Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one game that I never thought I’d enjoy at much as I did. I still come across a lot of people on reddit who are surprised that a non-racing driving game exists, but frankly I am glad that it does. ETS2 has this calming, chill vibe and I used to play it in VR after work and it just felt so relaxing.
The reason I bring all of this up is because I set up my system for maximum comfort and relaxation while playing ETS2 or ATS. VR headsets are not that comfortable, but I bought additional padding and head straps to make them better suited for long drives which is what I like to do in ETS2. I also tested out several steering wheels, gear shifters and mounting options to get a system that provides the most relaxing and immersive simming experience.
What does the ideal ETS2/ ATS wheel look like?
These were my top considerations during my tests:
- Comfortable for long distance driving and that means over an hour on the wheel at one time.
- Good quality material to give you a premium feel on the grip.
- Adjustable force-feedback because oyu dont want your arms to tire out.
- Enough range of motion to match the movement of the steering wheel of the truck 1 to 1. This is not mandatory but it is good for immersion.
- Durability because you will probably clock 100s of hours in just these 2 games!
Based on all these factors, here are my top picks.
1. Best Overall
- Immersive Gaming Experience: Perfect for PlayStation 5, PS4 and PC gaming titles, the Driving Force...
- Premium Control: The Driving Force feedback racing wheel provides a detailed simulation of driving a...
The Logitech G29 has been my mainstay for 6+ years now. I do use other wheels for racing sometimes but this is my overall most used wheel. For ETS2/ ATS, I exclusively use this wheel only. There are other premium $1000+ wheels out there but those are mostly for competitive racing and you don’t really need them for Euro/ American Truck Simulator. This wheel represents the sweet spot between price and performance.
The wheel has a nice big range of motion of a hopping 900° rotation. That is good news for truck simmers as we benefit from all this extra rotation for our trucks. The wheel boats quality construction material including Anodized Aluminum, Leather, Steel, Glass-Filled Nylon, Polyoxymethylene Thermoplastic etc. that provides it the durability and build quality that you need for such games.
The pedals are nice and solid too with a lot of metal and heft to them. They provide a nice, smooth range of motion with realistic pushback for that immersive experience. It’s almost as good as the real thing.
There are two other options here so I will talk about them too. Firstly, you have the Logitech G920 which is the exact same wheel but missing some buttons and dials. The other is the newer Logitech G923 which is also very similar to these other two but has a newer and better force feedback system. It does cost a lot more though so that’s a trade off you have to decide on based on your budget.
- Works with G29 and G920 Driving Force Racing Wheels: Driving Force shifter is designed for both G29...
- Quality Construction: With a solid steel gear shaft, Driving Force shifter is built for precision...
No matter which wheel you choose, I highly recommend getting shifter. The gear shifter really adds to the immersion. Now, I am going to be honest with you here that this is not the best gear shifter out there but it’s the only one that Logitech offers. On the plus side, it’s good enough for games like Truck Sims where you don’t have to shift gears like a racing driver. Either way, its pretty cheap and I think you will get more than your money’s worth. I certainly have!
2. Best Budget/ Entry Level
- 【PLAY MULTI-PLATFORM GAME】: This game steering wheel is compatible with PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One,...
- 【MORE RACING GAME】: PS4 racing wheels take you to experience the thrill of driving a heavy...
The PXN Xbox Steering Wheel V3II is my pick for the budget option. It lacks some of the bells and whistles of the higher end options, but if you looking for something in the budget category, this is your best option. It is decently durable, provides nice smooth controls, comes with pedals and even has built-in dual vibration motor for some nice feedback. There is even a gear lever and dual paddles on sides. I must commend them for packing so much into an entry level wheel.
It feels pretty solid given its price point and has some nice quality materials used on the 3 and 9 o’clock positions of the wheel. The pedals are decent and heavy but you will need to make sure you secure them properly to keep them from moving around.
All in all, you should be happy with this product as long as you are aware this is essentially a starter wheel. But as far as starter wheel go, this is by far the best option.
3. Best Premium Option
- Leather-wrapped wheel with 25 action buttons, 1 push-button and 4 rotary selectors natively...
- High-velocity, next-generation 40-watt brushless motor for exceptionally responsive Force Feedback...
The Thrustmaster T-GT II is more for racing enthusiasts but if you are willing to splurge, you can’t go wrong with this. An amazing leather wrapped wheel with 25 buttons and 4 rotary selectors. They come real handy for volume control or changing the radio channel! The 40-watt brushless motor provides one of the best force feedback systems on the market with super smooth performance. This is a proven motor that was used in previous models as well and does not disappoint.
The pedal set is also one of the best around with heavy use of metals and very satisfying pedal travel, especially on the brake which uses a progressive rubber resistance system. But the real cherry on top has to be the leather on the wheel which is feels almost as good as my old Mercedes. You likely won’t be racing your trucks in ETS2 anytime soon but the premium feel of the wheel goes a long long way to make you want to grab it and never let it go!
- Solidly-built and precise, the TH8A is crafted of 100% metal
- Featuring H.E.A.R.T HallEffect AccuRate Technology technology (patent pending), the TH8A‘s...
I also recommend the amazing Thrustmaster TH8A gear shifter. This one is really high quality but it also costs a lot. Recommended for enthusiasts.
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