DOF Reality H3 vs H4: Is Heave Worth It?

What heave adds

Heave moves the whole platform up and down. You feel curbs, bumps, runway texture and turbulence. The H3 already gives you pitch, roll and yaw. That covers acceleration, braking, the lean of cornering and rear traction loss.

No rig can hold you under sustained g force. It tilts you so gravity presses you into the seat. Then it adds fast, short moves for shifts, curbs and impacts. Heave gives the rig a vertical way to make those short hits.

DOF says the H3 was historically its top selling model, for its small size, quiet operation and price. DOF says the H4 keeps all three and adds heave. DOF also says the H4 gives "about 80% of the experience" of the 6 axis H6 "at almost half the cost." At our October 2026 prices, the H4 is about 60% of the H6 price.

H3 and H4 specs side by side

Spec	DOF H3	DOF H4
Axes	3: pitch, roll, yaw	4: pitch, roll, yaw, heave
Tilt range	20°	20°
Speed	50 cm/s (86°/s)	50 cm/s (86°/s)
Torque	25 Nm	25 Nm
Acceleration	0.7G transverse, 0.5G longitudinal	0.7G transverse, 0.5G longitudinal
Peak power	750W	1000W
Max user weight	330 lb (150 kg)	330 lb (150 kg)
Footprint	3 x 5 ft, 2 ft high	3 x 5 ft, 2 ft high
Shipping boxes (DOF)	2 boxes, 78 lb and 97 lb	2 boxes, 78 lb and 97 lb
Racing price (October 2026)	from about $3,985	from about $5,202
Flight, Heli or Universal "r" price (October 2026)	from about $4,300	from about $5,622

The "r" versions use an extra smooth gearbox tuned for slow, precise flight and helicopter moves. The premium is about $315 on the H3 and about $420 on the H4. If you mostly race, the standard version is the right call. For a mix of racing and flight, we recommend the r version.

The price gap and the upgrade path

DOF upgrade kits add axes to a rig you already own. The H3 to H4 kit is from about $2,509 (October 2026). Here is how the paths compare.

Path	What you buy	Total (October 2026)	Compared with buying outright
H4 now	H4	about $5,202	Baseline
H3 now, H4 later	H3 + H3 to H4 kit	about $6,494	About $1,292 more than an H4
H3 now, H6 later	H3 + H3 to H6 kit	about $8,673	About $70 more than an H6
H4 now, H6 later	H4 + H4 to H6 kit	about $8,971	About $368 more than an H6

Two things stand out. If you want heave, buying the H4 now is the lower cost path. If you might end up at 6 axes, start with the H3. Its jump to the H6 costs only about $70 extra.

Who should pick which

Pick the H3 if

• This is your first motion rig and you mostly race. Our motion guide says 2 axes already cover the two cues that matter most for lap time.
• You want the best value. We recommend the H3 more than any other rig.
• You might go to 6 axes later. The H3 to H6 path costs only about $70 more than an H6.
• Your budget tops out at about $5,000 with a seat, wheel and pedals.

Pick the H4 if

• You want to feel curbs and bumps through the whole rig.
• You fly and want runway texture and turbulence. Choose the H4r for flight.
• You are sure you want heave. Buying it now saves about $1,292 over upgrading later.

Pick something else if

If you weigh close to the 330 lb limit, DOF recommends the Pro P2e or P3e, rated to 440 lb. If you want surge and sway too, look at the H6, from about $8,603 (October 2026). Quick answers on every model live on our sim rig questions page.

What to add to either rig

Neither rig includes a seat, wheel or pedals. Both include the steel frame, motors, control unit, a SimRacingStudio license and a 1 year manufacturer warranty.

• A seat: the DOF seat is from about $454 (October 2026), or reuse a seat that fits standard mounting.
• A wheel and pedals: the MOZA R5 bundle is from about $552, and the MOZA R9 CS bundle from about $952 (October 2026).
• A four point harness, from about $104 (October 2026). We strongly recommend one on any rig with 3 or more axes.

An H3 with a DOF seat and the R5 bundle comes to about $4,991. An H4 with a DOF seat, the R9 CS bundle and a harness comes to about $6,712. See more builds in what a motion sim rig really costs.

Both rigs are built to order. They ship within 3 weeks and typically arrive 4 to 6 weeks from your order, with freight to the US and Canada included. Ordering details are in buying DOF Reality in the US.