Truck Driving Simulator at Home: What You Need to Get Started

Start with a PC and game that support your chosen controls, a display, and somewhere comfortable to sit. For a wheel-based truck driving simulator, choose a wheel with throttle and brake pedals and a secure place to mount them. Leave the separate shifter and cockpit until you know you want them.

Your first purchase should solve a clear need. If you want automatic driving, focus on steering, throttle, and brake. If you want to use a clutch, choose the right pedals and check your game's support before buying extra controls.

This guide is for home entertainment and hobby driving. It does not count as commercial driver training or licensing preparation.

Start with the PC, game, and space

Before choosing hardware, decide which truck game you want to play. Check its PC requirements against your computer. Then check its current support for the exact wheel, pedals, and any separate controls you plan to use.

Make a short list of the actions you want to control. Steering, throttle, and braking come first for a wheel setup. Add clutch and gear selection only if those are part of how you want to drive. That list helps you avoid buying equipment before you have a use for it.

Next, look at your space. You need somewhere for the display, room to move the wheel, and a stable position for the pedals. Check your seated reach to each control. Think about where cables will run and whether the setup must move after each session.

A desk setup is worth considering if you already have suitable furniture. A cockpit becomes more useful when you want a dedicated seat and adjustable control positions. The truck simulator cockpit versus desk guide can help you work through that choice.

Choose the wheel and pedals together

The GTR RS30 5 Nm Force Feedback Racing Wheel for PC has three configuration choices. Read the selection notice carefully before adding it to your cart.

RS30 configuration	Included controls	When to consider it
Wheel only	RS30 wheel and base; no pedals	You already have pedals and have checked how they will work with your setup
Wheel with V3 Pro two pedals	Wheel, throttle, and brake	You want automatic driving without a clutch pedal
Wheel with V3 Pro three pedals	Wheel, throttle, brake, and clutch	You want a clutch and your game supports it

A separate shifter is not included with these choices. For a new automatic-driving setup, the two-pedal configuration is a sensible place to start. Choose three pedals when using a clutch is part of your plan.

The RS30 is a geared force-feedback wheel with a published maximum output of 5 Nm. It uses dual motors and helical gears. It has selectable 270-degree or 900-degree steering rotation, aluminum paddle shifters, and an adjustable wheel-rake angle from 0 to 15 degrees. It is not a direct-drive wheel.

The RS30 listing is for Windows PC use. Do not buy it expecting console compatibility. Check current drivers and support for your intended games before ordering.

GTR describes rig mounting or desk clamping for the RS30. Confirm which mounting hardware comes with your selected configuration. For a desk, check strength and clamp clearance. For a cockpit, check the exact bolt pattern and any adapters. Also plan how you will keep the pedals stable; the V3 Pro pedals offer adjustable position, travel, and resistance.

Add a shifter only when you want manual controls

You do not need to start your semi truck simulator setup with a separate gear lever. Decide how you want to drive first. If automatic driving suits you, put your attention on the wheel, pedals, and seating position.

The GTR RSH3 USB 7+1 Gated Sim Racing Shifter for PC provides seven forward positions plus reverse. It has an aluminum and steel structure and connects as a separate USB control.

A USB connection does not guarantee that your game maps every input. Before choosing the RSH3, confirm its operating-system, driver, firmware, and exact game support. For trucking, also check how the game's gear controls match the driving arrangement you want. The American Truck Simulator shifter guide is a useful next read.

Plan the mount before buying the shifter. A desk clamp, cockpit bracket, and clutch pedal are excluded unless your selected configuration expressly includes them. The Without Angle Adjustment configuration does not include an angle-adjustment mount.

Check the bolt pattern, adapter, fasteners, mounting side, lever clearance, and cable route. We have not confirmed RSH3 compatibility with the Compact V2 shifter holder or the separately sold GTA shifter and handbrake mount, so check it first.

Decide whether a foldable cockpit fits your room

The GTR GTA Compact V2 Foldable Sim Racing Cockpit includes the cockpit and integrated seat. You buy the wheel, pedals, display, and PC separately.

It offers adjustable GT and open-wheel driving positions. You can adjust the seat angle, wheel height, reach, tilt, and pedal placement. Its quick-release folding design may suit a room you also use for other things.

Check these published limits against your needs:

• Driver height: up to approximately 6 ft.
• Driver weight: up to approximately 240 lb.
• Wheelbase strength: up to the supplier-published 15 Nm limit.
• Folded thickness: approximately 4 in.
• Product weight: 40 lb.

Folded thickness is only one part of storage planning. Think about where you will put the cockpit and how you will move it. The supplier does not publish a complete assembled footprint, so confirm the space needed before ordering. Check control clearance, bolt patterns, and required adapters too.

Skip this cockpit if you exceed its published driver limits or cannot confirm room for it. If your desk arrangement already meets your needs, you can leave the cockpit for later. The foldable cockpit guide offers more planning help.

Keep the first purchase focused

A sensible starting order is wheel and pedals first, then a shifter or cockpit when you can explain what each will improve for you. Leave a separate handbrake off your initial list unless you have identified a specific use and checked game support.

Before checkout, review every selected configuration and its included items. Do not assume pictured equipment comes with the product. Keep your PC, game, display, mounting needs, and cable requirements on the same checklist.

Open World Garage sells products fulfilled by GTR Simulator through Shopify Collective. Open World Garage is your contact for order support. Shipping costs and estimated delivery timing appear at checkout; see shipping and delivery.

For an ordinary return, contact Open World Garage for authorization before shipping. You arrange and pay return shipping. Eligibility and any deduction depend on inspection, condition, and packaging. Read the refund policy before ordering.

For the full parts list, costs, and setup order, see the truck simulator setup guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a clutch pedal to start?

No. Throttle and brake are the starting point for automatic driving. Choose the RS30 three-pedal configuration if you want a clutch and your game supports it.

Does the RS30 wheel-only option include pedals?

No. It includes the wheel and base. Select a two- or three-pedal configuration if you need pedals with your purchase.

Does the Compact V2 include a complete simulator?

No. It includes the cockpit and integrated seat. Controls, a display, and a computer are separate purchases.

Should I buy a shifter immediately?

Only if manual gear selection is part of your plan and you have checked game support and mounting. You can start with automatic driving and decide on a shifter later.

Will this setup prepare me for a commercial driving licence?

This is a home entertainment and hobby setup. It does not count as commercial driver training or licensing preparation.