Lat Tower

[dansizemore]

Greetings,

After doing a bit of research I've decided to follow the Stronglifts 5x5 program. I don't currently have any gym equipment (except for a 300# Olympic barbell set I just bought). I've done a bit of research and decided to go with the Powertec Power Rack as suggested on this site. Now for the reason for my post, I have a couple of questions that I wasn't able to answer with the search feature of this site/forum.

My biggest question is whether or not to go with the lat tower attachment. I realize I will not use this for Stronglifts, but I'm more concerned with my future needs. Originally I decided to wait until I got to that point and just buy the attachment separately. Then I found a deal for both for $750, with free shipping ( http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ptec/sps.html). The lowest I can find the tower attachment by itself is $450, so this would be a considerable savings. Is this something I'll benefit from down the road, or am I better off skipping it and just buying the Power Rack alone.

My next questions relate to my low basement ceiling. This rack is 82" and my ceiling is 83", so it should just barely fit. Have any of you had any experience with this rack with a similar ceiling height? I've read that some bolt on the arch upside down to provide better clearance and make the pull-up bar usable.

Also, because of this ceiling I'll likely have to do my overhead presses seated, can anyone confirm it the Powertec utility bench (http://www.amazon.com/Powertec-Fitness- ... 000P76ZXO/) has a 90 degree setting? It says it does on the Amazon description, but I checked one out in the store this weekend, (before I decided I needed that feature), and it seemed it was more like a 70-80 degree angle at it's highest setting.

I appreciate any suggestions/input that anyone can provide. I tried to research/google these questions myself, but kept running into dead ends, I apologize if they were already posted and I overlooked them.

Thank you.

[holvoetn]

My personal opinion: skip the lat tower attachment and save the money for more plates

Your lats will be worked a lot by pullups, chinups, if needed also barbell rows and more of this stuff...

[dansizemore]

Thanks a lot H! I'm inclined to agree with you. I'm going to put in the order right now, hopefully it doesn't take too long to arrive. I suppose I could start without it, as you don't exactly need a rack for an empty bar.

[Kaizen]

You wont be disappointed with the power rack, i have the powertec rack in my garage, its class. very strong and stable. Good choice to ditch the lat tower, a waste of money in my opinion, if you can do chins/pullups, and one of my personal faves, bent over row.

[lint]

I've got this power rack as well. One suggestion I'll make is to mount the pull up bars on the inside of the rack. I found that when I kipped, the rack would shake if the pull up bar was mounted on the outside. Swapped it to the inside and there isn't any movement. Much more stable. I've taken a look at the power tec bench and I didn't like the design. Adjusting the seat seemed like a pain in the butt.

And is your basement ceiling bare? Do you have exposed joists to work between? When you assemble it, you need extra clearance to get the sides into the supports in the base. You'll need more than 1" to assemble it.

[dansizemore]

And is your basement ceiling bare? Do you have exposed joists to work between? When you assemble it, you need extra clearance to get the sides into the supports in the base. You'll need more than 1" to assemble it.

Thanks for your reply; unfortunately the ceiling is finished. Too late now as I've purchased the rack and it's due to arrive on Friday. I suppose this means, that before I can exercise my muscles, I'll have to exercise my creativity. If worse comes to worse I can cut a small hole in the ceiling and patch it up after assembly.

[dansizemore]

A quick follow up post to answer my own questions in case anyone searches for this topic in the future. My power rack arrived on a couple days early on Wednesday. I WAS able to fairly easily assemble despite my 83" ceiling, by angling the vertical post on to the base. I doubt anyone could easily build it with less than 83" though as it was quite a tight squeeze.

I ended up going with the Powertec bench as well. I'm mostly happy with it, but the bench doesn't quite go 90 degrees, unless you put the seat portion at an incline, which I imagine is not a good idea with seated press. The biggest problem is in the seated position the bench is too tall, so you can't put your head back all the way. Other than that it's a solid bench and has wheels on the back to make it easy to move in and out of the rack.

I'm glad I did not get the Lat Tower for the reasons listed in the above post, but also because there is no way it would have fit. Not to mention it would have made the rack extend slightly further than I would have liked into the room I set up the rack.

Finally, thanks again to all who replied to my post. My wife and I just did our first 5x5 session on Wednesday, and I look forward to the 2nd when she gets home from work today. I ended being more sore than I imagined with an empty bar!

[holvoetn]

Congrats on your first session and double congrats on doing it together with your wife.
That's an additional way to make sure each of you will stick to it

[lint]

Glad you were able to assemble it. Wouldn't mind seeing some pics of the tight fit.

[Kaizen]

Nice training with your wife, thats cool. Will give eachother more motivation and stick to it. How do you find the rack? i think its amazing, glad i bought it. Very stable when using higher weight, and i have not bolted it to the floor either, my dad wont like that idea i guess:P

[dansizemore]

I'm very happy with the rack, as you said it's very stable/solid. It's great the have the wife onboard, she seems to be pretty motivated. If anything else, helps keeps her from getting sick of me talking about.

Lint, I took a few pics when I was putting it together, I'll see if I can post those up when I get home.

Thanks again!

[lint]

Thought I'd post a pic of my setup. No lat attachment, home made platform. Got a bench as well. My basement/storage/laundry room/workshop is a little ghetto, but it gets the job done.

[dansizemore]

Nice Lint!

Here's my pic as promised:

[lint]

wow, you weren't kidding, that's tight

[tigertron5000]

hey i was thinking of getting the same set up....my brother has just the rack but i was thinking its such a deal with the lat tower also
BTW its selling for $549 CDN for both rack and tower...

http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/?goto=vi ... id_prod=75

im not sure if they ship to your location however.