The majority of simulators I’ve reviewed here at Traxion.GG have been of the aluminium extrusion variety. While robust and almost infinitely customisable, they can also be tedious to assemble, and rather heavy to boot.
In a nice change of scenery however, Trak Racer sent us over its TR8 racing simulator, a pipe frame simulator cockpit which sits between the budget-oriented RS6 and flagship TRX. Not only that, they also sent over their single integrated monitor stand and fixed GT-style seat, so we ended up with the whole package to play with!
The unboxing experience is very similar to that of the FS3 Wheel Stand, a simple brown box with minimal printing. That ecological mindset continued through to the lack of printed manual, with Trak Racer instead supplying a catch-all QR code to take you to the relevant manual select page.
Once you’ve dug out the correct manual, assembling the TR8 was remarkably easy. Only a handful of large parts form the main structure, and with the bolts pre-installed on the pipe frame base, no guesswork was required as to what you needed to use to screw x into y. Furthermore, the instructions were clear, and the relevant tools (Allen keys and a simple wrench) were included.
This ease of installation continued through when tackling the monitor stand and seat, and the entire TR8 build process was possible on my lonesome. Moving the cockpit after assembly definitely requires a friend, as it’s a heavy beast. However, don’t worry about your floors being ruined by the TR8, as the four hefty rubber feet keep things clean and sturdy.
One benefit of using a cockpit such as this is the ease of adjustability. The pedals can be moved both forwards and backwards, and the tilt angle can all be changed through loosening and tightening bolts. The chair is on rails (much like in a real car), so a simple handle pull allows you to slide around forwards and backwards.
As for the wheel plate, moving it both up and down and adjusting the angle is done through bolt loosening/replacement, whereas moving the base forwards and backwards is much more straightforward, through simply loosening some handles and sliding the construction around to your liking. The shifter mount also has position and tilt adjustability and can be mounted on either side of the cockpit. Overall, it’s a quick process, and once you’ve got everything in position, it’s a comfortable sim to use.
The integrated monitor stand is also straightforward, featuring a simple upright and 200mm VESA mount construction. The stand is mounted to a crossbeam at the front of the cockpit, which can be moved forwards and backwards, with the VESA mount itself being height adjustable also.
Included are some extension plates to allow for larger VESA diameters to be mounted- the official word from Trak Racer being that you can mount up to a 70” display. Admittedly without actually trying it, we’re not convinced that’s actually possible when looking at the size of this integrated mount.
Once you are set up and all wired in, the TR8 definitely deserves the accolade we’ve bestowed upon other rigs we’ve reviewed: the ‘Invisible Sim Rig’ award. Simply put, you don’t realise it’s there.
No flex, no shifting under heavy braking or erratic steering, and its construction handled our MOZA R9 direct drive wheelbase like a champ. Bespoke direct drive mounting is available for the TR8 (so something really hefty like the Fanatec Podium DD1 is compatible), and we’re certain it’ll have no issues when put up against 21Nm of torque.
Speaking of accessories, the ecosystem surrounding aluminium profile is almost infinite, something you’ll lose out on when not buying something in that ballpark- like the TR8. However, Trak Racer is definitely giving that depth of customisability a bash with this simulator, as a plethora of accessories are available for the TR8 on their store.
Speaker mounts, keyboard trays, castor wheels, the aforementioned direct drive mounting, even RGB floor mats, the TR8 isn’t limited to solely what you get in the initial box.
Crunch time, how much will this setup set you back? The TR8 cockpit itself (no chair, no monitor mount) is £575, the fixed fibreglass GT chair is £279, and the integrated single monitor stand is £55. For £909 overall, it’s not a budget option, but you do get what you pay for in terms of construction, build quality, compatibility, and comfort.
There’s no complicating faffing around with T-Nuts and the like to put it together, and adjustment is much more straightforward than using aluminium extrusion. In short, it’s a blast.
Reviewed using the MOZA R9 base, GS Formula wheel, and SR-P pedals.
Full disclosure: The Trak Racer TR8 was provided by the manufacturer for review purposes. Here is our review policy.
