Bells of Steel Functional Trainer
A dual-column trainer in 320 lb stack or plate-loaded form, with a 400 lb cable capacity — and a plate-loaded-to-stack upgrade path.
Specs
| Length | 53 in (1,346 mm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 30 in (762 mm) weight stack, 54 in (1,372 mm) plate loaded |
| Height | 81 in (2,057 mm) |
| Tubing size | 1.97 in (50 mm) |
| Hole size | 15/32 in (12 mm) |
| Max cable capacity | 400 lb (181.44 kg) |
| Pull ratio | 2:1 |
| Pulley material | Aluminium |
| Coating | Powder coat |
| Included with the stack version | 2 single D handles, 4 carabiners, 2 chains |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime on frame, 90 days on cables and pulleys |
These figures are copied from Bells of Steel’s own published specs and were last checked on 2026-08-31. Manufacturers revise products without notice, and variants differ. Confirm anything your decision depends on with Bells of Steel before you buy.
Choose this one if
- You want two independent cable columns rather than one tower
- You want to start plate-loaded and convert to a stack later
- You have 53 by 30 inches to give up permanently
The detail
Two independent columns is what makes this a functional trainer rather than a cable tower. Independent cables mean flyes, cable crossovers, unilateral pressing and rotational work — movements that need two hands pulling from two different places at once. A single-column tower cannot do them at all.
The upgrade path is unusual and worth knowing about: Bells of Steel sells the plate-loaded version, the weight-stack version, and a plate-loaded-to-stack conversion kit. If the budget is tight now, you can start with plates and buy the stack later rather than replacing the machine.
The width difference between versions is significant: 30 inches for the stack, 54 for plate-loaded. Plates need to hang somewhere, and on a plate-loaded trainer they hang outboard. In a garage that is nearly two extra feet of permanent floor, and it is the single most important number here for anyone choosing between the two.
At 2:1, the 400 lb max cable capacity delivers about 200 lb at each handle, which is more than any cable movement needs. The 2:1 ratio is what gives a functional trainer its long, smooth travel; if you want load rather than range, the cable tower's 1:1 adapter is the machine to look at.
Aluminium pulleys throughout, rather than the nylon on the plate-loaded cable tower — that is the right material and it is what keeps the cable quiet years in.
At 81 inches tall it clears an 8-foot ceiling with little to spare, and the 1.97-inch tubing with 15/32-inch holes is a proprietary size, so plan on Bells of Steel attachments only.
Limited lifetime on the frame with 90 days on cables and pulleys is the same honest split as the rest of the range: cables are consumables.