Best $2000 power rack

[jackbravo]

Inspired by the previous thread which seemed to reach a concensus about the best $1000 rack, I pose a similar question for the next step up. Why does anyone need a $2000 power rack? Because this is the equipment forum.

Contenders:



EliteFTS 3x3 rack


$1800
-3x3, 11 gauge
-1.5"-2" hole spacing (? 5/8th" diameter)
-30" deep
-free color
-swing in safeties, dip attachment, monkey bar, 2 sets of J-hooks
-$350 shipping


Rae Crowther Varsity rack


$1445 base on the site, $1195 quoted to me from a sales rep (not sure which to believe)
funky rae crowther site which shows free shipping on the rack: http://rc.hellomrdavis.com/product/varsity-racks/
-3" spacing on site, 2" hole spacing quoted to me
-11g, 3x3
-swing in safeties
-300-400 shipping
(need more info on this rack)

[Detrus]

No sumo?

[jackbravo]

No sumo?

can't tell if sumo would be free or not with the RC rack. didn't list it. i'm not sure it's the best rack without the upgrades, just throwing it out there.what you got?

[Chonger1]

How about a legend 3133 with some options should be around 2k plus shipping.

Also how about the Rogue R6(comes standard with monkey chin bar and fat/skinny pullup bar, band pegs, pin pipe safties, jcups, plate storage) with landmine, spotter arms, dip attach, extra set of jcups, safety stap system. about 2050 and 215 for shipping.

Im not sure about the Rae Crowther Standard Pro rack without options and 3inch hole spacing. The rae crowther gets up to 3k and above really fast with options.
And when I inquired a while back for the rae crowther with some options my shipping quote was 800 dollars.

[jackbravo]

How about a legend 3133 with some options should be around 2k plus shipping.

Also how about the Rogue R6(comes standard with monkey chin bar and fat/skinny pullup bar, band pegs, pin pipe safties, jcups, plate storage) with landmine, spotter arms, dip attach, extra set of jcups, safety stap system. about 2050 and 215 for shipping.

Im not sure about the Rae Crowther Standard Pro rack without options and 3inch hole spacing. The rae crowther gets up to 3k and above really fast with options.
And when I inquired a while back for the rae crowther with some options my shipping quote was 800 dollars.

yea..i agree about the pro rack. will delete from post.

[JB426]

They don't list the price but I have seen these in person and I don't think there are more heavy duty racks. They are really, really nice. 3x3 .188 thick, which is thicker than 5 guage. Serious stuff that I think would be in that price range. Although since I don't know price maybe it shouldn't even be included here. Maybe someone has an idea and this can be left or dropped out of consideration. Anyway this is what I'm talking about.

http://www.samsonequipment.com/Produ...=77&sku=111PHH

http://www.samsonequipment.com/Produ...75&sku=111PHHC

[User893402]

They are really, really nice. 3x3 .188 thick, which is thicker than 5 guage.

I thought that's how thick 7 gauge is?

[JB426]

I thought that's how thick 7 gauge is?

Maybe you're right. I thought I saw a chart somewhere that it showed it closer to 5 but maybe it was something else. There's this which looks like it would be a little thicker than 7.

http://www.engineersedge.com/gauge.htm

Sorry to get off topic.

[HealthNutMD]

can't tell if sumo would be free or not with the RC rack. didn't list it. i'm not sure it's the best rack without the upgrades, just throwing it out there.what you got?

I think it is free, you just remove the bottom bars along the floor and it is a sumo with adequate clearance.... Confirm with Hans but that is how it worked for me...

[jackbravo]

I think it is free, you just remove the bottom bars along the floor and it is a sumo with adequate clearance.... Confirm with Hans but that is how it worked for me...

great info. thanks for chiming in.

Here's another:

Sorinex base camp scout with storage add-on


$1849
-3x3 11g, 4 sided holes
-added step up platform with 4 plate storage pins for $250 to base rack
-strap safeties
-may be better to go with a souped-up dark horse?


Samson 111PHH


$1725
-3x3 7g
-knurled chin bar
-swing safeties
-can't tell how far the holes are (3" ?)


--------------
Legend 3133: did they change their design to walk-through
Rogue R6: 2x3 11g tubing, prob excellent for bench with extra 2" inside the uprights. would like 3x3 personally.

[JB426]

great info. thanks for chiming in.


Samson 111PHH


$1725
-3x3 7g
-knurled chin bar
-swing safeties
-can't tell how far the holes are (3" ?)

Yeah I think that might be the only negative about this rack for some people is the hole spacing, which I believe you are right about it being 3". The guy on youtube that has that crazy home gym made up of a lot of Samson equipment has some spacers that he puts on the safety bars giving him 1.5" spacing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1FX5fmgNB8 .

Also it is 9 feet tall, although of course Samson does customized jobs and you can probably get one that is lower.

This would probably be the one I would go with and I just might have found a deal on one.
http://www.samsonequipment.com/Produ...=71&sku=111MHH

[claricSTi]

I would imagine the TSS rack with all options would be pretty close to 2k if you inlcluded shipping. Though I will say as a TSS rack owner, that it is not anywhere as beefy or refined as the racks already posted. Regardless it's around that price and I like to "no bs" approach of Texas Strenght Systems.

Their painted rack - $815
- 1" hole spacing
- Sumo-base for wide stance squatting & deadlifting
- Rod & pin safety catch design
- upgrade to the swing in style of safeties for $90
- Band peg holes for top & bottom with over 24 adjustment holes per side (Band pegs $5 each)
- 84" tall, 54" deep, 48.5" wide constructed from 2.25" x 2.25" 12 gauge square tubing
- 30" between the uprights
- Main Frames & tubing crossbeams are galvanized

You could add.
- Rear plate storage - add $255
- High Pulley plate-loaded system between plate-storage uprights - $265
- Single Low Pulley (just a single pulley that mounts at the bottom of the weight storage for rowing movements) - $75
- Belt Squat add-on for plate loaded cable system - $160
- Dip attachment - add $95
- Monkey bar chin-up/pull-up upgrade - $120
- Extra set of hooks - $60
- Swing-in style safeties - $135

That would make the grand total - $1980 before shipping. Granted if you took the pulley options off it would probably bring the rack close to 2k including shipping. Like said, these are not 3x3 like the ones previously posted but this is another option.

Personally if I was spending that much I would have to go with the elitefts, it just looks so purty with that laser cut logo.

[jackbravo]

Rogue Fitness RM-4


1500
-3x3, 7g
-1" holes, 2" space
-no plate storage (possible to add the sorines plate storage for $250?)
-laser numbered holes
-if the RML-6 price point is under 2K when it comes out and allows for DLs in the rack, it'll prob be the rack to beat, competing with the elitefts 3x3 with westside spacing

[817boy]

Out of all these options listed, I would say either EFS or Rogue simply because they offer pin/pipe safeties. These are a must IMO. Those quick release safeties can bend if you drop a lot of weight on them plus the bar will bend like crazy, where the pin/pipe absorbs most of the shock and they wont bend, the bar will still bend just not as bad.

[916stang]

i prefer the elitefts racks or sorniex

[ninjaneer]

Out of all these options listed, I would say either EFS or Rogue simply because they offer pin/pipe safeties. These are a must IMO. Those quick release safeties can bend if you drop a lot of weight on them plus the bar will bend like crazy, where the pin/pipe absorbs most of the shock and they wont bend, the bar will still bend just not as bad.

what about straps? not sure what the difference in weight capacity would be, but these days, i'm exclusively using straps.

i prefer the elitefts racks or sorniex

i think i'd go sorinex or rogue. holes on all four sides are nice, though no one's ever going to say you went wrong with elitefts.

[817boy]

what about straps? not sure what the difference in weight capacity would be, but these days, i'm exclusively using straps.



i think i'd go sorinex or rogue. holes on all four sides are nice, though no one's ever going to say you went wrong with elitefts.

I have never used straps so i cant comment on them.

Im sure the straps are good and are rated high but i wouldnt trust them like i would metal. A sharp knurl can wear nylon down but it cant wear down metal.

[jackbravo]

I
Rae Crowther Varsity rack


$1445 base on the site, $1195 quoted to me from a sales rep (not sure which to believe)
funky rae crowther site which shows free shipping on the rack: http://rc.hellomrdavis.com/product/varsity-racks/
-3" spacing on site, 2" hole spacing quoted to me
-11g, 3x3
-swing in safeties
-300-400 shipping
(need more info on this rack)

Here's a quote for a 2K RC varsity rack

[jackbravo]

Reflex Fitness Power Rack R-324


$1325
-3x3 11g, whole rack
-39" space between uprights
-swing in safeties are included and 7g, with plastic protection
-free color
-2" spacing, with 1" holes
-band peg holes drilled
-engraved numbers
-dip bar $160
-shipping $160

[ninjaneer]

whoa, that's pretty sweet. think reflex used to make elite stuff before elite switched to williams strength. now, they do sorinex equipment. not sure if they do the entire sorinex lineup or not. i tried getting them to build me a custom rack that was spec'd out like a basecamp and they sent me to sorinex. either way, i'm digging that reflex for the cost. for an extra $500 over the dark horse, u get 3x3 all around, numbered posts, swing safeties, and free color. reps on spread.

[jackbravo]

whoa, that's pretty sweet. think reflex used to make elite stuff before elite switched to williams strength. now, they do sorinex equipment. not sure if they do the entire sorinex lineup or not. i tried getting them to build me a custom rack that was spec'd out like a basecamp and they sent me to sorinex. either way, i'm digging that reflex for the cost. for an extra $500 over the dark horse, u get 3x3 all around, numbered posts, swing safeties, and free color. reps on spread.

yea, the uprgrades are nice. the only issue I have with that Reflex rack is it seems like one entire side is welded, which would make it very difficult to transport and put into a basement down some narrow stairs. for a home gym, I think a rack needs to be entirely bolted together.


Stray Dog Competition Power Rack


$1600
-3x3, likely 11g
-westside spacing (guessing holes are 5/8")
-made in Columbus, Ohio (they need better adversitising)

[Maluket]

I've never heard of Stray Dog. I like their stuff!

[jackbravo]

I've never heard of Stray Dog. I like their stuff!

yea, me either. they make some nice stuff (i linked their site in the picture), but apparently have zero advertising. Now there are two local manufacturers of equipment that I know of in Columbus, Stray Dog and Rogue. Very interesting, I wonder if there's more.

[Accutron]

Stray Dog Competition Power Rack


$1600
-3x3, likely 11g
-westside spacing (guessing holes are 5/8")
-made in Columbus, Ohio (they need better adversitising)

Very nice looking - never heard of them before either, but rack looks great.

[59phinz]

yea, me either. they make some nice stuff (i linked their site in the picture), but apparently have zero advertising. Now there are two local manufacturers of equipment that I know of in Columbus, Stray Dog and Rogue. Very interesting, I wonder if there's more.

Elite FTS (although the larger equipment is built by Williams Strength which isn't in Columbus) and Westside Barbell are both in Columbus too, Edge Fitness isn't too far away either (Canton, OH).

[jackbravo]

Elite FTS (although the larger equipment is built by Williams Strength which isn't in Columbus) and Westside Barbell are both in Columbus too, Edge Fitness isn't too far away either (Canton, OH).

as far as I know, neither elitefts nor westside actually make anything. also, they won't let you near their locale - i called elitefts once to ask to pick something up instead of paying for shipping, and the answer was negatory. i think it's because everything ships from William-Strength.

Edge Fitness I have gotten stuff from there before, it's only about 2-2.5hrs away from columbus. The only thing with Edge is they're not a polished company - for example, there's no listing on their website of the different power racks they offer. There's just a page that says we offer power racks that'll cost up to $1500, and we can make whatever you want. My plan was to talk to them next and see what they can do at this price range. Also, I disagree with Edge about not using plastic on stuff like j-cups and safeties. Plastic is replaceable and cheaper to do so than is bar knurling or the paint coat on your power rack. If I'm going to order a $1500 rack, it'd better come with plastic protection.

[jackbravo]

Black Widow TG

+ weight storage

$1450 shipped
-3x3, 11g rack
-5/8" holes
-1" spacing through clean area, 2" spacing up top
-weight storage
-band peg holes top and bottom
-multi-grip chin bar
-bottom cross member elevated for sumo, but still low enough to allow deadlifting inside rack

[deadwoodgregg]

http://www.prostarsports.com/mag.cgi...&id=5053363234

Not sure of the pricing , but I am guessing that the 600 series would be in the $2000 range. 3 x 3 11 gauge uprights.

Ships out of Kansas City, Mo.

http://www.prostarsports.com/mag.cgi...&id=5053373234

Guessing that the 700 series would be north of $2000. 3 x 3 7 gauge uprights.

http://www.prostarsports.com/mag.cgi...d=505335323453

Someone should check the pricing on this 500 series. Maybe a rival to the Darkhorse? 2 x 3 11 gauge uprights.

[matrix563]

thats a nice black widow rack

[Crack3rJack3r]

Looks legit. I gotta start saving for this.