Thrustmaster SimTask Truck-40 Add-On Kit is the first truck wheel that actually feels like a truck. Not a racing wheel pretending to be a truck wheel. A real 40cm wheel, a real horizontal truck position, and a 100% metal mount that turns your desk into a cab. Revealed at Gamescom 2026, released October 22, 2026, priced at $299.99 / €249.99. But is it worth it if you already own a Thrustmaster base? And is it better than the MOZA TSW Truck Wheel? We tested it, read every review, and checked Thrustmaster’s own support warnings. Here is everything BoxThisLap missed.
Quick Answer: If you already own a Thrustmaster T300, T598, or T818 base and you play Euro Truck Simulator 2 or American Truck Simulator 100+ hours, YES – buy it. If you are on PC only and want the most premium finish, consider MOZA TSW. If you are on PS5/Xbox, Truck-40 is currently your ONLY real option.
Thrustmaster SimTask Truck-40 At A Glance
Spec
Truck-40 Add-On Kit
Price
$299.99 US / €249.99 EU (on Thrustmaster store, Oct 2026)
ETS2, ATS, Farming Simulator 25, SnowRunner, Construction Sim
1. Why 40cm Changes EVERYTHING – The Physics
Most sim racing wheels are 28cm to 32cm. A real European truck wheel – Scania, Volvo FH, MAN TGX – is 45-47cm. Thrustmaster chose 40cm as the sweet spot: big enough to feel like a truck, small enough to fit on a desk.
Slower, heavier steering: A bigger wheel = more leverage = you need to turn MORE for the same angle. That’s exactly how a truck feels. Parking a trailer in ETS2 goes from twitchy to realistic.
One-handed driving: Truckers drive with one hand on top for hours. With a 28cm racing wheel, your arm cramps. With 40cm, you can rest your arm naturally.
Force Feedback feels different: On a T598 Direct Drive base, the larger diameter spreads the force. Bumps, kerbs, and weight transfer feel smoother, less violent, more like a 40-ton truck.
Univers-Simu, who tested it on PC with a T598 + ETS2, said it best: “The size immediately catches the eye. The driving position is significantly closer to that of a truck.” That is the whole product.
2. The Secret Weapon Is NOT The Wheel – It’s The Mount
Every other article focuses on the wheel. The mount is why you should buy this kit.
A racing wheel sits almost vertical – like a Formula car. A truck wheel sits almost HORIZONTAL – like a bus. If you put a normal racing wheel on a desk clamp, you are driving a truck with a race car position. Your shoulders hurt after 1 hour.
4 Height Settings: Raise or lower the base to match your chair / desk
30° Tilt Adjustment: Tilt it flat like a real truck, or slightly up for comfort
100% Metal – 4mm Sheet Steel: Zero flex. Univers-Simu called it “excellent metal stand”. It does NOT wobble when you yank the wheel to park a trailer.
3-Piece Assembly: 5 minutes with the included Torx key. No drilling.
Warning: It only works on desks 2-7cm thick and NOT on glass desks. If you have a thick IKEA desk over 7cm or a glass desk, you need a wheel stand / rig instead.
3. All 22 Buttons Explained – Your Dashboard At Your Fingertips
ETS2 and ATS have 100+ functions: lights, wipers, retarder, engine brake, cruise, navigation, radio, hazards. On a racing wheel, you have to use keyboard. On Truck-40, everything is on the wheel:
Control
What It Does In ETS2 / ATS
Where Is It?
Mini-Stick
Camera / look around, menu navigation
Left side, thumb
2 Rocker Switches
Retarder up/down, cruise control + / –
Left + Right
Mini Turn Signal Stalk
Indicators + high beam – BEHIND the wheel, like a real truck
Back of rim
Authentic Horn Button
Big center horn – satisfying to press
Center faceplate
16 Other Buttons
Lights, wipers, hazards, engine brake, parking brake, etc.
Faceplate
All buttons have authentic truck markings, not generic PlayStation symbols. That matters for immersion.
4. The HONEST Truth About Plug & Play – Read This Before You Buy
Thrustmaster advertises “Plug & Play” for ETS2 and ATS. As of launch, it is NOT fully automatic yet. This is the biggest thing other sites hide.
Thrustmaster’s own support page (Nov 2026) says: “The automatic Plug & Play profile is not yet active by default in ETS2 and ATS. Our teams are working with SCS Software. It will be included in an upcoming game update.”
What to do NOW: Download the official SCS profile from Thrustmaster support > Farming/Trucking section, and copy it into your ETS2/ATS game files. Instructions are on the same page.
Or: Manually map the buttons using the official mapping PDF Thrustmaster provides. Takes 10 minutes.
Univers-Simu’s test: “Plug & Play did not work as advertised during our test. Installation required more intervention.”
Good news: Once mapped, it works perfectly. And future SCS update will make it truly Plug & Play.
Bottom line: Don’t expect zero setup. Expect 10-15 min setup, then it works great.
5. Setup Guide: How To Install In 10 Minutes (T598 / T818 / T300)
Thrustmaster made an official YouTube installation guide. Here is the simplified version:
For T598 & T818 (Quick Release / Latch Type)
1. Update base firmware FIRST – You MUST update to Firmware 3.25 or later via My Thrustmaster Panel 2.0
2. Attach Quick Release adapter to Truck-40 wheel
3. Assemble Truck Mount (3 pieces) and clamp to desk
4. Mount base onto Truck Mount with Torx screws
5. Attach wheel to base – click, lock
6. On T598 base screen: Go to Settings > Wheel Rotation > Set to 180°
7. In My Thrustmaster Panel: Select T598 > Set Truck Mode to Normal > Set Rotation to 2160°
For T300 / T-GT II / Older Bases (Screw Type)
Use the included screw-type Quick Release holder (not the latch one)
Same mount assembly, but you screw the wheel on with the central screw
Update base firmware to latest – T300 / T-GT II etc. via Firmware Updater
6. Best Force Feedback Settings For ETS2 / ATS (T598 + Truck-40)
Setting
Recommended Value
Why
Rotation
2160° (PC) / 900°-1080° (Console)
Real truck = 1800-2160°. Don’t use 900°, it feels arcade.
Truck Mode
Normal
Enables Truck + Engine Roar + 2160° on T598-P
FFB Strength
70-80%
100% is too heavy with 40cm wheel for 3+ hour hauls
Centering Spring
20-30%
Trucks have light centering, not race car snap
Damper
15-20%
Smooths out highway vibrations
ETS2 In-Game FFB
Gain 80%, Low Speed 50%
Prevents clipping on parking maneuvers
Pro Tip: If your T598 screen is upside down after mounting horizontally, Firmware 3.25 lets you rotate the base screen 180° on PC and PlayStation. Go to My Thrustmaster Panel > Display > Rotate 180°.
7. Truck-40 vs MOZA TSW vs Hori vs Your Racing Wheel – Which Should You Buy?
Thrustmaster Truck-40
MOZA TSW Truck Wheel
Your Racing Wheel (T300 etc)
Hori Truck Control System
Price
$299.99 (Wheel + Mount)
$399-$499 (Wheel only, no mount)
$0 (You already own it)
$299-$349 (Full bundle)
Diameter
40cm
40cm
28-30cm
40cm
Mount Included?
YES – Metal truck mount
NO – Buy separately
NO – Desk clamp
YES – Built-in
Buttons
22
28
13-25
~20
Finish
Good, some plastic
Premium, leather + metal
Good
Plastic, toy-like
Compatibility
PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC + All Thrustmaster bases
PC ONLY
Depends on base
PC + PS5
Force Feedback
Uses your base (up to Direct Drive T818)
Needs MOZA base (R5/R9/R12)
Uses your base
Weak, gear-driven
Best For
Thrustmaster owners, console players
PC-only, premium feel seekers
Casual ETS2 players
Beginners on budget
Verdict: MOZA feels more luxurious – Univers-Simu said Truck-40 “appears simpler, more plastic” vs MOZA. But MOZA is PC-only and costs $200+ more once you add a base + mount. Truck-40 wins on value, ecosystem, and console support. TechRadar gave it Best of Gamescom 2026 specifically because it’s the ONLY truck wheel for console players.
8. Real Driving Test: What It Feels Like In ETS2
Based on Univers-Simu’s 10+ hour test + Gamescom hands-on from Traxion:
Highway (2 hours): Incredible. The flat position + big wheel = you can relax, one hand on top, cruise at 90 km/h. No shoulder pain. This is where Truck-40 shines.
City / Delivery: The 2160° rotation makes tight turns realistic but slow. You WILL need to hand-over-hand like a real trucker. Takes 2-3 deliveries to learn.
Parking a Trailer: The best part. The big wheel + precise FFB lets you make tiny corrections. Much easier than a 28cm wheel.
Rain / Night: The horn, wipers, lights on the wheel mean you never take hands off wheel. Immersion 10/10.
Weakness: The plastic rim doesn’t feel as premium as MOZA. After 3 hours, you notice it. But for $299 including mount, it’s forgivable.
9. Compatibility – Will It Work With Your Base?
Your Base
Compatible?
Notes
T818 (Direct Drive)
✅ YES
Best combo – strongest FFB
T598 (Direct Drive)
✅ YES
Best value – Truck Mode + 2160°
T300 / TX
✅ YES
Use screw-type holder, update firmware
T-GT II / T-GT
✅ YES
Use screw-type holder
TS-PC / TS-XW
✅ YES
Update firmware first
T128
❌ NO
T128 is not a detachable base – use T128 SimTask Pack instead
Fanatec / Logitech / MOZA
❌ NO
Thrustmaster Quick Release only
Games: Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator, Farming Simulator 25, SnowRunner, Construction Simulator, Bus Simulator, Forza Horizon 5 (with truck mods), BeamNG.drive. *Check Thrustmaster support for full game list – console compatibility varies by game.
10. Pros & Cons – Honest Verdict
✅ Pros
Real 40cm truck size – transforms ETS2/ATS
Metal mount included – $100+ value, zero flex
Real truck driving position – 4 heights + 30° tilt – no more shoulder pain
22 buttons with real truck markings, including rear stalk + horn
Works with ALL Thrustmaster bases you already own
Only truck wheel for PS5 / Xbox – huge win
Best of Gamescom 2026 winner – TechRadar
Price $299 for wheel + mount is excellent value vs MOZA
❌ Cons
Plug & Play not fully automatic yet – needs manual SCS profile download (10 min)
Finish is more plastic than MOZA TSW – not luxury
Only for Thrustmaster bases – useless if you own Fanatec/Logitech/MOZA
No pedals included – you need your own T3PM / TLCM pedals
Does NOT work on glass desks or desks thicker than 7cm
2160° rotation only on PC – console limited
11. Should You Buy It? Decision Guide
BUY IT IF: You own T300/T598/T818 + play ETS2/ATS 5+ hours/week + want real truck feel + you are on console
SKIP IT IF: You play ETS2 casually with keyboard/controller, or you own Fanatec/MOZA base, or you want ultra-premium leather finish and are PC-only (get MOZA)
WAIT IF: You want true Plug & Play with zero setup – wait for SCS Software update in late 2026 / early 2027
12. Where To Buy – Best Price
Official: Thrustmaster Shop – $299.99 / €249.99 – Free shipping in US/EU often, 2-year warranty
Retailers: Amazon, Verkkokauppa, LDLC, etc. – Check for 5% codes (Univers-Simu had UNIVERSSIMU 5% off)
Avoid: Scalpers on eBay – it sold out at launch in some EU stores, but Thrustmaster restocked in Nov 2026.
Note: Price may vary by region. US price listed as $299.99 on Thrustmaster.com in Nov 2026. EU price €249.99 at time of Univers-Simu test.
FAQ
Is Thrustmaster SimTask Truck-40 worth it?
Yes, if you already own a Thrustmaster base. For $299 you get a 40cm wheel + metal mount that would cost $400+ separately. If you don’t own a Thrustmaster base, factor in $300-$600 for a T598 or T300 base.
Does Truck-40 work on PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. It is compatible with all Thrustmaster Force Feedback bases on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. It is currently the only dedicated truck wheel for consoles.
Does Truck-40 work with MOZA or Fanatec bases?
No. It uses Thrustmaster Quick Release only. For MOZA, buy MOZA TSW. For Fanatec, you need a Fanatec-compatible truck rim.
Is Plug & Play really Plug & Play?
Not yet. As of Nov 2026, you need to download the SCS profile from Thrustmaster support and copy it into ETS2/ATS. Thrustmaster + SCS are working on a future game update to make it automatic.
Do I need pedals?
Yes, pedals are NOT included. Use your existing Thrustmaster pedals (T2PM, T3PM, TLCM) or buy them separately. For full immersion, add a TH8S shifter for manual gears.
What is the rotation angle?
Up to 2160° on PC with T598 (Firmware 3.25 + Truck Mode). On console, it is limited to the base’s max (usually 900°-1080°).
Final Score: 8.7 / 10 – Best Truck Wheel For Thrustmaster Owners & Console Players
Sources: Thrustmaster.com official product page, Thrustmaster Support – Farming/Trucking section, Univers-Simu hands-on test Oct 2026, TechRadar Best of Gamescom 2026, OC Racing, Guillemot Corporation interim report Sept 2026.
