Review: FS3 Steering Wheel Stand Trak Racer

New collaboration with Roberto S. to analyze how a stand can help our peripherals. In this case, it is the FS3 Steering Wheel Stand from Trak Racer.

In recent years I have played several driving games on PS4 with the Dualshock 4. However, recently a friend let me know about the goodness of steering wheel gaming, whereupon I decided to make the switch and get one. However, I don’t have the space at home to place a cockpit, so I’ve had to look for other more flexible and less bulky options that allow me to take a level jump in driving games. This is where the steering wheel mounts come into play.

In this case, I’m going to tell you about the FS3 Steering Wheel Stand Simulator, the Trak Racer steering wheel stand that I was able to test with the Logitech G923 steering wheel to play Gran Turismo 7 on PS4.

Pre-sale, receipt and assembly

I found the FS3 mount to be an interesting option right out of the box. It seemed sturdy, stable, aesthetic and adaptable, which fulfilled the main features I was looking for. Despite having a lot of information on their website, I wrote to Trak Racer to know some unspecified details. The truth is that they responded quickly and kindly with accurate information, which helped me decide whether or not to purchase this mount.

Finally, as it seems obvious, I got it. So, once ordered and after a few days of waiting, I have received the expected stand. Upon opening the package, you can see that the stand is very well protected. The different components can be easily removed, despite coming firmly secured inside the box. The first impression is quite good, as the parts look solid and of good quality. Not surprisingly, each of them is surprisingly heavy for its size. Inside the box there are no paper instructions, but a QR code through which you can access them in digital format and in English. The little that is written is not in Spanish, but it is not necessary, since they are very intuitive and consist of a graphic for each phase of the assembly (they are very similar to those that can be found in the furniture of a well-known Swedish multinational).

The assembly is very simple, although it becomes somewhat repetitive as it requires the placement of more than 40 screws, which must be well tightened (as we will see, this is the general trend in regard to the assembly and adjustment of the stand). These screws usually fit quite well, although sometimes it is necessary to press one of the pieces in one direction or another so that the screw fits easily. An allen wrench, which is included in the package, is required for assembly. On the other hand, some of the large parts come already assembled, which takes some time for the assembly, which is about 35 to 40 minutes.

Features

Once assembled, the stand maintains the sturdy appearance that each individual piece exhibited. It has four telescopic legs whose height and opening angle can be adjusted as desired. Two of the legs are connected to each other by a platform on which the pedal plate is located. The pedal plate has multiple slots, allowing almost any pedal model to be used with the FS3 stand. In addition, both the angle and the distance can be adjusted. In the latter case, it is necessary to completely disassemble the plate to move it closer to or further away from the player.

On the upper cross bar of the stand, by means of 6 screws, the platform on which the steering wheel is installed is placed. This platform can be adjusted in inclination and height, which facilitates the adaptation of the steering wheel to the needs of each player. The point of improvement, as with the pedals, is that the adaptations we want to make in the position of the steering wheel require removing and replacing up to ten screws.

The stand also has a small adjustable base to place the shift lever. It can be easily positioned either on the right or on the left. This platform can be removed if the shifter is not used.

Adjustment and play

The use of any type of stand and steering wheel requires prior adjustment, due to the particularities of each person. In the case of this type of stand, this adjustment also depends on the type of seat used. For the FS3 stand, making these modifications is not easy or, rather, not quick. In case you want to change its position, that of the steering wheel or that of the pedals, it is necessary to unscrew several screws, something that can be quite tedious until you find the right position. Therefore, it is not feasible to modify it if several people, with different anatomical characteristics, are going to use it at a given time. For example, if a friend is coming over, it may be advisable to play with the same configuration on the stand. Otherwise, it is likely that more time will be spent on modifying the stand than on the game itself.

Once the stand was mounted and adjusted, along with the steering wheel and pedals, I tested it, and found it to be very stable. I have to say that, initially, it was not, because some of the screws were slightly loose. This is very important: all, absolutely all the screws have to be very well tightened. So, once all of them are checked and secured, the stand does show a high level of stability, and is really comfortable to play with. As an example, playing Gran Turismo 7 , it has maintained its position perfectly, without movements, in fast turns to both sides (like on the Lago Maggiore circuit with group 2 cars).

On the other hand, it sticks fairly well to the ground, which generally prevents it from rolling forward under hard braking. In spite of this, very gradually the stand moves imperceptibly. After a while of driving (in races of about 15 minutes), you realize that the steering wheel and pedals have moved a few centimeters away, which forces you to pull the stand slightly towards you when the course of the race allows you to do so. This happens to me with a brand new parquet floor. I don’t know if it will happen on other types of floors, but it is probably advisable to lean it against some object that acts as a stopper and prevents it from moving.

As for its adaptability, when the stand is installed at the maximum of its opening possibilities, it does not allow me to play from the sofa (it is a low sofa with a deep seat). Indeed, the legs touch the base of the sofa and prevent me from comfortably reaching the steering wheel and the pedals, despite the fact that I am over 1.80 meters tall and that I have placed a cushion on my back. So, I tried partially folding several parts and lowering the height to a minimum. Once tightened, again, all the screws, I have verified that the stand maintains its stability perfectly and allows me to reach its different elements without any problem. The game, in this position, remains comfortable. In any case, with the stand fully open, I was able to play on a chair without any problem.

Storage

The stand is quite wide, which makes it easy to place inside and have room for foot movement while playing. However, that roominess and the dimensions of the stand, even folded, make it difficult to store. In my particular case, it is uncomfortable to store it in the closet, since the width of the stand (65.5 cm) exceeds the depth of the storage space available to me (55 cm). On the other hand, it can be placed laterally, at the back of the cabinet, especially when it is partially or completely folded. Additionally, the entire stand is quite heavy, which complicates both its handling and its displacement. To all this we must add the removal of the steering wheel and pedals, for which, again, you have to unscrew a few more screws. Therefore, it is not very practical if we need to take it off and put it on every time we go to play.

The following table shows the measurements of the stand fully open, fully folded and in the position in which I have set it up to play from the sofa:

The height does not include the platform for the steering wheel since, when storing it, it can be placed so that it is within the dimensions of the stand itself. In playing position, this stand adds up to 4.5 cm more to the indicated height, depending on its inclination.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the Trak Racer FS3 stand is a good choice for driving games. It brings stability, rigidity and the possibility to play with different levels of height and opening, which allows to adapt to any need and also to focus on driving while playing. It is especially interesting if we can afford to leave it installed for long periods of time.

On the other hand, if you are looking for practicality and ease of storage, it is advisable to bear in mind that any change of adjustment involves repetitive unscrewing and screwing, which can take several minutes. Storage can also be complicated depending on the space available.

It can be found discounted to 141 euros in the Trak Racer store by clicking here.