Should I buy this squat rack?

[KNA]

I started lifting by myself in my small apartment. I don't have much room at all and dumping the bar/plates on a failed squat or bench will result in massive damage to property! This was not a concern at first since I was using very light weights and started with very conservative numbers but I am at the point where the weights are a little heavier and I sometimes struggle getting out of the hole.

A cage would be fantastic but I don't have the space or the money for it. I found the following item and was wondering if it would be a satisfactory alternative.

http://www.primalathletes.com/equipment/racks-and-platforms/york-pro-series-204-squat-rack.html

It is a fraction of the cost of a cage and the 3 pieces come apart so I could easily store it when I am not using it. It seems like the perfect option but my main question is: will it protect my body and my property if I have to dump the bar?

If anyone on here owns or uses a rack like this I would love your opinion!

Thanks

[Dastardly]

It looks just as big as a power rack but you cannot deadlift inside it, so technically it will take up more space.

Look at Confuzzl3don's setup, its a big power rack inside a small room. It seems to work just fine even though you have to walk through the rack to get in the room!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q2xmefpQFc

I think you could manage to find something more compact than that, for about the same money.

Like this:

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf315-adjustable-squat-and-dip-rack.php

But as to the question of safety & functionality. It looks just fine. It has safety bars which look like they would be usable for both squats & bench press, and is rated to 600lb which is good. My only concern with that design is that it doesnt look very deep.

[Dastardly]

You wont be able to deadlift inside the rack, so it will theoretically use up more space than a power rack.

Look at Confuzzl3don's setup, its a big power rack inside a small room. It seems to work just fine even though you have to walk through the rack to get in the room!

More conventional squat stands (the type with spotter bars) might be a better option.

[KNA]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm a little confused when you say you cannot squat inside it. The whole reason I was interested in it was so I could squat inside and have the safety's catch the bar if I fail.

I like how compact the rack is that you link, however, I don't really trust myself with those safety's they are very small.

Confuzzl3don's setup is nice, and I'd love to be able to have a full cage, but my apartment really has no spot for it where it wouldn't be completely in the way. That's why I had my eye on the 204 Series since it would also be completely in the way, but it looks relatively easy to disassemble and store when I'm not using it.
Interesting point about the depth, I didn't even think of that. Is there an easy way to determine how deep the bar goes when I squat? that way I could measure when I go to the store to check it out.

Thanks again for the response.

[Gary Gibson]

I started lifting by myself in my small apartment. I don't have much room at all and dumping the bar/plates on a failed squat or bench will result in massive damage to property! This was not a concern at first since I was using very light weights and started with very conservative numbers but I am at the point where the weights are a little heavier and I sometimes struggle getting out of the hole.

A cage would be fantastic but I don't have the space or the money for it. I found the following item and was wondering if it would be a satisfactory alternative.

http://www.primalathletes.com/equipment/racks-and-platforms/york-pro-series-204-squat-rack.html

It is a fraction of the cost of a cage and the 3 pieces come apart so I could easily store it when I am not using it. It seems like the perfect option but my main question is: will it protect my body and my property if I have to dump the bar?

Edit: Strike all that. BCGuy just killed my hopes.

If anyone on here owns or uses a rack like this I would love your opinion!

Thanks

I like it. I don't own it, but I'm in the market for something more storable and portable than a regular rack, and I may get this next. Thanks for sharing it.

Edit: Never mind. BCGuy just killed my hopes.

[BCGuy]

I started lifting by myself in my small apartment. I don't have much room at all and dumping the bar/plates on a failed squat or bench will result in massive damage to property! This was not a concern at first since I was using very light weights and started with very conservative numbers but I am at the point where the weights are a little heavier and I sometimes struggle getting out of the hole.

A cage would be fantastic but I don't have the space or the money for it. I found the following item and was wondering if it would be a satisfactory alternative.

http://www.primalathletes.com/equipment/racks-and-platforms/york-pro-series-204-squat-rack.html

It is a fraction of the cost of a cage and the 3 pieces come apart so I could easily store it when I am not using it. It seems like the perfect option but my main question is: will it protect my body and my property if I have to dump the bar?

If anyone on here owns or uses a rack like this I would love your opinion!

Thanks


I used the York 204 squat rack at one time as my primary rack. I found it sufficiently stable for less than 400lb, but anything above and it became way too rickety. For the price, it is a decent purchase, but don't expect it to last long if you start pushing some decent weight. The bench is moderately stable (I also have a non-adjustable horizontal bench of the same type), but I doubt it will last me by the time my bench gets around 400lb mostly because I find the padding too damn soft.

The two steel safety pins you see are hollow steel tube, but they seem decent for modest loads up to 400lb. I proof loaded with a bar at rest; expect some serious bending if you drop a weight in excess of a few hundred pounds from shoulder height. The pins will deform a fair bit before they fail should that problem arise.

The horizontal HSS floor bar is relatively easy to move around when adjusting pins for different support widths, although beware of the shitty HSS caps...they tend to break easily and/or fall off. The vertical bar supports are easy to move around, although the side screws with the triangular black handles dig into the supports easily if over tightened, which may serve as future sites for stress concentration.

Check out the two stainless steel L-bars near the base...you can use these as dip bars if you run the long length of the L-bar through an appropriate hole in the adjustable black verticals (in fact this is the reason why I still have this sitting around...for ghetto dips).

I currently use http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/p-64-c-8-body-solid-multi-press-rack.html. I use a half rack because my basement ceiling is too low and won't accommodate full racks (when I press, I have to use a bunch of 25's or smaller to fit between the floor joists...not ideal, but it gets the job done, albeit a great pain in the ass when working with 200lb or more). The rack is stable as hell and allows me to store extra weight plates on the side (there are even bolt holes for rack anchorage to a floor slab).

On a side note, getting decent equipment in Canada to my exacting standards is a pain in the ass. If I took up learning arc welding as a hobby I would be set...engineer + welding ability = killer homemade equipment. Sure I can order from the States, but duties and shipping costs would kill any potential benefits.

[burnsco]

why don't you take mark's power rack plans to a local welder? that was going to be my plan when I build my own gym one day soon.

[BCGuy]

why don't you take mark's power rack plans to a local welder? that was going to be my plan when I build my own gym one day soon.

Or that option too...forgot about that. Eventually some day I plan on doing the same once I buy an appropriate house/loft condo with decent floor space, ceiling clearance, and adequate floor bearing capacity.

[Dastardly]

Sorry, made a typo. I meant to say cannot DEADLIFT inside it. :eek:

[Bif]

OP,

I bought a pair of these at Lowes for about $40US. If you can get yourself a set of regular old squat stands for small money, you can set up so that the saw horses act as your catch rails. They easily fold for storage. BTW, this paticular brand of horse was rated to 1200 pounds.

http://www.drillspot.com/pimages/388/38818_300.jpg

I have a set of squat stands that my father made for me a long while ago. He was a welder. I actually do pause pin squats with these horses. Pop the weight from the squat stands, lower the weight to the horses, allow the weight to come to a complete stop, stand back up. Today I did squats like that with 400 pounds; the horses didn't flinch.

You can also do your bench presses inside these horses as well. I do mine in deadstop fashion from the bottom, about an inch from my chest.

This is a great, low cost, space-saving alternative to a power rack. By adjusting the height, you can even do partials with heavy weight.

HTH...

~ bif ~

[sergeant_81]

Bif's recommendations are solid. This is exactly how I trained in a garage until a year or so ago - sawhorses and homemade squat stands (mine were wood posts set in concrete). Works like a charm.

[KNA]

Thanks for all the responses.

Excellent to hear from someone who has used the rack. I am under 200 lbs squat right now, so even if it's only good to 400, I figure I won't be there for a year at least. For $200 that is still far cheaper than a year gym membership. I didn't even notice the L bars for dips, that's a nice bonus. I know what you mean about it being tough to get equipment in Canada. Any other good suggestions for places around GTA or SW ontario?

Bif, is it easy to adjust the height on the saw horses? That's a fantastic idea as well. I think I will still try to go with the york 204, since I like the idea of having the vertical support on either side of the horizontal safety. Also, if/when I grow out of it I could probably get a decent amount of money back selling it used. If, for whatever reason, I can't get my hands on the york it's good to know there is a simple and even cheaper solution out there.

Thanks again!

[Bif]

Bif, is it easy to adjust the height on the saw horses? That's a fantastic idea as well.
There are wingnuts on each leg. You just keep them hand-tight for easy adjusting. You unscrew the wingnuts and then slide the lower part of each leg up or down, then re-tighten. There are tabs on the lower part of each leg that fit inside pre-drilled notches on the upper part. If I can do it, you know it's easy.


Thanks again!
No problem at all. Good luck with whatever approach you take!

~ bif ~