ProSimu P5MP Review: 4DOF Motion for Your Existing 8020 Rig

The P5MP answers the question every 8020 rig owner eventually asks: can I add motion without starting over? Five PRS200 actuators slide underneath your existing aluminium cockpit and deliver pitch, roll, heave, surge, and traction loss without you replacing a single component. Your seat position stays. Your wheel height stays. Your monitor setup stays. You just gain four degrees of freedom.

We recently fulfilled a P5MP order to a UK customer and the platform was delivered in 18 days from order to doorstep. This review covers the product, the experience, and what real ownership looks like beyond the spec sheet.

What the P5MP Actually Does

Five actuators. Four degrees of freedom. The distinction matters because the fifth actuator provides a dedicated rear traction loss axis that operates independently from the other four. Pitch tilts you forward under braking and backward under acceleration. Roll leans you into corners. Heave moves you vertically over kerbs and elevation changes. Surge pushes you forward and backward under acceleration and deceleration. And traction loss shifts the rear laterally when the back end breaks away.

The traction loss is what separates ProSimu from most competitors at this price point. SIMRIG's SR2 delivers pitch, roll, and heave but no traction loss. Feeling the rear slide through your body before you see it on screen is the difference between reacting to oversteer and anticipating it. For racing disciplines where car control at the limit matters, rally, drift, wet races, the traction loss axis is genuinely useful.

PRS200 Actuators: The Core Technology

280mm per second. 2G acceleration. 0.003mm positional accuracy. These are the numbers ProSimu publishes for the PRS200 actuator and they translate to motion that feels instant. There is no perceptible delay between the telemetry event and the physical movement. Kerb strikes are sharp. Braking is immediate. Weight transfer builds progressively rather than arriving in a lump.

The key engineering detail is that PRS200 actuators are direct-drive linear motors with no gearbox, belt, or lead screw. Every mechanical linkage between motor and motion introduces play, noise, and response delay. The PRS200 eliminates all three. The result is motion that is both faster and quieter than gear-driven alternatives.

Noise is worth emphasising. The actuators never contact the floor during operation. The pendulum design means the motion mechanism is suspended above the ground. Vibration transfer to the room below is essentially zero. Multiple customers have confirmed running the P5MP in upstairs rooms without complaints from anyone downstairs.

Installation on an Existing Rig

The P5MP is designed for standard 8020 aluminium profile rigs using 40x40, 40x80, or 40x120 extrusion. The platform frame slides underneath your cockpit and bolts to the rig legs. No drilling, no permanent modifications, no structural changes to the rig.

Installation takes approximately 2 to 3 hours. The heaviest part is the platform frame itself. Once positioned, the five actuators mount to specific points on the frame and connect to the controller via plug-and-play cables. USB connects to the PC. Power connects to a standard 13A wall socket.

ProSimu recommends PMotion as the control software. It provides a more immersive experience than alternatives and includes per-game motion profiles. Every P5MP purchase includes 3 hours of complimentary remote support from ProSimu's technical team who walk you through installation, software configuration, and motion tuning via video call.

How It Compares

The Upgrade Path

If the P5MP is beyond budget right now, the P3MP at £4,295 uses the same platform frame with three actuators instead of five. It delivers pitch, roll, and traction loss as a 3DOF system. When budget allows, adding two more PRS200 actuators upgrades it to the full P5MP specification. You pay for the actuators only, not a new platform.

This upgrade path is a genuine advantage over competitors. With SIMRIG, upgrading from SR1 to SR2 means swapping the entire actuator set. With Qubic, upgrading from 3DOF to 5DOF means adding the QS-CH2 platform underneath. ProSimu's approach is the simplest: same frame, more actuators, more axes.

Who Should Buy It

The P5MP is for sim racers who already own a quality 8020 aluminium rig and want the most complete bolt-on motion experience available. If you have a Sim-Lab, Trak Racer, or similar aluminium cockpit with a direct-drive wheelbase and load cell pedals, the P5MP is the motion system designed specifically for your setup.

If you do not already own an aluminium rig, the ProSimu T1000 5M includes a complete cockpit frame with the same five actuators. If you want 3DOF without the premium price, the P3MP gives you the platform with an upgrade path.

The Verdict

The P5MP is the most capable bolt-on motion system for 8020 rigs in the UK market. Five actuators, four degrees of freedom, dedicated traction loss, ultra-quiet operation, and a genuine upgrade path from the P3MP. It is not cheap. But it transforms what your existing rig can do without asking you to replace anything you have already built.

The ProSimu P5MP is available from SimTorque with free UK delivery. Made to order in Le Mans with 2 to 3 weeks delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does delivery take?

Made to order. Our most recent P5MP delivery took 18 days from order to UK doorstep. Expect 2 to 3 weeks.

Does it include a cockpit frame?

No. The P5MP is a platform base designed to sit underneath your existing 8020 aluminium rig. If you need a complete cockpit, look at the T1000 5M which includes the frame.

Can I start with the P3MP and upgrade?

Yes. Same platform frame. Add two PRS200 actuators to go from 3DOF to 4DOF. The P3MP is the entry point, the P5MP is the destination.