The Official Power Rack Thread - August 2010 version

[GarageIron]

$999 (shipped) Sorinex Dark Horse. Review in Main forum here...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=150378953

[Aussieguy101]

Is the Elite FTS Signature Rack the most expensive rack you can buy ? Or is there one more expensive ?

[GarageIron]

I received my EliteFTS 3x3 BYO rack with bench. Anyone know how many pegs are standard when ordering upper and lower band pegs? total of 6 or 8 pegs?

That is beautiful.

[ButcherPLer]

My 2x2 EFS rack came with 6 pegs when I ordered top and bottom band pegs, so I would guess 6 is the standard.

[BAVE]

My 2x2 EFS rack came with 6 pegs when I ordered top and bottom band pegs, so I would guess 6 is the standard.

Thanks. Mine came with 6.

[BAVE]

That is beautiful.

Thanks. The color combo was actually an accident. Now it's going to be my color scheme, all black with a few red pieces thrown in.

[D2rmind]

Thanks. The color combo was actually an accident. Now it's going to be my color scheme, all black with a few red pieces thrown in.

Nice rack ! Looking forward to more pics once it's assembled .

[BAVE]

Nice rack ! Looking forward to more pics once it's assembled .

I'll have detailed photos when it's up & running in our new home. One thing I can say that annoys me because I'm a bit anal with build quality, the guy at Williams Strength installing the EliteFTS nameplates must be three years old. It's not even close to straight on the bench. Also, at this price UHMW should not only be standard on their collegiate line. Oh we'll, I'm going to scrape some paint off this baby as soon as I get a chance to bang it up with my TPB.

[D2rmind]

I'll have detailed photos when it's up & running in our new home. One thing I can say that annoys me because I'm a bit anal with build quality, the guy at Williams Strength installing the EliteFTS nameplates must be three years old. It's not even close to straight on the bench. Also, at this price UHMW should not only be standard on their collegiate line. Oh we'll, I'm going to scrape some paint off this baby as soon as I get a chance to bang it up with my TPB.

I think with the upper end racks that the UHMW should be standard. I just got a new rack from Legend and the UMHW would have been a nice feature. I'm not sure if it was even an option unless I opted for the monster hooks (which looked great but are out of my price range for now).

[Squats49]

I'll have detailed photos when it's up & running in our new home. One thing I can say that annoys me because I'm a bit anal with build quality, the guy at Williams Strength installing the EliteFTS nameplates must be three years old. It's not even close to straight on the bench. Also, at this price UHMW should not only be standard on their collegiate line. Oh we'll, I'm going to scrape some paint off this baby as soon as I get a chance to bang it up with my TPB.

Bave - Why did you go BYO over collegiate?

[Andrew_WOT]

Bave - Why did you go BYO over collegiate?

Isn't Collegiate like $1300 more?

[BAVE]

Bave - Why did you go BYO over collegiate?

It was on sale at the time. I paid approx. $600 less than the collegiate including all pegs, monkey bar, dip, extra quick release pins, bar holders, and extra J hooks. Even with the added 0-90 bench it was a bit less than the collegiate. To be honest, I didn't review the collegiate enough to know the subtle differences. Also, though I didn't know then, I believe the 3x3 is a bit shallower. I have a small room (though 10 ft tall) so this rack was pushing it enough. EliteFTS is not very good at listing specs on the site. I know the 3x3 is 49x61 with a 43x30 inside area. The collegiate has a 36 in inside depth and its a bit taller but I still don't know what the actual dimensions are.

BTW, I'm trying to get Dean at BWTG to fabricate some 20 in deep reverse spotter arms with UHMW for it. I don't know why Williams/ EliteFTS doesnt have these for the 3x3 racks like Legend.

http://www.legendfitness.com/Uploads/images/3155p6.jpg

[jaredrobison]

anything that is heavy!

[TheRider]

I have read through the first couple of pages as well as last few pages in this topic and though it has great info about all kinds of racks, I am looking for some pointers for a rack which would serve me well.

I started doing SS since this past summer. I had to take a break for the last 3 months or so as I moved and am looking to set up my own little home gym.
I am looking for a good power rack which should be good enough for me for the next few years. The high end racks are fabulous but I dont think I am up for them at both training level and of coz money.
I am 5.10 and weigh 160lbs and my PR squat is 175 lb and I am looking forward to getting better. I am ok with upgrading to a better rack couple of years later
Is POWERTEC WB-PR11 a good option quality wise. Any other thing in the market in the same price range? I am going through craigslist ads but again I dont know how good are the ones out there.

I am looking at Powertec-Power-Rack.html @ fitnessfactoryoutlet for 539

Appreciate the help!

[Quigley2013]

The Powertec is a good strating place. I have one...it's pretty solid, love the dip handles...

The one thing I hate about it...is the pull up handles. Just awful, especially if you want to do any pull up with an underhand grip.

It will do me fo a few more years until I decide I just need to spend more money

I have read through the first couple of pages as well as last few pages in this topic and though it has great info about all kinds of racks, I am looking for some pointers for a rack which would serve me well.

I started doing SS since this past summer. I had to take a break for the last 3 months or so as I moved and am looking to set up my own little home gym.
I am looking for a good power rack which should be good enough for me for the next few years. The high end racks are fabulous but I dont think I am up for them at both training level and of coz money.
I am 5.10 and weigh 160lbs and my PR squat is 175 lb and I am looking forward to getting better. I am ok with upgrading to a better rack couple of years later
Is POWERTEC WB-PR11 a good option quality wise. Any other thing in the market in the same price range? I am going through craigslist ads but again I dont know how good are the ones out there.

I am looking at Powertec-Power-Rack.html @ fitnessfactoryoutlet for 539

Appreciate the help!

[Squats49]

The Powertec is a good strating place. I have one...it's pretty solid, love the dip handles...

The one thing I hate about it...is the pull up handles. Just awful, especially if you want to do any pull up with an underhand grip.

It will do me fo a few more years until I decide I just need to spend more money

If you're keeping the p-tec for a while you need this: http://www.blackwidowtg.com/product_...om-pull-up.htm

[Quigley2013]

I thought about that...

I ended up just buying a separate joist mounted chin up bar...

It arrives in a few days....

If you're keeping the p-tec for a while you need this: http://www.blackwidowtg.com/product_...om-pull-up.htm

[TheRider]

The Powertec is a good strating place. I have one...it's pretty solid, love the dip handles...

The one thing I hate about it...is the pull up handles. Just awful, especially if you want to do any pull up with an underhand grip.

It will do me fo a few more years until I decide I just need to spend more money

Are the handles too thin? cut into your hands? can you post pic of the the current handles and the attachment you are ordering

[Quigley2013]

I ordered this

http://www.ultimatebodypress.com/joi...ll-up-bar.html

It should arrive in a day or so...I'll compare it to the Powertec handles and let you know what I think. The Powertec is OK for slightly wider than shoulder, overhand grip pull ups. It's the close grip or anything with an underhand grip that sucks...

Are the handles too thin? cut into your hands? can you post pic of the the current handles and the attachment you are ordering

[TheRider]

I ordered this



It should arrive in a day or so...I'll compare it to the Powertec handles and let you know what I think. The Powertec is OK for slightly wider than shoulder, overhand grip pull ups. It's the close grip or anything with an underhand grip that sucks...

thanks , I will be ordering the rack this week unless I find something better

[BAVE]

I just ordered some more pieces for my EliteFTS 3x3. I ordered a step up attachment (http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...id=167&pid=716) to use for reverse hypers similar to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5PfoVOz-o.

I also ordered extra J hooks with UHMW. Last was a set of reverse spotter arms with UHMW. These are for the 1/2 rack but I'll be using them for movements outside of the rack. They don't show the spotter arms as an option but if you call in they can place the order (http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...alf%20Rack.jpg).

[Andrew_WOT]

The Powertec is a good strating place. I have one...it's pretty solid, love the dip handles...

The one thing I hate about it...is the pull up handles. Just awful, especially if you want to do any pull up with an underhand grip.

It will do me fo a few more years until I decide I just need to spend more money

Yep, that was a problem for sure.
The Solution

[Quigley2013]

Yep, that was a problem for sure.
The Solution

Is that custom made?

[Andrew_WOT]

Is that custom made?

Click on "The Solution" link in the original post, it covers it all.

You can also go for this
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/0170.html

[Quigley2013]

Looks like they have a complete Powertec Package for sale now

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/0510spl.html

Click on "The Solution" link in the original post, it covers it all.

You can also go for this
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/0170.html

[Andrew_WOT]

Looks like they have a complete Powertec Package for sale now

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/0510spl.html

Don't get one at a bottom, it includes top beam which you don't need, unless you have money to burn. I covered that in my linked post, just read it.

[StephanBB]

I received my EliteFTS 3x3 BYO rack with bench.

How long between order and delivery?

[ButcherPLer]

What is a better rack than an Elite rack?

2 Elite racks.

[BAVE]

How long between order and delivery?

I believe it was 4 weeks. It was faster than I expected.

[phm14]

Merry Christmas, and many thanks to those who took time to share here. I've been reading this thread over the last few days, looking to upgrade my Northern Lights CL buy I've used for the last 3 years. Based on the experiences here, I'm considering the following:
Power-Lift RS2
Texas Strength
Legend 3XXX
My decision from here will be guided by price, and I can't find any pricing on the Power-Lift. Anyone had any experience with the ironcompany.com "power rack-American Built" (AB-MR47)? Tried posting a link, but couldn't get it to work, even w spaces.