Written by: Tu Nguyen, @2.nguyen
Everything started the day I found out that my wife was pregnant. Prior to this news, fitness was my life! I competed in many bodybuilding shows, coached others in their own weight loss journeys, and shuddered at the idea of not being able to workout as regularly as I would like. Because I knew that gym time would be very limited, I immediately began google searching “how to build a budget home gym”. I stumbled across YouTube guys like Coop with garage gym reviews and Brandon Campbell Fitness. With their guidance and additional research, I started my build. I searched Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, and even other reselling apps like let go. I started out small and bought things I needed like Cap squat racks and Marcy benches. None of the big name brands like Rogue. I would use these Lower end brand items for a little bit and ended up selling them and making 20 to 50 dollars each time. This opened up my eyes to the world of flipping gym equipment. I started buying out storage units and home gyms and selling everything I didn’t need in order to pay for the stuff that I actually wanted. The majority of my steals were from failed CrossFit boxes that were trying to clear out their storage units. Here are a few examples that have helped me own my home gym for free.
Example 1: I cleaned out a storage unit for 1500 dollars that had 3 GHD’s (1 Abrams model and the others being the old models), rubber hex dumbbells + rack, some beater bars, 3xS1 rogue squat stands, and tons of other Knick knacks like barbell storage racks/ bar clamps/weight trees. I sold 2 GHD’s for 400 dollars each, the dumbbells for 500, 3 bars for 50 bucks each, 3 S1 squat stands for 250 each, and other small items and stall mats totaling approximately 150 dollars.
The return?
I made 300 dollars (1800-1500) gained a few barbells/technique bars, a ton of stall mats, and got to keep what I wanted all along (my Abrams GHD.)
Example 2: I bought out a home gym that came with nothing I wanted but I knew how much I could make. I paid 800 and sold everything separately for roughly 1300 dollars.
Example 3: Search marketplace for FREE items. I’ve picked up 400 lbs of Olympic weights from one person. I picked up a Rogue Fitness mid banger from the 2012 CrossFit games. I even occasionally pick up large tires for flipping and even found a commercial grade free treadmill for free. I can’t even total how much I’ve made from these deals.
I honestly can’t even imagine totaling the value of my home gym right now. Here are the larger items
Major items brand new:
inspire fitness functional trainer – $2400
Rogue fitness rml390f flat foot – $800
Rogue fitness adjustable bench 2.0 – $550
Rogue fitness Abrams GHD – $700
Iron grip urethane DB’s 5-100 – $3,000-20,000
Boneyard OHIO power bar – $325
Elite FTS SSB – $350
Total: $8,125 – $21,125
Not including any weights or other items like leg curl/ext, lat pull down, rogue 2.0 bb, stall mats, commercial treadmill, etc.
Right now, as it stands, I have spent a little over 500 dollars for my home gym because of the recent purchases (SSB bar, power bar, and other accessories for my Rogue Rack). I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process and hunt of buying and selling items I don’t want to add items that I do want to my home gym. Some flips are big while others are small.
Owning a home gym has been a lifesaver as far as time is concerned. It used to take me 30 minutes round trip to get to/from a gym that offers everything I need. My wife also loves the idea of having me right outside whenever she needs help with our daughter and soon to be son. Long-term goals are to continue flipping and start training clients out of my home gym. I love the garage gym culture.
*Thank you Tu for taking the time to write this out. Without question, this will inspire many to attempt the same. Check out his Instagram at @2.nguyen.
*For everyone else out there, if you have something you’d like to say to the home gym crowd, please just send us a message.
Keep Slammin’!