CHEAP Cockpit Alternatives ONLY

  • Thread starter mnarciso
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dori-san
You know what? I actually just picked it up last night too! BTW, don't bother trying to assemble it backwards. I tried it every which way, and the best way ended up being the right way.
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You're right, I actually realized that as I was assembling it and saw how close the wheel would be in the regular position. It's definitely heavy enough without any additional weight needed at the base! My only complaint is how big the top plate is. It takes up quite a bit of room in our small living room so I might try replacing it with just a piece of standard 1'x2'x0.5" formica shelving.
 
I actually like it. My other table was only slightly smaller, and I used to keep stuff on there... like my remotes, my controller, and my drink or whatever. But the other table is too light and with GT4 requiring lots more activity on the steering, it wobbled around too much. So now I've got a heavy table that's nice and secure, and slightly bigger so I can put all my stuff back on it again without having to worry about shaking it until the coke fell onto the floor.
 
chefjdw
I went to Pull-A-Part couldn't find any really cool seats so I got one out of a Toyota Tercel. Its sort of light and has the hole in the head rest so it looks kind cool. I bring the thing home and my wife puts me and the seat out of the house, something about it didn't go with her decor. So plan 2 make a cockpit out of stuff I have around the house and I came up with the 18 wheeler rig a couple of post up. I never thought about it but thats probably why I keep driving the Sports Trucks(sub-conscience my body is saying we must be driving a truck.) But thats ok I got another idea my son will just have to find another place to sleep you'll see check back here around 12noon cst.
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Here we go mind you I mainly did this to tick my wife off but I swear this works so good my son and daughter will be sharing a bed for at least the weekend.
 

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OK, here's the 95% finished product. Now that I've found the right wheel angle I need to drill a hole in the flange of the top and put a bolt through to lock it down. I need to replace the 2x4 on the bottom of the pedal mount with a 2x6 for steeper angle on the pedals. Then I need to paint the pedal stand and I'm done.

Total spent:
$29 work stand (Home Depot)
$6 misc hardware/paint (Sears Hardware)
$4 scrap wood I had lying around

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devilman2075
i saw those but i'd rather have something heavier to withstand when u turn sharp and fast....ist nice but imo not worth the 90 bucks when to make one with hinges to fold away would be cheaper...but hey tell us how it works and maybe u could prove me wrong
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ok i got it today and hooked it all up. real easy. and real adjustable (wouldnt think it from the ebay ad) all i got to say is, amazing. This guy hit the nail on the head with this one. its real sturdy and feels right. Worht the 90 bones IMO. You wont be dissapointed trust me. Did i mention its real sturdy :)
 
This is my setup. It's not expensive. I got seat from brother's old car, wood under seat from our wood shack, the main box construction wood for about 20EUR (cut up in store) and that is all. Just put some work in it to attach seat to that box on the floor, and put screws into big box and add a steel profile for shifter. Very inexpencive and very very effective. Steering wheel can be taken off and be put back on in front. As an extra I added a handbrake (from friend's old car and connected as a button to wheel and modded pedals so that they are not flat but are under an angle inside the big box.
 
Mostly for PC games like LFS and GTR but I will use it with GT4 once I get a DFP. Nothing special, and that is a seat out of my Galant :lol:
smallpit2.jpg

smallpit.jpg


Cost about $40 since I already had the tubing and tools to do it 8)
 
These are some nice setup's...I took my mom's side table, it's real big and heavy but it does
the job real good. I gotta make 1 or build cause there's a big space im the living room
now...lol
 
sethmo
Mostly for PC games like LFS and GTR but I will use it with GT4 once I get a DFP. Nothing special, and that is a seat out of my Galant :lol:
smallpit2.jpg

smallpit.jpg


Cost about $40 since I already had the tubing and tools to do it 8)
Click to expand...
Looks clean, but very heavy.
👍
 
Yah its not too bad. The steering wheel tray is on a hinge so I can get in and out easy. Id say it weighs about 15-20lbs w/o the seat in it. Only bad thing is it doesnt fold up or anything. I just sit it up on its bak in the corner of my office, doesnt take up too much room 👍

But its sturdy as a rock, my friend stood on the bars and jumped up and down and they didnt move :sly:
 
feldon23
Another angle of my friend's setup--a better view of the custom-built adjustable stand. He just finished the 5+ hour Fuji endurance race.

GT4-Setup-09b.jpg
Click to expand...

Does your friend have a write up on that thing? I really wanna make one. It looks awesome.
 
The DFP shifter...is it truly sequential? Like, does it shift in a pattern? Or just click up and down like my crappy PSone wheel...? I'd like to know if I should be saving up for that Frex shifter. I likely will anyway, as I want to mount it to my left for JDMness...(I'm a dork, yes...)

Also, Intel, would you be so kick-ass as to supply me with the write-up or one like it for your black-tubing setup? I'l be tearing the seat out of my junked Bronco II soon, and I'd like to use that setup for my base. Seems cheap, simple, and doable. (I'm an idiot when it comes to building stuff - sawing and fitting plastic tubes together can't be TOO hard...)

Thanks much! :crazy: :dopey:
 
I'll be able to get the plans for everyone in a few days when I get back home. Just PM me so I remember all the people that need one.

Hmm.. I like the look of that one made from black metal tubing a few posts up. I could probobly make one like that outta ABS piping.. hehe
 
Ten
The DFP shifter...is it truly sequential? Like, does it shift in a pattern? Or just click up and down like my crappy PSone wheel...? I'd like to know if I should be saving up for that Frex shifter. I likely will anyway, as I want to mount it to my left for JDMness...(I'm a dork, yes...)
Click to expand...

I thought I replied to this, but apparently I didn't.

Yes, it's just crappy clicky up and down.

I've personally considered the Frex shifter, but it is too expensive.

Building a shifter mod is a more cost effective solution.

I'm thinking of grabbing this one while it's on sale, but I may or may not indulge in one of the more expensive short shift knobs http://www.racerwheel.com/rt000917.html

Positioning the shifter lower and further to the right would produce a more natural posture while shifting. That is my goal. And for $2.95 (plus shipping) how can you go wrong?
 
nearly finalised my folding cockpit, painted black, added carpet to the base (so the pedals can be held in position with velcro) increased the adjustment range for height and tidied up a few loose ends.


flatpack4.jpg





IMG_1132-large.jpg
 
Here is my setup. I've had it for a while and ya'll have encouraged me to get a better seat for it. It is rather heavy and not very pretty but it works great.

askewview.jpg


sideview.jpg


backview.jpg


It cost me absolutely nothing as my dad had all the wood laying around.
 
Has anyone tried moving the shifter to a different location? I'm not a fan of the DFP's being so high up of a location. It needs to be centered like a real set up.
 
I seen it done but looks kinda tricky... You have to open it up and move some wires around.. i dont recamend doing it... since you could mess up the wiring and then you will have to drive auto after that....
-TD
 
Yesterday, my friend and I went and built a cockpit with scraps of steel that was on the farm he works on...

Still unpainted (which, btw will be black) it sits in two pieces.
The seat is from a old Mitsi Lancer and still has it's adjustability (a cover will be brought eventually).
The other part holds the foot pedals and DFP wheel.
They were designed 'on-the-fly' as we were doing it.

The pedal box is slightly raised, and the steering column is twin-keeled.
It's height isn't adjustable as we didn't think to do so.
But hey you can put a cushion on the seat if you find it too high.
Only 1 out of 5 has, two people that race/rally have found it fine.

Both sections slide into one another to make it's length adjustable (4x).
Both sections are locked by a pin (we're gonna call it the 'kill switch' ) which will be painted red.

Cost technically was $0, but I gave my friend some $$$ and some beer.
I'll give the owners of the farm two dozen cans of beer, for use of scraps and MIG wire...

We basically got it home and tried it out straight away on GT4P

EDITED for better readability...
 
Slurp
I thought I replied to this, but apparently I didn't.

Yes, it's just crappy clicky up and down.

I've personally considered the Frex shifter, but it is too expensive.

Building a shifter mod is a more cost effective solution.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, and guh. You're right...it's a bit pricey. I just can't stand that stupid placement...

It's like...right there...

The Frex one would be so cool, too...just like Ferarri Challenge at the arcade. 👍

Grrr...I'd have no idea where to start by using an alternative...I don't mind if it just clicks up and down, really...I just NEED to move it...

Any ideas? I've Googled DFP shifter alternatives and the like a million times...can't find anything... :ouch:

Or maybe I need a better phrase to search for? :dunce:
 
Very nice! Though I do worry that the section between the seats and steering mount may bend or deform after extensive use...maybe add just a little more support? Maybe not - I don't know anything about welding or metalwork, lol. :lol:
 

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