Cockpit Accessories Explained: What Each One Actually Does

Quick answer

Buy accessories only for the problem you can actually feel. If your wheel deck moves, a stronger deck or bolt set fixes it; if your pedals flex under braking, a pedal arm support is the right add-on; if your feet or monitors are uncomfortable, a floor plate or monitor conversion kit solves that. Everything else can wait until your rig is stable and your seating position is right.

Cockpit accessories are the parts that turn a basic frame into a rig that fits you. They rarely change lap times on their own, but they remove the small movements and discomforts that make you compensate instead of drive.

This FAQ answers the questions that come up most often when people are deciding what to add next. Each answer stands alone, so you can jump to the part that matches your rig.

What do cockpit accessories actually do?

They do one of three jobs: stop movement, improve your position, or let you add something new. Movement fixes include stronger wheel decks, pedal supports, and bolt sets that keep aluminium profile joints tight. Position fixes include floor plates and seat rails that put your feet and hips where they need to be. Expansion parts, like a single-to-triple monitor conversion kit, let an existing stand carry more equipment without replacing the whole thing.

The practical test is simple. If you can feel a part move while you brake or steer, it is a movement problem. If you finish a stint with a sore back, knee, or neck, it is a position problem. If you want to add a screen or shifter, it is an expansion problem. Match the accessory to the category, not to the marketing photo.

• Movement: wheel deck, pedal arm, bolt sets, support bars
• Position: floor plate, seat rails, pedal plate angle
• Expansion: monitor mounts, conversion kits, accessory rails

Which accessories should I buy first?

Start with the part your body touches most: the wheel deck and the pedal area. A wheel deck that flexes under force feedback blurs every detail the wheel is trying to send you, and a pedal plate that moves under heavy braking makes consistent trail braking almost impossible. Once those two areas are solid, look at your seating and foot position.

After that, spend on comfort and visibility. A floor plate gives your feet a defined resting spot, which reduces fatigue on longer stints. A monitor conversion kit only makes sense once your wheel and pedals are stable, because a third screen will not fix a rig that already moves. If you are unsure, fix the cheapest movement problem first and reassess.

• Priority 1: wheel deck and pedal support
• Priority 2: seating and foot position
• Priority 3: monitors, shifters, and cosmetic upgrades

How do I know if my rig needs a pedal support?

Press your brake pedal as hard as you would in a real emergency stop and watch the pedal plate. If the plate or the frame around it flexes upward or sideways, a support accessory will help. This is especially common on wheel stands and lighter cockpits where the pedal plate is only supported at the front.

A pedal arm reinforces the area so the force goes into the frame instead of into flex. You do not need one on every rig, but if you run a load cell brake or brake with high force, it is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make. If the plate does not move under that test, spend your money elsewhere.

• Test with the hardest brake press you actually use
• Flex at the plate or frame means a support will help
• No movement means the accessory is optional

Do I need a floor plate or is it just cosmetic?

A floor plate is not required, but it solves two real problems. First, it protects your floor from the sharp edges and movement of an aluminium profile rig. Second, it gives your feet a consistent place to rest, which matters if your pedals are mounted high or your seat is reclined. Without one, your heels often end up on the frame or floating.

The trade-off is cost and a small amount of installation time. If your rig sits on a hard floor you care about, or if you notice your feet shifting during long stints, a floor plate earns its place. If your rig is on a rubber mat and your foot position already feels natural, it is a comfort upgrade rather than a necessity.

• Protects hard floors from profile edges
• Gives a repeatable heel position
• Skip it if your foot position is already comfortable

Are bolt sets worth buying separately?

Yes, if you are building or modifying an aluminium profile rig. Profile rigs rely on tight joints, and a loose bolt is the most common source of creaks, clicks, and small movements that feel like flex. Buying a matched set means you have the right length and head style on hand instead of improvising with hardware that does not sit flush.

The main decision is bolt type and size. Countersunk bolts sit flush with the profile surface, which matters where your legs or mounts pass over the joint. Standard bolts are fine in less exposed spots. Check your rig's slot size before ordering, and keep a few spares, because you will add accessories later.

• Countersunk for surfaces you or a mount will pass over
• Standard heads for hidden joints
• Keep spares for future add-ons

Can I add triple monitors to an existing single monitor stand?

Often yes, if the stand is designed for it. A conversion kit replaces the single-monitor mounting hardware with arms and brackets that hold three displays, letting you adjust distance and height so the screens sit right behind the wheel. This is usually far cheaper and less disruptive than buying a complete triple stand.

The catch is compatibility. Conversion kits are built for a specific stand family, so check that your current stand matches before ordering. You also need the desk or floor space for three screens and the patience to align them. If your stand is not supported, a standalone triple mount is the safer route.

• Confirm your stand is compatible before buying
• Plan for the extra width and weight
• Alignment takes time; do it once and tighten everything

Quick reference: match the accessory to the problem

Wheel deck moves under force feedback

Replace or reinforce the wheel mounting platform so the wheel stays fixed. Fix this before buying monitors or cosmetic parts.

Pedal plate flexes under hard braking

Add a pedal support that ties the plate into the frame. Test with your hardest braking force to confirm the flex.

Feet slide or floor gets marked

Add a floor plate for a defined heel position and floor protection. Comfort and protection, not performance.

Want triple screens without a new stand

Check whether a conversion kit fits your existing single monitor stand. Confirm compatibility first; otherwise buy a standalone triple mount.

Rig creaks or joints loosen

Replace or top up bolts with a matched set for your profile slots. Keep spares; you will add accessories later.

Accessories in the catalog and what they solve

• PRIME Wheel Deck: Designed to provide a strong and stable mounting platform for your racing wheel, with optimal positioning and minimal flex. If your current wheel deck moves under force feedback, this is the direct fix and it keeps your wheel where you set it.
• ART Pedal Arm: Reinforces the pedal plate area to help reduce flex under heavy braking, and is also compatible with GT Omega Wheel Stands. A targeted upgrade for load cell brakes or any rig where the pedal plate lifts under hard braking, including wheel stand setups.
• PRIME Floor Plate: A sturdy and spacious footrest that protects your floors and gives a more ergonomic resting position. Solves two problems at once: floor protection and a consistent heel position for longer stints.
• Simulator Single to Triple Monitor Stand Conversion Kit: Upgrades a GT Omega Single Monitor Stand into a Triple Monitor Stand, with adjustable distance and height for the screens. The lower-cost path to triple screens if you already own a compatible single stand, instead of replacing the whole mount.

Buy accessories to solve a problem you can feel, not to fill a category. Fix movement first, then position, then expansion. That order keeps your spending useful and your rig predictable.