Best Wheel and Console Set

[JessTrek]

Hello everyone,

I used to be a trucker. I still am, I guess. But I really enjoy this game and I can't find any good, tangible information online about the best steering wheel setups for ATS: one with five rotational turns in it, a stick with at least twelve gears, pedals (clutch, air brake, and accelerator), a console with the tractor and trailer brake knobs, buttons on that same panel with an axle differential lock, air suspension, and a kingpin release at the very minimum.

I'm malleable here, too, if there isn't anything out there with all of the options I'd like. If you have any suggestions here, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

[JessTrek]

Also: a jake brake stalk on the wheel wouldn't hurt, either. Or a switch on the dash like in the older trucks.

[AyMazingATS]

Steering wheels that I recommend are from Thrustmaster. T150 or TMX. These are both 900° wheels which is best for the game. They also provide great force feedback. The base pedals are not that great but they work. There are pro versions of each of these wheels that come with a 3 pedal set.

Others will recommend Logitech however they are not that great in my opinion. Yes they do work but in ATS/ETS2 the force feedback is nearly non existent. They can also feel notchy and what little force feedback there is tends to be a noisy rattle in my opinion.

I do not recommend anything under 900° for this game. It is not worth the headache or hassle in trying to get them to operate properly. What I mean by that is that a small move on the wheel can equal a large move in the game.

[AyMazingATS]

In addition to the above having a price range that you want to spend would be helpful to know. The Thrustmaster wheels MSRP for $199.99. Pro versions hover between $230/$250.

Of course because of the pandemic you may not be able to find these at MSRP too. May not be relevant but thought I should mention.

The Cascadia, Western Star 49x, Mack Anthem, and I believe the LoneStar have the stalk when using the engine brake toggle in Keys & Buttons. SCS has not given us a truck with the on/off and 2/4/hi/lo whatever you want to call it like the old school trucks had.

[JessTrek]

Thanks! Just bought a Thrustmaster.

[Emmerich]

Comgrats :-) Am happy with it too

[anomaly.va]

Originally posted by AyMazingATS:

Steering wheels that I recommend are from Thrustmaster. T150 or TMX. These are both 900° wheels which is best for the game. They also provide great force feedback. The base pedals are not that great but they work. There are pro versions of each of these wheels that come with a 3 pedal set.

Others will recommend Logitech however they are not that great in my opinion. Yes they do work but in ATS/ETS2 the force feedback is nearly non existent. They can also feel notchy and what little force feedback there is tends to be a noisy rattle in my opinion.

I do not recommend anything under 900° for this game. It is not worth the headache or hassle in trying to get them to operate properly. What I mean by that is that a small move on the wheel can equal a large move in the game.

Good post AyMazingATS-- I am a former trucker like the OP (health issues more or less cut my career much shorter than I would have liked), and love this game, but am torn as to which controllers would be best. I have managed to level up to 53, building a company with 120 trucks / trailers and 55 garages -- hence, I can pretty much do what I want and go where I want in the game now. And believe it or not, I did it playing with a keyboard -- My post on optimum keyboard bindings can be found elsewhere in this forum.

I can't get over the realism for the most part, though I think air loss when maneuvering in close quarters is way too aggressive. And I would like see at the very least a "TRUE HOS" mode that emulates an actual ELD with real-world DOT times and rules. But I digress. For now, I turn off air brakes simulation (and traffic violations, the damned red light violations are way too aggressive too -- stop just a little too far beyond the line and you get nailed, even though you stopped? Ridiculous. But I digress.

At first my eyes deceived me and I thought your post said 900 inches, not 900 degrees. Then I realized, that's like 75 feet. No way. LOL -- the cost of getting older, I guess. I would like to thank you for the recommendation, as I was not aware that any of the wheels on the market had any sort of degree range or limitation, I thought it was simply what the game interpreted its sensor data as. I was considering the Logitech G29 / G290 until I heard about the G923, and then was even more unsure after reading lackluster reviews from those expecting major improvements from the G920 that it did not have. Apparently they say you can feel the gears in the mechanism, which hampers performance and realism. They reported force feedback as a letdown as well.

One question -- If you had to choose between the T150 and TMX, which would you go with, and why? And are the 900-degree wheels compatible with other games, or do you have to have one for trucking games, and one for others?

As for a shifter with 12 gears, it's my understanding that most shift setups have the typical 6-gate setup common to 5-speeds, so I think a typical 6-gate shifter would do nicely for this game, if somehow buttons could be programmed as activating the typical splitters you see on the real thing.

If you really think about it, Eaton-Fuller 10-speeds more or less emulate the old GM 5-speed box / 2-speed rear setup, except the splitter is in the trans case. It's more or less a 5-speed with a splitter for high or low output range. The 10, 13, and 18 all follow the 6-gate pattern typical of a 5-speed, with the exception of Reverse in the upper left vs lower right, and lower left being Low on some models, 1st on others. So if buttons could be programmed for splitter activation, the gates would correspond to the desired transmission like so...

10-speed
https://www.globaldrivetrainsupply.com/10-speed-shift-pattern-Eaton-Fuller-600x342.png
13-speed
https://www.globaldrivetrainsupply.com/13-speed-shift-pattern-Eaton-Fuller-600x342.png
18-speed
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/4d/52/5e4d5244fb36ce9702e8aa7caf3032d8.jpg

As you can see, it's entirely possible that a simple configuration change to assign buttons to main / aux splitters would be compatible with a 6-gate setup most gaming shifters use. It's just a question of whether the differences with reverse location and how the lower left gate is addressed as L on some, and 1st on others. Perhaps SCS has already implemented this, I wouldn't know because I have not yet bought a wheel / shifter setup yet and am still researching, though I will look into your recommendations and thank you greatly.

[anomaly.va]

BTW -- Just found this little nugget for the Logitech wheels.... Dated 2003. Ignore the childish BS, unfortunately bratty kids overrun many forums and don't know how to act.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/how-to-turn-on-900-degree-mode-for-logitech-driving-force-pro.35940/

Apparently they are 900-degree capable, but do not use it by default, it has to be activated. Others have verified it does work. So NOW, the $64M question -- Is the Logitech or Thrustmaster a better choice, given that the new Logitechs can do 900-degrees? Still wondering about Thrustmaster TMX vs T150 per AyMazingATS' post.... ?

[Goggles56]

I have a Logitech g25 that I bought new many years ago. It has worked reliably all that time but has me considering a T 150. The g25 is gear driven and after all the use it has had makes a heck of a racket on rough roads in the game. I'm worried that it will pack it in soon. It is still very precise on smooth roads and works great at 960 degrees. If I'm not mistaken the T 150 is belt driven and quieter.

[Sandhill]

Originally posted by anomaly.va:

Apparently they are 900-degree capable, but do not use it by default, it has to be activated.

Logitechs have always been 900 degree wheels by default. There is simply an option in the required setup software (yes TM also requires setup software) where you choose degrees of rotation, and you have to choose something .

[AyMazingATS]

Originally posted by anomaly.va:

Still wondering about Thrustmaster TMX vs T150 per AyMazingATS' post.... ?

The wheels are basically the same. Button layout slightly different. The TMX is for Xbox whereas the T150 is for Playstation.

Beyond that they are both the same wheel.

[Goggles56]

Originally posted by AyMazingATS:

Originally posted by anomaly.va:

Still wondering about Thrustmaster TMX vs T150 per AyMazingATS' post.... ?

The wheels are basically the same. Button layout slightly different. The TMX is for Xbox whereas the T150 is for Playstation.

Beyond that they are both the same wheel.

So either one works with a pc?

[AyMazingATS]

Originally posted by Goggles56:

So either one works with a pc?

Yes, they are both PC compatible.

[anomaly.va]

I'm ready to order but not sure I'll like the Logitech gear drive and can't decide between the T150, T300, TMX, and TMX Pro. :/
I guess it's a one-time investment that should last at least several years, might as well go for the gusto... Go big or go home, as they say. LOL

[AyMazingATS]

The biggest difference between the T150/TMX and the T300 is this:

The T300 has a fully belt driven wheel base along with a detachable rim. The TMX/T150 are a hybrid. Hybrid meaning that there is still helical gearing inside but also a belt has been added to simulate smoothness. ALso the wheel rims are not detachable.

The T150/TMX come with a basic 2 pedal set where the T300 has the T3PA pedal set. Better quality, added clutch. If I remember correctly it has the conical brake mod too. This is a rubber stopper that is added behind the brake pedal for stiffness to the pedal.

[Wille Wilse]

Im using the T300 and I am very happy with it, much smoother then my old Logitech G25. However the two pedal set that came with it is pure rubbish. I use my old G25 pedals with a modded brake pedal so it feels like the brakes in my real car - huge improvement. It needs a few adapters though to work. Also have a G27 gearshifter.