How to Mount a Direct Drive Wheelbase on a TR-One Front Wheel Mount

Quick answer

Mount your direct drive wheelbase to the TR-One front wheel mount by first attaching the wheel plate to the wheelbase with the correct bolt pattern, then sliding the plate onto the TR-One uprights and tightening once you have set reach and angle. Use the TR-One Wheel Mount Plate for TRX Racing Simulators as the dedicated interface, and check that all bolts are snug before powering the wheelbase.

A direct drive wheelbase puts far more force through your cockpit than a belt- or gear-driven unit, so the mounting interface matters as much as the wheelbase itself. The TR-One front wheel mount is designed to hold that load, but only if the plate is aligned correctly and every fastener is tightened in the right order.

This guide walks through the install from preparation to final checks. It assumes you already have the TR-One cockpit uprights and the matching wheel plate; if you are still choosing a plate, the notes below explain which Trak Racer option fits your rig.

What you need before you start

Gather the wheelbase, the TR-One front wheel mount uprights, the correct wheel plate, and the bolts supplied with your wheelbase. Direct drive units use different bolt patterns, so confirm your wheelbase's mounting holes against the plate before you lift anything into place. A second person helps once the wheelbase is attached to the plate, because the combined weight can make one-handed alignment awkward.

Work on a clear floor with the cockpit uprights already assembled and stable. If your rig is on casters, lock them or chock the frame so it cannot roll while you lean into the mount. Keep the wheelbase unplugged until the very end, and route the power and USB cables loosely so they are not trapped between the plate and the uprights.

• Checkpoint: the wheel plate should sit flat against the wheelbase base with no gap on any side.
• Common mistake: starting with the plate already bolted to the uprights, which makes wheelbase alignment much harder.

Step 1: Attach the wheel plate to the wheelbase

Lay the wheelbase on a padded surface and place the wheel plate over its mounting holes. The TR-One Wheel Mount Plate for TRX Racing Simulators is purpose-built for the Alpine Racing TRX Cockpit and gives a zero-flex, precision-engineered mounting point for a direct drive wheelbase, so it is the natural starting point on a TRX rig. Start all four bolts by hand before tightening any of them, which lets the plate settle evenly instead of binding on one corner.

Once every bolt is threaded, tighten in a cross pattern rather than going around the circle. This spreads the clamping load and reduces the chance of stripping a thread in the wheelbase base. You do not need to torque these to a specific figure unless your wheelbase manual gives one; firm, even pressure with the correct Allen key is enough.

• Checkpoint: the plate should not rock or spin when you push down on one corner.
• Common mistake: over-tightening the first bolt, which lifts the opposite corner and leaves a visible gap.

Step 2: Set the plate height and angle on the uprights

Slide the plate onto the TR-One front uprights and set a starting height that puts the wheel rim roughly at chest level when you sit in the seat. If you are using the Trak Racer Universal Wheel Base Plate Deck with Full Slide and Angle Adjustment, you get forward and backward sliding adjustment, vertical height adjustment and wheel angle adjustment, which lets you dial in reach and tilt without re-drilling anything. That adjustability is useful if you share the rig or change seats.

Set the angle so the wheel face points slightly toward your shoulders rather than straight up. A common mistake is setting the wheel too flat, which forces your wrists into an unnatural bend and makes long stints uncomfortable. Tighten the upright clamps just enough to hold the plate while you sit in the cockpit and test reach.

• Checkpoint: with your shoulders against the seat, your arms should have a slight bend at the elbow when you grip the rim.
• Common mistake: adjusting height after tightening the clamps, which can scratch the upright profiles.

Step 3: Tighten the mount and check for flex

Once the position feels right, tighten the upright clamps and any plate fasteners in a steady sequence. Push and pull the top of the wheel rim firmly in several directions and watch the plate-to-upright joint. A small amount of movement is normal in the wheelbase itself, but the plate should not shift on the uprights or make a clicking sound.

If you notice movement, loosen the clamps, reseat the plate so it sits square on both uprights, and tighten again. Direct drive torque will find any weak point, so it is worth spending a few extra minutes here. On aluminium profile rigs, check that the upright brackets are also tight, since flex often comes from the frame rather than the plate.

• Checkpoint: no visible gap between the plate and the upright faces on either side.
• Common mistake: tightening one upright fully before the other, which pulls the plate out of square.

Step 4: Route cables and finish the install

With the mount tight, route the wheelbase power and USB cables along the upright or frame, leaving a service loop near the wheelbase so the connector is not under tension. Keep cables away from the wheel rim's sweep and from any moving shifter or handbrake linkage. If your rig uses a bass shaker or tactile transducer, the Trak Racer Universal Vibration Isolation Kit – Set of 4 Heavy-Duty Rubber Isolation Feet can reduce vibration transfer into the floor while enhancing tactile feedback within the rig, which is worth considering if you feel vibration through the pedals or neighbours notice it.

Before you power up, do a final check of every bolt you touched. Then connect the wheelbase, run the manufacturer's calibration, and test at low force first. If the wheelbase software shows an angle offset, recheck that the plate is square on the uprights rather than compensating in software.

• Checkpoint: cables have slack and cannot be pinched by the plate or uprights.
• Common mistake: skipping the low-force test and jumping straight to full torque.

TR-One front mount install checklist

1. Attach the plate to the wheelbase: Start all bolts by hand, then tighten in a cross pattern with the wheelbase on a padded surface. Checkpoint: no gap between plate and wheelbase base.
2. Set height and angle on the uprights: Slide the plate to a chest-level starting height and tilt the wheel slightly toward your shoulders. Checkpoint: slight elbow bend when seated and gripping the rim.
3. Tighten and test for flex: Tighten clamps evenly, then push and pull the rim to check the plate-to-upright joint. Checkpoint: no clicking or shifting at the mount.
4. Route cables and power up: Leave a service loop, keep cables clear of moving parts, and run a low-force test before full torque. Checkpoint: cables have slack and the wheelbase calibrates without an angle offset.

Parts that fit this install

• TR-One Wheel Mount Plate for TRX Racing Simulators: Purpose-built for the Alpine Racing TRX Cockpit, giving sim racers a zero-flex, precision-engineered mounting point for their direct drive wheelbase. It is the correct interface for a TRX front mount, so you avoid drilling or adapter plates.
• Universal Wheel Base Plate Deck with Full Slide and Angle Adjustment: Provides forward and backward sliding adjustment, vertical height adjustment and wheel angle adjustment, with broad wheelbase compatibility. Useful if you share the rig or want to fine-tune reach and wheel angle without changing the frame.
• Universal Vibration Isolation Kit – Set of 4 Heavy-Duty Rubber Isolation Feet: Reduces vibration transfer from bass shakers, tactile transducers, and force-feedback systems into the floor while enhancing tactile feedback within your sim rig. A sensible add-on if direct drive forces or tactile units are shaking the floor.

A direct drive wheelbase is only as solid as the plate it sits on. Take the time to align the plate square, tighten in sequence, and test at low force, and the TR-One front mount will give you a stable base for every session.