Dual Cable Machine (First Floor)

[Johno123456]

Hi all, not a specific equipment question but asking what people's thoughts are or if anyone has done this before.
I recently bought a Dual Cable pulley machine from primal strength (can't attach link as not enough posts) to be delivered end of Feb.

I hadn't seen the additional information bit on the website where it lists the total weight so asked them what it weighed (before I bought) to which they replied 250kg. So I had managed to get use of of of my company's spare rooms as have limited space at home so planned to use it when I have to go into the office a few times a week. I then found the additional information where it lists the weight as 339kg, which to be fair now I think about it seems more likely. Am a little concerned my office building wont take the weight along with me (although I don't plan to do pull ups on it but will of course be standing next to it for many exercises).

Has anyone got one of these in a home gym or similar without issue? When it was 250kg I was more confident, less so now. I know it would ideally be checked out properly but as this is more of a temporary thing while gyms are closed it would be a bit over the top.

Thanks

[gym62richard]

It's difficult to give an opinion without knowing the type of floor, the method of construction and material would be useful.

Generally when placing heavy items on upper storey's it's good practice to locate the item where the floor is at it's strongest point, e.g adjacent to a load bearing wall or directly over a support column, it would be safe to assume that any exterior wall would be load bearing.

Given that a DAP can be placed directly against a wall, if it is possible to locate it on an exterior wall would be ideal. Also if it's possible to place a couple of sheets of 3/4" plywood under the unit would help to distribute the load.

Vibration may also be a factor, here again a couple of rubber mats on top of the plywood should help, the unit would sit on an 8ftx8ft, 2.4mx2.4m platform.

If you're at all unsure it's best to try and take a look at the original construction plans, or discuss it with the person responsible for property maintenance.

[Johno123456]

Thanks Richard. Yeah I probably should have checked it out a bit more first. I had to pop in briefly today and so had a quick look at the ceiling. It's a suspended ceiling downstairs and has concrete above it (just pushed a couple of ceiling tiles up to check).

I'm almost sure from this my dual cable machine placed near to the external wall as you say should be fine. I may get a piece of plywood to be safe as well.

Unless people say otherwise I think this should be ok as building is in pretty good shape generally.

[gym62richard]

Thanks Richard. Yeah I probably should have checked it out a bit more first. I had to pop in briefly today and so had a quick look at the ceiling. It's a suspended ceiling downstairs and has concrete above it (just pushed a couple of ceiling tiles up to check).

I'm almost sure from this my dual cable machine placed near to the external wall as you say should be fine. I may get a piece of plywood to be safe as well.

Unless people say otherwise I think this should be ok as building is in pretty good shape generally.

I think you should be okay, a concrete floor will be steel reinforced, generally concrete floors have a greater load capacity than say traditionally constructed timber floors, (joist and strutted).. They're also less prone to flection, so plywood probably isn't necessary, rubber matting, at least directly under the unit will help to avoid any noise or vibration transfer through the building infrastructure.

Post some pics along with your thoughts when the DAP is in place, I've only seen the Primal Strength unit in online pics, it's always good to have feedback.

[tsg2513]

Thanks Richard. Yeah I probably should have checked it out a bit more first. I had to pop in briefly today and so had a quick look at the ceiling. It's a suspended ceiling downstairs and has concrete above it (just pushed a couple of ceiling tiles up to check).

I'm almost sure from this my dual cable machine placed near to the external wall as you say should be fine. I may get a piece of plywood to be safe as well.

Unless people say otherwise I think this should be ok as building is in pretty good shape generally.

You will be fine (I have over 35 years in the commercial building and construction industry. I have my functional trainer, which weighs about 600 lbs in my 4th floor condo, which has wood floor decks.

[Johno123456]

Thanks yeah I thought so.

Yeah I couldn't find any real life feedback of it, only found one person who I spoke to via YouTube comments on another DAP machine I was looking at who had one and said it was good. Their kit looks decent so would think this should be fine even though it's the cheaper of their versions of it.

[Johno123456]

You will be fine (I have over 35 years in the commercial building and construction industry. I have my functional trainer, which weighs about 600 lbs in my 4th floor condo, which has wood floor decks.

That's great to hear. Thanks so much.

[Johno123456]

Just thought i'd follow up on this, installed it a few days ago an am very happy with it. Needed 2 people to carry the empy side frames of it upstairs but other than that I assembled it fine on my own in about 1.5hrs (would have been less if i had circlip pliers but needle nose pliers worked fine with a bit of fiddling). Must say i am very impressed, cable run is very smooth, unit feels very sturdy but then i guess with 90kg weight stacks it will! I have used it a few times and this wouldnt be out of place in a commercial gym.

Only thing i haven't tried is pull ups as first due to old shoulder injury i dont really do that any more, and secondly the ceiling in my office is only about 3cm above the machine so would bang my head a lot (no pain no gain!).

Anyone thinking of using primal strength i really can't recommend them enough, even delivery was great. Sadly i can''t seem to post any pictures.

[gym62richard]

Just thought i'd follow up on this, installed it a few days ago an am very happy with it. Needed 2 people to carry the empy side frames of it upstairs but other than that I assembled it fine on my own in about 1.5hrs (would have been less if i had circlip pliers but needle nose pliers worked fine with a bit of fiddling). Must say i am very impressed, cable run is very smooth, unit feels very sturdy but then i guess with 90kg weight stacks it will! I have used it a few times and this wouldnt be out of place in a commercial gym.

Only thing i haven't tried is pull ups as first due to old shoulder injury i dont really do that any more, and secondly the ceiling in my office is only about 3cm above the machine so would bang my head a lot (no pain no gain!).

Anyone thinking of using primal strength i really can't recommend them enough, even delivery was great. Sadly i can''t seem to post any pictures.

Congrats, I use my functional trainer pretty much every workout.

I think I remember reading Primal Strength are a UK based company, I believe they design some of their equipment in house, but I also noticed a few generic pieces on their site.

[Johno123456]

Yeah, i feel like if you're only going to have one piece of kit a functional trainer/dual cable machine is a decent bet (assuming you're not a powerlifter/strongman/olympic lifter etc of course! haha)

Having spoken to some of them they all had fairly strong scottish accents so yeah seem UK based. Although the sign off sheet with the trainer had signautres with chinese letters on (think that's what they were) so suspect it wasn't UK made. Still great quality and price though (ps i dont work for them!)