Bodysolid GPR378 J Hooks

[Anthony21]

.....Completely suck! These things are long as hell and it was my first bench workout in this rack. Unracking the bar is a a pain and I lose tightness cause it's just unsteady unracking with these hooks.

I searched and searched and was informed blackwidowtg is the place to go to get custom fabricated j hooks. Problem is their website doesn't work.

Does anyone know where I can get some better J hook for this rack?

I'm not a fabricator nor know anyone that is so I am relying on your guy's guidance.

[Hunttarded]

I got this rack and have the same problem. What I do is I need to bring the bar as outwards on the J-hook as possible and position my bench to accommodate that. Otherwise, yea I can't keep my upper body tight, not to mention each lift off would be inconsistent.

[Anthony21]

I got this rack and have the same problem. What I do is I need to bring the bar as outwards on the J-hook as possible and position my bench to accommodate that. Otherwise, yea I can't keep my upper body tight, not to mention each lift off would be inconsistent.

I bring the bar to the very front of the hooks but still it always bangs every so slightly throwing me off.

I'd like to slap whoever it was at BS that thought about these hook designs.

[mstngvic]

Black Widow posted on ******** today that their website is/was down but would be functional again very soon.

[Anthony21]

Black Widow posted on ******** today that their website is/was down but would be functional again very soon.

Oh nice man! Thanks for that info.
I liked their page but didn't go through the postings.

I definitely need to get rid of these hooks haha. I guess the only thing I see them good for are squat work, and unloading for some overhead press work.

[cjm8232]

I work at a steel fabricating shop and had mine cut shorter (about half the original length) I also had my guys weld a shorter lip on the front, that lip is so tall from the factory and it made racking and unracking a pain. I suggest taking your hooks to a steel fabricator and having them cut down. It will be cheap and easy.

It's hard to tell from my pic but my j hooks are half the length of the factory j hook. In addition to making it easier to rack/unrack it essentially adds 3-4" of useable space inside the rack. There's probably a huge market for after market j hooks, with how easy my shop can make them I could probably earn a nice little side income

[Anthony21]

I work at a steel fabricating shop and had mine cut shorter (about half the original length) I also had my guys weld a shorter lip on the front, that lip is so tall from the factory and it made racking and unracking a pain. I suggest taking your hooks to a steel fabricator and having them cut down. It will be cheap and easy.

It's hard to tell from my pic but my j hooks are half the length of the factory j hook. In addition to making it easier to rack/unrack it essentially adds 3-4" of useable space inside the rack. There's probably a huge market for after market j hooks, with how easy my shop can make them I could probably earn a nice little side income

What would be the specifications I give then to cut if I went that route?

[MikeFFO]

Great thread. My vested interest is that I actually work for the company. Myself and a couple colleagues have passed this info along to engineering (not the original developer of this, he is no longer with the company). I love this rack, it's a tremendous seller for us, but I completely agree about the JHooks. We did just release the long awaited dip attachment, so your voices are indeed heard!

[Anthony21]

Great thread. My vested interest is that I actually work for the company. Myself and a couple colleagues have passed this info along to engineering (not the original developer of this, he is no longer with the company). I love this rack, it's a tremendous seller for us, but I completely agree about the JHooks. We did just release the long awaited dip attachment, so your voices are indeed heard!

Why doesn't bodysolid make some other j hooks? That would be an easy solution and fix.

[jormone]

Great thread. My vested interest is that I actually work for the company. Myself and a couple colleagues have passed this info along to engineering (not the original developer of this, he is no longer with the company). I love this rack, it's a tremendous seller for us, but I completely agree about the JHooks. We did just release the long awaited dip attachment, so your voices are indeed heard!

That you in the pics? What is the thinking behind that huge device? Why not just have two bars that span the safeties? Seems like they would be cheaper to ship, infinitely adjustable for width, easier to store and easier to put on/take off the rack. (Would they slide apart or something? could put rubber on the hooks that attach to the spotters?)

[cjm8232]

What would be the specifications I give then to cut if I went that route?

Anthony attached are pics showing my cut down j hooks with measurements. Mine are 3" long which is perfect for me. When the fab shop cuts the length down they will need to weld a new cap on the front end to close the end and add the lip, the cap plate that my guys welded on the front is 4.5" which creates a 1.25" tall lip, which for me is perfect. Let me know if you have any more questions bro.

[cjm8232]

Great thread. My vested interest is that I actually work for the company. Myself and a couple colleagues have passed this info along to engineering (not the original developer of this, he is no longer with the company). I love this rack, it's a tremendous seller for us, but I completely agree about the JHooks. We did just release the long awaited dip attachment, so your voices are indeed heard!

Mike it's nice to see body solid on the forums listening and answering concerns. I too love my grp378, it is an incredible value. I'm glad you guys are looking at making the j hooks shorter. I would also suggest making the holes closer together, the 3" spacing is fine for me but I see where a lot of guys could struggle to find the sweet spot. Feel free to pm me if you want to ask any other suggestions. I also have the gla378 and some other BS equipment, I love all of it!

[Anthony21]

Anthony attached are pics showing my cut down j hooks with measurements. Mine are 3" long which is perfect for me. When the fab shop cuts the length down they will need to weld a new cap on the front end to close the end and add the lip, the cap plate that my guys welded on the front is 4.5" which creates a 1.25" tall lip, which for me is perfect. Let me know if you have any more questions bro.

Appreciate the info bro.

Black Widow Training Gear or Dean is going to be giving me a call tomorrow to talk about getting some custom J hooks. Unfortunately I have no connects to a fabricator or anything.

[MikeFFO]

That you in the pics? What is the thinking behind that huge device? Why not just have two bars that span the safeties? Seems like they would be cheaper to ship, infinitely adjustable for width, easier to store and easier to put on/take off the rack. (Would they slide apart or something? could put rubber on the hooks that attach to the spotters?)[/QUOTE]

Yup that's me. Your idea is a good one but I do really like the way this is set up. It's pretty light weight and easy to move around. It essentially mimics our GDIP59 with the converging handles (I personally like that turn in the wrist as it helps me pinch the outside of the triceps at the top of the movement). Also works nicely as a deep push up bar when at the bottom, and your feet are able to go outside the rack as opposed to having to bridge over the side per your design idea. I think either way it works out nicely.

[MikeFFO]

Mike it's nice to see body solid on the forums listening and answering concerns. I too love my grp378, it is an incredible value. I'm glad you guys are looking at making the j hooks shorter. I would also suggest making the holes closer together, the 3" spacing is fine for me but I see where a lot of guys could struggle to find the sweet spot. Feel free to pm me if you want to ask any other suggestions. I also have the gla378 and some other BS equipment, I love all of it!

Thank you, and I'm always happy to pass along great ideas to the engineering folks.

[Anthony21]

I got in touch with Dean from Black Widow Training and he's going to be putting together some J hooks for my new rack.

I'm also hoping I can find my sweet spot with unracking my squat and bench with the 3" spacing between holes. It seems it's a bit awkward than what i'm use to and hopefully a new pair of J Hooks helps that.

[Wildtim]

You might want to find your sweet spot, before you get the hooks made. Dean could make them so they set the bar exactly where you want it, not just some generic distance from the holes.

[Anthony21]

You might want to find your sweet spot, before you get the hooks made. Dean could make them so they set the bar exactly where you want it, not just some generic distance from the holes.

Well it's hard to find my sweet spot with these horrible J hooks Body Solid has made. Literally if I was unable to get a custom pair made I'd sell this rack just based off that.

I mean I have it figured where I like to unrack but I think i'm not finding my spot cause of these horrible hooks.

Literally I'll have the bar set on the very end (or front of the hooks), go to unrack and it always hits the damn lip and throws me off balance slightly. This makes unracking a bench and squat unsafe IMO.

[Wildtim]

Grind the lip down.

http://www.target.com/p/black-decker...FeMSOgod4CMA9Q

[Anthony21]

Grind the lip down.

http://www.target.com/p/black-decker...FeMSOgod4CMA9Q

Great recommendation but I wouldn't trust myself with that. I have no experience grinding sh!t down so I would hate to mess these things up even more, granite idk how you can see as they are already messed up.

I seriously want to know if BS tested these out before making and if anyone at BS actually lifts.

[Wildtim]

Great recommendation but I wouldn't trust myself with that. I have no experience grinding sh!t down so I would hate to mess these things up even more, granite idk how you can see as they are already messed up.

I seriously want to know if BS tested these out before making and if anyone at BS actually lifts.

You are already planning on buying new ones right?

You can use the angle grinder. It isn't as hard as you think, its like power sandpaper for metal. You are just going to put it on top of the lip, hold it roughly level and grind it half off. Just don't let it touch anything else, like the uprights and you can fark anything up but what you already consider farked up.

[Anthony21]

You are already planning on buying new ones right?

You can use the angle grinder. It isn't as hard as you think, its like power sandpaper for metal. You are just going to put it on top of the lip, hold it roughly level and grind it half off. Just don't let it touch anything else, like the uprights and you can fark anything up but what you already consider farked up.

That sounds pretty easy. Seeing as I'm getting a new custom set I can maybe practice haha.

[daniel327]

That sounds pretty easy. Seeing as I'm getting a new custom set I can maybe practice haha.

I would suggest you take the hooks off the rack and secure them in a vice, or similar work piece holding device, prior to attempting any grinding.

Alternatively, use a bench grinder or linishing machine to complete this task.

[Anthony21]

I would suggest you take the hooks off the rack and secure them in a vice, or similar work piece holding device, prior to attempting any grinding.

Alternatively, use a bench grinder or linishing machine to complete this task.

To be honest more than likely i'm not going to do any grinding. I mean honestly even if they were sanded down these J hooks are horrible.

Literally I hate my rack because of them haha.

I can't wait to see what Dean constructs for me cause I don't look forward to pressing or squatting out of this thing given how unsturdy sh!t is. The last thing I want with heavy weight in my hand or back is me thinking about these stupid hooks.

[Vancemac]

I got in touch with Dean from Black Widow Training and he's going to be putting together some J hooks for my new rack.

I'm also hoping I can find my sweet spot with unracking my squat and bench with the 3" spacing between holes. It seems it's a bit awkward than what i'm use to and hopefully a new pair of J Hooks helps that.

I am quite happy with the GPR378. Ecstatic, actually. The stock J-cups do not bother me, but I wanted a 2nd pair anyway, so I went through Dean at Black Widow (blackwidowtg .com) and can fully recommend his J-cups for this cage. They are outstanding. As you can see from the photo, they are standard shape/length. And while the pin on the stock j-cups only goes through one hole, the Black Widow pin goes the length of the beam (both holes). Not a big deal, but nice touch and a bit more stable. Also, the distance from hole/peg to arm surface is a bit deeper... so if you are really picky about height setting for a particular exercise, by having both sets of j-cups, you can pick which one dials it in better (effectively mimicking westside spacing... almost).

Apparently can't post photos due to noob status. Photo here: tinyurl .com/m2xjglq

[throwaway3441]

Apparently can't post photos due to noob status. Photo here:

Nice!

Looks like the screws stick out of the UHMW a bit?

[Vancemac]

Nice!

Looks like the screws stick out of the UHMW a bit?

Yes, didn't even notice that until I took the photo. And I immediately went out to check it. They are all nicely countersunk -- that one just wasn't tightened completely. It is now.

[TruKnight]

I like how those look, im needing a second pair of lifts for my rack and never have liked the lifts that came on it. ill have a look at the Black Widow Training site.

[throwaway3441]

Yes, didn't even notice that until I took the photo. And I immediately went out to check it. They are all nicely countersunk -- that one just wasn't tightened completely. It is now.

Glad to hear it. Dean does fantastic work.