Power Rack: Xtreme Monkey 365 or AmStaff TR025?

I own the TR025.

- Tubing size is not as important as the gauge of the steel. That being said, I can guarantee you won't have any issues with either.
- There are 2 dip handles with the TR025, whereas the 365 looks like a single attachment. You need to ensure you attach them at the same height with the TR025 (not a big deal with a little tape where you need each attachment). Not sure which is better in terms of torque placed on the uprights.
- BTW, don't think you'll do any weights dips without the rack being secured to the floor/wall.
- The J-hooks are better on the 365. That tall backing is key, since you can walk it into the uprights and place into the J-hook. On the TR025, it's more of a U-hook, and the backing is short, so you sometimes need to "place" the weight onto the hook (it may catch on the top of the hook and you think it's in place, etc). Also, 365 J-hooks protect your bar (built in plastic), on the TR025, I had to add rubber to protect.
- Many people like the "monkey bar" chin/pull up bar on the TR025 better (ironic, monkey bar not standard on the monkey rack! lol) I'm indifferent either way.
- The hole spacing is closer on the TR025, which means you can place the safeties and hooks on a more precise hole (more important for safely benching in the rack). Sometimes if the hole spacing is egregious, and depending on your height, un-racking a loaded bar for a squat could be uncomfortable (e.g., you should NEVER have to tip toe the weight out, and in, NEVER).
- I can't speak for the 365, but the "rubber" on the safeties for the TR025 smelled like ABSOLUTE DEATH. It didn't smell like that at Fitness Avenue, and neither did it smell at Treadmill Factory. That's why I can't speak for the 365. But new, it was not just "that horse stall mat rubber" smell, it was more like a "chemically induced poison" smell. LOL. seriously. I removed it IMMEDIATELY and replaced with some rubber I purchased at HD (flexible rubber roll cut to size)

That's all I can think of right now.

Edit. Realized the 365 safeties have PVC to protect your bar. That's obviously better than the TR025

I own fit 505 rack and it was on sale for $299

onlineharvest wrote: ↑I own the TR025.

- Tubing size is not as important as the gauge of the steel. That being said, I can guarantee you won't have any issues with either.
- There are 2 dip handles with the TR025, whereas the 365 looks like a single attachment. You need to ensure you attach them at the same height with the TR025 (not a big deal with a little tape where you need each attachment). Not sure which is better in terms of torque placed on the uprights.
- BTW, don't think you'll do any weights dips without the rack being secured to the floor/wall.
- The J-hooks are better on the 365. That tall backing is key, since you can walk it into the uprights and place into the J-hook. On the TR025, it's more of a U-hook, and the backing is short, so you sometimes need to "place" the weight onto the hook (it may catch on the top of the hook and you think it's in place, etc). Also, 365 J-hooks protect your bar (built in plastic), on the TR025, I had to add rubber to protect.
- Many people like the "monkey bar" chin/pull up bar on the TR025 better (ironic, monkey bar not standard on the monkey rack! lol) I'm indifferent either way.
- The hole spacing is closer on the TR025, which means you can place the safeties and hooks on a more precise hole (more important for safely benching in the rack). Sometimes if the hole spacing is egregious, and depending on your height, un-racking a loaded bar for a squat could be uncomfortable (e.g., you should NEVER have to tip toe the weight out, and in, NEVER).
- I can't speak for the 365, but the "rubber" on the safeties for the TR025 smelled like ABSOLUTE DEATH. It didn't smell like that at Fitness Avenue, and neither did it smell at Treadmill Factory. That's why I can't speak for the 365. But new, it was not just "that horse stall mat rubber" smell, it was more like a "chemically induced poison" smell. LOL. seriously. I removed it IMMEDIATELY and replaced with some rubber I purchased at HD (flexible rubber roll cut to size)

That's all I can think of right now.

Edit. Realized the 365 safeties have PVC to protect your bar. That's obviously better than the TR025

Thanks a lot! Very detailed review, exactly what I am looking for.
Noted on the rubber smell from Fitness Avenue, my friend complain about that as well. He got a rubber weight plate, smells so bad that he ends up exchange for a cast iron one.

that's a very good deal. Right now it's $499, I will keep watching.

I have the amstaff rack (different saftey, but same rack other than that.) I squat almost 600, it holds up just fine for that.

I'm having trouble deciding between a full rack like these a squat rack or a half rack. Going to start lifting again but my days of heavy squats and DLs are over. Squat rack would be easier to get the bar out for reads. Ugh decisions decisions.

Konowl wrote: ↑I'm having trouble deciding between a full rack like these a squat rack or a half rack. Going to start lifting again but my days of heavy squats and DLs are over. Squat rack would be easier to get the bar out for reads. Ugh decisions decisions.

Some of the half rack cost the same as a full rack. Plus you can do dip and pull up with full rack.

Dark Phoenix wrote: ↑I have the amstaff rack (different saftey, but same rack other than that.) I squat almost 600, it holds up just fine for that.

You mean AmStuff TR023 the blue one? Yeah for sure I can't reach the limit for most of the rack, just concern about build quality and easy of use.

I went to treadmillfactory this weekend, seems xtreme-monkey is a solid rack. J-hooks and safeties are patted with hard plastic, not sure it's better than rubber but at least no smell.

liuyang wrote: ↑You mean AmStuff TR023 the blue one? Yeah for sure I can't reach the limit for most of the rack, just concern about build quality and easy of use.

Yep, that`s the one. No issues with it. I did bend the ***** out of one of the bars when the barbell slipped off my back.

liuyang wrote: ↑Hi there,

I am looking to buy an affordable power rack, please help me decide between

Xtreme Monkey 365: http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/xtreme-m ... power-rack
and
AmStaff TR025: http://www.fitnessavenue.ca/item.php?id=603

Both of them come with dip bar.

What I find so far:
Xtreme Monkey have bigger tubing 3" x 3" compare to 2.5" x 2.5" on AmStaff
Xtreme Monkey have longer J-Hooks, could be harder to put bar back on

Any comment is welcome. Thanks!

Did you get one yet?

Konowl wrote: ↑Did you get one yet?

Yep. I got the Xtreme Monkey, pleased with it's quality. It's very heavy, about 500 pounds, you definitely need a SUV or a trunk to pick it up.

Also found a promo code $100 off, fitness-equipment-promo-code-canfit-mem ... y-1504509/

is there any way to attach a weight plate holder to it or no?

Vladimir wrote: ↑is there any way to attach a weight plate holder to it or no?

Yup. They sell their own Plate Holders as an accessory:
http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/xm-plate-holder

onlineharvest wrote: ↑Yup. They sell their own Plate Holders as an accessory:
http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/xm-plate-holder

Poor design. Takes away spots for the saftey bar and the pins.

Dark Phoenix wrote: ↑Poor design. Takes away spots for the saftey bar and the pins.

Perhaps, but you're talking about stacking more than one, correct?
If you only had one on the bottom, it is well below any safety bar for squats/bench.

The ideal design is those 6 post racks, with 2 recessed just far enough not to impede the range of motion. And in that case, you can stack the plate holders top to bottom.

But yes, if you need anymore than 2, it will impede on the safeties/pins
I don't have this rack, but I just lean my weights against the wall.

is it safe to use the xtreme monkey 3" attachments on the the 2.5" am staff rack?

Hi, was it easy to remove the rubber from the safeties? Was it fastened to the safeties by regular screws?

I had an amstaff bench before with rubber on the legs of the bench which I also threw out right away. Smelled like chemical death.

Thanks.

onlineharvest wrote: ↑I own the TR025.

- Tubing size is not as important as the gauge of the steel. That being said, I can guarantee you won't have any issues with either.
- There are 2 dip handles with the TR025, whereas the 365 looks like a single attachment. You need to ensure you attach them at the same height with the TR025 (not a big deal with a little tape where you need each attachment). Not sure which is better in terms of torque placed on the uprights.
- BTW, don't think you'll do any weights dips without the rack being secured to the floor/wall.
- The J-hooks are better on the 365. That tall backing is key, since you can walk it into the uprights and place into the J-hook. On the TR025, it's more of a U-hook, and the backing is short, so you sometimes need to "place" the weight onto the hook (it may catch on the top of the hook and you think it's in place, etc). Also, 365 J-hooks protect your bar (built in plastic), on the TR025, I had to add rubber to protect.
- Many people like the "monkey bar" chin/pull up bar on the TR025 better (ironic, monkey bar not standard on the monkey rack! lol) I'm indifferent either way.
- The hole spacing is closer on the TR025, which means you can place the safeties and hooks on a more precise hole (more important for safely benching in the rack). Sometimes if the hole spacing is egregious, and depending on your height, un-racking a loaded bar for a squat could be uncomfortable (e.g., you should NEVER have to tip toe the weight out, and in, NEVER).
- I can't speak for the 365, but the "rubber" on the safeties for the TR025 smelled like ABSOLUTE DEATH. It didn't smell like that at Fitness Avenue, and neither did it smell at Treadmill Factory. That's why I can't speak for the 365. But new, it was not just "that horse stall mat rubber" smell, it was more like a "chemically induced poison" smell. LOL. seriously. I removed it IMMEDIATELY and replaced with some rubber I purchased at HD (flexible rubber roll cut to size)

That's all I can think of right now.

Edit. Realized the 365 safeties have PVC to protect your bar. That's obviously better than the TR025

onlineharvest wrote: ↑I own the TR025.

- Tubing size is not as important as the gauge of the steel. That being said, I can guarantee you won't have any issues with either.
- There are 2 dip handles with the TR025, whereas the 365 looks like a single attachment. You need to ensure you attach them at the same height with the TR025 (not a big deal with a little tape where you need each attachment). Not sure which is better in terms of torque placed on the uprights.
- BTW, don't think you'll do any weights dips without the rack being secured to the floor/wall.
- The J-hooks are better on the 365. That tall backing is key, since you can walk it into the uprights and place into the J-hook. On the TR025, it's more of a U-hook, and the backing is short, so you sometimes need to "place" the weight onto the hook (it may catch on the top of the hook and you think it's in place, etc). Also, 365 J-hooks protect your bar (built in plastic), on the TR025, I had to add rubber to protect.
- Many people like the "monkey bar" chin/pull up bar on the TR025 better (ironic, monkey bar not standard on the monkey rack! lol) I'm indifferent either way.
- The hole spacing is closer on the TR025, which means you can place the safeties and hooks on a more precise hole (more important for safely benching in the rack). Sometimes if the hole spacing is egregious, and depending on your height, un-racking a loaded bar for a squat could be uncomfortable (e.g., you should NEVER have to tip toe the weight out, and in, NEVER).
- I can't speak for the 365, but the "rubber" on the safeties for the TR025 smelled like ABSOLUTE DEATH. It didn't smell like that at Fitness Avenue, and neither did it smell at Treadmill Factory. That's why I can't speak for the 365. But new, it was not just "that horse stall mat rubber" smell, it was more like a "chemically induced poison" smell. LOL. seriously. I removed it IMMEDIATELY and replaced with some rubber I purchased at HD (flexible rubber roll cut to size)

That's all I can think of right now.

Edit. Realized the 365 safeties have PVC to protect your bar. That's obviously better than the TR025

I have the amstaff rack. I've done weighted dips. Just put the handles so they gave the inside of the cage.