V4D3R  MODERATOR Nov 11, 2016, 7:10 AM
I decided to write a new tutorial, about one of the most sophisticated yet easy to understand file.

The Handling.meta.

What is the Handling.meta?

Handling.meta is a file in GTA V, like in previous GTA games, controls the handling and physics of vehicles.
Located in xxxx\common\data.

Examples:

Grand Theft Auto V\mods\update\update.rpf\common\data
Grand Theft Auto V\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks\mpbiker\dlc.rpf\common\data
This can be useful for new modders who have trouble understanding the parameters.

1. Parameters
1.1. Physical Attributes

THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT A VEHICLE'S PHYSICAL PROPORTIONS IN THE GAME.

HANDLINGNAME

Used by the vehicles.meta, to identify the handling line of the particular vehicle.

Any text no more than 14 characters can be used. The Vanilla vehicles use uppercase letters by default.
Example: ADDER, DINGHY
FMASS

The weight of the vehicle. Values should be given in Kilograms.

Used when the vehicle collides with another vehicle or a non-static object.
FINITIALDRAGCOEFF

Sets the drag coefficient of the vehicle. Increase to simulate aerodynamic drag.

Value: 10-120
FPERCENTSUBMERGED

The percentage of the vehicle's "floating height" after it falls into the water, before sinking.

Default - 85% for vanilla, land vehicles. The value will stop sinking the vehicle to float for a moment before sinking.
Boats excluded.

Value: Any percentage. Should be given in decimal.
Example: 0.70 (70%)

An invalid number will cause the vehicle to sink without the driver drowning.

VECCENTREOFMASSOFFSET

Shifts the center of gravity in meters from side to side.

Values:
(0 means that the center of gravity will be in the center of the vehicle.)

X: -10.0 to 10.0. Positive values move the center of gravity right.
Y: -10.0 to 10.0. Positive values move the center of gravity forwards.
Z: -10.0 to 10.0. Positive values move the center of gravity upwards.
VECINERTIAMULTIPLIER

I have no idea what this means, if someone knows, please let me know.

Values:
X: -10.0 to 10.0.
Y: -10.0 to 10.0.
Z: -10.0 to 10.0.

1.2. Transmission

These values represent the vehicle's straight line performance.

FDRIVEBIASFRONT

This is used to determine whether a vehicle is front, rear, or four wheel drive.
Thanks for @FoxtrotDelta for telling me about this value.

Values:

0.0 means that the vehicle is rear wheel drive.
1.0 means that the vehicle is front wheel drive.
Any value between 0.01 and 0.99 is four wheel drive.
0.5 give both front and rear axles equal force, being the perfect 4WD.
NINITIALDRIVEGEARS

Obviously, this line determines how many forward speeds/gears a vehicle's transmission contains.

Values: 1 or more.

FINITIALDRIVEFORCE

This modifies the game's calculation of drive force (from the output of the transmission).

Values: 0.01 - 2.0 and above.

1.0 uses drive force calculation unmodified.
Values less than 1.0 will in effect give the vehicle less drive force.
Values greater than 1.0 will produce more drive force.
FDRIVEINERTIA

Describes how fast an engine will rev.

Values: 0.01 - 2.0.

Default value is 1.0, (or no modification of drive intertia).
Bigger values = quicker Redline (maximum engine speed)
FCLUTCHCHANGERATESCALEUPSHIFT

Clutch speed multiplier on up shifts.

Bigger numbers = faster shifts.
FCLUTCHCHANGERATESCALEDOWNSHIFT

Clutch speed multiplier on down shifts.

Bigger numbers = faster shifts
INITIALDRIVEMAXFLATVEL

This determines the vehicle speed at redline in the top gear (not the show).

Setting this value DOES NOT guarantee the vehicle will reach the given speed.

Multiply the number in the file by 0-82 to get the speed in mph.
Multiply by 1.32 to get the speed in kph.
Values: 0.00 and above.

FBRAKEFORCE

Obvious one. Multiplies the game's calculation of deceleration.

Bigger numbers = harder braking.
Values: 0.01 - 2.0 and above.

1.0 uses brake force calculation unmodified.
FBRAKEBIASFRONT

This line controls the distribution of braking force between the front and rear axles.

Values:
Similar to fDriveBiasFront,

0.0 means the rear axle only receives brake force.
1.0 means the front axle only receives brake force.
0.5 gives both axles equal brake force.
Values between 0.01 and 0.49 means the rear axle will receive more brake force.
Values between 0.51 and 0.99 means the front axles will receive more brake force than the rear.
FHANDBRAKEFORCE

Another obvious one. Braking power of the handbrake.

Bigger numbers = harder braking.
Values: 0.o or above.
FSTEERINGLOCK

This multiplies the game's calculation of the angle of the steer wheel will turn while at full turn.
Steering lock is directly related to over/under-steer.

Values:
0.01 and above.

Values between 0.1 - 0.2 will simulate a long wheelbase.
Values around 0.75 and above will turn extremely fast. Higher values will cause the vehicle to spin out easily.
1.3. Wheel Traction

The following attributes describe how the vehicle will behave when cornering, accelerating and decelerating etc.

FTRACTIONCURVEMAX

Cornering grip of the vehicle as a multiplier of the tire surface friction.

fTractionCurveMin

Accelerating/braking grip of the vehicle as a multiplier of the tire surface friction.

FTRACTIONCURVELATERAL

Shape of lateral traction curve.

FTRACTIONSPRINGDELTAMAX

This value determines at what distance above the ground the car will lose traction.

FLOWSPEEDTRACTIONLOSSMULT

How much traction is reduced at low speed.

0.0 means normal traction. It affects mainly car burnout when pressing gas (W/UP).
Decreasing value will cause less burnout, less sliding at start.
Higher value will cause more burnout.
FCAMBERSTIFFNESSS

This value modify the grip of the car when you're drifting.

More than 0 make the car sliding on the same angle you're drifting.
Less than 0 make your car oversteer
Not recommended to modify it for grip.
FTRACTIONBIASFRONT

Determines the distribution of traction from front to rear.

Values: 0.01 - 0.99.

0.01 = only rear axle has traction.
0.99 = only front axle has traction.
0.5 = both axles have equal traction.
Entering a value of 0.0 or 1.0 causes the vehicle to have no traction.
FTRACTIONLOSSMULT

Affects how much grip is changed when driving on asphalt and mud

Higher values make the car less responsive and prone to sliding.
1.4. Suspension

The following attributes determine a vehicle's system of springs and shock absorbers.

FSUSPENSIONFORCE

Affects how strong suspension is.
1/(Force × Wheels) = Lower limit for zero force at full extension.

FSUSPENSIONCOMPDAMP

Damping during strut compression.

Bigger values = stiffer.
FSUSPENSIONREBOUNDDAMP

Damping during strut rebound.

Bigger values = stiffer.
What the hell is this about? Read this and this and maybe this.

FSUSPENSIONUPPERLIMIT

AND

FSUSPENSIONLOWERLIMIT

Visual limit of how far can wheels move up / down from original position.

FSUSPENSIONRAISE

The amount that the suspension raises the body off the wheels.

FSUSPENSIONBIASFRONT

This value determines which suspension is stronger, front or rear.

If value is above 0.50 then front is stiffer, when below, rear is stiffer.
FANTIROLLBARFORCE

Larger Numbers = less body roll.

FANTIROLLBARBIASFRONT

The bias between front and rear for the anti-roll bar

0 = front
1 = rear
FROLLCENTREHEIGHTFRONT

Larger Numbers = less rollovers.
Values: (Recommended) -0.15 to 0.15.

FROLLCENTREHEIGHTREAR

This value modify the weight transmission during an acceleration between the front and rear. high positive value can make your car able to do wheelies.

Larger Numbers = less rollovers.
Values: (Recommended) -0.15 to 0.15.

1.5 Damage.

FCOLLISIONDAMAGEMULT

Multiplies the game's calculation of damage to the vehicle by collision.

FWEAPONDAMAGEMULT

Multiplies the game's calculation of damage to the vehicle by weapons.

FDEFORMATIONDAMAGEMULT

Multiplies the game's calculation of deformation damage.

fEngineDamageMult
Multiplies the game's calculation of damage to the engine, causing explosion or engine failure.

Values for the above four: 0.0 - 10.0.
fPetrolTankVolume

Amount of petrol that will leak after damaging a vehicle's tank.

fOilVolume

Amount of oil.

1.6. Misc.

FSEATOFFSETDISTX

Value: Driver > passenger

FSEATOFFSETDISTY

Value: Trunk > hood

FSEATOFFSETDISTZ

Value: Undercarriage > roof

NMONETARYVALUE

Not sure.

STRMODELFLAGS

The following are written in HEX.
Rightmost digit is the first one.

Example:
<strModelFlags>20840018</strModelFlags>

Digit	1	2	4	8
1st	IS_VAN	IS_BUS	IS_LOW	IS_BIG
2nd	ABS_STD	ABS_OPTION	ABS_ALT_STD	ABS_ALT_OPTION
3rd	NO_DOORS	TANDEM_SEATS	SIT_IN_BOAT	HAS_TRACKS
4th	NO_EXHAUST	DOUBLE_EXHAUST	NO1FPS_LOOK_BEHIND	CAN_ENTER_IF_NO_DOOR
5th	AXLE_F_TORSION	AXLE_F_SOLID	AXLE_F_MCPHERSON	ATTACH_PED_TO_BODYSHELL
6th	AXLE_R_TORSION	AXLE_R_SOLID	AXLE_R_MCPHERSON	DONT_FORCE_GRND_CLEARANCE
7th	DONT_RENDER_STEER	NO_WHEEL_BURST	INDESTRUCTIBLE	DOUBLE_FRONT_WHEELS
8th	RC	DOUBLE_RWHEELS	MF_NO_WHEEL_BREAK	IS_HATCHBACK
STRHANDLINGFLAGS

The following are written in HEX.
Rightmost digit is the first one.
Example: <strHandlingFlags>400000</strHandlingFlags>

Digit	1	2	4	8
1st	SMOOTH_COMPRESN	REDUCED_MOD_MASS
2nd	NO_HANDBRAKE	STEER_REARWHEELS	HB_REARWHEEL_STEER	STEER_ALL_WHEELS
3rd	FREEWHEEL_NO_GAS	NO_REVERSE		STEER NO WHEELS
4th	CVT	ALT_EXT_WHEEL_BOUNDS_BEH	DONT_RAISE_BOUNDS_AT_SPEED
5th	LESS_SNOW_SINK	TYRES_CAN_CLI
6th	OFFROAD_ABILITY	OFFROAD_ABILITY2	HF_TYRES_RAISE_SIDE_IMPACT_THRESHOLD
7th	ENABLE_LEAN	HEAVYARMOUR		ARMOURED
8th	SELF_RIGHTING_IN_WATER	IMPROVED_RIGHTING_FORCE
STRDAMAGEFLAGS

Mentioned doors will be unbreakable.
The following are written in HEX.
Rightmost digit is the first one.

Example: <strDamageFlags>20</strDamageFlags>

Digit	1	2	4	5
1st	DRIVER_SIDE_FRONT_DOOR	DRIVER_SIDE_REAR_DOOR	DRIVER_PASSENGER_SIDE_FRONT_DOOR	DRIVER_PASSENGER_SIDE_REAR_DOOR
2st	BONNET	BOOT
AIHANDLING

There are 4 profiles, which AI use when driving the vehicle.

AVERAGE
CRAP
TRUCK
SPORTS_CAR
2. SubHandlingData
Use 3 different sub handling data items. Set type to "NULL", to leave items blank.

Example of a vehicle with no SubHandlingData:

<SubHandlingData>
<Item type="NULL" />
<Item type="NULL" />
<Item type="NULL" />
</SubHandlingData>

2.1. CBOATHANDLINGDATA

I don't know what all these lines represent, I'll add the description when I found it.

fBoxFrontMult

fBoxRearMult

fBoxSideMult

fSampleTop

fSampleBottom

fAquaplaneForce

fAquaplanePushWaterMult

fAquaplanePushWaterCap

fAquaplanePushWaterApply

fRudderForce

fRudderOffsetSubmerge

Vertical offset of the propeller from bone when determining if submerged or not.
fRudderOffsetForce

The vertical offset of the propeller from bone when force applied.
fRudderOffsetForceZMult

fWaveAudioMult

vecMoveResistance

vecTurnResistance

fLook_L_R_CamHeight

fDragCoefficient

fKeelSphereSize

fPropRadius

fLowLodAngOffset

The angular offset from vertical when boat sits on calm water.
fLowLodDraughtOffset

fImpellerOffset

fImpellerForceMult

fDinghySphereBuoyConst

fProwRaiseMult

fDeepWaterSampleBuoyancyMult

2.2. CBIKEHANDLINGDATA

fLeanFwdCOMMult

fLeanFwdForceMult

fLeanBakCOMMult

fLeanBakForceMult

fMaxBankAngle

fFullAnimAngle

fDesLeanReturnFrac

fStickLeanMult

fBrakingStabilityMult

fInAirSteerMult

fWheelieBalancePoint

fStoppieBalancePoint

fWheelieSteerMult

fRearBalanceMult

fFrontBalanceMult

fBikeGroundSideFrictionMult

fBikeWheelGroundSideFrictionMult

fBikeOnStandLeanAngle

fBikeOnStandSteerAngle

fJumpForce

2.3. CFLYINGHANDLINGDATA

Used for aircraft that use multiple flight modes.
Example: Hydra.

fThrust

The power of the engines.

The higher the value, the faster aircraft will be.
fThrustFallOff

How much time it takes for engine to go idle.
fThrustVectoring

fYawMult

fYawStabilise

fSideSlipMult

Side rudder force.
fRollMult

fRollStabilise

fPitchMult

fPitchStabilise

fFormLiftMult

Base lift factor that’s independent from wing’s attack angle.
fAttackLiftMult

Lift factor of the wing’s attack angle while rising.
fAttackDiveMult

Lift factor of the wing’s attack angle while diving.
fGearDownDragV

fGearDownLiftMult

fWindMult

Wind influence.
fMoveRes

vecTurnRes

vecSpeedRes

fGearDoorFrontOpen

fGearDoorRearOpen

fGearDoorRearOpen2

fGearDoorRearMOpen

fTurublenceMagnitudeMax

Maximum turbulence magnitude of Sine wave motion simulation.
fTurublenceForceMulti

Multiplier of Turbulence vertical force.
fTurublenceRollTorqueMulti

Multiplier of Turbulence y axis force.
fTurublencePitchTorqueMulti

Multiplier of Turbulence x axis force.
fBodyDamageControlEffectMult

Control noise factor contributed from plane damage.
fInputSensitivityForDifficulty

Control noise factor contributed from pilot driving skills.
fOnGroundYawBoostSpeedPeak

fOnGroundYawBoostSpeedCap

fEngineOffGlideMulti

fSubmergeLevelToPullHeliUnderwater

handlingType

HANDLING_TYPE_FLYING - Normal Flying method of an aircraft.
HANDLING_TYPE_VERTICAL_FLYING - VTOL mode.
2.4. CVEHICLEWEAPONHANDLINGDATA

Up to 3 weapons usable per vehicle. (Confirmation needed)
Vehicle Weapon name available weapons.meta.
The following is a list of available weapons.

The description needs confirmation.

Weapon	Description
VEHICLE_WEAPON_TANK	The main cannon used in The Rhino.
VEHICLE_WEAPON_SPACE_ROCKET
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLANE_ROCKET
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLAYER_LASER	The Lazer's cannons.
VEHICLE_WEAPON_ENEMY_LASER	Missiles used in NPC Lazers?
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLAYER_BULLET
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLAYER_BUZZARD
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLAYER_HUNTER
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLAYER_LAZER
VEHICLE_WEAPON_SEARCHLIGHT	The searchlight in Police Maverick, Buzzard and some other Helicopters.
VEHICLE_WEAPON_WATER_CANNON	Used in the Fire Truck.
VEHICLE_WEAPON_RADAR	The Radar in boats?
VEHICLE_WEAPON_DUNE
VEHICLE_WEAPON_NOSE_TURRET_VALKYRIE	The turret in the nose of the Valkyrie.
VEHICLE_WEAPON_TURRET_VALKYRIE
VEHICLE_WEAPON_TURRET_TECHNICAL	Technical's turret.
VEHICLE_WEAPON_PLAYER_SAVAGE
VEHICLE_WEAPON_TURRET_INSURGENT	The turret of Insurgent Pick-Up.
WEAPONSEATS

The seat number that controls the weapon.
Use 0 there's no weapon set.

Values: 0 - 8.
0 is the driver's seat.

fTurretSpeed

Firing speed of the turret.
fTurretPitchMin

fTurretPitchMax

fTurretCamPitchMin

fTurretCamPitchMax

fBulletVelocityForGravity

fTurretPitchForwardMin

fUvAnimationMult

fMiscGadgetVar

fWheelImpactOffset

2.5. CSUBMARINEHANDLINGDATA

Controls the Submersible Handling.

fPitchMult

fPitchAngle

fYawMult

fDiveSpeed

fRollMult

fRollStab

vTurnRes

fMoveResXY

fMoveResZ

2.6. CTRAILERHANDLINGDATA

Handling of the Trailers.

fAttachLimitPitch

fAttachLimitRoll

fAttachLimitYaw

fUprightSpringConstant

fUprightDampingConstant

fAttachedMaxDistance

fAttachedMaxPenetration

fAttachRaiseZ

fPosConstraintMassRatio

Make trailer appear either heavier or lighter than the towing vehicle without changing the real mass.
2.7. CCARHANDLINGDATA

fBackEndPopUpCarImpulseMult

fBackEndPopUpBuildingImpulseMult

fBackEndPopUpMaxDeltaSpeed

2.8. CBASESUBHANDLINGDATA

Used by the Light Rail Vehicle.

2.9. CSEAPLANEHANDLINGDATA

Dodo's handling.

fLeftPontoonComponentId

fRightPontoonComponentId

fPontoonBuoyConst

fPontoonSampleSizeFront

fPontoonSampleSizeMiddle

fPontoonSampleSizeRear

fPontoonLengthFractionForSamples

fPontoonDragCoefficient

fPontoonVerticalDampingCoefficientUp

fPontoonVerticalDampingCoefficientDown

fKeelSphereSize

fWeaponDamageScaledToVehHealthMult

Used by the Rhino.