Functional Trainer Barbell
INTRO:
The Bar is approximately 4-foot-long bar and can be attached to your functional trainer by connecting the welded rings on the end of the bar to BOTH pulleys of the functional trainer. Further, You can connect other attachments to the bar, by connecting them to the center welded ring (such as a Belt Squat belt as demonstrated in the YouTube video).
Quick note on my functional trainer. I do not have a standalone Functional trainer. Instead, I have the ARES attachment from REP Fitness. The ARES deliver a Lat Pull Down/Low Row AND FTX integrated into your Rep Fitness power rack. If this article inspires you to purchase your own ARES attachment – please consider using my affiliate shopping link located here: LINK HERE
The barbell’s welded rings rotate on its attached EMT Conduit coupling. That coupling rotates on the interior pipe, and the PVC handles also rotate on the interior pipe. All of those independently rotating parts provide you with a very smooth rotation during operation.
I especially love this bar for standing Overhead Presses. I cannot press overhead while standing in my basement gym with a standard barbell/plates over 25LB, since my ceiling is too low. However, with this DIY Barbell connected to the Rep Ares, I can perform this movement with a full range of motion without hitting my ceiling.
DIY Tutorial:
I went into great detail in the video, so I will not repeat every step here. However, let me explain how I measured and cut the PVC pipe. I started off by adding a ½” Nipple Cap onto the end of a 48” long ½” Plumbing Nipple. I then added 6 of the washers, and three of the ¾” EMT Conduit Couplings (TWO at their longest settings and ONE at its shortest setting) ALL STACKED ON ONE ANOTHER. I then added the other Nipple cap to the other end of the pipe. Then I measured from the exterior edge of the furthest EMT Coupling to the interior edge of the Nipple cap. This is how I determined that the PVC Pipes will both be 20 3/8” long. If you slightly cut the PVC handles too short or too long, you can adjust the length of the couplings by twisting them.
Shopping:
SHOPPING LIST WHEN SHOPPING, PLEASE CLICK FIRST TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: By shopping via any of these links, I get paid a small commission which helps support the Club’s costs such as Web Hosting the website.
SIX 7/8" Interior Diameter WASHERS (Hard-to-Find Fastener 014973305383 SAE Flat Washers, 7/8, Piece-10): https://amzn.to/49aFnJ4
ONE 48” Long ½” Plumbing Nipple: https://amzn.to/3QvkXDn
TWO ½” Nipple Caps: https://amzn.to/3WiGv5P
THREE ¾”EMT Conduit Compression Couplings: https://amzn.to/3D2Gooq
THREE 40mm Interior Diameter Welded Rings: https://amzn.to/3Wt2cjD
TWO PIECES of Approx. 20 3/8" Lengths of Schedule 40 1" PVC Pipe: https://amzn.to/40isbhp
Threadlocker: https://amzn.to/3Fxy0hu
Carabiners: https://amzn.to/3D1xxTJ
My REP GEAR:
REP PR-5000 Power Rack: https://bit.ly/48QwZhX
REP ARES Attachment: https://bit.ly/46cSE2q
