Power rack recommendations?

[RyanWilson]

I'm relocating my business in 2-3 weeks and am planning on finally setting up my own lifting area in our warehouse since I'll have the space, but I'm still searching for a solid power rack to get that won't cost me an arm and a leg. Gotta be solid without needing to be bolted down (ground will be perfectly flat and smooth with rubber mats underneath), has to be able to support 1000 lbs. on the pins for partials and stuff, needs to be wide enough to accomodate squatting slightly wider than shouder width at times (not super-wide stance, but I'm a fairly wide guy to begin with), and it can't be a rickety piece of crap. I'm trying to keep the budget on the rack at $500-700 if possible, but if I need to spend a bit more for a lifetime of use I can gladly accept it. Any suggestions on what might be at least near my price range (or, even $100-200 more) that has held up well for anyone here? Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

[James Greene]

I'm relocating my business in 2-3 weeks and am planning on finally setting up my own lifting area in our warehouse since I'll have the space, but I'm still searching for a solid power rack to get that won't cost me an arm and a leg. Gotta be solid without needing to be bolted down (ground will be perfectly flat and smooth with rubber mats underneath), has to be able to support 1000 lbs. on the pins for partials and stuff, needs to be wide enough to accomodate squatting slightly wider than shouder width at times (not super-wide stance, but I'm a fairly wide guy to begin with), and it can't be a rickety piece of crap. I'm trying to keep the budget on the rack at $500-700 if possible, but if I need to spend a bit more for a lifetime of use I can gladly accept it. Any suggestions on what might be at least near my price range (or, even $100-200 more) that has held up well for anyone here? Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

http://www.strengthequipment.net

[Kurt Hessenbruch]

Midwest Barbell's Monster Rack. I've been coveting this thing for a while now. It's a little more than what you're looking to spend, but at $999 incl. shipping, I think it's a steal for a rack made from 3x3 tubing.

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5121/monsterrackvi0.gif

http://www.midwestbarbell.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32

3" X 3" X 11 Gauge Steel Tube Construction
Self Locking Jumbo Steel Pins
Self Locking Jumbo J Hooks
Front Deep Knurled Chinning Bar
Side Mount Chinning Bar
White Powder Coated
33" Space Between Front & Rear Posts
76" Wide Base
Designed To Be Used With Olympic Bars
Non Slippery Diamond-Plate Covering To Protect Your Feet
Provision To Add Lat/Row Attachment
2" X 4" Tube Base For Extra Stability

[MarkSikora]

Re: that Monster Rack. TDS is the same brand newyorkbarbells.com ships I believe. I am pretty sure it's all made in China. Now, don't get me wrong, that does not necessarily make it bad, but.. some of the TDS stuff I have bought in the past is not the greatest quality. It has held up, but I am a little guy working out by myself. So...if you are a big guy, or many people will be using the equipment, I would ask around before I got any TDS rack.

On the other hand, I have never heard anything bad about midwestbarbell who sells the rack so ??? who knows.

I have had my rack (bodysolid) for years. It has those pop pin adjustable pins etc. I don't recommend that style. You can probably get a great solid rack locally from a welder. I know I wish I spent more dough on mine and got a great quality rack the first time. (I am still waiting to break mine so I can justify the cost of a new rack!!)

Good luck and let us know what you get and how you like it.

see ya

Mark

[David standifer]

Re: that Monster Rack. TDS is the same brand newyorkbarbells.com ships I believe. I am pretty sure it's all made in China. Now, don't get me wrong, that does not necessarily make it bad, but.. some of the TDS stuff I have bought in the past is not the greatest quality. It has held up, but I am a little guy working out by myself. So...if you are a big guy, or many people will be using the equipment, I would ask around before I got any TDS rack.

On the other hand, I have never heard anything bad about midwestbarbell who sells the rack so ??? who knows.

I have had my rack (bodysolid) for years. It has those pop pin adjustable pins etc. I don't recommend that style. You can probably get a great solid rack locally from a welder. I know I wish I spent more dough on mine and got a great quality rack the first time. (I am still waiting to break mine so I can justify the cost of a new rack!!)

Good luck and let us know what you get and how you like it.

see ya

Mark
I bought some commercial grade TDS from New York Barbell and needless to say its not in my training facility no more.

[Ryan Rhodes]

If you're on a really tight budget, check this out.. free shipping as well.

Powerline Rack (http://www.thatshealthy.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PowerLine%20PPR200W LA&click=35)

[Kurt Hessenbruch]

I bought some commercial grade TDS from New York Barbell and needless to say its not in my training facility no more.

Well, I'm glad to get some opinions before it came time for me to throw down for one. Pretty disappointing... it looks so nice in the pic.

[Jason Oyler]

I got a Maxicam. It was slightly used and only cost me $300. I think anything Maxicam is going to be high quality.

[Kyle]

Elite Fitness' basic rack is about $840 shipped. I know it's a little more than you're looking to spend, however, I've never heard any horror stories about the quality of the company or rack. Every discussion I've ever heard on this topic begins and ends with them.

I've saved up about 4-5 thousand and when I put together my garage gym, I'm pretty sure I'll buy the stuff I can't get from Alan B. from Elite. I think the philosophy is buying the right thing the first time and never having to buy it again.

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=167&pid=9

[RyanWilson]

Thanks to everyone for the recommendations - I might just save another month or two and go with the Elite Fitness rack since it does seem pretty solid and I can't envision anything of theirs to be built for less than maximum abuse.

I have a TDS reverse hyper/glute ham and I'm not really all that pleased with it, so chalk up another not-so-satisfied customer with their stuff. Missing bolts, shaky joint connections and that's enough to swear me off of anything of theirs that requires assembly (tried their farmers handles and they were decent, though). I almost bought one of their racks, but I figured, I don't want to worry about buying another one for 10+ years once I plunk the cash down for a new rack, so I ruled them out pretty quickly. I'd rather spend $1000 once than $500 multiple times, so I think I know what I'm getting.

Looks like that $50 I won at the casino last night is now accounted for where it will be spent :)

[Jay Hagadorn]

Ryan-

Nautilus is re-surfacing as one of the best in strength systems (it's not what they used to be)

It sounds like you may have made up your mind already, but here's another option:

http://www.nautilus.com/nautilus_brand_commercial_equipment/productcategories/strength/freeweights/standsracks/prdcd~NSF2PR/Nautilus+Free+Weight+Power+Rack.jsp#

For just a little more money you could pick this up. I am getting this same rack to replace a not so tuff Tuff Stuff rack I have. This is my friend Les who is a regional rep, he'll point you in the right direction:

lwiehe@nautilus.com

[Jeff Flynn]

Unless I am mistaken , the elite rack is meant to be bolted down, it doesn't have anything else on it to really counterweight it. That being said you could make a platform to bolt it to for cheap. They have sales all the time at elite so make sure you either wait for a good sale or are willing to call them up and negotiate for a good price. I've never heard anything bad about anything from Elite except maybe the expense.

[Todd Malone]

Where are you relocating your business to?

[RyanWilson]

Thanks again to all for the recommendations - that Nautilus rack doesn't look half bad, so I'll have to call this week and see what they run. I'll also keep the bolt-down factor in mind with the Elite rack - if that's an issue, I'll have to accomodate or look for something else.

Todd - I'm moving my businesses from Milwaukee to Waukesha (30 minutes away from home to 3 minutes away - much better!), and with about 1000 sq. ft. minimum of extra space on my hands for at least the next 2-3 years I'm hoping to make the most of it. If I don't have to go back to Ballys any longer it'll be a nice thing, for sure. Once I get things set up you're always welcome to come on out and train!