My New Sim Rig! Next Level Racing GTElite Cockpit - Unboxing, Assembly and First Impressions

Рет қаралды 28,801

Күн бұрын

I recently, and rather unexpectedly, came into possession of a brand new GTElite Cockpit by Next Level Racing (the special Ford GT version, no less) which I unbox, assemble and try out for the first time in this video. It looks stunning, comes together easily and feels absolutely solid, but as always, there’s a little bit more to it than just that…
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THIS IS NOT A PAID PROMOTIONAL VIDEO AND THESE OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN! That said, Next Level Racing very generously sent this rig and seat to me for FREE to keep in return for an honest review. Wow, I know, right?
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🏁 NEXT LEVEL RACING affiliate link: nextlevelracing.com/?ref=5189
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0:00 Hello and welcome!
0:54 What is the Next Level Racing GTElite Cockpit?
1:29 Day 1 - Packing down my old Simetik K2-R rig
3:32 Day 1 - Assembling the Next Level Racing GTElite Cockpit
6:15 Day 1 - Mounting the ES1 Seat
7:48 Day 2 - Nice day outside…
8:48 Day 2 - Assembling the monitor stands
10:38 Day 2 - Assembling and mounting the button box attachment
11:55 Day 2 - Assembling and mounting the keyboard/mouse attachment
13:02 Day 2 - Mounting my gear back on the rig
15:02 Day 3 - Feeling sore…
15:48 Day 3 - Cables everywhere!
16:18 IT’S FINISHED!
16:49 My first impressions - sitting in the Next Level Racing GT Elite Cockpit for the first time
20:02 Mt first impressions - out on track
22:56 My detailed thoughts on the Next Level Racing GTElite Cockpit
32:51 Thanks to Next Level Racing
33:28 Shameless self promotion
As always, your support is massively appreciated, thank you for watching! SUBSCRIBE and press the NOTIFICATION BELL to find out when I go live or upload and, if you’re enjoying the content, give it a LIKE. Feel free to share your thoughts in the COMMENTS or CHAT...or even over on DISCORD if you can't get enough!
#NextLevelRacing #GTElite #FordGT

Пікірлер: 180

@punchawaterfall6302 Жыл бұрын

I did appreciate this more human side of Dan, playing with his daughter, having a morning coffee outside. Good stuff, bud!

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Let the camera roll for effectively three days straight and it's bound to pick up a few interesting moments 😉 mini-Finney got me *good* with that little sneak attack ha!

@SpasticSpud 3 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacerdid you sell the K2-R on?

@seanpatterson5574 Жыл бұрын

Really Nice Rig! Even more impressive is the integrity shown by Next Level Racing to respond to your honest, no glowing, review of their product by asking for further input. That says a lot to me about the quality of their organization. It is also a ringing endorsement of your channel and yourself. Congratulations Dan. And in a few years MiniFinney can use your old rig to drive circles around you.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I was quite surprised to get that initial email from Next Level Racing asking if I wanted to try out one of their rigs 👀 to be honest, I was on the fence for a few months on whether I should edit and release the HF8 video. I like to remain positive on the channel, you know the whole "not got something nice to say? Don't say it" mentality but I figured that I was being constructive, not negative, so decided to go ahead with the video...and I'm so glad I did now. Aside from sending a couple of the wrong boxes and delaying the build for a few weeks, they've been great to deal with and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future brings. As for the old rig, I'm thinking I might sell it and recoup some of the costs into a new VR headset...I get the feeling my CV1 might be on borrowed time these days so best to be prepared instead of waiting for it to fail and being caught out. The little one's legs won't be long enough for a few years anyway 😉 but at that point I'll just get her an old wooden desk or something and she can do it on my old G29 like when I started the channel. That way she really will follow in my footsteps ha!

@seanpatterson5574 Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer The HF8 video was not a positive review, but it was obviously an honest one. You spent a lot of time and effort getting the thing dialed in, and had some success. And you were objective. That kind of feedback is invaluable for people wanting to develop their products. It looks good on both you and them.

@loukas371 Жыл бұрын

What an amazing and detailed review. Normally i get bored 5 minutes into videos like this but i stuck through the whole 30+ minutes. Kudos for making this interesting!

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Cheers Loukas 😁 glad it didn't put you to sleep mate! There was *_a lot_* of footage to work through so it was tempting to include more...but figured the edit needed to stay snappy and keep people interested so I aimed for no longer than a minute on one particular section or same piece of video. Was quite odd in the building process though as every 20-30 minutes I'd stop, put the mic on and say something to the camera 😂 just in case I might want to use it in the final video. Most of it was useless, made no sense or was just me complaining about how tired I was...but at least some it came in handy in the end.

@aldyrinc6870 Жыл бұрын

Such a level headed review. It looks fantastic, and now you’re going to be even faster, from the looks of it. Bravo 👏

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

No point getting carried away with hype or clickbait mate 😉 straight to the facts for me, what you see is what you get! Also probably helps that I was pretty tired for the majority of the assembly process 😆 I just wanted to get the information out to the camera and carry on with the build! Haven't tried the new rig with DiRT Rally 2.0 yet but I'm seriously considering getting a handbrake now that I don't have my HOTAS joystick mounted on the left hand side anymore. Time will tell...

@glennwebb9417 5 ай бұрын

i wouldn't have stopped till it was done, and I was playing😊😊

@DDFRacer 5 ай бұрын

Ha yeah, it was tempting to pull an all nighter! The temperature and humidity of Brisbane put a stop to that idea though, along with the daily schedule of raising a little kiddo too 😉

@stickdeath1980 Жыл бұрын

Lol Dan breaking his back with some hard Mahi 😂 Ford GTE in iracing is mint to drive too....really awsome video mate.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I considered going for a drive in the Ford GTE in iRacing first...but then realised I didn't own the car😅 so RaceRoom's Ford GT1 it was. Can't wait to give it a proper go with Bincar this weekend and then the 24hr Le Mans next weekend!

@Theoloop Жыл бұрын

I just swapped rigs two months ago, also measured out the old one as much as possible. It helps tons!!! Also I gotta say that's some of the nicest packaging for 80/20 I've ever seen. Mines only come plastic wrapped which still worked fine but the layout of that main box was nice. Congrats on the rig!

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Those measurements were a life saver, I honestly couldn't imagine going through the whole process of finding the right fit again after spending years on the Simetik K2-R getting it dialled in. Completely agree on the packaging too, incredibly efficient in terms of space but on the flip side those larger pieces of aluminium were an absolute b*tch to try and get out of the polystyrene 🤣

@luis_exotics 9 ай бұрын

Just ordered the same seat and frame , can’t freaking wait! So pretty

@DDFRacer 9 ай бұрын

Having used it for several months now I can confirm it's still a great rig and absolutely solid 😁 no complaints here and the seat is super comfortable, maybe even more than in this video since I've broken it in a little. Did a 24hr race a couple of weeks after the build and it was great, literally sat and slept in this thing all day.

@newcastlegeorge Жыл бұрын

Exciting stuff Dan and richly deserved :) Rigs are always a bit of a pain to put together, but it's so worth it! Thank you for sticking up for us people who put our shifter on the left side

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Somebody has to defend the lefties 🤣 it just wouldn't feel right otherwise. See what I did there? Feel _right_ ? Sorry, I'll see myself out...

@grahamkelly8662 Жыл бұрын

I have a g29 and by omega Titan, cockpit and overall, I’m very happy with it BUT I’m going to upgrade to Logitech direct drive and get omega Prime or Prime lite Cockpit. I really wanted to go with fanatec, because it looks a lot nicer. As it ships from Germany and I hear some horror stories, about faulty items and poor customer service, I decided to go with the easier option of Logitech direct drive. I can always buy a Fanatec setup in a year or 2 and if I have problems, it will be much less of a hassle, because I will have my Logitech direct drive wheel. My main reason for upgrading cockpit and wheel, is simply to be able to move wheel backwards and forwards, up and down to exactly the right spot and as for the wheel, I just want a smooth wheel when turning and direct drive will do that.

@OhItsThat Жыл бұрын

The color of that rig is beautiful. I had a SimLab GT1 EVO a few years ago and currently have a P1X. I really enjoyed building and adding on to both those chassis. The key for me was having proper allen wrenches. Full size screw driver style with the ball end.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I love the way the blue reflects the light, especially with the LED strip lights I'm running in the background for the streaming camera, the finish on the aluminium is absolutely stunning 😍 you make a good point about the allen wrenches though. Sure, the ones that Next Level Racing supply are more than capable of doing the job but I don't doubt for a second that having a better tool would have made this a much quicker (and more comfortable) task 😉 good advice for next time mate...not that I plan on going through this again any time soon ha!

@kod81 Жыл бұрын

Looks great. Well done Dan, great video and review as always

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Thanking you kindly good sir 😎 glad you enjoyed it! Looking forward to getting some races done in this thing and seeing how it performs in action.

@shawnfin671 Жыл бұрын

Well done . Let's see it in action soon

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Got a couple of big ones coming up to put it through its paces! Bincar at Bathurst this weekend and then a 24hr Le Mans race next weekend 😁 can't wait.

@Pedster9 Жыл бұрын

This video has put me in a nice place. Really enjoyed this. Thank you ( subbed )

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and the sub 🧡 glad you enjoyed it!

@derekd4349 Жыл бұрын

Great job with the review. Very impressed.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Thanks Derek, glad you enjoyed it 👍

@petiertje Жыл бұрын

This is interesting to watch. thanks :) I bet NextLevel is watching this too, this is some good testing footage ;-)

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😉 thanks mate! I've posted the video on my Twitter and tagged Next Level Racing so hopefully the can pick it up and have a look too.

@VjohnnyC 7 ай бұрын

Just purchased a GT Elite cockpit + ERS1 seat using your affiliate link. Very well made video, I watched some of your races afterwards as well and enjoyed your content.

@DDFRacer 7 ай бұрын

Oh wow, thank you very much for using that link 😍 it's massively appreciated! Still going strong here with the rig having used it every day since the build, it's absolutely solid and I love it. The seat is also still extremely comfortable even for non simracing applications 👍 I do all my liveries from here, all of my video editing and even most of my working from home. I also found myself getting lost in Starfield too which probably accounts for more than all of those things combined but that's another story... 😅

@Talenin2014 Жыл бұрын

Looking fantastic mate!

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

It does rather, doesn't it? 😍

@globsta6911 Жыл бұрын

Great review. I have the same cockpit but the non Ford Gt version. I took the side uprights to my local machine shop and had em cut about 6 inches off the top of them. Now my monitor sits low and close like you’d hope for. For the price of the cockpit you shouldn’t have to cut it down to size but now that I have it sits perfectly and I couldn’t be happier.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Awesome stuff mate 👍 I'm glad you found a solution. I'm not sure Next Level Racing would appreciate me cutting off half of their logo though for when I do my promotional shots 😅 but maybe in a little while I can have a look at getting them trimmed down. Like you said, it seems a bit of an odd thing you'd need to do for a rig at this price point. I am however noticing that I've mounted the seat in the lowest position possible (I literally followed the assembly _exactly_ as instructed) so perhaps I could raise my seat and wheel up a few notches. I'd have to re-do all of the cable management, readjust the seating position and brake position too but could be a potential workaround...

@eaglecott3806 Жыл бұрын

Really nice looking racing rig, Daniel! I'm sure you'll have tons of great racing hours in it 🙂

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Eaglecott! Mate, I hope you're keeping well 😁 long time no see. As nice as this rig may be, it _still_ doesn't have a custom gear shifter knob so it can only be average at best, right? 😉

@Josephtimeisallwegot 2 ай бұрын

real good job on your video. got a lot from it. thanks.

@DDFRacer 2 ай бұрын

Happy to hear it came in useful for you 👍 can confirm it's still going strong today after nearly a year of extensive use, hasn't budged an inch or had any screws fall out or come loose. I think the seat has actually gotten _more_ comfortable somehow too 😅 couldn't recommend highly enough!

@Badhans2007 4 ай бұрын

Awesome review

@DDFRacer 4 ай бұрын

Cheers mate 😎 glad you enjoyed it

@captainflatspot Жыл бұрын

sweet looking rig 👍 I also noticed those side profiles that are in front of your screen when you were building it. Other than that it looks solid. And what a color ! 👌

@DDFRacer 11 ай бұрын

The side profiles have become much less of an issue now I've raised the monitor slightly. Still not ideal in terms of driving position when using a monitor, but since I use VR 99% of the time then it's really not that bad at all. Couldn't agree more about the colour though 😍 normally I'm an orange kinda guy, but that blue is just stunnning!

@Therubbersluggchannel Жыл бұрын

I modified tough built utility pouches to attached to the sides to hold my remotes tools and other goodies.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I'm thinking maybe more along the lines of a drinks holder and VR headset mount but I hear ya 😉 the T nuts and channels make it easy to add extra bits on down the line.

@mgeo01 Жыл бұрын

Great review well done...

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Thank you George 😁🇬🇷

@gxti Жыл бұрын

I chopped the uprights on mine so they don't obstruct the monitors. Wish I'd done it sooner but I was anxious that after swapping a few components out I'd end up needing the height back. Was super easy with a miter saw, I got a cheap fine-toothed HSS blade but pretty much anything should work. Just make sure to get the angle perfect or the cap won't fit. You're spot-on about the angled uprights making one adjustment throw everything off, it's been super challenging getting things dialed in. I do appreciate the legroom though, it's easier to get in compared to a more typical vertical upright rig. At various points I've tried removing the pedal risers and bolting to the frame directly, and even bolting to the bottom of the frame. Including a taller seat bracket (I think the one they sell separately is in fact taller) would really help get a more comfortable leg position (higher while still reclined) and make better use of those uprights.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I've seen a few other people here recommend taking a saw to the uprights but it does seem like a very drastic solution. I'm going to play around with the seat in the future as I think I may be able to boost it up on the L brackets a little more, although I'm finding the current seating position super comfortable actually 👍 and with me using VR the higher monitor position isn't an issue really. Like you said, it does take a while to get things dialled in but the legroom is great, feels really nice being able to stretch it out on those longer straights and in between stints.

@jed2055 6 күн бұрын

Yay! Yet another freebie handed out. Utube is full of folk happy or sometimes bemused to get handed a AU$1500 racing cockpit WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS I might add just because. This time, to a bloke who doesn't even need it. Sheesh! However, I did like your review. Lots of info on the bad as well as the good, spoken both clearly and logically. I'll be building the same rig very soon and much of it will be done at table height. One video tip; this rig is dark in a dark room. I had a lot of trouble seeing any detail tbh. Hope you cashed in selling one of your rigs. Not a bad little earner after all 🙂

@alastairman1223 Жыл бұрын

Thanks to a limited time deal on Digital Motorsports, I recently picked up a GT Elite and I gotta say, with experience building a custom 8020 rig, this thing is amazing. Easy to assemble, basically no flex, its insane.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I've never built an 8020 rig before but can definitely say that this thing was easy to slap together, although it does take a decent chunk of time. I haven't noticed any flexing, or even creaking, either yet 😍 absolutely rock solid which means more of the vibrations from the wheel and pedals travel through the frame instead of being lost in transit. I can feel the bumps, kerbs and tyre slip in my legs and arse a little bit without running any kind of shakers or motors, it's great!

@supercededman 5 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacerDan, great review mate! I decided to order this rig after watching your review, thinking also that the Formula rig was too complex and chunky. I initially was confusing it with the F-GT, which I think may have a less sturdy frame and I don't think it is listed on Pagnian's website (Euro only?). The reviews I've watched of the F-GT show an upgrade by NLR which includes a strengthening bar to support the wheel plate. Can u help with my confusion? It certainly looks like the GT Elite is sturdy enough! By the way, I'm an Aussie too. Melbourne. 😊

@Bigheadedwon Ай бұрын

What a video, that’s a beautiful rig. I just Googled and it’s a real shame that nobody makes a GT wheel to match with this. A branded GT replica wheel would make this just about perfect. I love how it looks in the video, but the BMW wheel would set off my slight OCD lol. I know they make a non Ford GT version of this but this pops more. Hummmm I need to dig around on Reddit maybe some simgeek whipped up a GT wheel

@DDFRacer Ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words 😁 much appreciated! Can confirm the rig is still going strong to this day and hasn't faulted once, although I'd never really noticed the mismatch between the branding and the wheel before ha. I also use an F1 style wheel occasionally for prototype and single seater racing which has blue fabric on the handles so that would perhaps fit the style a little better 😉 although a dedicated Ford GT wheel would complete the ensemble perfectly like you say. There's some pretty crafty people on Reddit, might be worth having a look there 👍

@Theoloop Жыл бұрын

Being a monitor user I would take those uprights to a machine shop and have them cut off a few inches off for sure. Also it would've been nice to see them include spring ball T nuts instead, MUCH easier to work with. Rig is a looker though.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Funny you say about cutting the tops of the uprights off, a few other people have mentioned they have this rig too and have done exactly that. Seems like a bit of an extreme solution for something that should be good out of the box but, hey, if it works then it's not a stupid idea 😉 right? That said, I've since noticed there's an extra notch or two where the seat can be mounted higher so I might give that a whirl first before taking a circular saw to this gorgeous thing. I'm not sure Next Level Racing would appreciate me cutting half their logo off either 😅

@sim_racing_pops1675 Жыл бұрын

3 day build put me off these type rigs lol I’ll stick with my Trak racer tr8 Nice video bro

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

The length of time put me off this project as well 😉 trust me! If I had space for two rigs at the same time then I would have spread the build out over a few more days and taken it a little easier...but in order to build this one I had to dismantle the old one and there's no sense of panic quite like having _no rig whatsoever_ and races booked in a few days time. Was definitely up against the clock 😬 worth it in the end but yeah, I hope I don't have to do this again any time soon ha!

@Therubbersluggchannel Жыл бұрын

I have the same rig enjoy my dude.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Oh I certainly am 😁 been doing a lot of practice in it, had a couple of races at the weekend and have got a 24hr race coming up this weekend too! Definitely putting the rig through its paces 👍

@ChrisCrossingWires1212 11 ай бұрын

Awesome Rig Id have to clean the wiring up but yeah on the first rig i mean

@DDFRacer 11 ай бұрын

Ha yeah 😅 the wiring on my old rig was a mess, but I guess that's just several years of swapping devices out and knowing I'd be building a new rig soon so not bothering to keep it too tidy. Cables are looking much neater on the new one 👍 makes such a big difference too.

@jkwes1 Жыл бұрын

Really interesting review Dan. Watching the build left ME exhausted! Makes my rig - a $10 Bunnings seat - look a bit lame.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Building this rig was a timely reminder that I need to look after myself a little better and get in shape 😉 sure, it was a sustained period of physical work intended for two people instead of one, but watching the footage back during editing made me realise that it could be time for a Matt Malone style health kick ha! Don't let this put a dampener on your setup though mate, as long as what you have gives you the opportunity to go racing and get some enjoyment out of this hobby then it's fit for purpose 😁 I do realise that I'm _incredibly_ lucky to be in a position where Next Level Racing would send me a rig, not many people get this kind of opportunity or be able to purchase something like this, and I definitely don't take it for granted. I fondly remember using an old lounge chair and wooden desk (combined cost probably around $25 from the tip shop) for the majority of my early years on the channel, some of the best moments I ever had. A fancy rig sure is a nice thing to have, but ultimately it's all about the memories and experiences you make out on track that matter 👍

@OzzCyrus 2 ай бұрын

hey mate, great video and much appreciated for someone like me. i'm curious would you recommend this cockpit or do you think its worth going for the f gt elite or even the f gt elite 160 over this cockpit ? thanks mate and keep up the good work

@DDFRacer 2 ай бұрын

I'm going to be a little biased because it's the rig I use every day but I would definitely recommend this 👍 I've been using it pretty much every day since this video and it hasn't skipped a beat. No flex, nothing loosened, no failures. The F GT Elite looks pretty much identical (supporting framework, accessory options etc) aside from the pedal mounting position which looks a little higher up and can be a hybrid single seater/GT configuration so I guess it depends on your personal preferences regarding foot position.Same for the 160, it looks incredibly similar although has direct compatibility with their motion platform if that's something you might consider in the future.

@ACTConcreteCutting 4 ай бұрын

Just ordered one. I use VR so the struts won't bother. If I were you, I would get an aluminium blade and cut them to the desired height with a drop saw.

@DDFRacer 4 ай бұрын

I'm using VR too so it's not much of a problem when I'm racing 👍 just when I'm doing other stuff like video editing etc. That said, I managed to reconfigure things slightly since this video by raising the seat and also monitor so they don't overlap anymore. No complaints now!

@johnangel5134 10 ай бұрын

Got the exact same rig about a year ago. Not the blue one. Was by far the most difficult thing ive ever had to put together. Took me approx 3 days too. I have the CSL DD too and I'm wondering why you didnt go for the side mount option. I think it looks way better.

@DDFRacer 9 ай бұрын

Yeah it's definitely a project you need to allow a decent amount of time for, although I must admit I found the Simetik K2-R (especially mounting the seat) a lot more time consuming and difficult, although that might be because it was my first rig and a whole new learning experience. As for the side mounts, I wasn't even aware that was an option to be honest 🤔 looks like the standard mount gives me more flexibility though should I need to swap up my wheel in the future or test something out for a video.

@domenicklococo4956 Жыл бұрын

It should come with a box of bandages. One false move when putting it together and you’re cut ifs very sharp on edges

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

To be fair I didn't notices too many sharp edges but you do make a good point, best to check for any potential hazards before construction 👍 although it seems the aluminium may have been deburred before it was packaged.

@WuschelWolf Жыл бұрын

Great review Dan!

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

It's such an obvious solution but not one that had crossed my mind since it'd be such a permanent change 😅 but like you said, it's not as if I'll be running the wheelbase anywhere near the top of the upright range so...yeah, it could be quite an effective solution in the future. At the moment it's not an issue though since I'm using VR for all of my driving and, honestly, I don't mind having the monitor a little higher as it forces me to keep my back straight and raise my head slightly when doing non-racing stuff. No more slouching in the seat 👍

@jorn-jorenjorenson5028 Жыл бұрын

Ha ha, exactly what I thought too, Wuschel.

@timothywest1183 4 ай бұрын

I believe the original Ford GT race cars had the shift linkage to the right, right against the door. I’ll have to try to look that up and see if I’m remembering correctly.

@timothywest1183 4 ай бұрын

Yes. Even as a right hand drivers position, shifter was still on the right side of the driver.

@DDFRacer 4 ай бұрын

Ah well that might explain it, and is actually a super nice touch from Next Level Racing if it was an intentional design choice! Still rocking my makeshift botch job on the left hand side though 😅

@Re_Mecs Жыл бұрын

Been a long while since I've been able to have time to sit through a video....or watch a stream due to some life stuff going on....(I miss watching the streams) . But glad I found a bit of time today to sit through what is not your normal video but oddly mesmerising haha. Hope your good Dan, great to see your growth over these last 3 ish years I've been here... and hope to be back viewing the streams soon. Edit also just noticed my name on KZfaq doesn't say Re-Mecs anymore and is instead my original channel name?

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I found the same thing when I was doing the editing too, just staring at the timelapses instead of chopping them down and actually working on the video 😆 but to be fair there was about 15 hours of footage to work through so it was quite easy to zone out at times... No worries about not being around for streams and videos by the way either, real life always takes priority no matter what and my stuff will still be here for catchup whenever you get around to it 👍no stress. Can confirm you're still showing as Re-Mecs also so not sure what's happening there?

@snowb0l Жыл бұрын

Hi Dan, great video. I have the same rig, hence I fully agrees with your build experience. I also built it all on my own, should have asked someone else to help. But instead of the ES seats, bought an real racing seat that was discounted at the time :) . Hey, one thing though, if you are really hoping to get more height to your seat. Instead of the two flat bars on the rig, then the L shaped brackets, then the seat. Try swapping it around. L brackets first, on the base, then the two bars directly to the seat. It is written somewhere on Next level 's guide.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Just out of curiosity, how long did it take you to do the solo build? And did you find it as exhausting as I did in the video, or do I just need to get in better shape? 😅 In all seriousness, thanks for the tip on the seat with the brackets and bars. I'll have a look into that one in the future 👍 cheers.

@snowb0l Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer LoL... I watched your build it was truely epic. You had all the extras and you did it on your own too. I only had the base and the race seat, that also took me a few goes over multiple days. Plus covid at the time, mates cannot come to help anyway.

@z7il167 29 күн бұрын

Спасибо за проделанную работу 👍🏼 очень круто 👍🏼 лайк за сестру или жену в кадре 💪 П.с забыл добавить , мои пожелания больше света 💡

@jimmy-the-bear Жыл бұрын

Nice dude, looks awesome 🤘The issue with the uprights being in the way of the monitor is the same with the fixed monitor mount, same on mine....was thinking about cutting the top of the uprights off mine.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Cheers man 😎 I was tempted to call you and ask for some help but I don't think you would have appreciated it at 11pm ha! Good to know that even a tall guy like yourself has problems with the uprights too and it's not just me being picky. Did you raise the monitor up or just work around the fact you can't see areas of screen?

@jimmy-the-bear Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer Hahah probably would have been practising my bin technique at that time of evening anyway.

@globsta6911 Жыл бұрын

I cut mine and it went perfect. Couldn’t be happier. Pics if needed

@jimmy-the-bear Жыл бұрын

@@globsta6911 would be keen to see. What did you cut it with?

@globsta6911 Жыл бұрын

@@jimmy-the-bear I actually took them to my local machine shop to cut. I believe they used a carbide blade table saw. Cuts are perfect and plastic end caps went right back on no problem.

@ericnyamu9981 Жыл бұрын

Grown folk games like ets2 and fs22 would fit your setup so nicely.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

My Dad's a huge flightsim guy but not so much myself to be honest, I have a passing interest but it's not something that's interested me enough to delve into further. As for ETS2, I do actually have that installed and ready to go but I've just never gotten around to it for some reason, definitely plan on doing some videos and streams at some point in the future 👍

@Heysey45 3 ай бұрын

Awesome review. I’m in the process of deciding which rig I wanna get. Current run a GT Track but it flex’s so wanna get something like this. Am curious how tall are you? I’m 6’4 so hoping a lot taller so I won’t have the upright issue you have. I run triples.

@DDFRacer 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated 🧡 I'm 174cm for reference (roughly 5'7) so you're definitely a fair bit taller than me! I'd say your natural monitor position would easily clear the uprights, although you'll likely have your seat and pedals in the furthest positions available.

@Heysey45 3 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacer awesome thanks for the reply. I think I’ll go ahead with the purchase then.

@DDFRacer 3 ай бұрын

@@Heysey45 no worries, happy to help out where I can! I hate to go into 'self promotion' mode but... There's a Next Level Racing affiliate link in the video description which you can use to help out if you go ahead with your purchase! One extra click but then a small slice of the sale goes back towards the channel to help make more videos like this in the future 👍

@jgloc25 4 ай бұрын

Nice, looking to get this. How tall are you? Want to know if the pedals could be brought back a bit (for guys 5' 7" or shorter) without bringing back the slant bars, or wheel may be too close.

@DDFRacer 4 ай бұрын

I'm about 174cm which is bang on 5ft7 👍 can't see any issues why being a little bit shorter than that should be an issue either.

@jgloc25 4 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacerSorry, that issue was with the F-GT Elite.

@PaulDavidAnderson Жыл бұрын

How do you use a phone as a pedal cam? Also great review.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I'm using the Droidcam app which is free and uses wifi to send the phone camera either to the desktop app or a local web address which you can use as a browser source in your streaming software 👍

@secret_one Жыл бұрын

To me it looks like you should swap the gear shift mounting brackets around, i.e. move the bottom to the top and vice versa. Good review and I love the colour, so much better than silver or black.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

You might think that would work, but it doesn't sadly 😅 trust me I tried every kind of rotation and flip there is and couldn't find a way to get it sitting flush with the uprights on the left hand side. The only way would be to mount it to the _inside_ of the upright...but then the shifter mount would occupy the same space as the seat which just isn't possible. In the grand scheme of things it's only a minor issue though and not one worth worrying about 👍

@secret_one Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer Well I be, they really do look like they are upside down. I should have it cant be that simple. Keep up the good work.

@JB-lr6wj 5 ай бұрын

Just ordered one!!!!

@DDFRacer 5 ай бұрын

Awesome stuff 😁 happy to report that it's still just as good as day one here after several months of extensive use! Everything is still rock solid and secure, no hardware failures and the seat hasn't gotten any less comfortable over time. Hopefully you don't have to wait too long for the shipping 😉

@JB-lr6wj 5 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacer thank you for the response and update. I’m so excited! Shipment is expected to be delivered by Jan 3. I’m coming from a desk clamped Fanatec CSL Belt (PlayStation GT7) and PSVR2. I low key believe I just set myself up and that I’ll be upgrading everything shortly lol

@DDFRacer 5 ай бұрын

Oh I remember the feeling of first upgrading, it's like a whole new world! The pedals made the biggest difference for me, going from a Logitech G29 to Fanatec Clubsport V3s 👀 and then the CSL DD a few months after that. You'd think the novelty would have worn off after a few years but every time I get in the seat I have a big smile on my face. Everybody gets to a certain stage where they have their setup 'almost just right' and from then on it's a constant battle to resist the next big upgrade 😅

@JB-lr6wj 5 ай бұрын

Seat just arrived. I ordered the seat and cockpit from Amazon. Box was repackaged and it appears the seat has scuffs on the back from possible usage. Everything looks just thrown back into packaging bags and into the box. $400 seat, I’m a little tilted 😞 Possible seat rails missing 🤷‍♂️Did yours come with rails or does it just bolt up to the cockpit? Thank you!

@DDFRacer 5 ай бұрын

@@JB-lr6wj Ah mate 😬 that doesn't sound too good! Sorry to hear you've had that experience, definitely make sure you take plenty of photos and get in touch with support, I'm sure they'll be able to sort something out for you as I didn't have any of those issues my seat. It was all nicely packed with polystyrene and super secure. Regarding the seat rails, it's not a traditional kind of mounting solution as you bolt the seat directly to the brackets, but then these brackets mount on to a sliding frame on the rig itself so it's still completely adjustable 👍

@christopherpope1800 Жыл бұрын

Interesting and informative video Dan. Only criticism, you didn't Include the Jaffacake unboxing.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Oh mate, those Jaffa Cakes were unboxed a *long* time ago 😉

@Toutvids 7 ай бұрын

Nice rig, I considered buying one but Trak Racer put their TR160 MK3 on clearance so I bought that instead. I do like the Ford branding and colors of the NLR rig though.

@DDFRacer 7 ай бұрын

The blue is beautiful 😍 although slightly lost on me since I do 90% of my sim racing in VR and never actually see it, ha! Can't say no to a good discount though mate, how's the Trak Racer rig treating you?

@Toutvids 7 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacer Solid as a rock, the thing is heavy. I have a 49 inch ultrawide monitor, don't do the VR much anymore.

@andyr3802 Жыл бұрын

You get the ‘like’ just for the sheer effort of taking it all apart and building a new rig! But can I suggest you get a desk for your normal work, it’s got to be more comfortable!?

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy, much appreciated mate 😉 as I'm sure you can tell, it was a decent chunk of effort but well worth it in the end. As for the desk, it's definitely something I've thought about but space is very limited in my house with the way everything is laid out unfortunately. I'd also need to get another monitor (and a decent one at that), chair, power outlet etc and the whole thing just escalates before you know it. Maybe in the future I could have a 2nd dedicated computer for streaming, recording, editing etc which has its own workspace but for now this thing is actually super comfy having spent a fair amount of time editing this footage together 👍

@jgloc25 5 ай бұрын

What size monitors did you use with the monitor stand? Some say their 32" are too small, though the stands are advertised from 32" to 65".

@DDFRacer 5 ай бұрын

I'm using a 34" ultrawide as my main monitor and an older 24" regular monitor on the right hand side for chat/secondary tasks. No issues mounting them or getting them lined up though and plenty of room to move either narrower or wider if I needed to 👍

@jgloc25 5 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacerJust to clarify, would triple 32" monitors work well and fit mounted side by side (contrary to what others say that they're to big for 32")? Thanks.

@gcnd9031 4 ай бұрын

Would it be possible to pull double duty and use this for a flight sim as well?

@DDFRacer 4 ай бұрын

I would imagine so 👍 there's the Elite Flight Pack available on the Next Level Racing website which would accommodate your traditional HOTAS style setup, although I don't personally have that add-on so couldn't say whether it interferes with any of the shifter/keyboard etc mounts. On my old Simetik rig I had the HOTAS addons and they were great, but I had to put them in slightly offset positions otherwise not all of the attachments would fit.

@boosivemotorsportofficial 10 ай бұрын

I would never swap my K2-R for this rig. Great review though mate. Good rig for someone like yourself that mainly uses VR.

@DDFRacer 10 ай бұрын

Had no complaints with the Simetik rig to be honest and wasn't really in the market for a new rig but it's a bit hard to turn one down when Next Level Racing offer you one for free 😅 that said, I would have liked to have kept my K2-R assembled as a backup but unfortunately I just don't have the space to have two rigs on the go and I'd rather not go through this building process again for a little while if I have the option. Took me another day to recover!

@boosivemotorsportofficial 10 ай бұрын

@DDFRacer yeh man, I get it. I guess you learned a little bit from this experience then, didn't you. Before buying my K2-R I looked at loads of different cockpits and reviews etc. The things you mentioned about NLR is why I passed on this rig. Only thing I'd say to you first before accepting products in the future. Don't just say yes because it's free. Do a bit of research first. Looking forward to seeing more videos from you bud 😁🤙

@franzfred7511 Жыл бұрын

Well deserved.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Cheers Franz 😁

@Eskoxo 8 ай бұрын

Have the same one after using for almost a year its great but here are things i dont like so much... keyboard attachment thing could be better the hinge it attaches is flimsy at best, have the same seat and i like how light it is but its just not for my back i have to use memory foam back support pad or my lower back feels like its not touching the chair at all, finally buttkicker attachment under seat is not the best it kind of rumbles off and becomes undone wish they made a mount on the actual seat.

@DDFRacer 8 ай бұрын

Now that you mention it, I have noticed that I've needed to tighten up the keyboard mount a couple of times 🤔 but I don't tend to move it too much, rather take the keyboard off and use it on my lap instead, will keep an eye on it. Haven't had issues with the seat though but then again we're all different physically so some people it'll be nice and others it might not be great, personally though I'm finding it super comfortable even when I'm not racing. Can't comment on the buttkicker though unfortunately as I don't have one 😅 but if I ever upgrade in the future then I'll definitely keep that in mind, thanks for the heads up!

@Eskoxo 8 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacer buttkicker should be your next upgrade it totally changes the game going back to without it just feels wrong lol

@AC-wl7ve Жыл бұрын

is the racing harness really necessary?

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Not at all no 😅 they're optional to install but included with the seat itself so thought I'd give them a try. I was originally sceptical but I've tried it a few times now and, honestly, they're great. I'm not using them for safety reasons, obviously since it's a stationary rig, but I have a really bad habit of slouching and bad posture and using the belts keeps me sat up straight and in a really nice position. I can also feel the FFB through my arms more when I'm strapped in, I'm guessing because my body isn't moving around as much.

@inked-96 5 ай бұрын

So would appreciate the help. I want to get my first rig, id rather pay a premium and be haopy with it for a few years. Could i see myself with a good set up for around £2-2500? Ecluding monitors? If so, would appreciate the help.

@DDFRacer 5 ай бұрын

I honestly wouldn't know where to begin to be honest 😅 most of my equipment is several years old now and there's plenty of new gear on the market which I just simply don't know enough about to give an informed opinion, especially when you're looking to invest that kind of money. There are also a lot of variables depending on what kind of setup you're looking at, for example single monitor vs triple monitors vs VR, or maybe H pattern shifter vs paddles, handbrake, round wheel vs F1 style wheel etc. Whatever you decide to get however, I'd strongly recommend loadcell pedals and a direct drive wheel, as they're the two single upgrades that made the biggest difference in my opinion. I'm personally running a Fanatec CSL DD (with BMW v2 wheel and also an F1 wheel) along with the Clubsport V3 pedals 👍 which would certainly be in your budget but, like I said, I'm not sure how they stack up against newer releases since this is all I know. With regards to monitors, I can't suggest any specifics since I'm mostly a VR sim racer, but you're looking to get 120hz and upwards. You can definitely race on 60hz but if you're racing on PC then you'll be limited to 60 frames a second also. With a decent CPU and GPU you'll find most racing sims can push 200 frames easily these days without sacrificing too much visual quality. Personally though I'd suggest a VR headset if your budget allows it, the depth perception and spatial awareness is invaluable in my opinion...and that's with me running a massively outdated CV1 too! I've got no doubt more modern headsets are even more impressive. I'd strongly suggest checking out reddit or scrolling through various racing forums to see what kind of equipment people are rocking and then seeing what appeals to you the most 😉

@inked-96 5 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacer Thanks for the help. I was looking at the Sim lab P1X Pro as the foundation? I'm running. 4090, so maybe a triple monitor?

@galahad9853 9 ай бұрын

How can I get in touch with next level racing? Would love to get one for our space at school

@DDFRacer 8 ай бұрын

Sorry for the late reply! I only have a personal email for my guy at Next Level Racing, not a general inbox, so I'm not too sure he'd feel about me giving that out publicly unfortunately 😅 but I can't seem to find one on their website either which is a bit off. Your best bet would probably be using the contact form on their contact page, I've found they're usually pretty quick to respond: nextlevelracing.com/contact-us/

@galahad9853 8 ай бұрын

@@DDFRacer thank you I’ll look into it

@pombeiro Жыл бұрын

Bulk getting ready for the F1 debut. Which F1 team sent him that? Any hint??

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

That's one of the minor inconveniences about this new rig actually, there's no moustache holder. How's does anyone expect Bulk to work under these conditions? 😉

@pombeiro Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer Gotta talk to the SimRacing Workers Council

@reviewforthetube6485 2 ай бұрын

I will never understsnd why people dont want to feel vibrations because i do! I want the transfer i want to feel that. The labels alone make this the rig at this levele to get tbh haha.

@DDFRacer Ай бұрын

Unless you get a full motion rig then the feeling you get from the sim is always going to be quite limited, whether through wheel/pedal FFB or bass shakers mounted to the frame itself. My real life racing experience only consists of a couple of track days but I can imagine that more seasoned professionals would miss the sensation of being thrown around and all the small vibrations/nuances throughout the car which are so hard to translate in the sim. These are the things that give you an understanding of what the car is doing and, I agree, I want all the feelings too 😁

@reviewforthetube6485 Ай бұрын

@@DDFRacerI wish that was true about motuon rigs but the racers we have hesrd talk on it said ita completely unrealistic and not like the movement of a car. Most do not use motion rigs even in training. Its not natural movement and motion with g forces. Its just distracting instead This includes the sim racers who turned into drivers who have talked on the subject.

@user-ik5kv3fd8k 3 ай бұрын

Monitors are ment to be infront of the wheelstand raise them up wards slide them inbetween the base and the wheel

@harrypottar1000 Жыл бұрын

I have the f-GT elite and I never good get a good fit. I’m average 6ft, 32 inch inseam. I could never get the pedals to feel right. You can not adjust the wheel uprights and pedals independently. I had to invest another $200 to get pedal slider system and another $130 with next level to get some extra seat cross bars. Great rig, but not perfect. If I did it again, I would go for the TR 120/160

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

I'm 5′ 8.5 so definitely shorter than you and can see that being on the taller side might be an issue, although the instructions do mention a few different ways to mount the seat/pedals/wheel depending on whether you're shorter or taller than 175cm. Like you said, it's a great rig but ultimately you need to have a rig that you're comfortable in, anything other than that kind of defeats the whole point really. I hope it's something you can work around mate and isn't too inconvenient 👍

@harrypottar1000 Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer I eventually got it to were it's very comfortable, this issue I think is with a reclining seat, this ends up being lower to the ground. As you know the wheel uprights are at an angle, so the lower you're the further away the pedal deck is. I purchased the SimLab Pedal Deck slider that comes with a really heavy 10mm deck and (by the name) slides like a seat slider. This gives you ultimate control, seat the main deck roughly were you want it and then you can adjust the slider on the pedal deck to get it just right. I reached out to NLR and purchased two extra 40/40 seat slides (page 3 of the manual), that allowed me to bolt the seat brackets (page 6 of the manual ) to the original seat slides. This still allowed the back and fourth movement of the seat on the main rails. I then took the two extra 40/40 seat slides and mounted those between the seat bracket allow seat to be higher and angled . Have a look at this official NLR video, at about the 4:30 mark it makes sense, except I purchased two extra aluminum profiles so I could still slide the whole seat bracket unit as well kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g7eUlJCn2pqnfGw.html All in all, I think the NLR Elite rigs are higher quality than most, fit and finish is top notch, packaging perfect no scratched profiles. I also think if you use the bucker seat you would not have the issues that I did. I think for the price, they could leave out the motion mounting profile and supply some extras like the extra seat slider and offer more range for the pedals to move back and fourth. BTW, I subscribed, I like your presentation, clean clear and crips. Keep up the work. If you would like me to send you some pictures or a small video for you to see what I mean, more than welcome to do so. I'm not a you tuber myself. Keep up the great wok/

@rtds2024 Жыл бұрын

hi all

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Hello there 👋

@MrTFlx 2 ай бұрын

How is the seat?

@DDFRacer 2 ай бұрын

Really quite comfortable 👍 you wouldn't think so initially due to it being a moulded bucket seat with relatively thin padding in a plastic base...but I can sit in there for hours and not have any complaints at all. This rig doubles up as my workstation too, not just for racing, and I end up doing all of my video editing and admin in this seat too. Even for non racing purposes, it's good. After nearly a year of extensive daily use, the padding is still great and there's been no warping or flexing either. The only downside I would say is that it gets a bit warm and the ventilation isn't too good, but I'm just coming out of an Australian summer here so I think _any_ seat would be the same 😅 but yeah, it does get a little sweaty in there sometimes.

@JDFdoggo Жыл бұрын

Unable to view this pre Premiere, no worries I can wait

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Ah sorry about that! I previously had the video set to Unlisted and published to channel members, but setting it to Premiere later today also appears to have switched it from Unlisted to Private which means _nobody_ can view it now until the Premiere goes live. My bad 😅

@JDFdoggo Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer no problem, I can enjoy it later on night shift x

@JDFdoggo Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer And it was worth waiting for. Superb and honest review there DDF. Looking forward to racing alongside you very soon.

@prophetofthemosthighacts2383 Жыл бұрын

What is the total price for this set up?

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Looking at Next Level Racing's website, it's around $2800AUD for this rig. If you're also asking about the cost of the wheel, pedals, computer, software etc then I wouldn't even know where to start but it might be, er, significantly more than that 😅

@bradmccombs3925 Жыл бұрын

The brackets for the shifter mount just need to be flipped around.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Trust me, I tried for far longer than was reasonable to get them to fit the right way 😅 but honestly they just don't unfortunately, no matter which way you flip/rotate the brackets. The way they've been manufactured means they'll only fit flush with the upright when mounted to the right hand side of the cockpit. If I rotate the brackets180' then they'll be in exactly the same position. If I flip them round it still wouldn't work because the bracket is L shaped but only one side of it is slanted. By flipping the brackets and mounting them on the flat (not slanted) side then the arm for the shifter would be pointing into the ground. No way around it unfortunately.

@bradmccombs3925 Жыл бұрын

That sucks. I've seen other reviews were they acctually send two sets. Looked into it after I ran my mouth. Lol.

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

@@bradmccombs3925 all good mate 😉 I just had another look through the boxes _just in case_ but no extra reversed brackets to be found unfortunately. Was worth a shot!

@bradmccombs3925 Жыл бұрын

Good luck hope you can swing it.

@dhruvsama Жыл бұрын

am i the only one who thinks he looks like paul dano

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

No, you're definitely not 😅 I've had that comment many times before...

@dylanangel2870 Жыл бұрын

but how many trips to repco and supercheap XD

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Surprisingly none 😅 not yet anyway at least! Maybe once I start feeling creative and want to modify or add a few custom things but it's a big rabbit hole to fall down once you start.

@ciaranmallon2830 Жыл бұрын

Ill giveyou bad money for ur old rig lol im just starting into sim racing and require a rig

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

Depending on where you are in the world, shipping from Australia might add a fair few extra hundred dollars on there as well 😉 just a heads up.

@ciaranmallon2830 Жыл бұрын

@@DDFRacer lol at time of writing this thought u where in England lol im northern Ireland lol

@DDFRacer Жыл бұрын

@@ciaranmallon2830 ha yeah nah mate, don't let the accent fool you 😆 born and raised around Liverpool/Manchester but moved to Brisbane Australia around 7 years ago