Expert: Alan Kahn - 7/23/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Alan,
In one of your reponses you said that you have a Prime Fighter Quick
Adjustable Wall Mount 400 speed bag platform.  I'm interested in your
impressions of this apparatus.  What is the maximum vertical adjustment?  
How would you rate the sturdiness?  The add for this platform seems to imply
that the user can easily/quickly change from speed bag to hanging a heavy
bag on the same piece of equipment;  is this true, or practical in your
opinion?  If so, what size heavy bag is the unit designed to handle?

ANSWER: Hi Steve,

I do have the PrimeFighter adjustable Wall Mount 400 platforum. It is an awesome speed bag unit, with approximately 20 inches of vertical adjustment. It's very sturdy with very little vibration. They put an extra thick 2 inch thick rebound board on mine for me.

Changing to a heavy bag would be easy. There is a whole in the front of the board, where the long end of a bracket that can be attached to the top comes through - about 2 inches in front of the swivel.  The Top Bracket lays inbetween the horizontal brackets that hold the board, and bolts to them quickly for using a heavybag. The HB attaches to this piece that comes through the board.  You would have to attach the bracket, raise the board all the way up and then hang your HB or the heavybag would be too low. Also, the HB will be fairly close to the wall, handing just in front of the speed bag swivel. You cannot hit the speed bag with the HB bracket attached for it sticks through the board.

The best part of this unit is the ease of adjustment. It comes with a 35 pound counter weight, and when you release the four pressure attachments holding the board onto the vertical tracks, you can easily just push the board up or down to ANY height desired. The counter weight eliminates you from holding the weight of the board, so it is effortless.  The board slides up and down on the tracks, and there is NO predetermined height levels. The board and bag can stop at any location.

As far as heavybag size, that would really depend on the wall attachment you have.  The speed bag unit with the attached 35 pound counter weight is over 100 pounds. The you hang a HB off the end (lets say, another 80 pounds), now you have all that weight hanging on the wall attachments. My bedroom wall with standard wooden studs probably wouldn't like that. I don't hang a heavybag for on it for that reason, and didn't intend to use it for that when I got it. If I did, I probably would stay in the 60 - 80 pound range.  

But I love this speed bag unit. It is great for that quick adjust for me, my much shorter wife, or now my shorter grand children.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Alan,
Thanks for the info.  It sounds as though while there is a possibility of
hanging a heavy bag, its not really a great setup for that; at least not easily
interchangeble.  At about $500, I was hoping it might serve as a 'dual
purpose' apparatus, but while it sounds like agreat speedbag platform, it
seems I would be better served with a separate heavy bag mount.

So, given that I'm back to spending my hard earned, and limited, cash for two
peices of equipment, what are your recommendations for a more economical,
yet solid and adjustable speed bag platform?  And what, if any, would you
recommend for a sturdy wall moumt for the heavy bag?  As this equipment
will be mainly for me (6'1", 230 lbs), and my 8 year old son(4'1" 65lbs), I don't
want to spend excess money.  But I also recognize that a certain level of
quality and solidnesss is necessary for longterm enjoyment and use of the
equipment.  I suspect that cheap rickety equipment will not end up being
used as much as "good" equipment.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be
appreciated.   Thanks.

Answer
HI Steve,

here is a video clip I made reviewing the model 400 by primefighter.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXG5ckFW1BI

I hope it helps. You will notice now it allows you to hang a heavybag very easily, and could really serve as a dual purpose platform.  

As far as an economical board, I used this one for many years, http://store.titleboxing.com/titleboxing-everlast-semi-pro-home-sb-platform.html  ( actually have two of them up in my house now..) and they worked great for me. Just one person punching, and don't need to change the board height alot.  I recommend adding a thick plywood (3/4in) over the board, as well as puting a sand bag on top to reduce vibration.

for more adjustment allowing your son to use it, try one of these:

Balaszboxing I-Box series wall unit
http://www.balazsboxing.com/cgi-bin/catalog2.cgi?action=page&page=MS0433

Ringside adjustable
http://www.ringside.com/detail.aspx?ID=25768

Heavybag hangers are really dependent on the area the you will put it, the wall or rafter to hang it from, and the weight your want to put on that wall. There are various styles and I suspect they all work the same if you attach them correctly.

Ringside heavybag  (click around for different pages)
http://www.ringside.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=2385

Title HB hanging apparatus.
http://store.titleboxing.com/heavy-bags-heavy-bag-accessories.html

you also might consider this: http://www.ringside.com/DETAIL.ASPX?ID=24650

I've use this and really liked it. It might be easier for your young son.

you guys have a great time together workout!  good luck.

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author The Speed Bag Bible