Rogue Donkey vs TITAN indoor tire flipping machine
This is a comparison between the Rogue Donkey and the TITAN tire flipping machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Indoor tire flipping machine $1199
This is an overview of the TITAN Indoor tire flipping machine including pros, cons and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.
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Overview of the TITAN tire flipping machine
The
Tire flipping machine is probably one of the coolest and silliest machines I have seen in a long time. The basic idea is that you get a tire on a metal frame with some loading pins inside. This is great for a very specific use, which is not to get the floor dirty while still doing tire flips, but other than this I think this is expensive and a waste of space. Get a real tractor tire instead, especially for your home gym. The full specifications of this machine are:
- Achieve a full traditional tire training workout in one stationary machine.
- 125 lb. starting weight with room for an additional 60 LB worth of weight plates.
- Compact design takes up minimal room.
- Handles and wheels for easy storage and movement.
- High quality steel construction with 3.5-in rubber stoppers for a silent drop.
- Footprint: 48-in L x 57-in W
- Recommended Floor Space Required: 108-in L x 100-in W
- Tire Width: 13-in
- Tire Diameter: 48-in
- Tire Weight: 125 lb.
- Weight Post Loadable Length: 4.5-in
- Product Weight: 315 lb.
This is a good option in an urban commercial gym that wants to offer tire flips and has no access to the road. A crossfit box or garage gym probably is better of getting an actual tire/s to flip.
Pros of the TITAN tire flipping machine
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No dirt
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Higher safety
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Loadable
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Fun
Compared to a proper tractor tire the
TITAN Tire flipping machine produces less dirt. There will be no track marks and less impact on the floor compared to a traditional tire. In this sense the
tire flipping machine saves a lot of the problems a main stream commercial gym would have with actual tires.
As the machine makes the range of motion more controlled and leaves less opportunity to grip or lift the tire in a weird way, it is also safer with beginners. The frame is sturdy and will not go anywhere once it is installed.
To progress beginners you also have the option to load this tire with additional weight to incrementally improve. This is a big advantage to an ordinary tire which will always stay the same weight, unless you get another.
The last thing about tire flips is that they are fun. Anyone who does them, likes them. Having this machine will definitely set you apart from your average run of the mill gym with a subscription fee of $20 a month.
Cons of the TITAN tire flipping machine
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Limited use
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Space requirements
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Price
Compared to an old tractor tire the
tire flipping machine has limited use. Real tires can be dragged, pushed, flipped, and hammered. You can do only one of these with the machine. If you put a hammer to this tire it will over time warp the frame and wreck the construction as the tire has lost its integrity to be fitted for the machine.
This is definetly not an option for most home gyms. The
Tire flipping machine will eat up a lot of space for very limited use and can also not be leaned against a wall to save space. Get a tire instead for your home gym.
Not everyone has the right connections, but if you do, you can get a big tire for free or the cost of the transport to you. Most people want to get rid of their old tires and it is a hassle to transport them. If you offer the transport you can usually pick them of for $20 to $100 or even for free depending on how well you know your local source. That is 11 tires for the price of one of these and they usually last forever.
Alternatives to the TITAN tire flipping machine
An old tractor tire is cheaper, has more uses and overall is cooler and more manly. If you can source one for a decent price and do not mind that your gym gets a little dirty, get this instead.
The volcano is in my opinion the better option for urban commercial gyms who want to offer flips to their customers. The volcano is easier to move around in your local gym, triples up as a yoke and
plate stand, and still lets you do flips in a secure way without tire marks. It can also be loaded with more and a bigger variety of
plates. The only downside is that it is $700 more expensive than the
TITAN Tire flip machine.
Conclusion for the TITAN Tire flipping machine
The use case for the
TITAN Tire flipping machine is narrow and better covered by a real tractor tire or the volcano depending on whether you are in a barn or urban setting. I think there are many better ways to spend more than $1000 on your gym. I would use it, but definitely not buy it. Unless I owned a gym on the 32nd floor of a skyscraper in London or New York and wanted to keep some Yuppie clients happy who have been pestering me about tire flips for some years. Even then i would only do it If I happen to get a windfall for new, but ultimately non essential equipment.
The
Rogue Donkey is the ultimate machine from
Rogue to address your lower back and core for $1945. You have everything in one place and with 500 pounds of weight, this thing is not going anywhere, just like any good old
donkey. Overview of the Rogue donkey
The
Rogue Donkey brings the reverse hyper and GHD space to a new level.
Rogue thought about their designs again and combined the Z hyper and the Abram GHD into an all-purpose lower back machine.
The benefit of this is that you only need to buy one piece of equipment which fits both purposes. This means money and floor space saved. The dimensions of the
Rogue Donkey aa followed:
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Made in the USA
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Color: Black
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Weight: 500LB
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Length: 73”
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Width: 44”
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Height:54.5”
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3x3 Gauge Steel
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73” x 44”
This is a great machine to have in a serious home gym or powerlifting establishment. Some CrossFit boxes might also want to consider getting one of these.
Pros of the Rogue Donkey
The
Rogue Donkey has a lot going for itself, of you are interested in a machine for back extensions, reverse hypers and glute ham raises. I have yet to find a machine that is better thought through for these purposes and therefore saves space in your gym.
Cons of the Rogue Donkey
The price and weight might be off-putting for some. Not everyone wants to have a 500-pound piece of equipment in their home gym or get on one in a commercial gym. Reverse hypers and back extensions are also not the most popular movements, so watch out whether you are getting your money’s worth.
Alternatives to the Rogue Donkey
I think there are no better options than the
donkey from
Rogue for what it does. However, $2000 can be a hefty price tag, especially for first-time buyers. Here are some other options from
Rogue for $2000:
The
fortis rack is the best rack from
rogue under $1000. Combined with an adjustable bench and with a little stretch of the budget an Ohio bar you have a fully functioning gym for the price of a
donkey. The only downsides would be no color option and that you somehow have to take care of plate storage.
If you prefer plate storage and a color option because you already have a bench you can go for the
RML 690C and
Ohio bar. The budget would even allow getting one of the fancy Cerakote bars. My favorite is the Fraser bar.
If you want to build a garage gym with all of the things needed to do CrossFit you can also go for the
3WC and
Alpha CrossFit package. This way you will have a foldable rack and everything including plates to get started with CrossFit.
Summary
If you already have the bases covered and you are looking into expanding your gym the
donkey is a great option to be considered. It is not necessarily your first big purchase from
Rogue.