7 Power Assisted Steering Wheels That Support Self-Reliance
Explore 7 power-assisted steering wheels designed to reduce physical effort, enabling drivers with limited strength to maintain their self-reliance.
Wrestling a 3-ton box on wheels through a tight gas station or a crowded campground is a rite of passage. But it gets old. Upgrading your steering isn’t just about comfort; it’s about control, confidence, and reducing the physical toll of life on the road. For true self-reliance, you need a rig you can handle easily and safely, no matter the situation.
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Why Add Electric Power Steering to Your Rig?
Adding electric power steering (EPAS) is one of the single biggest quality-of-life upgrades you can make to a vintage or heavy-duty vehicle. It transforms the driving experience from a full-body workout into a one-handed operation. This matters immensely when you’re navigating tight forest service roads or backing into a tricky dispersed camping spot after a long day.
Unlike traditional hydraulic power steering that saps engine power and requires a complex system of pumps and hoses, EPAS is self-contained. It uses an electric motor mounted to the steering column, which only draws significant power when you’re actively turning the wheel. This simplicity is a huge win for custom conversions, as it eliminates potential leak points and simplifies the engine bay.
The real benefit for self-reliance is the reduction in fatigue. Driving a manual steering rig for eight hours is exhausting, period. An EPAS system lets you arrive at your destination with more energy to set up camp, fix a meal, or just enjoy where you are. It makes your vehicle more accessible and less intimidating, which is the cornerstone of sustainable long-term travel.
EPAS Performance: The Complete Universal Kit
If you want a bulletproof, well-engineered solution without the guesswork, this is where you look. EPAS Performance offers a complete universal kit that has become a go-to for builders who prioritize reliability over pinching pennies. It’s designed from the ground up as an aftermarket solution, not a repurposed OEM part.
The kit typically includes the electric motor, a control unit, a wiring harness, and a potentiometer to adjust the level of assist. You can dial it from full power for parking lot maneuvers to minimal assist for better road feel on the highway. Critically, these systems are designed to be fail-safe; if the unit ever loses power, you simply revert to your original manual steering. There’s no sudden loss of control.
The tradeoff is cost. This is a premium product, and you’re paying for the research, development, and support that comes with it. For a full-time rig or a high-value build where you want to eliminate potential points of failure, the investment is often well worth the peace of mind.
EZ Power Steering: Custom-Fit Vehicle Kits
EZ Power Steering takes a different approach by focusing on vehicle-specific applications. They’re a fantastic option if you’re converting a popular classic platform like a vintage VW Bus, an early Ford Econoline, or a classic Land Rover. They’ve already done the hard work of figuring out how to integrate the system seamlessly.
Their process often involves modifying your existing steering column or providing a new one with the EPAS unit pre-installed. This makes the installation far more of a "bolt-in" affair, dramatically reducing the need for custom cutting and fabrication. The unit is tucked away neatly, preserving the original look of your dashboard, which is a big deal for many classic vehicle owners.
While they offer universal kits too, their strength is in these custom-fit solutions. The main consideration is whether they support your specific vehicle. If they do, it’s one of the most straightforward paths to getting a professionally engineered system into your rig without becoming a master fabricator overnight.
Unisteer Electra-Steer for Classic Rigs
Unisteer is a well-known name in the hot rod and classic car world, and their Electra-Steer kits are built with that heritage in mind. They are designed to handle the unique demands of older, heavier vehicles with less-than-perfect steering geometry. This makes them a strong contender for many bus, van, and truck conversions.
Their kits are known for being robust. The motors are powerful, and the mounting brackets are designed for strength, anticipating the higher steering effort required for big tires and heavy loads. Like other premium kits, they feature adjustable assist and a fail-safe design.
Think of Unisteer as a heavy-duty option. If you’re building a 4×4 adventure van on a classic truck chassis or converting an old school bus, their universal kits provide the muscle you need. They might be a bit of overkill for a lightweight van, but for a rig that pushes the scales, that extra grunt is exactly what you want.
DIY Saturn Vue EPS: A Budget-Friendly Mod
This is the classic junkyard dog of the EPAS world. For years, builders have been pulling the entire steering column assembly from 2002-2007 Saturn Vues and adapting them to their own vehicles. It’s a popular choice because the unit is self-contained and can be controlled with a relatively simple, and often separately purchased, electronic controller box.
This is the most budget-friendly option, but it demands the most from you. There is no instruction manual. You are responsible for cutting your existing steering column and securely welding or fabricating mounts for the Vue unit. This is a safety-critical component, and a failed weld could be catastrophic. You also need to be comfortable with wiring the controller and ensuring it gets a clean, reliable power source.
The Saturn Vue swap embodies the spirit of self-reliance, but it requires a high level of skill. If you’re a confident welder and fabricator, you can save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. If you’re not, this is one area where it’s better to invest in a pre-engineered kit.
Chevy Equinox EPS: The Popular Junkyard Swap
The Chevy Equinox (and its siblings, the Pontiac Torrent and Suzuki XL-7) is the spiritual successor to the Saturn Vue swap. As Vues become scarcer in salvage yards, these later-model GM vehicles offer a similar and sometimes more robust EPAS unit. The principle is exactly the same: pull the column, get a controller, and fabricate it into your rig.
The potential advantage of the Equinox unit is that you’re getting a newer component, and some builders find the motor assembly slightly more compact or easier to package. The core challenges, however, remain identical to the Vue swap. You are the engineer, the fabricator, and the quality control inspector.
This path is for the builder who is comfortable with a multimeter and a welder. You’ll spend your time measuring, cutting, and fitting, but the reward is a modern convenience on a shoestring budget. Just like the Vue, it’s a fantastic option if, and only if, you have the skills to execute it safely.
Accurately measure voltage, current, and resistance with this versatile digital multimeter. Features a backlit LCD for easy reading and built-in overload protection for safety.
Turnkey Industries: Robust UTV-Focused Kits
Looking outside the traditional automotive space can yield some brilliant solutions. Turnkey Industries and similar companies specialize in EPAS kits for the UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) and side-by-side market. These kits are designed for a tough life of mud, water, and constant vibration.
What makes them so interesting for our purposes is their compact size and durability. The motors are powerful—often 400 watts or more—but are packaged in a much smaller, often environmentally sealed, housing. This can be a lifesaver in a cramped van or a custom build where space under the dash is at a premium.
This is a great option for smaller 4×4 conversions, custom buggies, or any application where a full-size automotive unit is just too bulky. You get a brand new, weather-resistant system that’s built to be abused. The cost is often somewhere between a DIY junkyard setup and a premium automotive kit, offering a nice middle ground.
DC Electronics: Motorsport-Grade Precision
When you need the absolute best in performance and tunability, you enter the world of motorsport components. DC Electronics (and brands like it) supply EPAS systems for rally cars, drift builds, and high-end racing applications. This is the top tier, with a price tag to match.
These systems offer features you won’t find elsewhere. The level of assist can be minutely tuned based on vehicle speed, often using a GPS sensor for perfect accuracy. The components are built to the highest possible standard for reliability under extreme stress. The electric motors are powerful, efficient, and designed for continuous hard use.
For 99% of builders, this is complete overkill. But if you are building a high-performance overland rig meant for tackling the Dakar Rally or a specialized vehicle where precise steering control is paramount, this is the solution. It’s the ultimate expression of control, but it’s an investment reserved for the most demanding of projects.
Ultimately, choosing an electric power steering system is about honestly assessing your rig, your budget, and your own fabrication skills. Whether you opt for a premium bolt-in kit or a DIY junkyard solution, the goal is the same: to create a vehicle that’s less of a chore and more of a capable partner in your adventures. That enhanced control and reduced fatigue is a direct investment in your long-term self-reliance on the road.
