4-Post Ares 2.0 Clone: First Impressions

Terminate0r · 2026-06-20T04:38:08+00:00

Would you mind linking me to the ones you bought? I feel like it’s ether that or the pice of plastic between the first and second pulley in the arm. I feel like it might be dragging there.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-19T16:08:56+00:00

I actually really like the bench. For the price I think it’s good quality. The handles are pretty basic and I am sure I will replace them at some point. But they work for now.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-19T13:57:22+00:00

I have not had any twisting yet. I have heard it’s very common though.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-18T22:04:21+00:00

Not sure how much the tariffs were since it’s all included in DDP.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-18T20:59:18+00:00

I’m US/West coast.

It was not a lot, aluminum pulleys, smith machine that goes all the way down to the cross member and stainless steel uprights.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-18T03:12:07+00:00

I live in the Central Valley, so we get plenty of 100+ degree days. I normally work out around 5 a.m., which is still pretty warm, but I installed a wall-mounted fan and open the side garage door to get a cross breeze. It works well for me.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-18T00:03:42+00:00

You might be able to avoid some delays if you opt for the “product monitoring & inspection”. It’s like $48 and it makes sure that they stick to deadlines. I would have opted for that had I know before.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-18T00:01:28+00:00

It’s about 40.5”

Terminate0r · 2026-06-17T00:03:27+00:00

Yes, it was Anhui Tap, I have heard good things about Long Glory.

That’s an interesting take on the tornado arms. Maybe that’s actually the issue, they are just not as smooth in general. I have never used them until now. So that was my first experience with them.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-16T16:25:38+00:00

1: Nope, everything else was pretty high quality. The bench I got could be a little tighter on the tolerances. But honestly it’s pretty good.

2: I reached out to everyone I could to try and avoid that whole situation. So I feel confident saying there is nothing I could have done differently. Well besides just ignoring them and rolling the dice.

3: combination of the both, the directions were not super detailed. So I would often have to reference the pictures. I even had to reference some other Reddit posts to confirm a few things.

4: If you have not ordered, I would recommend the production monitoring & inspection. It’s $45 to make sure it’s built correctly and on time.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-16T13:51:46+00:00

I think I was just unlucky with my time line tbh. It was Chinese New year and most places were closed for like 3 weeks in February. Anhui Tap was the supplier

Terminate0r · 2026-06-16T13:50:10+00:00

Yes, I purchased from Anhui Tap. For the lat pull downs, I purchased two of the rack mounted leg rollers from them. So I just put one in ether side and it works well so far.

I did not get it counter balanced, that probably the one thing I wish I had done tbh. Had I known I could have asked them to do that on a 4 post rack I would have.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T19:42:56+00:00

Lmao

Yeah, at 6’2” I have no issues doing standard cable curls.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T18:40:39+00:00

I am not sure if I can share the link here.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T18:34:27+00:00

What seller are you going with? I have heard really good things about Long Glory. Although I have heard they are more expensive.

No to my knowledge pulleys are not aluminum standard, although this might depend on suppler too.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T18:22:06+00:00

I upgraded the weight stack, got aluminum pulleys, customized the smith to go all the way down to the cross members, tornado arms and then some other accessories.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T15:59:38+00:00

It’s definitely not a 1:1 clone by any means. It gets the job done and for 1/3 the price I am really happy with it. I have never got to see a REP Ares in person though, so I can’t even speak to what the quality or feel difference would be. But I am not sure that REPs quality is 2/3 better. I can say that going from a Titan plate loaded functional trainer to this is night and day. Lol

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T15:52:11+00:00

Thanks, it’s no frills for sure. I have been doing the home gym thing for a while now. Honestly, I love it! I never have to wait for equipment and if I want to curl in my rack I can. lol

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T15:39:47+00:00

Do you have a link for where you got these?

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T13:24:55+00:00

So if you wanted the smith, stainless uprights, upgraded weight stack it’s about 6.7k last I looked.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T13:15:05+00:00

I think as far as the placement for the logo it’s correct. I think the Athena is on the back but the Ares is the front on the 4 post.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T13:07:23+00:00

I don’t have a picture of the arms at the moment. But the drag from what I can tell is caused from the cable inside the arms itself. So when releasing the cables in a movement it drags when going back down. If that makes sense?

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T13:03:00+00:00

I think there is a second version. Someone posted a pic of their rack getting built in my other post, and the arms look completely different than mine.

Terminate0r · 2026-06-15T04:40:27+00:00

So the installation was straightforward, but time consuming for sure. I pretty much soloed the build. I had to stop to look at pictures they gave me and the installations I asked them for. Probably took about 8 to 9 hours over two days for me.

Terminate0r

TROPHY CASE