Help me Pick a (budget) Power Rack

[DASBUNKER]

Looking for a deal in BF, these are my main options for around $300

REP PR1100 or 1000, saw some reviews about a rust issue, that aspect really putting off but the racks look nice af

Titan T2, basic and looks decent.

Fitness reality, cheap and has positive reviews, I prefer how the other two look tho.

I got an extra set of padded J cups, so that aint a factor. Do these companies usually have deals on BF?

[BenMcLeodNZ]

I looked at them all and if you want something new, I'd go with the Titan T2. It's actually a pretty good rack with lots of options for height adjustment and good J cups, and if you're at home you won't wreck it with rack pulls or something. The Titan T2 is heaviest of the 3 too.

[JustTheDad]

if you want something new

The best answer is in Ben's qualifier. Your best deals will be on CL or FBMP.
I assumed BF meant Black Friday, not your city. You wrote "in BF", so I'm not 100% sure.

[DASBUNKER]

I looked at them all and if you want something new, I'd go with the Titan T2. It's actually a pretty good rack with lots of options for height adjustment and good J cups, and if you're at home you won't wreck it with rack pulls or something. The Titan T2 is heaviest of the 3 too.

The best answer is in Ben's qualifier. Your best deals will be on CL or FBMP.
I assumed BF meant Black Friday, not your city. You wrote "in BF", so I'm not 100% sure.

yep I meant Black Friday and looking for something new.

Thanks for the input, definitely favoring the T2 at the moment, hope Titan has a decent sale. Those rust issues with REP are concerning, shame cus their racks look solid.

[twoforme2]

I think you are genuinely comparing appl to apples. They are both imported Chinese built 2x2 racks with 1" holes of the same height (roughly) and same 14 gauge steel so roughly the same weight limits. The accessories for the two should be interchangeable based on befor mentioned parameters.
Both racks are the same.
I am not a huge proponent of either brand, and I have stuff from both and find neither to be any better quality than the other. So, really at that point (for me) it would come down to either price or any other issues that you like or dislike about business practices, quality, or any other number of quizical qualifiers you may have.
They will both likely have something going to BF, its probably a coin toss as to whether the sale would include either or those racks.
Good luck with your decision.

[chadsalt]

"Rust issue".

ROFLMAO

[DASBUNKER]

Good luck with your decision.

Thanks, the T2 claims to be 12 gauge and is heavier vs the others 14 gauge, so that's also plus.

"Rust issue".

ROFLMAO

Explain, is that suppose to be ok? I'd guess getting rust inside the tubing is almost unavoidable at some point.

[sera310]

I have stuff from both Rep and Titan, and I'd get Rep over Titan

[DASBUNKER]

I have stuff from both Rep and Titan, and I'd get Rep over Titan

Reasoning? I believe REP might have better QC? Titan can be hit or miss sometimes from what I've read.

[Duplicitous]

Reasoning? I believe REP might have better QC? Titan can be hit or miss sometimes from what I've read.

Yes, Rep has far better QC. I don't think Titan has any tbh. I think they just let it all go through and count on the fact that most people will just grin and bear it no matter what they get. It's probably far cheaper to credit the occasional squeaky wheel than it is to have strict QC.

[chadsalt]

Explain, is that suppose to be ok? I'd guess getting rust inside the tubing is almost unavoidable at some point.

Of course it's ok. Are you under the impression other companies are painting the inside of the uprights? They're not, never seen any that were. Heard of any catastrophic failures due to internal rust?
No? Me either.

[sera310]

Reasoning? I believe REP might have better QC? Titan can be hit or miss sometimes from what I've read.

Yes, hit & miss QC--missing parts, parts that don't line up, parts that aren't square & wobble, etc. + safety-related failures, such as j-hooks that shear off & safety straps that come apart. JMO, but I'd never rely on anything from Titan such as a rack, where my safety would be at risk. I have an accessory bar from Titan that I don't use much; it's crudely made but it works & it was cheap & I don't use it much, and it will never be a safety issue, so it is fine for that. I have a bench and a pull-down bar from Rep and they are WAY better quality than Titan, IMO.

[DASBUNKER]

Yes, Rep has far better QC. I don't think Titan has any tbh. I think they just let it all go through and count on the fact that most people will just grin and bear it no matter what they get. It's probably far cheaper to credit the occasional squeaky wheel than it is to have strict QC.

Of course it's ok. Are you under the impression other companies are painting the inside of the uprights? They're not, never seen any that were. Heard of any catastrophic failures due to internal rust?
No? Me either.

Yes, hit & miss QC--missing parts, parts that don't line up, parts that aren't square & wobble, etc. + safety-related failures, such as j-hooks that shear off & safety straps that come apart. JMO, but I'd never rely on anything from Titan such as a rack, where my safety would be at risk. I have an accessory bar from Titan that I don't use much; it's crudely made but it works & it was cheap & I don't use it much, and it will never be a safety issue, so it is fine for that. I have a bench and a pull-down bar from Rep and they are WAY better quality than Titan, IMO.

REP is looking more appealing, 12 gauge doesnt make a difference if IC is shoddy for titan.

[JustTheDad]

REP is looking more appealing, 12 gauge doesnt make a difference if IC is shoddy for titan.

Let us know what you get. Also, from curiosity, why do you want to get something brand new? Is it a present for someone or are you in an area where craigslist doesn't have bunch of options that look new because someone bought a rack and then decided they liked watching TV more than lifting?

[jdboyd78]

Explain, is that suppose to be ok? I'd guess getting rust inside the tubing is almost unavoidable at some point.

I have a Sorinex rack built like a tank, it has rust inside the tubes.

[twoforme2]

Yes, hit & miss QC--missing parts, parts that don't line up, parts that aren't square & wobble, etc.......

You just described my AB-3100 from Rep Fitness.

Rep is not infallible despite the fanboi appeal. You can get better quality stuff in the better lines of equipment from Rep, but when you get to those price levels the competition is no longer the same, and is not a discussion that includes Titan. At a certain pricepoint you actually start getting into better quality built equipment by American Manufacturers. This discussion was never about that level of equipment.

[Kylehero]

yep I meant Black Friday and looking for something new.

Thanks for the input, definitely favoring the T2 at the moment, hope Titan has a decent sale. Those rust issues with REP are concerning, shame cus their racks look solid.

Can’t you just spray it down with rustoleum before you start using it to prevent the rust issue? Seems like it’d be a simple extra step for long term protection

[lsi1]

I'd buy whichever of them is cheaper they are so close to the same rack that they probably come from the same factory along with half a dozen other companies.

Man my Rogue rack is developing some rust on the outside at the wear points where I adjust spotter arms and jcups. Hope I don't lose any sleep over this.

[irongrandpa]

I'd buy whichever of them is cheaper they are so close to the same rack that they probably come from the same factory along with half a dozen other companies.

Man my Rogue rack is developing some rust on the outside at the wear points where I adjust spotter arms and jcups. Hope I don't lose any sleep over this.

I just hope your rack doesn't crumble when you rack the bar after a heavy squat!

[lsi1]

I just hope your rack doesn't crumble when you rack the bar after a heavy squat!

its a good thing with my tiny numbers I shouldn't have to worry about that.

[Duplicitous]

I'd buy whichever of them is cheaper they are so close to the same rack that they probably come from the same factory along with half a dozen other companies.

Even if they were both made in the same Chinese factory (and I don't believe they are based on side-by-side comparisons of the quality of the work), QC guidelines could still vary based on the agreement with the brand, which will impact what ultimately makes its way into the customer's hands.

Man my Rogue rack is developing some rust on the outside at the wear points where I adjust spotter arms and jcups. Hope I don't lose any sleep over this.

All of my commercial equipment is used, so of course it has a bit of rust (or it did when I received it). No problem. My new Rogue rack had a little rust on the inside of the rack when I received it as well. Also no problem. A new Titan product I recently received was significantly rusted inside and out. Moreover, they painted over the corrosion so the paint can't properly adhere to the steel. The result is that the paint was already peeling off the rack in chunks by the time I got it. That's a problem. It's not the end of the world, but even at their price point I don't expect to get a new product that looks like it was stored outside for several years before someone hit it with a can of spray paint.

[sera310]

You just described my AB-3100 from Rep Fitness.

Rep is not infallible despite the fanboi appeal. You can get better quality stuff in the better lines of equipment from Rep, but when you get to those price levels the competition is no longer the same, and is not a discussion that includes Titan. At a certain pricepoint you actually start getting into better quality built equipment by American Manufacturers. This discussion was never about that level of equipment.

I agree, especially on the products where Rep is trying to move up-market and now has prices that reflect that. But at the low end, as to racks, between Titan and Rep--which after all, was the question--I'll take Rep. YMMV.