Nice Rack

I didn't get mine from Amazon (I ordered it from Jesup Gym) but I thought I'd review it here. This is a nice rack for us non-supermen that aren't moving stacks of 45's every day. I would have no fear putting 300 to 500 pounds on it but if I were lifting much more than that I'd probably shop for a stronger rack (maybe one day). Anyway since there aren't really any instructions (just an exploded drawing) I'll offer my suggestions on assembly.



The way I assembled it was to put the bottom 3 pieces together first (put the feet and plastic parts on now) then add the rear uprights then the top back piece then a front upright and top side piece repeat for other side then chin bar. Snug the bolts at first then tighten them all when it's all assembled. Get them good and tight but don't over tighten because the tubing will start to bend in with a lot of force. You'll need two 3/4" wrenches (a socket wrench and spanner work best). This worked well for me doing it by myself and took about 45 minutes including opening the boxes and laying out the parts.



This rack comes in 3 boxes and can be shipped via a regular carrier. This might be nice to know for those who don't live where a freight carrier can easily get to you. Anyway this rack a bench and a 300 pound set can take you a long way. Add some dumbbells and you'll have a nice little home gym.More detail ...

Serious home system

I recently purchased this system through Amazon. I work out at home in the AM before work. I was looking for a Smith machine so that I could lift heavy in the basement without the danger presented by free weights w/o a spotter. You'll find Smith machines cheaper than the Caribou but they fit in the category of "home gym" equipment. Commercial machines are generally a lot more expensive than the Caribou. I settled on Caribou because of the solid construction and flexibility to add on features later as my needs demand (such as a pec deck cable cross dip station).



The system delivers in 5 boxes weighing 485# (2 or 3 are more than 100#). I broke the heavy boxes down before taking the equipment to the basement. There are a lot of parts. This is not a hard machine to assemble but it took me 2.5 hours by myself. (I'm handy. Two people would have made the job a little easier but this is not hard to put together alone.)



The system is solid. 300# is easily handled. I don't have need for more but I'd bet another 200# is well within the range of this system.



My only complaint is that the system is a little small. You cannot use the supplied bench with the back upright to support shoulder presses (the bench cannot slide deeply enough into the rack to do that). I do shoulder presses without the bench back raised. The lat pull down and chinning bar are also lower than I'd like (I'm 6'2"). But I compensate by doing pull downs kneeling on the floor and chinning with legs bent 90 degrees at the knees. Frankly a bigger machine would have a hard time fitting into a home so I think this is why the dimensions are what they are. (This is the reason for four vice five stars.) However for bench presses and squats this is a full sized olympic system.



Finally this system doesn't come with weights. I recommend you either buy these used off eBay/Craigs List or look for a deal at Sports Authority. The money you pay to deliver the weights will probably exceed the cost of the weights themselves. (I got a 300# set including an olympic bar for $140 from Sports Authority. Beat that if you can!)



If you're serious about getting/staying in shape at home you cannot go wrong with this system. More detail ...

Junk

This is not a good machine if you can lift any substantial amounts of weight. It's a little unstable. The hooks that lock into the holes so you can spot yourself don't always line up very well and that kind of sucks when you've just tired yourself out and you want to rack it but you can't...More detail ...