Ok all, here's what I'm getting... input/opinions are welcome, but I can get this locally and it seems like a nice unit.

Impex POWERHOUSE Power 6:
http://impex-fitness.com/proddetail.asp?ModelNumber=POWER+6

Other option is a used Body Solid unit with squat rack, lat attachment, dual pulleys, 300 pound weight set and bench (no leg developer) for $300.

I just got rid of my gym membership (went from 100 to 225 a year and i barely use in summer because i work construction). So I bought it on sale for 200 and bought the olympic set of weights for 100. I love the thing. I hurt my back last week and wasnt able to use it.

I also went to walmart and bought the curl bar and dumbbells for olympic weights for 30 total. Someone said they were cheap but that is ok, it will do me for now. I just have to get better collars for the dumbbells because anything over 25 lbs tends to slide off or come close (a little scary!)

Took about an hour and a half to put together. Way easier if you have someone help in certain spots.

:tu:

So you have the Powerhouse? Awesome... good to hear you like it. I also have the set you talked about from Wal Mart, seems just fine to me. Sounds like we'll have an identical setup, I just got my 300 pound Olympic set as well ($100).

I'd take off the leg thing when I do preacher curls (not currently doing them because not in my program right now) but I tried it and my hand couldnt get low enough. Kept hitting it. That would be my only problem with this unit.

Good to hear, thanks for the reply... makes the purchase that much easier. :tucool:

I forgot, instead of buying the rope thing for the pulleys for 30 (you know triceps and ab workouts) I went to the store and bought 5 feet of 1 inch nylon rope and some real thin rope. I tied two knots on each end and in the middle bent over the loop and tied it with small stuff. Works nice for 5 bucks...

p.s. I actually bought 4 feet and will go back and get 5 feet later. and sorry for the foot in the photo. :D

Great tip, I was going to buy one of those tricep/crunch ropes as well, they have them for $15 there.

i paid 20 bucks for my tricep rope and never use it

So I went to a few fitness stores. NONE had lockable olympic collars (3 stores). One said could order them and get them in about 2 weeks for 20 a pair (I need 2 pair) Went to my trusty home depot and built this. It is a Fernco 1 1/2" to 1 1/2" rubber attachment. Took off the clamps, cut off each end then split it so it slides on olympic dumbbell easier. Takes about 2 seconds more than those stupid clamps. I then put a 25 on each end and shook the crap out of it. Didnt even budge. Not bad for $7. :tu:

p.s. I am not cheap. Maybe a little, but I hate overpaying for stuff when other options are readily available.

Well I'll be picking up the Powerhouse tomorrow after work! :tucool:

whats the difference between that, the 8 and the 9?

do any of them have dip / pull up parts?

also, quickly, i assume id be stuck with the 8 anyways because im 6'3'' and the others have probs with squats. seems OK bc the 8 looks really nice anyways

Only dif I can tell is bent lat bar instead of straight. I dont understand the two pulleys on the 8. I dont think any have dip or pull up.

Lucky, please let us know how you like the new equipment. I'm particularly interested in how it is for squatting.

I picked it up over lunch break and will be setting it up tomorrow (if I can withstand the temptation of setting it up tonight).

I'm one of those, "I have it, have to use it now" types so I will try everything tomorrow I'm sure (one rep, one set, nothing major).

I'll give a full 'new equipment I'm excited' review throughout next week and an 'I've used it for a while now and this is what I think' review later down the road.

what is the max weight for the leg developer, bench, and lat pulldown?

600 pounds for the flat bench, not sure on the other items... I'll see if there's any detail on that in the manual though.

I asked if it would have any problem with my 300 pound weight set and he said not at all... if I ever outgrow that I've achieved more than I ever imagined.

Thanks for checking. The bench sounds good. If I ever outgrow that, then I'll have earned my way to "better" equipment as a reward. I like doing leg extensions so I'm very curious about that part of the cage/bench. Since the unit uses 2000 lb tensile strength cable, then I would like to assume that the pulley portion of the cage has a fairly high weight limit.

I've heard nothing but good things about it from the people that own it, and I found out yesterday one of my buddies has this same unit and absolutely loves it. Nothing negative to report in over 6 months...

I'm looking forward to your review. If you don't mind, did you pay ~$300 for your unit? If so, where?

It was $269 new and I got it at Play it Again Sports.

I'm dying here at work watching the minutes go by waiting to go home and take it out of the box!

Fantastic. I'm probably going to order the unit tomorrow so I can have it by next week-end. Of course, this is dependant on the outcome of your review (no pressure ;) )and how the leg develop and lat tower handle

Going to get it put together tonight around 8 or 9, then of course try it out a little... should get a good feel on it's sturdiness, then use it more tomorrow and post my initial thoughts.

I'll be looking forward to the initial review and observations.

i have the same bench and rack.. the only difference is i welded a foot of reinforced steel tubing to the catches to be on the safe side.. i guess working at a custom bike shop has it's perks:D

BTW: i like mines a lot at first the guides used too add a lot of friction when using the lat tower.. it went away with a little graphite. :D

All is well so far... I agree with the above post, and my buddy said the same thing with his, but he said it just goes away quickly with use.

Seems like a very sturdy unit, even the lat tower is solid. Very easy to use and change between movements.

Takes some time to put together, at least for me it did... but I always unbox everything first and lay all the parts out before assembly.

The instructions are good, right to the last page of cable routing... there are 2 cables, the first one is a piece of cake while the second one you have to flip the page to see the diagram. Not a big deal, it's just a little more complicated.

Initial thoughts...
I'm gonna love this thing!

PS

I don't believe in ghosts, but I think I may have to start because I don't know how else to explain this.

When I was almost done putting it together I took a break and watched a movie with my fience (Forgotten), when the movie was done I went to finish putting it together. I got to the last 2 pully's and realized I was two nuts short (try not to snicker, stay with me here).

So, I borrowed two from my dip/chin-up station and finished the assembly.

Now, I cleared out the entire area looking for my 2 missing nuts (again, try and stay with me here)... they could not be found anywhere. I was planning on going to the hardware store this morning to replace the ones I took off the dip/chin-up station.

So, anxiously I go downstairs to try out my new equipment and what do I see? 2 nuts lying on the floor right next to the new gym, right out in the open. Had they been there last night I would have either stepped on them or knelt on them.

Things that make you go, hmmm... :d_eek:

Excellent news so far. Is it sturdy enough so that you can place your feet against the unit and use the low pulley to do rowing exercises?

Oh yeah, it's not going to go anywhere... Even doing crunches using the tricep rope it's sturdy as can be.

I just went down again and did some more variations and it's so darn smooth...

PS
I'm 6'2 and it works well for me at that height, full range of motion is no problem at all.

lol.. i lose nuts all the time most of the time it's stuck to my skin on my legs :lol: :lol:

Its been 2 days now. How's the new equipment holding up? Inquiring minds want to know :)

Just great!

Did chest/tri's tonight with no problems... felt really good to do free weight bench press for the first time in ages. I took it easy tonight just to get aquainted with the new equipment, but still got a great workout in.

Squats.... what about squats?

Won't be doing them until Friday... my leg day. I can't see why it would be a problem though. My buddy does them on his and I've read from others that own it that they do them as well and have no problems.

How is the equipment holding up? I'm hoping you didn't have any problems after a week of workouts.