Rogue Castro Rig vs TITAN plate loadable tower V2

This is a comparison between the Rogue Castro rig and the TITAN plate loadable tower v2 including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the TITAN Plate loadable tower V2 $409

This is an overview of the TITAN Plate loadable tower V2 including pros, cons and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.

Overview of the TITAN loadable lat tower

The TITAN plate loadable lat tower is a solid budget option for a lat tower. It stands by itself and is stable to use. It shops with the lat bar and row handle included which makes it a complete solution. There is not a lot you can do wring with this one if you want a lat pull tower on a budget. The full specifications of the TITAN plate loadable lat tower are:

- Dual 13-inch weight posts fit Olympic weight plates

- Four adjustable positions for the thigh pads will fit athletes of all body types

- A durable steel frame and powder-coated paint job deliver a sleek look that will last for years to come

- Four Bolt down holes give you the option for permanent mounting in your home or garage gym

- Includes lat bar and low row handle

- Overall Height: 84-in.

- Overall Depth: 56.5-in.

- Overall Width: 48-in.

- Loadable Sleeve Length: 13-in.

- Lat Handle Length: 37.5-in.

- Low Row Handle Length: 15-in.

This is a great budget option for any home gym or Iron den where people know what they are doing. It can even be used in a commercial with less experienced clients, as the plate loading mechanism is not as exposed as with other TITAN machines.

Pros of the TITAN loadable lat tower

The pros of the TITAN loadable lat tower are:

Price
Handles included
Stable design

One of the main arguments to go for TITAN products is the low price for industrial grade gym machine. The TITAN plate loaded lat tower makes no exception to this rule. For me, it is one of the better machines you can get from TITAN as it is stable and the pulley work is not as exposed as for the Cable crossover machine.

Another bonus is that the lat bar and row handle are also included in the price tag. You can shell out up to $200 for these items each depending on where you get them.

This whole machine is more stable than some of the other TITAN machines in the lower price range. I would definitely get this any day over the Cable crossover machine from TITAN.

Cons of the TITAN loadable lat tower

Cons of the TITAN loadable lat tower:

Plate loaded
No push movements
Build for normal humans, not superhumans

Plate loaded machines are great when you are the only user or this is not a lot of people around who frequent the machines. If you run a gym with peak times and people falling over each other, than you want the weights on the machine rather than separately on a plate tree.

The TITAN plate loaded lat tower is designed for pulling motions only. You can not adjust the pulley to make push movements possible. This lmits the range of exercises you can do with this machine. This becomes especially relevant when this is the only machine you intend to buy for your home gym. Here the functional trainer from TITAN might be the better choice.

As with all TITAN machines they have been produced with the average human in mind to save costs. Other vendors like Eleiko and Rogue think of the biggest possible human who could use their machines and build their machines around that. If you are 6 foot tall and weigh more than 250 pounds you might not like the seat on this or even rock the entire machine when you do your berserker mode pulls.

Alternatives to the TITAN loadable lat tower

The TITAN lat tower is a clone of the Rogue lat pull at a substantial lower cost. This is the lat pull machine to get for the commercial gym that puts the machine through a lot of abuse or the home gym fanatic who listens to heavy metal while pulling 300 pounds for sets of 20.

The TITAN wall mounted pulley is in my opinion one of the best options for a budget focused home gym to get all of their pulling needs covered. It is safer then some of the other makeshift machines from TITAN and costs less. The only downside is that it does not come with a seat and needs to be drilled into the wall to work.

The TITAN plate loadable functional trainer is the optimal compromise between budget and functionality, especially for the home gym. The pulley work as a little too exposed for most commercial scenarios and plate loading also does not help the case here.But in a home gym where you already own the plates and want to cover all of your accessory this is ideal.

Conclusion for the TITAN plate loadable lat tower

The TITAN plate loadable lat tower is a great option for the home gym owned by the average joe, as long as space allows for it. A professional gym might be better off with the functional trainer. If you lack space in your home gym for a while park of machines you might want to consider the plate loaded functional trainer as it eats up similar space, but offers more options on exercises.

Overview and review of the Rogue V2 Castro Rig

Price: 1.866

This review was originally posted in the longer article "Which strength equipment to buy from rogue" in which you can read about 25 products of Rogue which cost more than 1.000$. The Rogue Castro V2 rig is the ultimate Rogue construction for the outdoor home warrior. See the details in this article.

What else to consider from Rogue

Overview of the Castro V2 rig

Rogue describes the Castro V2 as the ultimate backyard gym. Its basis is the Rogue Monster Lite system. With the Castro you get everything you need from squatting stations, to pull up bars and the height you need for rope climbs.

The Castro rig weighs 474LB with a footprint of 80'' x 53''. It is 70'' long and has a width f 43''. IT is 144'' high which makes it one of the highest options in the Rogue portfolio. For the price tag, it comes with all components ready to assemble. If you want to get some extra toys it is also compatible with Rogue Monster lite accessory series.

How many clients should the Castro Rig bring you?

If you think that the Rogue Castro V2 will bring you 7 new clients who pay you 50$ on a 1-year retainer it is worth the investment. This will yield 4.200$ net new revenue against an investment of 1.866$. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.

Pros of the Castro V2 rig

The Rogue V2 Rig provides everything you need for calisthenics and climbing needs in your own home. Bars at different heights for muscle ups. Anchors to attach ropes to. A fully functioning rack setup to put your barbell on and get ready to rumble.

Cons of the Castro V2

The con of the Castro V2 rig is that it is definitely an outdoor option unless you install it in a big industry hangar. I don't know about your backyard, but I live in Ireland and I wouldn't put it there.

Alternatives to the V2 Castro Rig

Here are some alternatives to the V2 Castro Rig based on budget

1x Rogue RML 690 @ 1595$

The Rogue RML 690 is a cost-effective, sturdy option for a fully functioning home gym in your basement or garage. The height of the Castro rig only makes it possible to install it outdoors for most homes, unless you are Oprah. If you do not want to spend more than 2.000$ on the skeleton of your gym this is a good option. You save money compared to the RM6 or RMLC versions while still providing multiple squat stations and plate storage space. The only downside is that it does not have the height for rope climbs. Find a tree in your backyard.

1x Rogue USMC PUll up rig @ 1.550$

If you want to train outside and have a lot of people to take care of the USMC Pull up rig is your go to. This setup maximizes the pull-up stations you get at a minimum price. The pull up always has been a staple of marine training it works. They are a force to be reckoned with. So can your local football or rugby team by installing this beauty next to the pitch.

Conclusion

The Rogue castro V2 rig is a solid option to train in your own backyard. Rogue did the thinking and building to provide you with a secure construction on which you can climb and do your favorite barbell exercises while enjoying the fresh air.