Total gym GTS vs TITAN T3 with pulley [Article, Video]

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Aug 15, 2020 4:00:00 PM

Total gym GTS vs TITAN T3 with pulley

This is a comparison between the Total Gym GTS and the TITAN T3 with pulley. Follow the links for more details.

T3 Power rack with lat pulley combo

The TITAN T3 with pulley will put you back about $600. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which Titan rack to buy for over $500”

Overview of the T3 pulley system

The main feature which distinguishes the T3 from other TITAN racks are the 2x3 steel tubes. Other TITAN models work with 2x2 or 3x3 depending on how much you are willing to invest. This lat pulley combo saves space and sets you up to train your entire body. Especially for forming a better back a lat pull machine can come in very handy. When you train with a barbell only the smaller muscles of the back sometimes get bit enough love. So the T3 lat pulley combo is a solid home gym option which comes in four variations. Here are the specifics for you:

uprights featuring 6" side hole spacing.
2"x 3" steel tubes.
1,100 LB rackable capacity
4,400 LB total rack capacity.
1.25" and 2" diameter pull up bars.
Gusseted J-Hooks and weight holders.
Pulley Tower for lat pulldowns and low lat rows.
Pulley Tower mounts to the inside of the rear uprights but does not interfere with squats and bench pressing inside the Rack

Short 24" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 230 LB
Height: 82 1/4"
Height of pull up bar: 77"
Outside width: 53 1/4"
Inside width: 42 1/8"
Outside depth: 32 3/4
Inside depth: 24"
Floor space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB

Tall 24" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 281 LB
Height: 91 1/8"
Height of Pull Up Bar: 89"
Inside Width: 42 1/8"
Outside Width: 53 1/4"
Inside Depth: 24"
Outside Depth: 32 3/4"
Floor Space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB
Material: Steel

Short 36" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 254 LB
Height: 82 1/4"
Height of pull up bar: 77"
Outside width: 53 1/4"
Inside width: 42 1/8"
Outside depth: 44 3/4
Inside depth: 36"
Floor space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB

Tall 36" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 281 LB
Height: 91 1/8"
Height of Pull Up Bar: 89"
Inside Width: 42 1/8"
Outside Width: 53 1/4"
Inside Depth: 36"
Outside Depth: 44 3/4"
Floor Space: 16.7 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB
Material: Steel

Tall Pulley Tower

Overall Height: 88"H x 42”W x 34”D
Distance Inside Rack: 19.5"
Distance Outside Rack: 13"
Weight Post Length: 9.25"
Lat Bar Width: 37"
Lat Bar Diameter: 1.25"
Low Pull Handle Width: 14"
Low Pull Handle Diameter: 1.25"
Footplate Dimensions: 4" x 4"
Weight Capacity: 300 LB
Weight: 72 LB

Short Pulley Tower

Dimensions: 78"H x 42”W x 34”D
Distance Inside Rack: 19.5"
Distance Outside Rack: 13"
Weight Post Length: 9.25"
Lat Bar Width: 37"
Lat Bar Diameter: 1.25"
Low Pull Handle Width: 14"
Low Pull Handle Diameter: 1.25"
Footplate Dimensions: 4" x 4"
Weight Capacity: 300 LB
Weight: 70 LB

Pros of the T3 with pulley

The Pro is the cost of this combined solution compared to other TITAN racks. For the price you pay for a pulley alone with other vendors, you get a pulley and a rack. 2x3 is also more often than not the standard you will find in most commercial gyms.

Cons of the T3 with pulley

If you put a pulley at one side of the rack you can not step in and out there anymore. If you wanted to maximize the number of people who can do squats or pull-ups on one rack, this is not the way to go. You might also not be able to put this rack flush against the wall because of the moving parts.

Alternatives to the T3 with pulley

Here are some alternatives to the T3 with pulley rack:

The TITAN rack is the top of the crop rack from TITAN. It has 3x3 uprights and 1” bolts. This is the heaviest and sturdiest rack you can get from TITAN. Compared to market prices it is also very affordable.

The X3 is basically the same model as the Titan rack with two differences. It doesn’t have numbered holes on the uprights and the keyhole design. This means that you can use fewer attachments with it which you have not necessarily bought from Rogue.

The T2 model comes in various shapes and heights and can be configured differently for your home gym to make it fit your space. The main difference to the other Titan racks is that the uprights are 2x2 instead of 2x3 or 3x3.

The T3 rack model is also very similar to the Titan rack but comes at a lower cost. It is the same as the X3 except that it has 2x3 Gauge uprights instead of 3x3. In this version, you get it without the pulley.

Summary for the T3 with pulley

If you want to save space and money this is a good option. You will also not have to think a lot about how to configure your home gym as the thinking has been done for you in this option. You might also want to look at the T3 and bench combo options as an alternative if you rather want to start benching than pulling. With the T3 you get the middle of the range with extras from TITAN. If you are an elite athlete you might look for a rack with 3x3 beams instead.

Overview and review of the Total gym GTS

This is an overview of the features and alternatives to the Total Gym GTS. This article was originally published under "which total gym to get". Follow the links for more details.

Total Gym GTS $3.700 - $4.666

The total gym GTS is the flagship of the total gym generation which can be directly sold to customers. This is the top-end product with all bells and whistles included and therefore also comes with the biggest price tag of $3.700. These are the features you will be getting with the Total Gym GTS:

FREE streaming workouts with Total Gym TV Basic.
22 Levels of Resistance
Workout DVD included
Over 200 Exercises on One Home Elite Gym
650lb User Weight Capacity
Hydraulic rail lift assists with level changes & easy two-step folding.
5-year Warranty on Frame, 1-year Warranty on Parts & Upholstery, 90-day Warranty on Foam & Rubber

In addition to this, you will get a multitude of addons that lets you emulate any machine you could possibly imagine in a professional commercial gym. If you want to use this machine all day around and do not have space for a full circuit of machines, this is the machine to get.

Pros of the Total GYM GTS

The total gym GTS comes with a lot of attachments and even lets you add free weights to it so you can increase the resistance even further on certain exercises. The extended warranty and sturdiness of the 650lb capacity give it good protection against break downs under heavy use. Read this 650lb not just as a maximum capacity, but also an indication of how long the machine will last. The sturdier the material the less likely it is to break. This is the right total gym to use around the clock with many clients of different needs. If you have a rehab clinic that wants to cover from old people to recovering high performing athletes, this is a good pick.

Cons of the TOTAL GYM GTS

For this price tag, it is not really a feasible option for most home users, which is a shame as it provides the most variety of exercises. If you have space in your facility you can also seriously consider building a full gym instead of getting just one Total Gym GTS. YOu may have fewer warranties on each individual item, but more variety and the possibility to train more people in parallel.

Alternatives to the TOTAL Gym GTS

For the price of a TOTAL Gym GTS you can also get:

True form Trainer $3995
5x Rogue Echo bike $3875
Full free weight section $3530

The true form trainer is a self-propelled treadmill that will fit the needs of the top-performing athlete. It works with a slight arch to soften the impact of your feet. As it is set up with bearing it becomes easier to run at top speeds and do interval training compared to conventional treadmills. You will also not need as much power and there is no motor that can break down and needs to be maintained or replaced.

If you have space and wanted to run spinning classes you can also get 5x Rogue Echo bikes for the price of one Total Gym GTS. Admittedly you will not have the same range of exercises to build strength and tone, but if you are looking for indoor cardio you can either save yourself a lot of money or make more customers happy at the same time.

For $4.000 you can also get a top-end free weight section from a leading supplier like Rogue fitness. An example configuration can be:

Total: $3530

This will provide a full gym with weights to go into every direction. The shipping will be free with Rogue for this package. The tax might push it over $4000 depending on the country you buy from. Still, A great alternative if you have space and like to lift heavy compared to the Total Gym GTS.

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