Finally got the PRx pulley system in and I’m ready to put it to the test.
This way I can do cable exercises without the need of a space hogging cable machine.
PRx has a few home gym cable pulley systems available and the one I’m reviewing is the PRx Elite system.
It comes with a high and low pulley, loading pin, triceps rope, and I also added the rack locking system.
Let’s check it out!
Unboxing the PRx Elite Pulley System
The PRx Elite pulley system came in two boxes.
First box I opened had the high pulley, triceps rope, loading pin, carabiners, and a cable.
Box got a little banged up during shipping but the contents were intact.
The second box came intact and included the lower pulley, its mounting plate, cable, carabiners, and rack locking system.
Once I took everything out of the box, here are all the lower pulley parts.
A cable, carabiners, lower pulley, mounting plate, bolts, washers, nuts, and a chain.
If your rack is taller than 90″, then you’ll need the chain to connect the high pulley cable to the low pulley cable in the middle.
This is one of two PRx rack locking systems I got.
If you plan to get the lower pulley set up, the locking system is a must.
It helps me to keep the folding weight rack on the floor (prevents it from folding up) when I do low to high exercises like bicep curls.
Later on I’ll show you how easy this is to install…
PRx Elite Pulley System Specs
- Weight Capacity: 600 lbs
- Cable Length: 72″
- Attachment Type: Rope handle
- Loading Pin Length: 13.5″
- Loading Pin Weight: 5lb
- Pulley Wheel: 4″ Diameter
- Pulley Ratio: 1:1
- Cable Finish: Chrome cable with plastic casing
- Low pulley hardware: 5/8″ x 4.5″ bolts, holes on the mounting plate are 6″ apart
Installation
The high pulley installation is just like any other home gym pulley system.
I threw the tie down strap over my pull up bar, then connected the pulley via a carabiner.
The bottom pulley requires a bit more work but it’s not bad.
For this one, I set the mounting plate against the upright and inserted the bolts through the top and bottom hole.
Then I angled the pulley towards the direction of the high pulley so the cable glides smoothly as I do my exercises.
When I use the low pulley, I set the high pulley as far away from the low pulley as I can.
The grippy coat on my weight rack’s pull up bar keeps the slashing strap from sliding sideways.
This way I don’t have any slack on the cable at the bottom.
Top Benefits of the PRx Pulley System
Space Saving
Home gym cable machines can take up a lot of space so this is a good option for those like me who don’t have the room for one.
Working out from a garage gym, I’m limited in space so I’m always looking for rack attached options first.
This is one reason I’m a big fan of cable machines like the Ancore trainer and Beyond Power Voltra.
When not in use, I leave both pulleys on the rack and hang the cables from my home gym wall storage rack.
Exercise Versatility
Cable machines offer lots of exercise versatility so this adds more to what I can do with my rack.
With a high pulley I can do a handful of cable exercises but the addition of the low pulley opens up the door to many more.
Compatible With Accessories
Having a cable machine gives me the opportunity to play around with the different gym accessories I own.
I have all sorts of cable machine attachments I can hook up to the PRx elite pulley system.
Best Features of the PRx Pulley System
Heavy Duty
Just like all PRx equipment I own, the pulley system is overbuilt.
I’m not sure what the thickness of the steel is but the pulleys are thick and so is the hardware they use.
High Weight Capacity
Cable pulley systems are only as good as the quality of their parts and PRx doesn’t make anything out of cheap materials.
With a weight capacity of 600 lbs, I can stack the loading pin without fear of the cable snapping or the pulleys not rolling smoothly.
PRx Rack Locking System
Since my PRx rack fold ups, it is not anchored at the bottom…
For this reason I needed to pick up the PRx rack locking system.
This lets me do low pulley exercises like bicep curls, overhead tricep extensions, and others without lifting the rack off the stall mats.
The PRx rack locking system is easy to put together.
All I had to do was connect both pieces of metal with bolts and it’s ready to use.
I have two of these but you only need one on the upright where the low pulley is attached.
Here’s a view from the outside of the rack.
One end of the locking system uses a hitch pin to lock it down to the upright.
The other end goes through a hole on the linkage arm and I tighten it down with a knob.
Here’s what that looks like from the inside of the rack.
And here’s the front view.
Takes me less than 30 seconds to connect the locking system and the same to take it off if I wanna fold the rack against the wall.
Exercises Using the PRx Pulley System
Low Pulley Exercises
Because of the low pulley, I can create a belt squat hack.
First thing I do is set a platform by stacking a few bumper plates on top of each other, then strap a squat belt on for squats without the back pain.
While on the subject of leg day, I use my cable machine ankle strap for hip extensions, abductions, and even leg curls and extensions.
Owning a home gym forces me to get creative and I have plenty of cable attachments to get the ideas flowing.
For seated rows, I like to use my ultimate row handle attachment because of the adjustable grip settings.
The handle options for this one are plenty. I can use angles90 grips, a D handle bar, double D handles, etc.
I get creative on this one and use a sandbag as a footplate so the weight doesn’t pull me forward.
For any cable bicep curl variation I like to use the cable TGrip bar.
It’s more joint friendly than a straight bar so I can do neutral grip curls and use it like an Atlas bar.
This way I don’t feel any elbow pain but still get the constant tension benefits of cable curls.
I also use it for bent over rows.
Now I’ll show you some exercises I do using just the high pulley.
High Pulley Exercises
I set up my lat pulldowns different than other set ups I’ve seen online.
Instead of facing my rack, I line up sideways and I do it this way so that I can use my Infinity Arm as a lap bar to hold me down.
Since my PRx bench is wall mounted, I have to pull up another bench .
I like to do drop sets and one thing I’ve found that makes it easier to unload weight is using the UClips and an adjustable dumbbell.
This way I don’t have to unclip the loading pin when dropping weight.
I just remove the dumbbell from the UClips and can keep my rest periods short.
And of course you can’t have a high pulley without being able to do tricep extensions.
I use the Bulletproof Fitness multi-strap attachment for this one.
With its quadruple loop design I can use it for face pulls too while I’m on the high pulley set up.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Build: Thick metal and 600 lbs weight capacity gives me peace of mind knowing I’m safe if I load it up
- Versatility: The high and low pulley system adds a bunch of cable exercises to my weight rack
- Locking system: This is a must if you want to use the low pulley to its fullest capacity, otherwise the uprights will move up
- Space saving: This takes up zero additional space since it’s rack attached, when I’m done I hang up the cables
Cons
- Swing: Like any plate loaded cable pulley system, you’ll experience some swing of the loading pin
- Exclusivity: PRx only makes this for their weight racks, it’d be great if they made universal versions as well for other racks
PRx Performance Discount
PRx currently doesn’t have any coupon codes for their pulley systems BUT here’s one way to get a 5% discount…
Click here and you’ll see an email newsletter sign up box pop up.
Enter your email and they’ll send you a code for a discount!
PRx Performance Pulley System Review
This is just another great space saving product from PRx.
High quality build, enough weight capacity for most home gym owners, and doesn’t take up any additional space from my garage.
If you enjoy cable exercises and having versatility as much as I do, this is a great option that will last you a long time.
Click Here to Check Out The PRx Pulley System
PRx Pulley System FAQ’s
Is it compatible with all racks?
The high pulley system will only need a pull up bar of any kind to attach to.
If you only have a squat rack, PRx sells a wall mounted pull up bar called the Topper bar.
The low pulley system is specific to PRx racks.
What is the max weight capacity of the pulley system?
600 lbs
What are the dimensions of the mounting plate and how far apart and big are the holes?
The holes are for 5/8 x 4.5″ bolts, and the holes spacing is 6″. The product dimensions are 8.75″ x 3″ x 8.25″.
Can the pulley system be used for lower body workouts?
Yes, but you’ll have to get creative.
I’ve set it up for belt squats using weight plates as a platform.
You can also connect the cable to an ankle strap for kickbacks, hip abductions, and hip adductions.
Combine it with a rack chest support attachment for leg curls and leg extensions.
What’s the difference between the PRX Elite pulley system and the PRX Prime pulley system?
The difference is that the Elite Pulley includes a rope handle while the Prime Pulley includes a straight bar handle.
Does the pulley system work with standard weight plates (1″ center hole)?
No, the loading pin is only compatible with Olympic weight plates (2″ center hole). You can always purchase a 1″ loading pin from Amazon.
Click Here to Check Out The PRx Pulley System
PRx Performance Pulley System
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