Beginner needs all your help; Just starting out.

[INFRNL]

Just joined the forum hoping to find answers. I am looking to start working out to mainly gain weight along with size and strength.
I currently only have a cheap bench with a wore out sheap lat attachment that I got from a buddy for free. I have recently bought a cheap 300lb olympic sty weight set from sports authority for a little under $100 on sale with coupon. I belive I got my beginner workout off this site and have found that I am limited on my exercises that I can do with what I have.

So for the past week I have been trying to research and searchin non-stop on Craigslist.
I have noticed most of you are using power racks along with other equipment rather than a smith machine ensemble. What is the reasoning for this?

I am here to get your help in the proper steps of what I need and should be looking for to build myself a decent home gym that will allow me to be able to do all the exercises most usually do. After reading on this forum I am confused as to which route I should go.
I have found a Tuff Stuff half rack smith machine with lat attach using their 200/210 lb weight stack, weights, bench w/ legs and preacher attach and pull/chin up attach, along with other misc items. This seems like it would get me most of the exercises needed plus would be able to use free weights for other exercises. I am also looking at dumbbell sets to finish. I believe the tuff stuff setup is the TSC-557ws. I also think it supports as much weight as a power rack, but could be mistaken. The guy wants $1200 for it and If its a good option I will try to talk him down more.

Why do most of you go with the power racks over this option? seems like power rack, lat attach plus other equipment would be a more expensive route for the same results.
Basically I need your opinions in directing me in the right direction so i know exactly what to look for. I live in Colorado Springs, CO and mostly am finding Body-solid, Tuff Stuff, and some Parabody equipment which is mainly what i was looking at anyways. There is some powertec, but depending on what i need will determine what I will end up with.

I am not that big right now so I will add more weights as i progress or as needed. Main thing is equipment and I have also found some good benches if I need only to get a power rack instead of smith machine. I have also found some profession style dumbells which i am working on picking up.

Anyway, sorry for the boring post and would greatly appreciate all your opinions. One last thing is that my ceiling height is limited to 87" at most for the mext few years till my wife makes me move.

[new2lifting]

As smith bar does not use stabilizing muscles and is not a true lift. Most of your gains on a smith willnot transfer into actual lifts. They have there uses but for safety and results a power rack will save your back.

The short answer is Smith's keep you in one plane of motion, The long answer is you can do 95% of the exercises you can think of w/ a power rack. That and squatting in a power rack instead of a smith utilizes more of your stabilizing muscles and gives a better overall squat.

edit:
+1 what pullbig said

what these dudes told you earlier is spot on

but here is another 1000 threads on the subject
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/search...chid=183996671
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/search...chid=183996211

hope this helps

My power rack is 82" high

[Skidmarx]

$1200 for a used smith setup(gun racks up front I presume) with lat station is too much. I see them go for $400-$600 on craigslist.

For less than that you could get a decent power rack. Check the power rack sticky at the top of the page

[INFRNL]

what these dudes told you earlier is spot on

but here is another 1000 threads on the subject
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/search...chid=183996671
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/search...chid=183996211

hope this helps

My power rack is 82" high

Thanks; I guess I should have done mor homework or tried harder to search.

$1200 for a used smith setup(gun racks up front I presume) with lat station is too much. I see them go for $400-$600 on craigslist.

For less than that you could get a decent power rack. Check the power rack sticky at the top of the page

Thank you as well. I will see what i can find. I have started looking through the power rack sticky and will return there. Also I am not sure where you guys live amongst other but I Live in Colorado and so far I have not found such great deals as you. here a decent fully loaded smith (Tuff Stuff, no gun rack; which is a good option if not a must) goes for around $1200. I found a naked parabody smith with gunrack and they want $1000 for it with no add ons. too much for my taste.

So looks like power rack may be the better route to go. just seems that once you get additionl equipment for power rack you end up spending as much as a smith (which to me offers the same plus more as a power rack) I will research more and appreciate your opinions. Thanks

Edit: does this look like a decent deal? http://cosprings.craigslist.org/spo/896606934.html or what about this one http://denver.craigslist.org/spo/929648816.html

[deseee]

I have that same parabody rack, it's nice. $750 is a bit steep for it though but if you can talk em down into the $4-600 range it's a good buy with all those attachments and bars.

You should be able to talk them down if it's still for sale since end of october i would imagine

[INFRNL]

I have that same parabody rack, it's nice. $750 is a bit steep for it though but if you can talk em down into the $4-600 range it's a good buy with all those attachments and bars.

You should be able to talk them down if it's still for sale since end of october i would imagine

Thanks. Do you have any complaints about the rack? How is the lat attachment? not sure of the quality in it and have to load plates. I found a tuff stuff lat machine here locally with 200lb stack for cheap that I think I am going to pick up. Im thinking a separate lat/pulley machine may be better than one mounted on a power rack. Plus some rack with lat attachment make it hard if not possible to do some presses with it.

also if I decide to go with this rack (if still available) I will definately try and talk him down. It would be nice to have that extra 585lbs of weight too that comes with it.


Edit: Also found this one; not sure what its worth. I have seen a new one I think for $300 new; just not sure of the quality. I believe its a body solid WPR78. http://denver.craigslist.org/spo/904148990.html
Damn; tried to contact that guy with the parabody and got a mailer demon. must be too old or something