Squat Rack/Power Cage

Patrick Donnelly · 04-25-2007, 08:05 PM

I'd like to have something for safety while I'm lifting at home, but all the racks for sale cost upwards of $400. I hope to get enough equipment at home that I don't need to use the school's weight room anymore. It gets too crowded in there too often, and especially on the squat rack (which has the spotter bars). During the summer, I know I won't have access to any gym either. So, I figure, why wait to get it at home?

I remember seeing a post somewhere in the archives a few weeks ago with plans for a wooden power cage, but I can't find it again for the life of me. There were also a few posts of guys who made beams out of pipes, though this isn't ideal, since the height is not adjustable.

If anyone has any ideas of something to use, or plans for building one, it'd be much appreciated.

Tim McFarland · 04-25-2007, 08:42 PM

Here's some w/f safe links:

http://mysite.verizon.net/rmcrusoe/

http://makeyourowngear.blogspot.com/

http://www.davedraper.com/pmwiki/pmw...EquipmentIdeas

(Message edited by tim_mcf on April 25, 2007)

Peter Keller · 04-25-2007, 09:33 PM

craigslist. I bought my commercial squat cage for $75, and it fit in my Toyota Matrix when disassembled.

Patrick Donnelly · 04-26-2007, 01:24 PM

Tim:
The pipe one looks interesting, though, I'd have too look further into the cost of it, and the assembly.

Peter:
I've been checking there for about a week, but I can't find many for sale, and all the ones that are for sale, are still very expensive. Then there is also the problem of transportation, and the other problem of sellers not holding the equipment until the agreed pickup date, which has happened twice to me now. (Once for 250lbs of Olympic weights, a bench, a tree stand, and a bar... All for $75...)

Thomas Covington · 04-26-2007, 02:03 PM

That's a heck of a deal Patrick. Might I suggest renting the Lowe's/Home Depot truck to solve the transportation issue? $20 is well worth getting a steal like that.

Jeff Edmonston · 04-26-2007, 04:23 PM

Yeah, with craigslist I've found it is best if you can strike fast. I always mention when I reply to an ad that I have cash (if I don't plan to haggle, which I usually don't) and can pick up on X days and X times.

You may get the deal if you can guarantee taking it off their hands quickly.

Patrick Donnelly · 04-26-2007, 06:54 PM

That was one of the two times where I had a deal going, but didn't get it. The item was sold to someone else before I managed to get there. I'm working on a similar deal now, but it was posted only recently, and the sellers are probably moving too soon for me to get out there. That's what I get for not having a license yet, huh? (17 years old, still on a permit)

Does anyone else have any experience of buying a power cage on Craig's List? It seems to me that Tim got very lucky.

Thomas Covington · 04-27-2007, 04:52 AM

Hey Patrick, I got a York: Power Cage, adjustable bench, roman chair, 5' & 7' oly bars, 455lbs steel weights & a tree for $250 from Craigslist. I tend to see them listed quite reguarly too, just be patient.

Peter Keller · 04-27-2007, 06:49 AM

Ditto that. Craigslist requires patience, speed, and cash.

Most sellers list stuff and want it gone ASAP. Therefor, they don't want to hold the goods for someone who may or may not show up at some date in the future.

I snagged my sweet cage for $75, and that was a steal, but I have seen plenty other deals like that (CL Austin), and some even better. For example, I posted on this board a C2 model C for $250. Assuming the thing is in good shape, that was a better deal than my cage.

It stinks that you don't have your license yet, but you've got to get on a deal FAST.

Aaron Shaffer · 04-27-2007, 07:27 AM

I've been considering a Yukon cage for $300. Any comments on quality?

I learned the other day that Yukon is only 20 min away and I save major $ of freight by picking it up myself.

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04-25-2007, 08:05 PM	#1
Patrick Donnelly Banned Profile: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: College Park MD Posts: 1,162	I'd like to have something for safety while I'm lifting at home, but all the racks for sale cost upwards of $400. I hope to get enough equipment at home that I don't need to use the school's weight room anymore. It gets too crowded in there too often, and especially on the squat rack (which has the spotter bars). During the summer, I know I won't have access to any gym either. So, I figure, why wait to get it at home? I remember seeing a post somewhere in the archives a few weeks ago with plans for a wooden power cage, but I can't find it again for the life of me. There were also a few posts of guys who made beams out of pipes, though this isn't ideal, since the height is not adjustable. If anyone has any ideas of something to use, or plans for building one, it'd be much appreciated.

04-25-2007, 08:42 PM	#2
Tim McFarland Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Whitefish MT Posts: 498	Here's some w/f safe links: http://mysite.verizon.net/rmcrusoe/ http://makeyourowngear.blogspot.com/ http://www.davedraper.com/pmwiki/pmw...EquipmentIdeas (Message edited by tim_mcf on April 25, 2007)

04-25-2007, 09:33 PM	#3
Peter Keller Member Profile: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 337	craigslist. I bought my commercial squat cage for $75, and it fit in my Toyota Matrix when disassembled.

04-26-2007, 01:24 PM	#4
Patrick Donnelly Banned Profile: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: College Park MD Posts: 1,162	Tim: The pipe one looks interesting, though, I'd have too look further into the cost of it, and the assembly. Peter: I've been checking there for about a week, but I can't find many for sale, and all the ones that are for sale, are still very expensive. Then there is also the problem of transportation, and the other problem of sellers not holding the equipment until the agreed pickup date, which has happened twice to me now. (Once for 250lbs of Olympic weights, a bench, a tree stand, and a bar... All for $75...)

04-26-2007, 02:03 PM	#5
Thomas Covington Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 594	That's a heck of a deal Patrick. Might I suggest renting the Lowe's/Home Depot truck to solve the transportation issue? $20 is well worth getting a steal like that.

04-26-2007, 04:23 PM	#6
Jeff Edmonston Member Profile: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Concord CA Posts: 8	Yeah, with craigslist I've found it is best if you can strike fast. I always mention when I reply to an ad that I have cash (if I don't plan to haggle, which I usually don't) and can pick up on X days and X times. You may get the deal if you can guarantee taking it off their hands quickly.

04-26-2007, 06:54 PM	#7
Patrick Donnelly Banned Profile: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: College Park MD Posts: 1,162	That was one of the two times where I had a deal going, but didn't get it. The item was sold to someone else before I managed to get there. I'm working on a similar deal now, but it was posted only recently, and the sellers are probably moving too soon for me to get out there. That's what I get for not having a license yet, huh? (17 years old, still on a permit) Does anyone else have any experience of buying a power cage on Craig's List? It seems to me that Tim got very lucky.

04-27-2007, 04:52 AM	#8
Thomas Covington Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 594	Hey Patrick, I got a York: Power Cage, adjustable bench, roman chair, 5' & 7' oly bars, 455lbs steel weights & a tree for $250 from Craigslist. I tend to see them listed quite reguarly too, just be patient.

04-27-2007, 06:49 AM	#9
Peter Keller Member Profile: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 337	Ditto that. Craigslist requires patience, speed, and cash. Most sellers list stuff and want it gone ASAP. Therefor, they don't want to hold the goods for someone who may or may not show up at some date in the future. I snagged my sweet cage for $75, and that was a steal, but I have seen plenty other deals like that (CL Austin), and some even better. For example, I posted on this board a C2 model C for $250. Assuming the thing is in good shape, that was a better deal than my cage. It stinks that you don't have your license yet, but you've got to get on a deal FAST.

04-27-2007, 07:27 AM	#10
Aaron Shaffer Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cleveland OH Posts: 330	I've been considering a Yukon cage for $300. Any comments on quality? I learned the other day that Yukon is only 20 min away and I save major $ of freight by picking it up myself.