Build a BADASS DIY Cable Pulley System for $100

Are you looking to add versatility to both your workouts and your home gym space? Have you been wanting to add a pulley system but don’t have a compatible rack, budget, or space for the majority available on the market today? This DIY Cable Pulley System might be the solution you’ve been looking for!

Although a freestanding functional trainer might be on everyone’s wish list, not every home gym owner has the money or the space to add this piece to their gym. This DIY Cable Pulley System can bridge that gap and do just about everything a standalone functional trainer can do at a fraction of the price.

My DIY Cable Pulley System Setup

*Disclaimer: This DIY setup may not be compatible with your individual setup depending on rack height, rack attachment points, differing brands of pulley wheels and/or cables, etc. Use this as a guide to help you build your own. Measure, figure out what you need, and buy the right stuff.

• Power Rack
• Bells of Steel Cable Pulley system
• Generic Cable Pulley Wheel (similar in design to Bells of Steel)
• 118” and 59” B-Cables + Ball
• Portable Tube/Band Door Anchor

Instructions To Build The DIY Cable Pulley System

1. Identify the best attachment point on your rack. I used the middle pull-up bar on my rack.
2. Measure desired cable lengths. This will vary depending on rack height, attachment points, and/or length of cable needed for intended exercises. You may need to experiment with different cable lengths, or swap out cable lengths as needed. I found a 59” cable for the upper pulley and a 118” cable for the lower pulley worked for my setup. I did not use the included Bells of Steel cable (77”).
3. Ensure proper pulley setup and attach to rack. I used the Bells of Steel attachment strap for the upper pulley, attached to the generic pulley wheel eye bolt with a carabiner clip. I used the portable tube/band door anchor on the lower horizontal crossmember of my rack attached to the Bells of Steel pulley wheel with a carabiner clip. However, an ideal setup would include two Bells of Steel pulley systems.
4. Load plates onto the loading strap/pin, connect desired pulley attachment, and enjoy your workout!

The movement options are practically endless. With this setup, I personally have been able to do lat pulldowns, seated rows, triceps pulldowns, triceps kickbacks, glute extensions, glute kickbacks, lying hamstring curls, standing hamstring curls, bicep curls, cable pull-throughs, cable stir the pot on balance board, and more. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Now, a dedicated unit like a Prime Fitness Single Stack offers a ton of opportunities including an adjustable cable column, 300lb stacks, and more. But this is a budget build, and it definitely gets the job done. If you have been leaving cable work out of your home gym due to budget and space, this should put a stop to that. And if you need any storage for your newly growing cable attachments, check out our friends at Wall Control.

Other Options

There are a ton of options out there for budget and space constrained cable set-ups. Over at Garage Gym Experiment they posted some DIY “hacks” with the stand-alone Bells Tower. “Matthew Porter’s DIY Cable Tower”

You could use two of the Bells of Steel units, you could even rig these up to your ceiling instead of your rack. As we mentioned, use the above as a guideline to help you build your own DIY Cable Pulley System. And then chase down some new gains!

Author Details

This article was written by Josh Maxwell. Josh is a long time GGC athlete, multiple time GGC Coach, and GGC Contributor. You can find more from Josh in a number of places.