DIY Belt Squat Tower Instructions with Wall-Mounted Pulley Tower

Project by: Kaizen DIY

Overview

This article aims to show you how to take your Titan Wall Mounted Pulley Tower to the Next Level with this DIY Belt Squat plus more. Here is a breakdown of what we cover.

• DIY Titan Tower Belt Squat: a relatively simple way to turn your Titan wall-mounted pulley tower into a dedicated belt squat machine and some additional ways it can be used.

• DIY Belt Squat Platform: Instructions on how to build a platform that can be attached to just about any pulley for belt squats.

• DIY Belt Squat Buddy: This allows you to start from a standing position when doing belts squats, which is much easier than connecting from the ground.

Related: Titan Wall-Mounted Pulley Tower Review

DIY Titan Belt Squat Tower

This tutorial will show you how I turned the Titan wall-mounted pulley tower into a dedicated belt squat machine…and more!

I love my belt squat platform. I’ve used it pretty much every leg day since I made it last summer. And while it is pretty sweet, there are a few things that bug me about it. 

The setup and tear down, though it doesn’t take forever, sucks to do every time. 

The last issue is storage when I’m not using it. When I was using it with my functional trainer, I could only do one stack at a time and a 2:1 ratio. The max is 75 pounds.

My solution? I scored this Titan wall-mounted pulley tower on Marketplace with the idea of connecting my belt squat to it permanently. 

There are two sizes of the Titan wall-mounted pulley tower available. The shorter one is 80 1/2 inches and costs $229, and the taller one is 84 1/2 inches and costs $249. 

I found the shorter ones on the marketplace for $150 and swooped them up. 

The first issue I run into is clearance for it. My gym is in the basement, and the 7 ft ceiling is a challenge. The only place I can conceivably put it is in the corner where my functional trainer currently lives. My first task is moving that out of the way. 

Usually, moving a functional trainer is not a one-person job, but using these furniture sliders (https://amzn.to/3OX8fKT) makes it possible.

Once that is out of the way, I move the pulley tower in.

Before I bolt anything together, I bring in the belt squat platform to test it out and see if this idea will work. 

I won’t be showing how to build this platform. In case you missed it, I have an entire tutorial on it. However, I did make a couple of modifications.

Since this will be permanently attached, I don’t need the wings for the weights, so I removed that 2×4. I also swapped out the pulley wheel. Instead of using just the wheel, I prefer to use the blue aluminum pulley (https://amzn.to/3LIMJYs) with the housing and everything. This is much easier to work with.

I still have to remove the wheel to feed the cable through, but it’ll be permanent when this project is done, so that’s fine. 

I bring in my belt squat buddy to test out this setup and am happy to find that it works like a charm. 

This tower has two separate pulleys, so I also wanted to test out the idea of connecting my leg extension machine to it. That works great too. 

Now that I know this plan is feasible, I attach everything to test it out with some weight.

The first thing I notice is a lot of movement from the platform. 

My plan to remedy that is to attach some 2x6s to the bottom that go under both the tower and the platform. I cut these to 42 inches and painted them black. While I am at it, I also paint the rest of the platform to match. 

I decide to use a leftover piece of flooring for the top, giving it a nice cohesive look with the rest of my gym. 

Once everything is cut, I use screws and finishing washers to attach it. 

I connect the 2×6 pieces to the bottom of the platform and then slide those under the feet of the tower.

I reconnect the tower to the wall, tighten everything up and take it for a spin.

Initial thoughts? I freaking love this. It is smooth and feels solid.

It is not a perfect solution, however. The stated weight capacity for the Titan tower is 350 pounds, with a 2 to 1 ratio, so the max I can belt squat is 175 pounds.

I did look into increasing the maximum capacity by swapping out the plastic pulley wheels for aluminum pulley wheels (https://amzn.to/3LNeuPm). That would do the trick, but at $15 per wheel and 13 wheels to swap out, it’ll cost around $200 for that upgrade. That’s not something I’m ready to do just yet. For now, I’ll be using this as an accessory to regular squats on leg day.

Now it is time for the second project to connect my XMark leg curl and extension machine to this tower.

I remove the plastic foot on this machine to drill a hole.

I attach a black plastic pulley (https://amzn.to/3w0ZUgM) to this. I removed the pulley wheel and connected the housing using the included eye bolt. Once that is secure, I reattach the wheel. 

I am using a polyester accessory cord (https://amzn.to/3w6Hrz8) to attach to the tower. It is stronger than paracord, has no elasticity, and is just as easy to work with. 

I take it for a test run, and it feels great.

For the final placement, I angle the XMark machine, so it is perpendicular to the belt squat. This is killer for supersets.

Now we’re good to go.

DIY Belt Squat Platform

Belt squats are an excellent option for people with lower back issues. It allows the lifter to work the legs without putting pressure on the spine. 

These are the dimensions I used. I am 5’7,” and it is a good size for me. Taller people probably need to modify the dimensions to make it wider.

I start by building the frame for the platform. I use 2x4s in a simple configuration and fasten them together with screws. 

I use a five-and-a-half-inch bolt with washers and half-inch spacers for my wheel. 

The top of my platform is made from half-inch plywood. My piece measures 24 inches by 24 inches. I use a one-and-a-half-inch forstner bit to make a hole, then follow up with the miter saw to cut the straight lines. 

You can also make this cut with a jigsaw if that’s easier. 

I go over the top edges with my router and a round-over bit, then fasten it to the frame. 

When I made the prototype, I had issues with it moving around when in use. The heavier the weight, the more it moves. 

I’ve got two solutions for this. 

Option 1 – attach it to the power rack.

These measurements are specific to my power rack. You’ll need to modify it for your rack. 

I put screws in the ends and two L brackets on each side. It might be a little much, but it is better to be safe than sorry. 

I have attached this piece to the front side of the platform. The other 2x4s go in the middle and the back.

I use bolts to attach it to my rack. Once they’re in, it is solid as a rock. 

What I like about this one is using a barbell to hold onto for stability. 

Option 2 – add weight pins.

Similar to the first option, on this one, however, the longer piece is 48 inches and has dowels. 

I’m using inch and a half dowels, so I drill inch and a half holes all the way through with my drill press.

This option has non-slip pads attached to the bottom, so I push the dowels to roughly the same height as the pads before putting screws in to fasten. 

Lastly, when attaching this piece, it goes in the middle. This keeps the weight evenly distributed. 

I use large non-slip pads that screw into the bottom, one on each corner. Once those are attached, this is ready to use. 

I am attaching it to my functional trainer, so all I need is a small cable extension to connect. 

I put a couple of bumpers on each side, and this thing is not going anywhere. 

Materials	Link #1	Link #2
3 – 7ft 2×4	Home Depot
1/2 inch thick plywood 2’x4’	Home Depot
3.5-inch pulley wheel	Amazon
2 – 1/2 inch 3/8 chrome spacers	Home Depot
5.5 inch long 3/8 bolts	Amazon
3/8 16 lock nut	Amazon
3/8 Washers	Menards
L brackets	Menards
1.5-inch dowel	Home Depot
Slipstick 2” grippers	Amazon	Home Depot

Tools	Link #1	Link #2
Dewalt sliding mitre saw	Amazon	Home Depot
Dewalt cordless drill	Amazon	Home Depot
Bosch cordless drill set	Amazon
Drill press	Amazon	Home Depot
*alternatively, the holes can also be drilled using a cordless drill
1.5-inch forstner bit	Amazon	Home Depot
.5 inch Forster bit	Amazon	Home Depot
1/4 inch rounder bit	Amazon	Home Depot
Wood clamps	Amazon	Home Depot
Countersink drill bit	Amazon	Home Depot

DIY Belt Squat Buddy

This simple DIY allows you to start from standing when doing belt squats. 

I have so much scrap wood in my garage that I didn’t have to buy anything for this. If I had to buy the materials, it wouldn’t cost more than $5-10. I use a miter saw for my cuts. If you don’t have one, any other saw will do. 

You’ll need something to help measure the angles. I prefer this digital angle finder (https://amzn.to/3F1yw6n). 

I use a 1-inch forstner bit to drill a hole in the center of the small 2×4 piece. 

The next two cuts are a little sketchy. Watch your fingers.

 

After cutting this small plywood, it is ready to be assembled. 

In case you need them, here are the dimensions I used. I’m 5’7,” and this size is perfect for me. For taller people, you’ll want to add some length to the 2x4s.

I cut everything at a 75-degree angle. The good news is that they’re all the same. 

Assembly is quick. You can add wood glue for extra strength. 

Once the screws are in, this thing is ready to use. 

You can add paint if you want. I did black so that it matches the rest of my belt squat setup. 

Tools	Link #1	Link #2
Digital Angle Finder Ruler	Amazon
Dewalt sliding miter saw	Amazon	Home Depot
Drill press	Amazon	Home Depot
*alternatively, the holes can also be drilled using a cordless drill
Bosch cordless drill set	Amazon
1-inch forstner bit	Amazon	Home Depot
Materials	Link #1
4ft 2×4	Home Depot
½ inch 2’x4’ plywood	Home Depot
*I used a small scrap piece of plywood, but really any 7-inch piece of wood will work for this
#8 x 3 in. Wood Screws	Home Depot