Power Rack - Weider Pro 400

[Jayb]

Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?

http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9

I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I don't
have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage
will hold up for now until I build up more strength? I'm still
a newbie (squat about 170lbs and bench about 110lbs).

Thanks,

--
JayB

[Lee Michae]

"JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:S75Ec.64$Q46.13@news01.roc.ny...
> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
>
> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> don't have much
of
> a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will hold up
> for now until
I
> build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about
> 170lbs and bench about 110lbs).
>

Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
like that from the picture. It is kind of small.

Weider has a reputation of poor quality. It may work. I would
want to check it out with my eyeballs first.

[John M . W]

"Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote:
>"JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote:
>> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
>>
>> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
>> don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think
>> this cage will hold up for now until I build up more
>> strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs and bench
>> about 110lbs).
>>
>
>Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
>like that from the picture. It is kind of small.
>
>Weider has a reputation of poor quality. It may work. I would
>want to check it out with my eyeballs first.

I have heard that those units tend to rock side-to-side a
little bit once you put heavy weights on it. It's also
light, and I've heard it will move some when heavy weights
are racked.

[Lee Michae]

"John M. Williams" <jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote
> "Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote:
> >"JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote:
> >> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> >>
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> >>
> >> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> >> don't have
much
> >> of a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will
> >> hold up for now
until
> >> I build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about
> >> 170lbs and
bench
> >> about 110lbs).
> >>
> >
> >Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
> >like that from the picture. It is kind of small.
> >
> >Weider has a reputation of poor quality. It may work. I
> >would want to
check
> >it out with my eyeballs first.
>
> I have heard that those units tend to rock side-to-side a
> little bit once you put heavy weights on it. It's also
> light, and I've heard it will move some when heavy weights
> are racked.

There ya go. You get to chase the rack around when racking
weights. Not exactly a safety feature.

I have mounted numerous power racks to plywood or the floor to
increase their stability. I seriously doubt if the holes are
provided to do such a thing with this cheapo unit.

[John M . W]

"Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>I have mounted numerous power racks to plywood or the floor
>to increase their stability. I seriously doubt if the holes
>are provided to do such a thing with this cheapo unit.

There does appear to be a floor plate on the lower cross bar,
but nothing in the rear. That might just cause it to tip
forward with a heavily loaded bar.

[Bluesman]

"JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:<S75Ec.64$Q46.13@news01.roc.ny>...
> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
>
> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think this
> cage will hold up for now until I build up more strength?
> I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs and bench about
> 110lbs).
>
> Thanks,

That thing looks kind of like mine. Mine is a weider pro, but
I don't know what the # is. IIRC, it can handle 400 lbs. I
have had no problems with mine.

Bluesman

[Jayb]

"JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:S75Ec.64$Q46.13@news01.roc.ny...
> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
>
> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> don't have much
of
> a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will hold up
> for now until
I
> build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about
> 170lbs and bench about 110lbs).

I found this today: http://bigfitness.com/powerrack.html

It's a little more $ but still barely within budget. It is
bigger and can handle much more weight. Also includes dip bar
attachments.

--
JayB

[Wayne S. H]

Lee Michaels wrote:

> "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote...
>> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
>>
>> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
>> don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think
>> this cage will hold up for now until I build up more
>> strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs and bench
>> about 110lbs).

<Karnak the Magnificent, closing eyes> Those numbers are going
to go up. </KtM>

> Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
> like that from the picture. It is kind of small.

Forty inches is very narrow. You'd have to load the bar
carefully every time to avoid tipping it. You can do this, of
course, but you have to stay on the ball EVERY time.

> Weider has a reputation of poor quality. It may work. I
> would want to check it out with my eyeballs first.

I think he could make it work, at least for a year or so, by
bolting it down or whatever it takes. The question is whether
he'd be better off doing that or using simple squat racks and
steel saw horses until he could afford a nicer rack. That's a
personal call.

--
-Wayne

[Lee Michae]

"JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:gkfEc.122$To7.8@news01.roc.ny...
> "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote in message
> news:S75Ec.64$Q46.13@news01.roc.ny...
> > Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> >
> > I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> > don't have much
> of
> > a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will hold
> > up for now
until
> I
> > build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about
> > 170lbs and bench about 110lbs).
>
> I found this today: http://bigfitness.com/powerrack.html
>
> It's a little more $ but still barely within budget. It is
> bigger and can handle much more weight. Also includes dip
> bar attachments.
>
If in fact that is a powertec unit, it is a good one. Wayne
has one of those.

Is there any place local where you can buy one? Even the big
box stores often have deals with a power rack and a bench or
an olympic set that can be quite reasonable.

[Lee Michae]

"Wayne S. Hill" wrote

> Lee Michaels wrote:
>
> > "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote...
> >> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> >>
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> >>
> >> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> >> don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think
> >> this cage will hold up for now until I build up more
> >> strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs and
> >> bench about 110lbs).
>
> <Karnak the Magnificent, closing eyes> Those numbers are
> going to go up. </KtM>
>
> > Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
> > like that from the picture. It is kind of small.
>
> Forty inches is very narrow. You'd have to load the bar
> carefully every time to avoid tipping it. You can do this,
> of course, but you have to stay on the ball EVERY time.
>

Yes it is. And from the picture is is even shallower than
that. So you would have to worry about backwards stability. On
the other hand, if space was limited, he maybe able to use a
six foot bar on this unit. As long as it was secured to
something to keep it from tipping over.

> > Weider has a reputation of poor quality. It may work. I
> > would want to check it out with my eyeballs first.
>
> I think he could make it work, at least for a year or so, by
> bolting it down or whatever it takes. The question is
> whether he'd be better off doing that or using simple squat
> racks and steel saw horses until he could afford a nicer
> rack. That's a personal call.
>

I know I am showing my age here. But I remember when ALL power
racks were solid and substantial. Hell, I remember when all
power racks were one large welded unit. And built from heavy
gauge tubing as well..But when Weider and Walmart get
involved, they try to make the chapest junk possible.

Reminds me of those ultra cheap benches years ago. The ones
with the really narrow bench press suppports. A lot of people
got hurt or died on those things. Insurance companies wouldn't
insure the product. That is the only reason that they started
to sell better qualtiy benches. Maybe this will happen
eventually for power racks.

We used to call those benches "tin foil benches", due to their
light materials and flimsy construction. I could bang together
a bench from 2 X 4's and plywood that was much cheaper and
sturdier than the wimpy benches in a box. Maybe we should
designate a "Tin Foil Power Rack". This whole trend of making
things cheaper and crappier just gets to a point where the
product is VERY questionable in terms of safety and function.

Lee Michaels.

[Pat Styles]

"Wayne S. Hill" <hillw4@asme.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95175D43F3FC98ch@127.0.0.1...
> Lee Michaels wrote:
>
> > "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote...
> >> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> >>
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> >>
> >> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> >> don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think
> >> this cage will hold up for now until I build up more
> >> strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs and
> >> bench about 110lbs).
>
> <Karnak the Magnificent, closing eyes> Those numbers are
> going to go up. </KtM>

You are freaking amazing!
ps

[Jayb]

"Wayne S. Hill" <hillw4@asme.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95175D43F3FC98ch@127.0.0.1...
> Lee Michaels wrote:
>
> > "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote...
> >> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> >>
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> >>
> >> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> >> don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you think
> >> this cage will hold up for now until I build up more
> >> strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs and
> >> bench about 110lbs).
>
> <Karnak the Magnificent, closing eyes> Those numbers are
> going to go up. </KtM>
>
> > Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
> > like that from the picture. It is kind of small.
>
> Forty inches is very narrow. You'd have to load the bar
> carefully every time to avoid tipping it. You can do this,
> of course, but you have to stay on the ball EVERY time.

What would be a good safe width?

[Jayb]

"Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote in
message news:bAfEc.173026$3x.101785@attbi_s54...
>
> "JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:gkfEc.122$To7.8@news01.roc.ny...
> > "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote in message
> > news:S75Ec.64$Q46.13@news01.roc.ny...
> > > Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> > >
> > > http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> > >
> > > I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
> > > don't have
much
> > of
> > > a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will hold
> > > up for now
> until
> > I
> > > build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about
> > > 170lbs and
bench
> > > about 110lbs).
> >
> > I found this today: http://bigfitness.com/powerrack.html
> >
> > It's a little more $ but still barely within budget. It is
> > bigger and
can
> > handle much more weight. Also includes dip bar
> > attachments.
> >
> If in fact that is a powertec unit, it is a good one. Wayne
> has one of those.
>
> Is there any place local where you can buy one? Even the big
> box stores often have deals with a power rack and a bench or
> an olympic set that can
be
> quite reasonable.

Looking at my phone book it looks like there's a lot of
possible places where I might be able to purchase this
equipment. I'll start calling tomorrow and see what
everyone has.

Thanks for the input! I'm really getting excited about putting
my gym membership money towards some home equipment instead!

[Wayne S. H]

Lee Michaels wrote:

> "JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote...
>>
>> I found this today: http://bigfitness.com/powerrack.html
>>
>> It's a little more $ but still barely within budget. It is
>> bigger and can handle much more weight. Also includes dip
>> bar attachments.
>>
> If in fact that is a powertec unit, it is a good one. Wayne
> has one of those.

Yes, I do, and I like it very much. I'd recommend that over
the Weider rack in a heartbeat.

--
-Wayne

[Lee Michae]

"JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:s7fEc.120$rc6.99@news01.roc.ny...
> "Wayne S. Hill" <hillw4@asme.org> wrote in message
> news:Xns95175D43F3FC98ch@127.0.0.1...
> > Lee Michaels wrote:
> >
> > > "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote...
> > >> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> > >>
> > >> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> > >>
> > >> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and
> > >> I don't have much of a budget to do it with. Do you
> > >> think this cage will hold up for now until I build up
> > >> more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat about 170lbs
> > >> and bench about 110lbs).
> >
> > <Karnak the Magnificent, closing eyes> Those numbers are
> > going to go up. </KtM>
> >
> > > Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't
> > > look like that from the picture. It is kind of small.
> >
> > Forty inches is very narrow. You'd have to load the bar
> > carefully every time to avoid tipping it. You can do this,
> > of course, but you have to stay on the ball EVERY time.
>
> What would be a good safe width?
>
>
Something that is based on the collars of an olympic bar. My
power rack is 48" wide. I have plywood footing on the bottom
that extend that width a little.

[Lee Michae]

"JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:FRfEc.129$436.119@news01.roc.ny...
>
> "Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote in
> message news:bAfEc.173026$3x.101785@attbi_s54...
> >
> > "JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:gkfEc.122$To7.8@news01.roc.ny...
> > > "JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote in message
> > > news:S75Ec.64$Q46.13@news01.roc.ny...
> > > > Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
> > > >
> > > > http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
> > > >
> > > > I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and
> > > > I don't have
> much
> > > of
> > > > a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will
> > > > hold up for now
> > until
> > > I
> > > > build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat
> > > > about 170lbs and
> bench
> > > > about 110lbs).
> > >
> > > I found this today: http://bigfitness.com/powerrack.html
> > >
> > > It's a little more $ but still barely within budget. It
> > > is bigger and
> can
> > > handle much more weight. Also includes dip bar
> > > attachments.
> > >
> > If in fact that is a powertec unit, it is a good one.
> > Wayne has one of those.
> >
> > Is there any place local where you can buy one? Even the
> > big box stores often have deals with a power rack and a
> > bench or an olympic set that
can
> be
> > quite reasonable.
>
> Looking at my phone book it looks like there's a lot of
> possible places where I might be able to purchase this
> equipment. I'll start calling tomorrow and see what
> everyone has.
>
> Thanks for the input! I'm really getting excited about
> putting my gym membership money towards some home equipment
> instead!
>
>
Something else to consider. Gym equipment is forever. It
doesn't wear out.(with the exception of the junk) And you can
add peices to it any time. More weights, a pulley machine,
some dumbells. A couple "favorite" peices, etc, etc.

You don't have to get it all at once. I know many people who
have put together gums over a number of years. You can do the
same. Look for bargains. Sometimes something pops up in the
paper. Another good time to shop for gym equipment is at the
end of the year. They mark everything down to reduce their
inventory for tax purposes.

I have gone in between Christmas and new years and negotiated
bargain prices on floor models and discontinued items. And
the weight sets (and weights) come down in price for the
holidays too.

You don't have to do it all in one day. Take your time. Do it
right. don't buy junk. There is a saying among the home
woodworking crowd. It is, "Good equipment only hurts once".
This means it only hurts to pay the money for
it. After that it is pure joy.

Lousy equipment hurts thrice. The first time when you buy
it, secondly when you have to use it and thirdly when you
have to replace it. Buy good equipment. You will NEVER
regret that decision.

Lee Michaels

[Proton Sou]

On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 04:12:07 GMT, "Lee Michaels"
<leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>"John M. Williams"
><jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote
>> "Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >"JayB" <jerryb@qwest.net> wrote:
>> >> Has anyone used the Weider Pro 400?
>> >>
>> >> http://tinyurl.com/2dvw9
>> >>
>> >> I'm going to develop a home gym in the garage soon and I
>> >> don't have
>much
>> >> of a budget to do it with. Do you think this cage will
>> >> hold up for now
>until
>> >> I build up more strength? I'm still a newbie (squat
>> >> about 170lbs and
>bench
>> >> about 110lbs).
>> >>
>> >
>> >Supposedly this thing is 40 inches square. It doesn't look
>> >like that from the picture. It is kind of small.
>> >
>> >Weider has a reputation of poor quality. It may work. I
>> >would want to
>check
>> >it out with my eyeballs first.
>>
>> I have heard that those units tend to rock side-to-side a
>> little bit once you put heavy weights on it. It's also
>> light, and I've heard it will move some when heavy weights
>> are racked.
>
>There ya go. You get to chase the rack around when racking
>weights. Not exactly a safety feature.
>
>I have mounted numerous power racks to plywood or the floor
>to increase their stability. I seriously doubt if the holes
>are provided to do such a thing with this cheapo unit.

Since he's putting it in the garage, he could just wedge it
between the floor and the ceiling. Build a bit of a box above
it using 2x4s. If the ceiling is not sheetrocked, you could
nail your boards directly into the ceiling beams (or whatever
the fuck they're called).

-----------
Proton Soup

"Homo sapiens non urinat in ventum."

[Wayne S. H]

Lee Michaels wrote:

> "JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote...
>>
>> What would be a good safe width?
>>
> Something that is based on the collars of an olympic bar. My
> power rack is 48" wide. I have plywood footing on the bottom
> that extend that width a little.

Yeah, 48" is a really good width for a power rack. It's
wide enough to support the bar near the collars, but not so
near the collars that you're likely to hit the collars on
the supports.

--
-Wayne

[Bc]

"Wayne S. Hill" <hillw4@asme.org> wrote in message
news:<Xns95178EEE66A188ch@127.0.0.1>...
> Lee Michaels wrote:
>
> > "JayB" <jerry280@yahoo.com> wrote...
> >>
> >> I found this today: http://bigfitness.com/powerrack.html
> >>
> >> It's a little more $ but still barely within budget. It
> >> is bigger and can handle much more weight. Also includes
> >> dip bar attachments.
> >>
> > If in fact that is a powertec unit, it is a good one.
> > Wayne has one of those.
>
> Yes, I do, and I like it very much. I'd recommend that over
> the Weider rack in a heartbeat.

The shipping weight of the two differs by over a hundred
pounds. Weider's a lightweight.

- bc