Pull-Ups in Power Rack Beam

[Leanstrong]

So this summer I have been doing pull-ups at my gym in my hometown, which is graceful enough to provide multiple pull-up bars. However, now I am back at college, and the gym I work out at has an awkward pull-up bar in which there is no middle, just two handles that extend outward. I don't like this because I only count my pull-ups as a full rep if I can get my chin on top of the bar. Personally, I find the last couple inches at the top of the motion are the hardest, so if I use this pull-up contraption, I am likely to cheat the range.
Do you think it is a good idea to do pull-ups in the power rack? The beam across the top of the power rack is tall but not wide. Would my grip fail before my back does if I do weighted pull-ups this way? Would I be weaker in this movement than with a normal pull-up bar?
BTW my best set so far on a bar is 17.5 added lbs for 3x5. I am trying to move big weight eventually, weight that hangs very close to where the sun don't shine, so I really want to know if this is a good idea

[guru]

Do you think it is a good idea to do pull-ups in the power rack? The beam across the top of the power rack is tall but not wide. Would my grip fail before my back does if I do weighted pull-ups this way? Would I be weaker in this movement than with a normal pull-up bar?

Just give it a try & see for yourself. No harm.

You can always hang the weights a little bit lower.

[ricepower]

You may find that this type of pull up bar only allows very wide grip. These will be tough to get a good ROM and focus more on lats. I do not like them either.