aikeec ATS Shifter Review: A Budget American Truck Simulator Shifter That Delivers

Quick Verdict

The aikeec American Truck Simulator shifter is a no-frills USB H-shifter that does exactly what truck sim fans need: it clicks through gears with a satisfying mechanical feel, it works with the most popular budget and mid-range wheels, and it costs a fraction of what Fanatec or Thrustmaster charge. It's not the last word in build quality, and the initial game configuration will scare off pure beginners — but for everyone else, this is an easy recommendation. I'd give it a 4.2 out of 5.

What Is the aikeec ATS Shifter?

The aikeec ATS Shifter is a standalone USB H-pattern gear lever designed specifically for American Truck Simulator (ATS) and Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2). Unlike the integrated shifters built into some racing wheels, this is a separate peripheral you mount next to your wheel and connect via USB. The moment I unboxed it on a quiet Tuesday evening, I appreciated how compact and lightweight it was — roughly the size of a hardcover novel, easy to stash under a desk when not in use.

It supports up to 18 gears when you select the Eaton Fuller 18-speed layout in-game, and it comes bundled with three adapter sizes (8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm) to fit different wheel shaft diameters. Compatibility covers Logitech G25, G27, G29, and G920, as well as the Thrustmaster TH8A. That's a wider net than I expected for the price.

Key Features

• USB plug-and-play — no driver installation required on PC Windows
• Supports up to 18 in-game gears with Eaton Fuller 10/13/18-speed layouts
• Compatible with Logitech G25, G27, G29, G920 and Thrustmaster TH8A
• Includes three shaft adapter sizes: 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm
• 2-metre braided USB cable for flexible desk and wheel-stand placement
• Custom toggle buttons allow quick switching between high and low gear ranges
• Optimised button layout for ATS and ETS2 right out of the box

Hands-On Review

I connected the aikeec shifter to my Logitech G29 pedal and wheel setup, ran the USB cable to my PC behind the desk, and launched ETS2. The physical setup took about five minutes — mostly spent figuring out which adapter size fit my G29's shaft (the 10 mm one, in case you're wondering). The shifter sits solid on a flat surface, though you'll want to use the included rubber feet or bolt it down if you have a dedicated wheel stand, because it slides under heavy shifting.

The gate feel is where things get interesting. This is a mechanical switch device — there are no motors or tension adjustment. The throw is firm but not stiff, and each gear slot clicks into place with a tactile bump that feels convincing for the price. By the end of my first two-hour session, I was shifting through an 18-speed Eaton Fuller box without thinking about it. That's the kind of muscle memory you want in a sim.

What surprised me was the toggle button near the base. A lot of real truck transmissions use an splitter or range splitter to toggle between high and low gears, and aikeec has replicated that with a physical rocker switch on the shifter body. It sounds gimmicky, but it genuinely adds to the immersion once you learn the rhythm. In ATS, it means you can run an 18-speed box the way a real over-the-road driver would.

The one thing nobody mentions in the listings: the button mapping inside ETS2 and ATS takes a bit of patience. The in-box instructions are brief, and if you've never gone into the controls menu to add a joystick H-shifter before, you'll spend 10-15 minutes figuring it out. It's not hard — SCS Software's control panel is well laid out — but it's not as seamless as the USB cable implies. Once it's mapped, though, it just works every time you launch the game.

Who Should Buy It?

This shifter is a natural fit for existing Logitech G27, G29, or G920 owners who want to add an H-shifter without replacing their whole wheel setup. It's also solid for ETS2 and ATS enthusiasts who primarily play on PC and want the authentic multi-gear experience without spending $150+ on a Thrustmaster TH8A.

Casual gamers who only use keyboard controls and are just curious about sim racing will find the setup process a barrier. PlayStation and Xbox players should look elsewhere — this is PC-only.

Skip this if you're already running a Fanatec ecosystem and want a shifter that integrates with their Force Feedback system. The aikeec is mechanically solid but entirely passive — it has no motors, no feedback, and no software ecosystem. And if you need something that works out of the box without any game configuration whatsoever, this product will ask a little more of you than that.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Thrustmaster TH8A — A metal-topped, servo-free H-shifter that's been the go-to budget recommendation for years. It costs roughly twice as much as the aikeec, but the build quality is noticeably more premium and the throw feels heavier. Worth it if you want something that lasts a decade.

Fanatec ClubSport Shifter SQ — At the high end, Fanatec's shifter adds an optional 7-mode switch and integrates with their ecosystem for automatic game recognition. Overkill for truck sim purists, but the gold standard for multi-discipline sim racers.

Logitech Driving Force Shifter — Logitech's own official add-on shifter is a safe, well-supported option if you want to stay within the Logitech ecosystem. It's more expensive than the aikeec and supports fewer in-game transmission options.

FAQ

Final Verdict

The aikeec American Truck Simulator shifter punches well above its price tag. It delivers the authentic H-gate feel that makes ATS and ETS2 rewarding, it works with the most common PC wheel setups, and it doesn't require a driver installation to get going. The plastic housing and lack of force feedback are honest trade-offs at this price, and the initial button mapping is a small friction point. None of that changes the core proposition: if you want a proper gear stick for your truck sim without spending $150, this is the one to beat.