Body-Solid Multi-Press Rack, $349 (free shipping) from Fitness Factory.




This thing consitutes the cornerstone of my dungeon gym.

Assembly was easy enough. They recommend a tape measure, though I don't know why, a 1/2" socket or crescent wrench, but in truth you need a 3/4" and a 1/2" socket. The nuts are 1/2" but the bolts are 3/4". Also, you'll want to lay the mats first, obviously, and assemble them so you don't scratch the finish.

The various pieces are zip tied together and it's advisable to have a good wire cutter with you.

I started with the caps, then went to the uprights, leaving the bolts loose until the very end. After the uprights I put the cross bar on. This was the hardest part and probably should be a two person job as one of the plate holders takes up it's position there. So that's three pieces I was trying to juggle at once.

Once the cross bar was on, I tightened down all the bolts, put on the top plate holders, then the saw teeth bar holders. Between laying the top layer of mats, assembling this beast, moving mats and rack, it took about four hours. There was significant changes to the mats, since they are of different firmness, I movd the botton, firm layer to the top and the softer mats to the bottom, then after doing all this, I decided to move them closer to the wall and have the rack rest entirely on the mats (I orginally had it half on, half off).

I ended up having the move the assembled rack several time over not so small distance. During all this the thing moved as one solid unit, with negligable sway in the component pieces.

My first workout came the day after. I've been slack the last 1.5-2 months, so didn't take creatine during this time, so I'm fully deloaded. While doing the front squats, I hit a point so low I couldn't get the bar back up and had to unload it on to the spotting arms. They are the same thick gague as the rest of the rack and held up nice.

I also tested putting the barbell in the top position (14) and using it as a pull-up station. I didn't notice any shaking or sway, so I find I don't need a VKR tower anymore.

Makes a great combo with the GFID-71 bench.

This piece gets a big thumbs up!

how much did you buy it? i think this one is very expensive. may i know?

It's stated at the top. $349, free shipping, from fitness factory.

That's actually the cheapest price I found for it. The MSRP is $499.

i hope your very happy together!

I freaking love it!

Sweet setup you have there... makes me want to get into working out at home again.

I've been eyeing the same rack for a couple of months now. I'm hoping to buy it this week through Fitness Factory along with a Lat Tower. I've got a couple of questions if you don't mind.

How was your experience with Fitness Factory? Any problems?
Did you get the bench through them as well?
and just out of curiosity, what mats are you using?

Sorry. I didn't realize this thread was getting questions. Next time, shoot me a PM to get my attention:

Yes, I got both through FF, both had free shipping. No problems with them at all. Both pieces are rated to hold 1000lbs. Well worth the money, even though they'll never need to hold that much (still, a margin of safety). However, I got a story about the mats:

I originally bought a 1/2" layer at a local store, Dunhams. They are decent, but a package of four only covered 4'x4' and I need a 8'x8', so I needed to buy 4 packages.

Later, someone said 1/2" is pushing it when lifting heavy, especially for deadlifts, so I went to SportsAuthroity online for an extra 1/2".

I bought the Supermats, a modular system that you can expand on. For my needs I only needed a 3x3, four corners, four sides, one center.

They sent me four corners, one side and four middles. These things fell just short of $225 for the 3x3 so I was mad! I called them, reported the problem and we made arrangements for them to take them back and refund my money. First attempt, the phone person didn't put the reason for the return in the paper work, so it was rejected.

The second attempt, they simply dropped the ball and didn't send it through. The third attempt finally made it.

It took a month to get UPS to come pick them up.

In short, three blunders on one order. SportsAuthority has lost my business forever!

I then went back to Dunham's to pick up another layer of mats. A different brand, and softer (oy!) but it worked out because I laid them as the under layer and the more firm mats on top.

The two layers of 8'x8' cost $180 whereas the one 7.5'x7.5' 1/2" layer from SA cost $225 and they screwed it up.

Have you tried shoulder press with the FID71?
I own FID71, and its a really long bench. It cant be sused with many units for 90degree shoulder press unless you take it out and turn it around.

Cynic - I see you got a power block. Are they any good?

I love them. Very well balance. There is one problem:

Empty handles are 5lbs.

Add the two adder weights (1.25lbs a piece) and that brings them to 10lbs. The next step after this is 15lbs.

On lunges and other unilaterals, that's a 10lb increase. Sometimes it's too much.

So I bought 2 pr of platemates at 1.25lbs a piece and that helps.

MKS, I don't do seated shoulder presses.

And FWIW, I'm not using it right now. The program I'm doing, NROL, uses cable exercises so that renders my home gym inadequate. I wish I had bought the Powertec with lat/row sytem.

Cynic - Ive never used them but they look clumpy. Are they ok for tricep extentions behind the head?
Also I imagen them to keep "clinking" when lifting, do they?

I just use regular olyimpic dumbbells but Its annoying to keep changing the weights. I can't decide if I want to pay all that money just to make things easyer. I mean, It would pay for 6 months gym membership!!!!

They do clink, but the magnet clips stay in place, provided you put them in the right way.

I'm very pleased with them. Best $700 I spent on weight equipment.