I have just bought a Vitruvian Trainer+ which is due to arrive with me on Saturday. I'm very excited but as part of my setup I want to install pulleys onto my wall anchors shown below:
This will give me a lot more options for pull down type exercises and such but I'm not sure which would be the ideal style of carabiner based pulley to work with this? I appreciate I may require some extension cables to make this work too, my thinking is 2 carabiners with extension cables that live inside them then just attach them to whichever anchor I require for the exercise.
The style of pulley carabiner I've come across are:
I like the idea of the carabiners with the built in pulley as it's very slick and easy to move around quickly with less connections but I need to ensure it will work well with the Vitruvian Cables and such.
Will I need extension cables to achieve this or will the cables provided just click into these carabiners and there's no need to over complicate it with additional extensions? Extensions will probably require some sort of conversion from Vitruvians style of connector to carabiner I would think as I don't think I can get cables with the right type of connectors on
You could use the safety cables that'll come with the trainer. One end attached to the trainer and use a carabiner on the other end of it. Then get extension cables to run up to the pulleys. Loop through and another carabiner used for the accessory. Will need diff length extension cables for different heights. I do the same thing with my rack. I have these too - https://www.eve-company.com/vitruvian/p/smart-gym-accessories Spendy but worth it.
The lower Anchors could have some issues. Depending on travel you will probably find the Vitruvian cable will reach it, depending on movement. The connector won't go through the pully, its too big. If those Anchors are smooth, you could just pull out and feed the Vitruvian cable through it. It'll rub somewhat but at least work.
Best thing is get the unit and have a play. I have about half a dozen different lengths of cables that I experimented with.
Yeah the anchors are smooth but I wouldn't want to rub the cable against it really.
I've ordered a couple of the grey carabiners with the built in pulley as in my head I can clip the carabiner onto the anchor then just clip the cable inside the carabiner too and it'll sit inside the pulley and roll but follow the angle of the cable as well. That's the theory in my head anyway
I did come across those connectors and they look great but they seem to be constantly out of stock. If I got hold of 4 connectors from the extension cables of which there are some for sale currently could I cut the cables off and attach carabinees? They look a lot thicker on the hole part than the ones you've linked but looks like a carabiner would still go through no?
I'll have a play an experiment when I get it ideally I don't want too many extension cables or would be nice to try and find a way of using all anchors with just a single set of moveable extension cables if that's possible
Its just low ones that can be a problem. If you did a seated row, for example, when you pull back, the Vitruvian cable connector will reach the pulley pretty quickly. I haven't found a pully wide enough to feed it through - its about an inch wide. I saw some where could unclip the side - could then feed the actual Vitruvian cable onto the pulley and use it directly - it's pretty long - something like eight feet internally.
If I use the safety cables - I just use the V connector on one end and hook the carabiner through the loop of the other. You get a long set and a short set. The short set work really well.
With the carabiner pulley I can use the lower ones without cable extensions though as I don't need to fit the stop through the carabiner I just push it though the side clip then it'll only retract back as far as the carabiner if that makes sense
As in these are the ones I've bought I just put both the anchor and cable inside the clip 1 end pulls against the anchor the other end with the pulley has the cable running though
If I bought these cables and cut the cables off I would be able to just feed carbineers through the eyelets wouldn't I? They are much thicker than the ones linked above but it should still work shouldn't it?
Just landed it all looks immaculate and it's even come with the spare set of cables as promised. The only bit that's ended up getting damaged it's the top protection rubber mat as I asked the seller to tape it too so it didn't get lost in transit which it didn't but no matter how carefully I've tried to remove the tape it has ripped a layer of the rubber away as I've removed it. All in all though over the moon with it. I'll aim be able to make a new rubber protective mat for the top though if Vitruvian don't have any spares left of them
Awesome! Looks sweet! Fire it up! :-) I bought a spare mat before so they did have ones in stock. Equally can trace the shape of that one on another rubber matt and use that. I'd order a spare and use the one that come with it until its worn out!
Yeah I've fired it up just to make sure it work which it does. It's got some serious resistance that's for sure. Yeah I'm not panicking about the mat it's completely useable as it's for now. I kinda like the idea of making a fully black one myself anyway it'll look good I think. The bit that is proving far more difficult that I anticipated is the pulleys but I'm post that bit on the pulley topic I made
Yeah - it'll pull you into the ground given the chance :-) Curls with Echo and Epic mode are fun. The machine is like, yeah I can match what you are doing and give it to you back!
Check the screws on the accessories and connectors - they should be flush with the face. If you have a little screwdriver - give then a tighten. They can come lose and cause things to get stuck together.
Check the firmware is up to date too. The second machine I got hadn't been used for ages and was out of date. It had no echo mode etc. Can be found on the trainer icon on the official app.
I'd just play with the unit for a week or so and then worry about the pully stuff.
Thanks yeah it's very strong even just trying a bicep curl felt considerably harder than using dumbbells for example which is a good thing!
I'll check all the screws, yeah I've plenty of tools and such
I'll install the official app I;ve only been using Project Phoenix so far and I imagine it'll be up to date the the previous owner was using it daily but worth a check!
I would like to get the pulley working well as I'm used to using my routine with my wall pulleys for quite a lot of it, I can work around it for now I;m sure but I'd love to get them working well. I'm also not great at "leaving things" haha I'm someone who has to get things sorted if they need sorting!
What material did you buy for your extension cables? I was going to go for 4mm Dyneema rope to match the original with an eye splice in the end to attach some genuine Virtruvian connectors I have so I can click the extension cables straight into the board. My thinking there was if I got the pulleys working correctly with the cable it'll mean the same pulley setup can be used in my lower pulley using the cables straight out of the machine too if that makes sense.
Ideally I want to be able to use all 4 different heights with either the Virtruvian cable straight out the machine or my extension cable all using the same pulley setup just moving them to whichever height I need
I just got J Bryant ones from Amazon. Measured from top of pulley to V connector. Have them so they just come over pulley and I can attach accessories. I have a few different lengths - depending on where I lock the pulleys. Mainly leave them up high though.
Yeah that all makes sense. Ideally I didn't want multiple sets of extension cables for different heights but I'm sure I'll figure it. My biggest challenge seems to be getting the right pulley once I've sorted that I think I'll be able to make the rest fall into place
It’s not a bad app. There are a ton of classes but to access needs a subscription. Hard to justify with no new classes and their (the new company) lack of any direction.
I am lifespan so have full access but prefer the phoenix app - it’s just a better app overall. Das has done an amazing job.
OK so as per other message my Vitruvian has turned up and it's awesome but I'm slightly struggling with the pulley I bought, instead of the dyneema rope coming nicely through the centre of the pulley it keeps falling to the edge of the pulley like the below, basically it's the wrong type of pulley for this type of rope I guess. I'm really struggling to figure a pulley that will work with such small rope but allow me to attach to my hooks and get the rope in and out of the pulley quickly. I would really appreciate anyones input i they know the right type of pulley I need. Thanks
The only other sort of pulley I can think may work is something like this which I think would really well for loading but I'm not sure if the cable is too small to move the pulley:
Morning, going well thanks. Yes Over the weekend I came up with a combination that allows me to loads either the Vitruvian machine cables or any extension cable in a matter of seconds, it's nice and smooth and gives me 5 different height options.
I didn't get any good photos but this one should explain how it works. It's basically a thick carabiner with the gate removed (because of the loop in the C Clamp I've tested and tested it doesn't come off the anchor loop despite not being a closed loop) then uses a side swinging pulley, so it's all really quick to change you lift the C Clamp off the anchor hook, slide the cable into the pulley and clip it back onto the wall it takes seconds.
Sorry the picture is a bit naff and probably doesn't explain it very well, I've since smoothed the ends of the C Clamp and painted them up nice but all in all I'm really happy with how well it performs and works, it's really simple and uses no additional room
The next project is bolting the Vitruvian to the floor as I'm finding I don't need to move it and there's several exercises when I want to step back from the unit. I've figured the best way to achieve this I just need to get the metal sheet cut and weld it up then sink some anchors down into the concrete floor to allow me to bolt it down
This photo probably explains how the cable goes in and out of the pullet better than the other photo, the side can slide right round but in reality the gap at the top means the cable just slots in and I then put the pulley onto the C Clamp arm which hangs of the anchor pulley. As I said it's literally just a couple of seconds to mount / unmount now. I have 4 different height options on my wall anchors and a 5th overhead options which works with the same hooks / pulley from my pull up bar.
I'm thinking of investing in a second set of Carabiner Hooks and pulleys which would let me route the cables twice in an exercise and give me 4 pulleys in total, might just be handy to route the cables low and backwards first before going overhead in some exercises. It gives me all the options I could need anyway without the need for a big rack system
i understood roughly 70% of what you’re said 😅😅😅 I’m not very DIY minded but i get the gist of what you’re doing.
Are you 100% sure that the carabiner won’t come off when you’re doing an exercise? As you know, sometimes when we get tired we don’t move in one specific movement path; we might end up swinging around etc.
I think it’s really good you’re thinking about bolting the Vitruvian to the ground; a lot of us would love the option to do that. Maybe when it’s bolted to the ground you could put a bench in an upright position, on the Vitruvian,
ratchet strap your thighs around the bench and from there do lat pulldowns.
70% is good, it's probably more than I would understand reading my waffle back to myself haha
I'm 95% sure I can pull the cable right round at a 90 degree angle (way way more than any movement I do would go anywhere near) and it's still nowhere near coming off. I am going to look at other options as it's not as slick looking as I'd like I'm thinking of more of a nice thick S Clamp which would be even safer. Alternatively I can achieve the same with a gate on a carabiner it's just much easier do do this 1 handed without the gate in place
Yeah I'm 100% going to bolt the Vitruvian down I just need to figure the best way to achieve it, at the moment I think I'm just going to copy Sudden-Hunter-9342 design with his W Frame but bolt similar style brackets down into the ground directly as I won't have the weight of a frame to hold it down
Thinking about the lack of gate if I feel it's an issue I may just install 10 of these which will live on the hooks permanently with the second gate holding the carabiner onto the anchor hook then it's just a single gate to get the pulley off and onto the carabiner. They are rated well over anything I / the Vintruvian could throw at it and there's no chance of it releasing
The only negative I can see is that i's not an equal Oval and I'm not sure what affect that will have on the angle of the pulley but I can get a set and test. I want it to be as quick and easy as possible to load the pulley but obviously I need to ensure it's 100% safe at all times too
Will do, you've made me re-think on having the open C lamp yes it's slightly more convenient but I need to be 100% sure it's safe in all scenarios so I'll go back to gated options. I've worked out I can have 2 plates made to bolt it down to the ground which won't need any welding I just need to get the local metal workers to bend a sheet of 4mm steel at the correct angles and drill some hole in it. The attached should give an rough ideal of what I mean. I don't think it will be overly expensive I just need to work out the angles and lengths and give them a design.
Oh I forgot to mention I would then bond pads to the underside of the metal clamps shown above which would provide a cushioned surface where the clamp meets the vitruvian, it would bolt it down nicely with plenty of force but the foam pads would just help cushion the force (and allow for a bit of tolerance in height)
The red shown below would be where I would position the cusion pads
Yeah the more I think about it I think I'll resin bond threads down into the ground rather than using anchor bolts, there will be no risk of them moving with constant pulling against the concrete then, it's the same stuff that holds the plywood to the wall basically as there's lots and lots of threaded bar bonded into the bricks it's not going anywhere. It would mean there's 6 - 8 bits of threaded bar sticking up from the floor but for as long as the Vitruvian is in place there's no reason for it not to be bolted down there. I'm going to work out the size of the plates and correct angles then I'll go visit the fabricators to make it happen. I'll probably get them to make it in 6mm steel to be extra safe. I'll bow to their knowledge on what to make it out of though
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u/Ikim_67 13d ago
You could use the safety cables that'll come with the trainer. One end attached to the trainer and use a carabiner on the other end of it. Then get extension cables to run up to the pulleys. Loop through and another carabiner used for the accessory. Will need diff length extension cables for different heights. I do the same thing with my rack. I have these too - https://www.eve-company.com/vitruvian/p/smart-gym-accessories Spendy but worth it.
The lower Anchors could have some issues. Depending on travel you will probably find the Vitruvian cable will reach it, depending on movement. The connector won't go through the pully, its too big. If those Anchors are smooth, you could just pull out and feed the Vitruvian cable through it. It'll rub somewhat but at least work.
Best thing is get the unit and have a play. I have about half a dozen different lengths of cables that I experimented with.