level Racing is a major player in the sim-racing industry, particularly in the cockpit segment. But the manufacturer does not limit itself to this, and also offers a support for steering wheel + base, crankset and shifter, the Wheel Stand Lite.
This product comes in the form of a plate which is placed on the floor and to which the pedalboard is attached. This peripheral is on a base that is adjustable to accommodate the maximum number of runners. Right in the middle, we have a telescopic tubular bar, with a plate above it. The plate accommodates bases and steering wheels, with a small extension on the side for shifters. With this product, you can use virtually any base with a fastening system on the underside.
Structurally, it’s more or less solid and stable for what you’ve got. If you are using gear/belt drive bases (Logitech G923, Thrustmaster T248etc.), it’s all right. But if you have a Direct DriveThe whole structure moves, especially if the couple is substantial. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a bit normal, given that there aren’t too many reinforcements and that this bracket costs around €130. As a result, it’s a must for your setup, but only for bases with 4 nm of torque or less.
The Wheel Stand Pro Deluxe V2
This support is on the same line as the Next Level Racing as we’ve just seen, with a tubular structure this time, instead of plates as on the other. Design-wise, it’s pretty sober, with tubes and rubber pads on the corners to avoid damaging parquet and/or floors.
The crankset mounting system on this stand is pretty basic, with a kind of tab that screws into the 2 ends to hold it in place. To put it simply, it looks really cheap, and it’s better to have a pedalboard that’s not too wide (preferably with 2 pedals), otherwise it might not fit at all.
For the steering wheel, the same principle applies: telescopic tube with a plate on top to fix the bases of several steering wheels available on the market. The Wheel Stand Pro Deluxe V2 is foldable, making it easy to store in a cupboard or corner of the house.
Let’s move on to stability. Here again, it’s relative: if you have a base that doesn’t produce a lot of torque, the support is fairly stable. But if you’ve got a Direct Drive that’s got a lot going for it, and especially if the force feedback is abrupt, the support will pitch, and pitch hard. For once, this product is aimed at runners who only want to spend a little time in front of their simu, and it shows in the price. Priced at around €130, the Wheel Stand Pro Deluxe V2 can be an alternative to a desk or table if you don’t have Direct Drive bases.
Ukiki steering wheel holder
Although this product has a rather odd name, it’s certainly not a name. So, theUkiki is a steering wheel support that is much appreciated by riders who have tried it, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (around €100).
The stand has a tubular structure, with plates at the top and bottom to accommodate a crankset, chainstay and flywheel, and even a shifter. The pedal base is large and adjustable, giving you greater control over your riding position.
The base/steering wheel support is also telescopic, but not straight. Both bars are angled towards the rider, and are also adjustable. For bases, you can attach almost anything currently on the market, as well as pedalboards (the base is large).
The structure is quite stable, even with a Direct Drive base. However, I wouldn’t recommend using one that exceeds 5 or 6 nm of torque, as the Ukiki support will tend to wobble a little under strong steering inputs. There’s also the fact that the assembly instructions aren’t very clear, so you’ll have to be patient when putting the whole thing together.
Overall, I find the Ukiki to be a good, inexpensive flying support that will suit many beginner/amateur riders.
Which one to choose?
Choosing a steering wheel support can sometimes be difficult, especially if your configuration is atypical. But there are some things to consider when doing this, including:
- Setup. Many runners are on PCs with desks and/or tables. Here, there’s no need for a steering-wheel mount, as the desktop will do just fine, provided you have sim-racing peripherals that can be mounted on said desktop. But there are also console racers who don’t have a desk in their living room, and that’s where a steering wheel mount shines with its compact design and usefulness.
- Lack of space. Lack of space is very common in sim-racing, especially if you live in a small apartment. The most concrete example is the lack of cockpit space, as these beasts sometimes, even often, take up a lot of room. So, if you don’t have a lot of space at home, a steering wheel holder is just what you need.
- Not very powerful sim-racing peripherals. I’m mainly talking about steering wheel bases. For most steering wheel brackets, you won’t be able to couple them with Direct Drive bases without the risk of causing a lot of pitching while driving. It has to be said that these brackets are ideal for belt- or gear-driven bases.
The budget. So the best sim-racing setup is a cockpit. Except that such a product can sometimes be expensive, except that the steering wheel support doesn’t exceed €140 in most cases. If your bank account doesn’t allow for such a purchase (cockpit), and you don’t have a place to put your sim-racing peripherals, a steering-wheel mount will do just fine.
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