Did I not just review the PR-5000 Power Rack like last September? Why in the world am I doing it again! Is there nothing else I could be reviewing!
No I’m just kidding. That was the original PR-5000 Power Rack, and this is the PR-5000 V2 Power Rack, and boy oh boy is the new version all kinds of different than last year’s model, and all kinds of better!
So many features have been updated and added to the new PR-5000 V2, and a number of unwanted features even removed. There are more options and different ways to customize the V2 than before, and so many new attachments and accessories to choose from. In fact there are so many differences between the V1 and the V2 that it was absolutely necessary to re-review Rep’s PR-5000. The other, older review simply doesn’t apply anymore.
Of course there’s another reason why I had to review the new PR-5000, and that’s because it was obvious the day it launched that it would end up being the biggest and baddest, most affordable 3″x3″ power rack on the market; that it was going to be some time (if ever) before one could do better for the money. Even before I write this review I can already imagine this rack being the go-to rack not only for home and garage gym owners, but possibly even high schools, colleges, and public gyms.
In this review I’m going to cover every detail of the PR-5000 V2 Power Rack. I’ll cover all of the specifications, base rack options, upgrade options, attachments and accessories, cross compatibility of attachments, and of course I’ll discuss the pros and cons of the PR-5000 vs Rogue’s Monster racks.
This is a long review, so grab yourself a coffee or a beer. If I didn’t address some aspect of the PR-5000 in enough detail for you and you have follow-up questions, use the comments section following the article.
PR-5000 Review – Table of Contents
- PR-5000 V2 Specifications & Dimensions
- What’s New: PR-5000 V1 versus PR-5000 V2
- Base PR-5000 Review
- That Beautiful Stainless Steel
- Rep PR-5000 V2 Accessories
- Component & Accessory Cross-Compatibility
- Rogue Monster vs Rep PR-5000 V2
PR-5000 V2 Power Rack Specifications
- PR-5000 V2 Dimensions
- rack width: 41″ inside width (47″ outside-to-outside)
- rack depth: 30″ or 41″ inside depth (36″ or 47″ outside-to-outside)
- rack height: 80″, 93″, or 100″ tall (+3″ for lat attachment)
- total footprint:
- PR 5000 with 30″ crossmembers: 47″ wide x 36″ deep
- w/ storage: 47″ wide x 55″ deep
- PR 5000 with 41″ crossmembers: 47″ wide x 47″ deep
- w/ storage: 47″ wide x 66″ deep
- lat tower attachment adds 27″ to total depth of either build
- PR 5000 with 30″ crossmembers: 47″ wide x 36″ deep
- Uprights and Crossmembers
- manufactured with 3″ x 3″, 11-gauge steel
- 1″ diameter holes with 2″ hole spacing
- holes of the uprights and crossmembers are numbered on both sides
- assembled with massive 1″ hardware
- (5) finish colors, stainless steel, and clear coat
- black, metallic black, red, blue, and green (orange expected)
- not all upright heights are available in all colors
- selected upright and crossmember colors do not have to match
- Accessories
- (3) total J-cup options (standard, flat sandwich, and rounded sandwich)
- optional 1″ spacing J-cup package in both standard and sandwich
- sandwich-style J-cups have stainless steel accents
- (3) total safety options (pin/pipe, flip-down, and nylon strap)
- (4) total pull-up / chin-up bar options (fat, skinny, multi-grip, and globe)
- all attachments include UHMW liners to protect upright finish
- over a dozen other optional accessories, with more being released
- (3) total J-cup options (standard, flat sandwich, and rounded sandwich)
- Pricing
- base price of $864; shipping not included
What’s Included With Base PR-5000 V2
- Included: (4) uprights, (4) crossmembers, (1) nameplate, assembly hardware and anchors.
- Must Choose Options: upright height & color, crossmember length (depth) & color
- Must Choose Equipment: (1) pair J-cups, (1) safety system, (1) pull-up bar
- Optional: optional attachments/accessories include: weight storage uprights and horns, safety spotter arms, front feet extenders, dip attachment, landmine, various bar holders, leg roller, lat & row tower, back pegs, utility horn, and a rear base stabilizer.
The PR-5000 V1 versus the PR-5000 V2
Below you will find a list of all the things that have been updated or changed in the newest version of the PR-5000. If for some reason you’d like to read my review of the PR-5000 V1 or see pictures of that rack, you may do so here.
- The V2 is far more customizable: more heights, more colors (including a new stainless steel option), more variety in core accessories, and more accessories overall.
- There are many new major accessories being developed specifically for the V2; a belt squat attachment, adjustable iso-lever arms, and an adjustable monolift.
- All holes of the PR-5000 V2 are 1″ in diameter. The alternating 5/8″ holes are no more.
- Assembly hardware is now massive 1″ hardware, not 5/8″ hardware.
- Numbered holes include all numbers, not just the odd numbers.
- The laser-cut numbers are on both sides of the uprights, not just the front.
- The crossmembers and 3″ x 3″ safeties also feature laser-cut numbers.
- The optional plate horns are now urethane coated for a longer life.
- New optional 1″ J-cup spacing system is available.
- The lat tower has a footplate for rows and optional leg rollers for lat pulldowns.
- band pegs and multi-grip pull-up bar are now optional equipment. Only pay for them if you want them.
The original PR-5000 was a great rack. It was strong, durable, loaded with accessories and features, and about as competitive as it could be with Rogue’s Monster Line considering the price-point Rep was shooting for. Not quite a Monster Rack yet, it was still a heck of a lot of power rack for the money, and it sold very well because of this fact.
The new PR-5000 V2 is everything that the original wasn’t. Gone is every feature of the old PR-5000 that seemed like it didn’t belong, and added was a number of features that felt like they should have been there already (see list above). Add to these changes the addition of multiple new accessories; many of which Rogue doesn’t even offer; and you’ve got a power rack that is absolutely competition with the Monster line.
So should you buy a PR-5000 over a Monster Rack? Well hopefully you’ll be able to answer that question with a high level of confidence by the time you finish reading this review.
Base Power Rack Review
This is my third 5000-line Rep Fitness rack to review so I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on Rep’s power racks at this point. Let me just start by saying that although there is nothing inherently wrong with or bad about Rep’s other 5000 racks, the V2 PR-5000 knocks it out of the park by comparison. The V2 is by far the nicest, cleanest, most refined Rep power rack to date.
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The V2 has beautiful uprights and crossmembers. There are no surface imperfections, all of the holes and numbers are clean and free of flashing, and all components line up perfectly. The holes are consistently sized and spaced, the assembly hardware is massive and all the necessary washers are included (two flat washers & one split-ring locking washer per bolt), and all four feet of the uprights sit completely flush with the floor – there is no wobbling.
My rack is stainless steel, which I’ll touch on in the next section, but I still have my share of black powder-coated accessories, and the quality of that finish is flawless – both the front & rear stabilizers, the pull-up bar, the rear crossmember, and my flip-down safeties all appear to be without any finish imperfections. The UHMW on my safeties and J-cups is of very high quality, as is the UHMW inside these attachments. I was even provided extra UHMW slabs for the safeties, should they wear down over time.
Dimension options for the PR-5000 is fantastic. We have a choice of three rack heights and two depths, giving us six total configurations for our base rack. Whether you’re in a massive warehouse with high ceilings, a normal-sized garage or a close-quarters basement you can fit a PR-5000.
Versatility only improves as you start to look at your accessory and attachment options, but I will get into that a couple sections down.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the price. Rep has always been far less costly than Rogue and Sorinex on like-equipment. Granted, Rogue and Sorinex have a larger selection of attachments, and they tend to be favored for fit and finish, but Rep has been catching up in both of these departments.
The PR-5000 V2 is so clean that it very well could be confused with a Rogue rack if it didn’t have “REP” laser-etched into the uprights, and Rep is on track to have a massive collection of accessories and attachments; many of which aren’t offered by Rogue or Sorinex; and all this is still being offered for far, far less money than Rogue and [especially] Sorinex.
The PR-5000 V2 in Stainless Steel
If I was going to review the new PR-5000 after recently reviewing a blue Rep HR-5000 Half Rack, a satin black Monster Half Rack, and the matte black PR-5000 V1, I simply had to up my game this time and go stainless. We’ve all seen black and colored racks before, but the stainless steel racks are still a relatively new thing. Someone has to review one, right? Why shouldn’t it be me!
So before I talk about how badass it is to have a stainless steel power rack, let me start by saying the following: I know that paying the premium for stainless steel crossmembers and uprights is about as unnecessary as it gets. Please do not confuse my enthusiasm with my purchase as some kind of suggestion that this kind of upgrade is anything but aesthetic. In no way am I suggesting that this upgrade is essential. Now, having said that…
Holy shit!! Is this not the cleanest looking finish you’ve ever seen on a power rack? I mean, forget glossy black finishes, forget the bright colors, and forget Cerakote! Stainless steel is absolutely the way to go if you can afford it. It won’t rust, it cannot be chipped or scratched at like paint and powdercoat, and it looks infinitely better than any other finish that I’ve ever seen. It even looks good with the flat black accessories; especially Rep’s own accessories since they’ve gone heavy on stainless steel accenting (J-cups, name-plate, etc.)
Again though, totally not a necessary upgrade at all. Painted and powder-coated racks are still protected from oxidation, and major scratches and chipping is really quite rare unless a careless person you happen to be. I don’t “recommend” you pay all that money for stainless steel, but at the same time I highly recommend you pay all that money for stainless steel; if you know what I mean!
Other Finishes
After all that praise for stainless steel, I want to assure the vast majority of you who are not going to spend your mortgage payment on a stainless steel rack that Rep’s other paint and powdercoat finishes are top-notch. I’ve had both in the form of two Rep racks and multiple new benches and I have nothing but nice things to say about both the quality & consistency of their finishes and the vibrancy and brightness of the colors. Don’t be afraid to go with red or green (or even black) just because I’ve talked-up the stainless.
I mean really, is that green not almost as unique and badass as stainless steel? Well guess what, it costs a hell of a lot less than going stainless. There is even an orange PR-5000 V2 coming soon.
Rep PR-5000 V2 Power Rack – Accessories
Now I’ll go into some detail about the accessories and attachments for the PR-5000. First I will discuss the essential attachments, then the optional accessories, and finally the handful of upcoming attachments that Rep has in production.
Essential Accessories
“Essential” accessories include your J-cups, safety system and pull-up bar. These are three items that are already included in the base price of the rack. There are default selections for all three of these components, but upgrades exist as well. Rep was even kind enough to let us see what each component actually costs us rather than just showing us the difference in cost. I think this makes it easier to decide whether and upgrade is worthwhile or not.
J-Cups
There are no less than five J-cup options to choose from as you build out your PR-5000 V2. The default is your standard J-cup, at $49. This J-cup is fine – fully-functional and lined with UHMW anywhere the cup meets your upright or your barbell. You don’t need to upgrade to a different J-cup, but that won’t stop a lot of you (it sure didn’t stop me.)
The next two options are sandwich-style J-cups. Both of these have all the same UHMW as the standard cup to protect your uprights and your bar, and they both have a fancy stainless steel accent with the Rep logo. The $99 variant has a longer, flat cup that’s very reminiscent of Rogue’s sandwich-style cups, and the other is Rep’s dual-lock, rounded J-cups, similar to what was provided with the HR-5000 Half Rack ($119).
Finally we have Rep’s innovative 1″ spacing J-cup package. This package includes either a standard pair of J-cups or the flat, sandwich-style J-cups along with a second pair of J-cups that have the bar sitting 1″ lower in the cup than they would otherwise, giving you the ability to set the J-cups in 1″ increments rather than 2″.
I think the 1″ spacing packages ($118 or $168) are a neat idea, and if you are adding safety spotter arms to your rack for working outside the rack it’s probably not a bad idea to have a second pair of J-cups. Those J-cups may as well be the 1″ spacing package so you at least have that option. That said, where I think this idea would really shine would be on the safety systems, as that is where having 1″ spacing really matters. That’s what I think anyway.
I went with the flat, sandwich style J-cups because that’s just the style I’ve grown to prefer. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the rounded J-cups, as I like to be able to adjust the position of the bar over me in the bench, and that can’t be done with rounded J-cups. At the end of the day though, I think any of these J-cups are perfectly fine options.
Safety Systems
There are three safety system options when building out your PR-5000 V2, the first of them being the usual pin and pipe safeties. These are the cheapest by far at $59-$69, depending on the depth of your rack, but they are also the most annoying to work with. I’ve never liked these and I have always upgraded to something else, but if you’re on a budget don’t feel as though you have to. Pin and pipe safeties get the job done.
Your next option is safety straps. Starting at $109 per pair for 30″ deep racks, these are the most versatile in terms of how they can be positioned and the best at protecting the finish of your bar. Safety straps are a fine choice, but I personally prefer the next option the most.
Flip-down safeties are my favorite by far, but they’re generally the most expensive as well. I went with flip-down safeties on my PR-5000 V1 and I loved them. The V2 version is actually even better than before, as they fit in-between the uprights with no gap whatsoever. I prefer these because they are easier to adjust than pin and pipes, they have UHMW up and down the entire length of the safety, and accessories can be mounted to them. Like I said though, they are expensive, ranging from $149-$189 depending on rack depth.
Rep also offers safety spotter arms, but those are optional equipment and I’ll discuss them in the Optional Accessories section below.
Pull-Up / Chin-Up Bars
There are four pull-up / chin-up bar options to choose from, two of which are your standard, straight bars; one skinny (1.25″) and the other fat (2″). These two options are both powder-coated black, and both are $49.
The next option is the multi-grip pull-up bar, a much more versatile attachment that offers a multitude of different hand positions including wide and narrow neutral chinning grips, a 45º angled chin grip, a wide angled pull-up grip, and both a skinny and fat standard bar. The V2 multi-grip bar is $109, and a solid place to spend a few bucks on an upgrade.
Finally there is the Globe Pull-Up Bar, the most versatile pull-up bar option by far. At $169 it has wide and narrow pull-up grips, neutral, pronated, and supinated chin-up grips, and then there are the globes (3″ and 4″ diameter) for grip-intensive pulls and chins.
In summary, if you are on a budget, I suggest sticking with standard J-cups, standard pin & pipe safeties, and a basic pull-up bar. Use those available funds on an optional attachment that will actually give you access to more variety or movements, like band pegs, dip station, or land mines. I’d rather you have a lat tower than fancy safeties and J-cups, as your J-cup and safety system upgrade isn’t going to do anything for your gains.
Optional Accessories
The optional accessories are just that, optional. Add them when you buy your PR-5000, or add them down the road as you need them. Many of these are going to be hard to pass up as you build out your rack though, especially when you take into consideration that you will already be paying for freight shipping your core PR-5000 rack. Adding these accessories to that order is not going to raise your shipping bill, but buying them separate later surely will.
Safety Spotter Arms
If you are planning to train in front of your PR-5000, consider adding a pair of safety spotter arms. Rep’s spotters are 24″ long, they are lined end-to-end with UHMW, and they feature the same 1″-diameter, numbered holes as the rest of the PR-5000. They even attach to the rack using the same dual-lock system as Rep’s rounded, sandwich-style J-cups.
Plan to anchor your PR-5000 down if you are going to use spotter arms outside your power rack. Alternatively, if you don’t want to anchor your whole unit down, you may add a pair of extension feet to your build for $99 (see below).
Extended Front Feet
As I am also the owner of a Collegiate Monster Half Rack (see review), I was already quite aware of how great it is to have raised front feet on a power rack, so I didn’t hesitate to add a pair of Rep’s Extension Feet to my PR-5000.
Extension feet add a ton of stability to a power rack by increasing the footprint of the entire unit; by lengthening its stance. This is exceptionally helpful for those who cannot or just do not want to anchor their PR-5000 down. It’s an absolute necessity for those wanting to use spotter arms without bolting the rack down, as the extension feet will prevent the rack from tipping forward when a loaded bar is set down on the ends of the spotter arms.
Safety in the absence of anchoring is not the only reason to consider adding extension feet to your PR-5000. These feet also give you somewhere to attach band pegs and landmines, both of which I use regularly. I really do think these feet are worthy of serious consideration.
Utility Horns
Utility Horns are basically like weight horns that can be moved around the rack. Use these to store resistance bands and chains, stick them into the holes of your safeties to create a dip station, or use one as a step-up assist if you can’t reach the pull-up bar on a 100″ high PR-5000. You can also attach them to the rear crossmember and do neutral-grip pull-ups if you only have a straight pull-up bar installed.
Rear Base Stabilizer (RBS)
The Rear Stabilizer is an optional component that will increase the stability of your PR-5000 if you are not anchoring it down. Seriously consider this component if you already know you will not be bolting your rack to the floor or a platform.
The rear stabilizer is required for the lat attachment but you do not need to buy it separately if you are adding the lat attachment to your order, as the lat attachment already ships with a stabilizer. Again, do not add this attachment to your cart if you have already added the lat & row attachment w/ RBS (see below).
Lat / Low Row Attachment with RBS
I did not buy the Lat / Low Row Attachment this time around because I am running short on space. However, I will buy this attachment when the Belt Squat Attachment drops, and then I will review them both together in a separate article.
That having been said, I still did some research into this attachment. I wanted to be able to give you enough information so that you can make an informed decision about whether you want to add it to your PR-5000 or not. I also reviewed this attachment before, alongside the PR-5000 V1. You may want to check that out as it’s basically the same attachment, save for the fact that the V2 has a foot plate for your low rows.
The Lat/Low Row Accessory is a dual-station tower that attaches to the rear base stabilizer and the upper nameplate crossmember of the PR-5000 V2. It adds 3″ to the total height of your PR-5000, making it 96″ high instead of 93″, and it adds 27″ of depth before any plates are loaded. You should make sure that you’ll have about 3-ft of floor space available behind your rack before you commit to this attachment.
The versatility of this attachment is incredible, especially when coupled with a pair of the leg rollers and the upcoming belt squat attachment. Pull-downs, low rows, weighted ab crunch, tricep pressdowns, curls, weighted pull-ups, belt squat, and on and on it goes. Yes it adds a bit of expense and it definitely increases the racks footprint, but outside of a rack itself you’ll not get more bang for your buck than with a quality, rack-mounted lat tower.
Leg Roller(s)
The optional leg rollers were an auto-buy for me, as I’ve had my eyes on Rogue’s version of this for a while. The only thing that held me back was the $100+ price tag before shipping. I might have found a way to wiggle one into a 5 for $5 Black Friday deal, but when I saw that Rep was offering them as an optional accessory for $69 ($138 for a pair), and I knew that it wouldn’t cost anything to ship alongside my rack order, well it was a no-brainer.
The leg roller attachment is just a nice attachment to own, I believe. It’s useful for stretching and a number of of leg exercises; like Bulgarian squats. More than that, owning a pair of leg rollers is what will allow you to lock your knees when performing pull-downs with Rep’s PR-5000 lat/row attachment. It’s a must for keeping you in your seat when pulling a substantial percentage of your body weight.
Seriously, if you’re adding the lat attachment to your PR-5000, consider adding a pair of leg rollers. They’re even covered in grippy vinyl!
Other Optional Accessories
There are nearly a dozen optional accessories, but many of them are pretty straight-forward and don’t require a whole lot of explanation. They’ll either seem useful and worth the added expense to you, or they won’t.
You’ll find a couple different barbell holders; a rack-mounted, single bar stand, and a double bar hanger ($29 and $45). There is the infamous dip attachment for $109, which I think is a worthwhile investment if you don’t own one already. There is also a set of band pegs, which oddly enough are not included in the price of the rack, but are a must-own accessory ($39).
There’s also a side-mount version of the Rep Globe Pull-Up Attachment for those who don’t want that large attachment on the front side of their rack for some reason. It sells for $169.
Finally, Rep is selling landmine attachments for $49 each, which I think is a steal. I bought a pair of these to attach to the extension legs and I have no regrets about that purchase. I’ve dealt with my post landmine for years because it was going to cost $250 before shipping to upgrade my posts to Rogue’s Monster Landmines. I mean, Rogue’s new 2.0 landmines are badass for sure, but that is just too expensive for landmines. You can buy a pair of Rep’s for less than one of Rogues. That’s nuts.
Future Accessories
There are four currently unreleased attachments for the PR-5000 that should be available in early 2020. They are:
- Adjustable Monolift for $349
- Adjustable Iso-Lever Arms for $399
- Belt Squat Attachment for $279
- Lat/Row Tower for the 80″ PR-5000 for $349
The Belt Squat may be the most anticipated by far. It requires that you own the $450 lat and row attachment to use, but it’ll still be the most affordable and compact belt squat option out there, and that’s no small thing.
In any case, there isn’t much concrete to say about any of these being that they aren’t even released yet but you can expect that I’ll review them promptly when they are released. Stay tuned for that in the beginning of 2020.
Accessory & Component Cross-Compatibility
The PR-5000 V2 is partially compatible with Rogue Monster attachments and components. The uprights are the same 3″x3″ square tubing and the holes on both racks are 1″ diameter with 2″ spacing. Just about all single-pin accessories (J-cups, landmine, storage horns, and band pegs, etc) will be cross-compatible between Rep’s PR-5000 and Rogue Monsters.
An issue arises when an accessory or attachment attaches to the uprights via multiple pins, and this is because there is just the tiniest difference in hole spacing from one manufacturer to the other. They’re both claiming 2″ hole spacing, and they both basically are 2″ apart, but they’re different by like a single mm (about a 2% difference), so over even a relatively short distance there becomes too much of deviation in hole distance for accessories that use two holes to attach properly.
For instance, Rogue’s Spotter Arms can indeed attach to the PR-5000, but the hole on the bottom of the spotter that would accept the hitch pin will not align properly with the hole on the PR-5000 upright. It’ll be close; real close; but it won’t fit. Likewise, you can attach Reps Dip Attachment to a Rogue Monster Rack, but again, the holes for the hitch pin will not line up with the hole of the Rogue upright. That said, I was able to successfully attach a Rogue LT-1 Trolley to a Rep PR-5000 and HR-5000 since the hitch pin holes of this accessory are pretty close together.
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Again, single-pin attachments should pose no problems when going from the PR-5000 to a Rogue Monster, and vice versa, so long as you’re not trying to install one of the few keyhole attachments from Rogue on a Rep rack – these won’t work. Outside of these simple single-pin accessories, it’s probably a good idea to stick to accessories that are meant for the rack you own whenever possible, and understand that cross-compatibility is never guaranteed.
One other thing to consider is horizontal crossmembers. Rep manufactures 47″ wide power racks and Rogue manufactures 49″ power racks. Because of this and the above-mentioned issues with hole spacing, crossmembers will not be compatible. That said, it is possible that Sorinex components; depending on how they do their hole 2″ spacing; may indeed be cross compatible with Rep’s PR-5000. If you own a PR-5000 and have tried Sorinex parts on your rack, please leave a comment and let us know how successful that was.
Rogue Monster Racks vs the Rep PR-5000
Rogue makes outstanding power racks; there’s no doubt about that, and among the Rogue racks there are none better than those in the Monster line-up. With no less than 10 different Monster Racks to choose from in different heights, depths, and configurations; and a dozen different finish options including not only stainless steel, but also Cerakote, it’s impossible to deny that Rogue has been dominating in the 3″x3″ power rack market, and for good reason.
It doesn’t end there either. Rogue has the most accessories by a long shot, and they are all very refined, super clean, and well thought out. I have literally nothing negative to say about Rogue’s Monster Racks or their accessories. As a matter of fact I own a Monster rack, and I could not be more happy with it.
That said, Rogue Monster Racks are incredibly expensive. A bare-bone RM-3; the smallest of all the Monster Power Racks; starts at $1145 if you remove the rear nameplate ($1205 if you leave the nameplate intact.) I mean, we’re talking about a black, 90″ tall, 30″ deep rack with zero upgrades and zero optional accessories. That’s a lot of money for a basic rack.
Over at Rep Fitness you can build out a 93″ tall, 30″ deep Rep PR-5000 starting at around $700, with a black PR-5000 with the same set-up as the RM-3 above starting at only $900. We’re talking the same specifications and basic accessories for $250 less cash before any accessories or upgrades are added. Start to build out a PR-5000 V2 that looks like a RM-6 with plate storage and accessory upgrades and the discrepancy in pricing gets even larger still. Even if you are going all out on a PR-5000 with colors or full stainless steel and you’re adding more upgrades and attachments than not, you are still going to save a small fortune compared to what a comparable build would cost over at Rogue.
So ok, Rep is offering the “same racks” for less money, but are they really the same racks?
Yes and no. Yes, the PR-5000 V2 is functionally the same as a Rogue Monster. Both racks are built with the same 11-gauge, 3″x3″ steel tubing, both have the same giant 1″ hardware, and both have beautiful finishes and multiple J-cup, safety, and pull-up options. You are not going to get a better workout or a superior experience on the Rogue versus the Rep; one is not going to last longer than the other and one is no safer than the other. Even aesthetically there is very little difference at this point (which you can clearly see in the pictures of my PR 5000.)
Where Rogue is still ahead is in finish selection, accessory selection, and the fact that it’s a domestically-made product. Want Cerakote? You have to buy Rogue. Want your rack to be gun metal or lime green? You have to buy Rogue. You only buy American-made? Again, it’ll have to be Rogue. Would you rather save a crap load of money? or be able to attach the lat tower to your rack? or own a stainless steel rack without having to take out a loan? They it’ll have to be Rep Fitness.
Here’s a couple other things to consider as well. The PR-5000 V2 is a 47″ wide rack while a Monster Rack is 49″ wide. That 2″ difference makes all the difference in the world when the time comes to walk a loaded bar out of the rack. Rep also offers a shorter 80″ version of the PR-5000 for those in a low-ceiling garage or basement. Rogue’s shortest Monster is 90″ tall (though Rogue does offer a 108″ Monster while Rep’s tallest is 100″). Finally, Rep Fitness is the only one to offer a plate-loaded lat/row attachment, a required component for Rep’s new belt squat attachment that will be released early 2020.
Final Verdict
I think the PR-5000 V2 does two very amazing things. First, it allows us garage gym folk to buy a heavy-duty, attachment-rich, 3″x3″ power rack for a lot less money than buying a very similar rack from Rogue or Sorinex, and we don’t lose access to customization.
Second, it gives people who cannot even afford a Rogue or Sorinex rack from having to rely on a garbage rack dealer like Titan. By being more reasonably priced than the big boys Rep fills a void of sorts. They give people a chance to own a nice, safe, and beautiful power rack without having to dig so deep it hurts, or deeper than is even possible.
The PR-5000 V2 isn’t just about the savings vs Rogue though. This isn’t a compromise rack by any means. It’s not as though you are giving something up for the savings. The PR-5000 is legit. It’s the real deal. It’s not made with lesser steel or lacking attachments or accessory options, or cheaply made, or ugly, or too this or too that. It’s just less expensive.
I love my PR-5000, and I would love it even if it wasn’t stainless steel. I plan to keep it, and I didn’t choose to keep the PR-5000 V1 or the HR-5000 over my Monster Half Rack, so that’s saying something.
I literally have no complains about the PR-5000, except that not all of the attachments were available at launch. I truly can’t think of anything worth complaining about that doesn’t have something to do with accessories either not being available or not being compatible. I have got nothing negative to say about the build quality, fit and finish, aesthetics, and especially, the low base price.
The PR-5000 V2 is just one hell of a rack, and in the month it took me to write this review it already appears to be mostly sold out, so I guess I’m not alone in my opinion.
Rep PR-5000 V2 Power Rack
Pros
- Incredibly competitive pricing.
- Loads of customization options.
- Huge assortment of affordable attachments.
- Premium upgrades available for all core components.
- Features a 47" rack depth (vs 49")
- Colors can be mixed and matched for unique builds
- Quality and Refinement is on par with US-manufacturers
Cons
- Some major attachments are still un-released.
- Rogue still has more attachments available for their Monster Racks.
- PR-5000 is only partially compatible with Monster accessories.
Thanks, John:
Stainless, wow.
A couple things I think are due from the rack competitors;
— A value-priced selectable plate stack (and a dual with the support components). Use automation to get the cost down and a great differentiator will be had.
— Optional widths and depths (full custom specification on these parts) so people no longer have to buy twice or start with components. If not yet al least let us specify all elements in a kit so we’re not buying all the front-to-back or cross-ways items twice. Note: this is cheaper to do with stainless due to less finish work being needed after trimming an order to length.
Question: Does the optional back brace bolt to floor or wall or prop on the floor?
Kudos to Rep for a solid competitor.
I agree, especially with that second statement.
The Stabilizer is just that. An extra piece that keeps the frame squared away when it’s not bolted. It’s also needed for the lat tower, but it would need to be installed higher up than I have mine. I actually didn’t pay any attention to that during assembly or I would have put it in the right place to begin with lol. But no, it’s just not straight across like a Rogue stabilizer because it’s meant to be out of the way of your feet. I auto bought that because I wasn’t sure where it would go when it was all said and done, and I had a feeling it would end up where it is now in the meantime. The Rep and my Rogue are different widths so none of the holes in the foundation will work for anchoring, so I’ll have to plug and re-drill eventually. Then again, when I get plate storage and lat tower on it, well it may weigh so much it never matters if it’s anchored or not. We’ll see
Excellent review Joel. I’m almost in love with it. It’s like Rep read my mind when it comes to accessories/features I desire in a rack. The old school stabilizer bar, one inch cups, no gap (load in one direction) flipdown safties, ect. are straight out of my mental dream rack designs. I agree with you that the one inch option for the flip downs and spotter arms are a MUST.
Now please, Rep, offer it in 7guage! Be the first manufacturer bold enough to bring back the truly heavy duty premium rack and I’d be SOLD! That would be my lifetime, will it to my next of kin, most prized fitness posession. Offer it in 7gauge stainless and many many other people would jump on it too.
There’s no way anyone is going to offer 7-gauge racks to the home and garage gym market. Rogue tried that years back. The Monster line used to be 7-gauge. Nobody was willing to pay for it. I can’t even imagine what 7-gauge stainless would sell for.
Awesome review. In the review you compared it to the rogue monster series and stated that it was cheaper. However during rogue’s Black Friday sale the rogue monster rm3 fortis is on sale for less than the 5000v2 before shipping and with rogue 5 for 5, it’s significantly cheaper for the rack itself. However all the accessories, color options and the sales tax, brings rogue to roughly the same price point. With the money being the same, would you still choose the rep 5000v2 over a monster rack?
Over a Fortis, yes, I’d still go PR-5000. The Fortis is a welded rack, like the old Elite FTS power racks. I did forget it existed though, if I’m being honest lol
Now if you could build an RM-6 for the same price, yes I’d likely go Rogue, but that’s not possible under any sale.
Awesome review, very informative. I am in the market for a power rack.
One thing that I was wondering, if the Rogue monster rack and the Rep PR-5000v2 were the same price, which would you choose? Currently the Rogue RM3-fortis is on sale for Black Friday and they have their shipping deal (5 for 5), however Rogue has sales tax but rep doesn’t. With that said, the rogue monster rack is cheaper than the PR-5000v2. With some accessories like the safety straps, etc… they would be essentially the same price. This is of course without Rep’s BF deals, as it isn’t out yet. They are expected to be 5-15% off with a doorbusters, but no word on what the PR-5000v2 would get.
Currently the Rep rack’s pros (47 in wide, cheaper accessories, lat pull down, and cheaper stainless option) are edging out the Rogue’s pro (Built in the US, established build quality, and resale value). Which would you get?
One question about the rack, if you get the 6 post version and the lat pull down, how much space would you need in the rear? The weight storage post are about 24 in, and the lat pull down is about 27, do you need more space to load the weight? or is it just the 27 in? Do you know how much the future accessories are going to weigh? If you order them all, would it require freight shipping?
You can negate the resale value out of that for Rogue. I’ve sold Rep equipment time and time again and recovered just as much of a percentage of retail as I can with Rogue. Takes a tad longer to move, but I’ve never not gotten what I wanted. Build quality is the same with the V2 and RM series. Accessories aren’t the same, selection or refinement, but the racks are. And there’s just no answer to your core question really because they aren’t the same price at all, but for the sake of argument probably the Rogue if all thing were equal… though any number of things could swing me (or someone else) – 47″ width, the lat tower and belt squat, etc.
The PR-5000 V2 is a great rack. Rep’s best to date by a long shot. Have you tried any of their newer benches? Those should give you an indication of which direction Rep has been going if you have. You can absolutely transfer bench confidence to the V2.
Still, if you can afford Rogue and the newness of the Rep rack makes you apprehensive, I’m not telling anyone not to buy Rogue. You win either way, only one costs more. Both are forever racks.
And you need about 9″ extra beyond the loading pins of the lat tower for plates, about 3′ total beyond the rear upright (whether it’s a storage upright or not).
Any rack purchase + accessories will be freight. I’m not sure how the lat tower would ship alone.
I’ve gotten mine set up with 6 posts including the weight storage, with 500-600 pounds of plates stored. I really want to avoid those extension foot stabilizer for space reason and I feel like I’ll trip over them at some point. Do you feel the weight storage posts + 500 pounds of weight is enough to overcome the need for foot extension if I wanted to do front of rack work or use the Iso lever arms later?
It would, unless you have all 500-lbs on the bar and nothing on the back storage. I mean it wouldn’t tip probably as a full-size rack, but it could shift a bit.
I like the legs more on a standard 30″ rack, or when they’re just wanted for band work. They aren’t generally a necessity by any means.
JB, help me out. Placed an order for a V2 SS 30” depth with weight storage, flip down safeties, and safety spotter arms. Don’t want to bolt it down. Better to scrap weight storage, use a separate weight tree, and get the front feet extensions? Keep weight storage and add the feet also? Stabilizer needed with either configuration if I’m never adding the lat pull or belt squat?
Also, I honestly never used Westside spacing when I had it and I hate standard J cups. Going to get two pairs of sandwich cups. Get one of each or is the round that bad?
Already placed the order but it’s all in pre-order status so I can make a few changes. Picked up the new adjustable bench too on your recommendation. Thanks for the help.
Well the weight storage uprights (and weights) will definitely weigh it down, front feet or not (which are nice to have either way I think, esp since you got spotter arms). I’m not bolted yet and although I’m not worried about the rack tipping, it does slide when I slam the bar into the cups. Stabilizer either way if not bolted, yes. It helps to maintain shape since there is nothing low going across horizontally.
There’s nothing wrong with the round I just personally prefer the flat. I feel like I have to lift the bar over the cup lip less, and I do like to slide the bar to the forward position of the cup before lifting off. But that’s really just for benching, also I’m weird.
The 5200?
Yeah, the 5200. I guess I’ve always just thought of weight storage as the alternative to bolting down. Just wondering if I should rethink that with the new(ish) option of the front extensions. Might just need to measure out my space again to see what makes the most sense. Theoretically the feet won’t increase the foot print since I already have the spotters but those can always be removed if I want a bit more space in front of the rack.
I also need a bit more bar storage these days so going to add a gun rack on the wall behind this rack. I see you’ve got one behind yours as well. How much increased clearance away from the wall did you end up needing?
Sound like there’s no real advantage to the round so I’ll probably just go with two flat as that’s what I’m used to and they’re slightly cheaper. I guess I’m leaning towards scrapping the rear plate storage just to save a bit of space and just figure out where to put a plate tree.
Well the weight storage definitely counters any front-end tipping, and those front feet will prevent that even without weight storage, but the front feet will do nothing to prevent the rack from moving around slowly but surely. The weight storage will, but if you’re slamming heavy bars into the uprights often enough you’ll still probably end up moving the rack around. Right now, my PR-5000 V2 has the stabilizer and that stabilizer is directly against the wall, which is the only way I could stop it from moving around. I plan to anchor down the road as I get the storage and tower, but since I don’t want to guess where that stuff needs to be positioned I just leave it as is. Of course, I also have the Collegiate still assembled and in position so I get to use both racks for the time being.
I am pretty sure you can attach the lat tower to the center uprights if you have weight storage. That is, leave the stabilizer and nameplate where it is on a standard rack, don’t move it back to the rear uprights. This way, your whole rack takes up less space because the lat tower is kind of inside the rack. I’m not positive though yet.
Umm lol, that gun rack is hard to get to, but that’s not a permanent location for that rack. I have only as much clearance as that stabilizer that’s against the wall allows haha.
How far do those front feet extend off the front of the rack?
About 26½”
Hi GG, I know you haven’t bought/set up the lat tower attachment yet. But any advice on lubricating the vertical posts on these? It’s too rough for me with too much metal on metal grinding, making it feel heavier. I’ve tried White Lithium Grease but finds it relatively ineffective.
I did 3-in-1 oil on my lat tower. It helped
Don’t use an oil on guide rods, it will dry them out and attract dust. By far the best lubricant to use is a greaseless silicone lubricant spray called LPS-1 spray. It’s not cheap but it is the only lubricant I would use.
Thanks for the in-depth review! I’m debating RM-4 vs this one and leaning hard towards REP for saving $400 and the 47″ width. I’m only torn based on accessories! It’s too bad they aren’t 100% compatible. Of course we all want to get the most possible exercises out of one rack. I’m worried Rogue will come out with better options that I won’t be able to use. Any updated opinion on that?
Well, there’s no way to ever know what Rogue will do when it comes to accessories and attachments, but I can’t imagine anything new not being a major attachment… something like the rack-attached Rhino, Trolley Arms, selectorized lat tower, etc. Of course, if you are prone to buying those larger, machine-style attachments then you’d probably want your rack to be a Rogue Monster, either then RM-4 or RM-6.
I have a Rogue Monster and the PR-5000. I still have both racks set up because I’m waiting for the belt squat attachment and Rep’s lever arms. Once I review all that I’ll have to decide which to keep. I’m leaning on the Rogue but my reason is probably not a reason many will have, and that’s that I have a very expensive, custom name plate on my Monster rack that is not compatible with the PR-5000 because of the difference in rack width. If I could use that nameplate on the Rep I’m 90% sure I’d sell the Monster. Yes, 90% lol… Rep didn’t have 100″ uprights in stainless steel and at 6’4″ I’d really like to have the teller uprights, and I don’t.
I’m rambling, but yeah all you can do is look at what’s currently available on both sides and figure out if the $400+ is worth it to alleviate any buyers remorse you may or may not have by, well, I don’t want to say by going with Rep, so I’ll say by NOT going with Rogue… if that makes any sense.
Great, in-depth review. Specifically, the lat/row attachment is something that really sparked my interest, as I’ve been waiting for a similar set-up to come out from ‘other’ major brands for awhile now.
“Over at Rep Fitness you can build out a 93″ tall, 30″ deep Rep PR-5000 starting at around $700, with a black PR-5000 with the same set-up as the RM-3 above starting at only $900.”
However, I found this particular model to start at $919 bare bones. Did Rep Fitness raise the price already, am I looking in the wrong spot, or is the article in error?
I was checking this, as I’m like 99.9% positive I wouldn’t have said that if it wasn’t the case (I’m pretty thorough like that), but I can’t even assemble the rack on their website right now because I guess too many of the components are on backorder. I can’t choose 30″ cross members in black, for starters. However, the price with a colored cross member set is still too high. It’s not unlike them to raise prices on items that sell that well… they did it with the FB-5000 like three times before it settled on the price it is now.
Thanks for the review. So glad you tried the rogue trolleys on this rack. I just sold my rogue rack and kept the trolleys. Love them. I was curious how well they move and fit on this rack. Do the pins lock pretty smooth on all the holes?
It functions the same. The only difference at all is that when you stick those hitch pins in the side after making a height adjustment, you have to give the trolley a little upwards nudge to help them go in easier. This is because the distance between holes is like some fraction of a mm different between the two racks. It will work though. I’ve had it on and off the 5000 a couple times now, no issues whatsoever.
Really? No issues? I have a PR-5000 v2 and just recently got the Rogue Trolley Arms and they are loose. They wobble around. I realize now that it is because REP’s tubing is ~2.95″ x 2.95″, while Rogue’s tubing is a true 3″ x 3″ tubing. Any tips for making everything tighter/smoother? Shims? Etc.?
This is correct. REP racks are metric, and they convert to 2.95″. The only real solution if the gap bothers you is to order thicker UHMW and replace the existing pieces. You don’t even have to do all sides; just 2/4 of each unit. It’s really not as much wiggle room as it feels like. It’s basically one millimeter. But yeah, I get it. You are definitely aware of it.
Will those front feet fit on a Rogue Monster series?
Also any idea if the Rep Fitness 41″ safety straps would work on 43″ monster series (wondering if there is enough slack in the 41″ to reach)?
The feet may work, but it would be close. I can kind of measure the differences, but since my Monster is mounted to the foundation and recessed in a stall mat, it’s an iffy measurement and I can’t even get one off without having to remove all the anchors. It looks like at worst you may need a small shim.
I actually don’t have straps on either rack so maybe someone else will chime in, but I’m thinking that would be less than ideal.
Are these inventory issues with Rogue? They’re sold out of these items?
Yes, they don’t have the straps available and they don’t offer the feet for the RM-4. I notice the straps on web pictures on the Rep Fitness site seem to show they have a sag when mounted so hoping the the two inch difference won’t be an issue. The feet as long as the holes line up shimming should be no problem, I was concerned about bolt hole orientation.
BTW, great review!
The bolt pattern is the same, however there is a very, very minute difference in spacing that causes holes and pins of these two company’s accessories to stop lining up, but the feet have the two bolt holes close enough together that you’ll be able to line things up well enough. And thank you very much, I appreciate that.
Been looking at the Rep HR 5000 and a separate REP FT-3000 Victory Compact Functional Trainer or the going with the PR 5000 with Lat and row attachment, Dip bar, plate storage, etc.(fully loaded). Space is a premium in my garage due to shelving for work related items and parts, lawn equipment and extra fridges & freezers. Would you recommend the PR 5000 loaded or the HR 5000 and FT 3000. Could do either configuration as the 2 piece half rack and cable are wider but less depth, or the full rack with less width and more depth, Which would be the better overall setup?
I am thinking the 2 stations ( HR and FT) may be better for supersets and/or also multiple people working out at once ( self, wife and son, or a combo of 2 at a time) plus more options for exercises due to the versatility of the cable machine.
You’ll definitely get more exercise variety from having the functional trainer.. lots more. The lat tower would allow you to work with more weight but that would only really be relevant when talking about lat pulldowns and rows. And yes, you’d be in a better position to have more than one person in the gym with two separate pieces of equipment.
The option of a functional trainer versus a lat/row tower is a little weird because they aren’t the same thing. There are those who would take a lat tower over a functional trainer any day of the week because all they really care about is doing heavy back work, and a functional trainer cannot offer that. It may seem obvious that a functional trainer is more versatile, but that doesn’t necessary make it better. Then again, there are those who would take the functional trainer 100% of the time simply because of how useful it is on pretty much every other part of the upper body.
Definitely going with the functional trainer as soon as ordering opens back up. Measured today and have room for the either the PR-5000 or the HR-5000. Tough choice on which to go with. Love the versatility of the full rack for attachment add-ons. Rep said they will be adding the Lat/row assembly to the HR 5000 soon. But really like the upcoming belt squat for the PR-5000. Either way I’ll most likely purchase one of the 2 around black friday along with weights and a barbell, so I have time to decide. Great job for the reviews on both and thank you for the input.
Of course, and thank you for that.
Great review. I appreciate this website so much!
Thanks!
Would the accessories for the rep 5000 v2 fit the v1?
I’m torn between a used rep 5000 v1, or a used rogue rogue monster lite that is setup with extensions on back and plate storage. The rep is literally half the cost of rogue. Just hate to buy a rack that would pretty much be obsolete already if the v2 accessories don’t fit the v1
This will be my first power rack. Thank you for all the awesome info on your videos and website
Thanks Kevin. Yeah only some of the V2 accessories will fit. The V1 has a different hole scheme and different crossmembers.
The V1 is a fine rack and I don’t think the lack of accessories makes it obsolete, per se, but I get what you mean. The V2 was designed to fix some of the oversights, which sadly is its lack of compatibility with other 3×3 racks. It’ll probably be a tough call with such a big price difference.
Unfortunately with the current situation in our country, as you are aware, fitness equipment is very hard to locate. Still undecided as of now, so I’ll keep combing through the used racks and reading/watching your reviews. I’m leaning more toward the rogue as the rest of my stuff is rogue, but that’s a huge price difference. Dyna body is in my home town, so will pay them a visit as well. Any opinion on there equipment?
I actually don’t know anything about Dyna Body. I took a gander… doesn’t look like they offer all that much. At least not on their website
Great review on SS PR-5000 V2. I see that you don’t have the lat/low-row attachment, however, with your expertise, can one do flat/incline bench using AB-5200 in the cage? Like you mentioned, one needs 3′ from the rear of the uprights for such attachment, that would leave me very limit space in front of the cage.
How do you like the clear coat? I’m stuck between that and red
It’s not clear, it’s stainless. But I love it
Thanks for the very comprehensive review. Since the PR-5000 v2 is currently out-of-stock, I’m not able to view pricing for the stainless steel options. Rep’s website shows base pricing for black, as well as the following upgrades:
* Uprights Pair +$20 for color; +$63 for raw
* 16″ & 30″ Crossmember Sets +$15 for color; +$130 for raw
* 41″ Crossmember Set +$15 for color; +$199 for raw
Do you recall the upgrade costs to go with stainless steel?
No, I can tell you what it says on my receipt for the uprights and crossmembers though. Keep in mind this isn’t the total price. The nameplate is its own thing too, and none of the other options are included (safeties, J-cups, etc.)
PR-5000 V2 – 93″ Stainless Steel $1,078.00
PR-5000 V2 – 30″ Crossmembers Stainless Steel $465.00
Love the review! I’m sold on getting the PR-5000 V2 when they finally get back in stock. I’m torn between the 30 vs 41″ cross members. I intend to get the weight storage, but not quite sure if I want to get the front foot extenders. I’m 5’8, 175. I think I’m good to lift inside it since I don’t intend to do many crazy things in it. For now, I’ve only got 260lbs in weights. However, I’m thinking of getting the dip bar and other accessories in the future. I saw someone with a punching bag hanging off a shrimp trawler and have that it my future. Planning ahead, should I just go ahead and get the 41″ with the storage?
I actually don’t think anything over 30″ in depth is necessary. I’ve had racks that deep and I found they were an unnecessary waste of space. This becomes even more obvious when the weight storage uprights are added. These racks take up a lot of space!
The only reason I can see going so deep is if you want an accessory that requires it – like say, short Trolley lever arms like can be done in Rogue’s Monster racks (I don’t think Rep will offer arm length variety). That said, if you have the floor space for it and like feeling like you have a lot of space to move around in, by all means. I’ve had 24″ deep racks and I liked it, but that may feel tight to some people – especially those accustomed to giant commercial 4-ft deep, 9-foot high racks like those found in the global gyms.
JB, I am making my way through every major piece of equipment. An once again, I have found something I believe I think should be looked into. A power rack that I believe could compete with Rogue and REP in pricing. Bravo 11 Power Rack from Arsenal Strength this is the rack that I inquired on and the most affordable rack that they have for a garage gym. Everything else is Commercial grade and goes as high as $3899 for some 7gauge steel Racks Check them out Paul since you were asking about REP doing 7 gauge. Anyway, I got a quote on the Bravo 11 Power Rack its a 3×3 11gauge steel and it comes with the plate storage 10 plate pegs Safety Bars and standard J cups best of all they are all made in Knoxville TN and you can customize the colors with 12 different colors all for $1499.00+LTL. I tried building a REP-5000 V2 to the same specs and it was about $300 more.
https://www.myarsenalstrength.com/strength-equipment/bravo/racks-bravo/bravo11-power-rack/
Check them out and let me know what you think. I do believe that the REP PR-5000 V2 has more attachments but for the price its kinda hard to beat if you don’t need all the attachments REP has to offer.
It’s seemingly not a bad price, but where are the specs and the pictures? Is this welded? Are the plate horns fixed? How tall/wide/deep is it? Why is it on feet? Also, why do you have to request a quote? Why isn’t there just a price? Sounds like it has a fixed configuration and price.
I like that it’s American-made, and it looks solid based on that one rendering, but this isn’t the type of product one buys from a blank product description. I looked at their bench too, also no specs of any kind. What’s up with that?
Honestly, I have no clue. I talked to a sales REP he was willing to work with me and he answered questions when asked pretty easy to work with. My problem is that I am still deployed for another week and I cant open the links he sent me all the websites are blocked. Which explains why I keep writing some much to you I have time to look at items. Daily, Ill continue to see if I can get some information off of them on the racks. If you want to send me an email I can forward you what ive received from them so far.
I can tell you from looking at the photo that its a flat foot Rack the plate storage is fixed. It is not an all welded unit. I asked them they said it uses 1″ hardware. I don’t know how tall the rack is or the foot print honestly its kind of turning me away from because I have to ask so many questions instead of just having the info on the website. I even told the sales rep that in an email I sent him maybe they’ll update it in the future I don’t know.
The response I received was an email with the catalog attached to it. I am guessing everything is inside it. The catalog can be found at the bottom of the link I provided. I cant open it to look at it yet. Ill try again once I get home.
I believe I am just going to go with the REP PR-5000V2 that is instock. However, Is it possible to buy it without plate storage and buy the plate storage later on? I haven’t found a way to order the plate storage alone for the PR-5000v2 and I am pretty sure that Ive seen you have it in some newer reviews with plate storage.
It is. I bought plate storage after buying the rack itself. You may have to just send an email to Rep when the time comes to order it if there still isn’t a way to do it on the website, but I assure you that they’ll sell it to you.
Hi GarageGymsCom!
What are your thoughts on these 2 accessories for their upcoming iso lever arm? Don’t think Rep has anything in the works, and I really want a Utility seat…
https://www.sorinex.com/products/utility-seat
https://www.sorinex.com/products/bar-locks
I think the bar lock should work as it looks straightforward, but wonder about the width compatibility of the utility seat, but both PR5000 and Sorinex racks are both 47” wide I believe..
Thanks again!
They are both supposed to be 47″ wide, yes, and if installed on spotter arms, even a slight deviation in this measurement wouldn’t be much of an issue since there would be some flex.
The bar locks may actually be less likely to work if there is a deviation in hole distance, as there are quite a few holes in-between the two the locks would mount to. This deviation does exist between Rep and Rogue (Metric vs Imperial), so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume the same minor difference exists between Rep and Sorinex.
I thought this writeup was so well done! I’m curious to hear more about the dip attachment? I’m debating on getting the 4000 or the 5000 v2…I watched a youtube review where this guy highlighted the wobble on the dip attachment on his pr-4000. Have you noticed that on yours? The reason I ask is before I order the attachment with the rack if this seems to be a common issue I will try and make the Rogue Matador work (shouldn’t be an issue as I think there’s only one pin to it), but obviously would like to save some $$ by sticking with rep’s dip bar.
It does wobble.. or did anyway, I sold it and replaced it with two Utility Horns that I use on the drop-in safeties, which I like much better. To be fair though, I had the previous version of the Rep dip attachment. The current one is a little different; but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still wobble.
Rogue’s will fit but Rogue accessories have a very minimal sort of loose feeling on Rep’s uprights.
Thank you for the in depth review. I’m in the early planning phase of moving up from the basement into my garage (7 foot ceiling in my basement prevents full height rack and overhead work). I was initially thinking of getting one of the PRX wall-mounted foldable racks, but now I’m leaning more toward the PR 5000. I think I’d like the 6-upright set up for weight storage. What are your thoughts on doing that without bolting it down and without the front extenders? Too dangerous? I’m thinking that down the line I will want the lat tower, so I’d like to wait on that before bolting it down. I’m hesitant on the front feet for the additional space, knowing I’m so clumsy that I will trip over them, and the potential for them getting in the way of doing things outside the rack, such as deadlifting. From a space standpoint, though, I’m thinking they probably wouldn’t add more depth to the rack than the lat tower would, so maybe I should go with them at the start and then remove them if and when I get the tower and bolt the rack down? This is all hypothetical right now, as the rack isn’t in stock. I would be looking at the 30″ depth and I’d like to be able to stay within 6 feet of the rear wall of my garage so I can still fit a car in.
Thanks again for this in depth review.
Hey Mike, I don’t have my PR-5000 bolted down. It’s less of a deal with 3 rows of uprights and plate storage. Even with the belt squat attachment and lat tower I haven’t bolted down. I would just make sure you set it up stall mats so it doesn’t slide around. Now if you were doing a standard 30″ deep cage with no rear uprights I’d say bolt that sucker down for sure.
The front feet are also not so necessary on a 6-post rack, though they are still helpful for band work if you plan on training both inside and outside the rack. Don’t buy them if you’re not going to use them, though if you’re undecided I’m sure you could recover 90% of their cost or more on Craigslist or the Marketplace if you don’t want them.
The lat tower, just so you know, will require more space than the front feet; either because you install it all the way on the back row, or because you install it in the middle row but have to pull the rack further away from the wall just to be able to put plates on the carriage. I’m not so sure you’ll come in under 6′ once you get the lat tower on.
thanks for the awesome review. Re: the stainless, you mention that it won’t scratch like paint or powder coat. is your experience using it that dinging it with bars or whatever is not scratching the finish? does it look as good as new after prolonged use? would be amazing.
Thanks, Ramsey.
Well, you hit it hard enough or rub another piece of steel against it aggressively enough, you’ll scratch and ding anything. What I mean is that normal usage doesn’t lead to obvious gouges and scratches – taking plates off isn’t pulling more of a finish off each and every time, aging the bar. Normal, superficial scratches from steel plates are barely noticeable, and stainless just cleans up really well – it can and should look pretty new for many, many years.
Great review.
Looks awesome in stainless.
I was wondering how far the stabilizer bar goes from the upright? It looks like a little less than a plate storage which is 16+3″
Also I still do wonder if those front feet would fit monster rack? Meaning if the bottom hole is at same height, I’m thinking bottom plates are about the same 3/8 or so thickness, so from them to the hole should be accessible, maybe?
Thank you
Will the front foot extensions fit on a Rogue monster rack?
They should, as the feet that came with my PR-5000 actually have elongated holes that allow for a little flexibility in hole placement, and my measurements of the holes show them being close enough (distance of first hole from floor) to be compatible. That said, I’ve not actually tried to swap the feet of both racks out yet. I’d have to remove Tapcons to do it and those holes are not reusable. In other words, I think it will work but I wouldn’t put a guarantee on it.
Thanks for the great review. I kept missing out on a Rep pr-5000 so went with Williams Strength`s erect-a-rack.
I’m looking for pair of leg roller, how do you like your Rep leg rollers, do you think Sorinex or Rogue versions are worth the extra expense?
Thank you for the review. I am leaning towards the Rogue RM490. Do you think the Lat Tower attachment will fit the Rogue rack?
By default, no. The biggest issue with forcing compatibility is the difference in width between Rogue racks (43″ inner width) versus Rep at 41″. This creates a problem with crossmember compatibility, and Rogue does not make an angled crossmember like the one used for Rep’s lat tower. Even if you could get that crossmember at that length you’d still have to figure out some other minor workarounds, like for the top crossmember.
Thank you JB, I might go either of these 2 ways:
1. Get the REP 93” Lat and 2 of Rogue Monster strips: https://www.roguefitness.com/monster-strip
Attach one on top bar and one parallel to the rear upright. It may work lol
2. Get Powertec Lat Tower option and couple of REP parallel 43” crossbars and see if that works
Just wish Rep came out with something. What are your thoughts on Powertec in general though?
You’re almost better off just buying a standalone lat tower. I have the Body Solid (https://www.garage-gyms.com/body-solid-pro-clubline-lat-mid-row-tower-review-slm300g-3/ and I like it way more than the rack-attached unit, and it’s not small but it’s not excessively large either.
I used to have a Powertec Workbench and it wasn’t bad. I was too tall for it ultimately but it was smooth and compact. I don’t think they win the innovation or customer service award of the year but there are worse pieces of equipment out there (and better, of course haha).
I wonder for something like rack pulls what is the height to the top of the spotter arms in lowest position of PR vs Monster HR
Thank you
Will the Rogue Adjustable Monolift – Monster. Fit the rep 5000 v2?
It will fit on the rack, but you probably won’t be able to get the hitch pin through the bottom hole because of a slight variation in hole spacing distance.
Hello,
Very helpful. Looking at the Rep 5000 v2 but using Sorinex attachments. Any help would really be appreciated, which do you think from the below don’t work or the safety pin won’t fit. Maybe most worried about j-cups being loose and safety straps not working as Reps safety straps don’t look as nice to me.
Indexing chin Bar
Safety straps (1 in differ)
J-cups
Utility Bench
Bar storage with utility bench
Landmine
I wouldn’t count on any of that except for the landmine working as well as they would on a Sorinex rack. Sorinex and Rogue uprights are literally 3″ x 3″ while Rep’s are metric (~2.95″). Additionally, hole spacing is off by a tiny amount, but enough to create issues with attachments that use more than one pin. I would just buy a Sorinex rack if you’re determined to use Sorinex attachments, or at the very least a Rogue Monster Rack.
I don’t know what the Sorinex return policy would be if you already own the 5000 and want to try some of these out, but I’d imagine at the very least you’ll be paying shipping both ways.
But also yes, Rogue and Sorinex attachments will feel loose on Rep uprights/crossmembers; especially if you have an unfinished Rep rack like the stainless.
Thanks nothing purchased yet but stuck on the stainless steel or the clear grind, not liking some of the feedback I have been given on the clear grind from Sorinex in that it’s not as durable and when they say patina they mean rust. Any thoughts if I don’t want to go with a color and more of a raw look? Also really like the numbered uprights and don’t want to pay an extra 400 just to get that.
I personally can’t see spending Sorinex money on a power rack when Rogue and even Rep are completely viable, less expensive alternatives. As far as I know Rep is still offering stainless steel, and Rogue does as well on some units. People also really seem to like Reps clear coat but and I haven’t heard anything about it rusting. Also both Rep and Rogue are numbered without a surcharge. Is it really just the attachment selection of Rep that is making you look elsewhere?
Hello, this question is based off of my last post and trying to use Sorinex attachments on a rep 5000 v2 rack. I understand Reps 3X3 are really like 2.95, would a simple fix, to close that gap, by just adding some UHMW plastic or maybe some felt under the plastic? Has anyone tried this or have enough knowledge with Rep attachments like sandwich j-cups to know how hard it would be?
You could do that – either replace the UHMW or build on it with something (like what you said – felt or something), but that cross-compatibility still kind of ends at single-pin attachments, at least with any reliability. I’ve attached the Trolley to a PR-5000, barely, but I couldn’t get the bottom detent pin in when I tried to attach Rogue spotters to the same rack. Again, I wouldn’t buy a lot of Rogue/Sorinex attachments for a PR-5000 and expect them all to work. It’s risky, and some will definitely not attach completely.
jburgenson, could you please let me know the diameter of the PR-5000 Leg roller? I have a REP PR-4000 but also got the new PR-4000 flip down safeties which now come with 1″ holes like the PR-5000 flip down safeties so my plan is to get the REP PR-5000 leg rollers and use them along the flip down safeties instead of on the uprights as they are more versatile than the single leg roller available for the PR-4000. I also like the Sorinex leg roller as it’s 6″ diameter and 16″ pad like the Rogue.
It’s 5″ x 16″
Thanks :) Do you like the REP leg roller?
I like them. I have a pair. They fit my Rogue Monster too so I find plenty of random uses for them.
Let question, promise :) Do they fit tight or loose in the PR-5000 uprights? Meaning if they wobble up and down a bit. BTW, I got the Rogue Monster Light Matador Dip attachment for my REP PR-4000 and it fits perfectly. I like it better than the REP PR-4000 Dip attachment.
They are in the middle. Not too tight, but not especially loose. There is some play but it’s not enough to think the attachment is lacking – especially considering affordable they are compared to Rogue/Sorinex.
I’ve often wondered how much better 4000/RML attachments work than the 5000/Monster.
Hi, Jburgeson, thank you for your review. I have a 4 post PR5000 rack and I’d like to make it 6 post. Would you be able to test out if the rogue crossmember fits on the PR5000, I was thinking the holes might be just close enough, but I’m not sure. I assumed you have both racks haha. If not, so you recall if the rogue trolly arms were the only multi-pin accessory that worked? Thank you for your time.
So, crossmembers should work being that the holes are what? 6 or 8″ apart? That should be close enough. SHOULD. That said, my Rogue rack is anchored in holes that will not permit a reinstall (You’re not supposed to use them twice, and I’ve used them three times and they do not hold like they used to), so I can’t really break down that rack to try this. I have the Collegiate rack, so I’d need to get at my lower crossmembers to test it, and there’s no way I could get those out and back in without loosening the floor anchors. It’s all very tight.
Why are you wanting to use Rogue’s anyway? You have access to them used?
Hi Jburgeson, You asked why and what I was doing. So I have the PR5000 but 4 post, i want to make it into a six post for plate storage and I like the look. REP is sold out of crossmembers but I was able to buy the extra uprights. Also, i wanted to attach the monster mini stabilizer feet. With Brandon’s (from basement gym on IG and Youtube) help, I was able to get the rogue monster crossmembers and mini feet to fit! Thanks for making this website, its what first gave me the idea! On a side note, REP also ran out of the 93’ latpulldown machine so I bought the 80’ and just lowered the rear crossmember. It’s a bit annoying because the REP logo Is in my face haha but the height of the attachemrnts worked out better for me anyway.
Oh I see. well I’m glad everything was compatible, and now I know for future reference =p
Hi, Jburgeson, I ended getting a pair of Rogue Monster Single Leg Roller 2.0 and all I can say is that they are worth every penny the price difference compared to the REP PR-5000 V2 Leg Roller. Just the build quality end the knurled screw-on nut make this leg roller the best available right now in the market. I bet you if you get it, you would agree with me ;)
You think it’s so much better that it’s worth the price difference?
I took a few photos of the roller in my PR-4000 flip down safeties in case you want to see how it looks :)
Hello!! Awesome review!! After reading this I actually returned my cheap amazon rack and bought this higher quality rack! Wish I found it before buying but I don’t mind paying the money for UPS to pick up the cheapie lol! Anyways I opted for the 30″ depth unit at 90 inches tall. I want to bolt it to a diy platform. Any decent link suggestions or build suggestions? I’m handy so that’s not an issue I just don’t want to bolt it to the concrete in may garage. Thanks for the help and I look forward to future content!
I would just use appropriately-sized carriage bolts that come up through your platform and then through the holes in the feet. It’s nothing complicated. Cumbersome, yes, but simple.
Sorry, I forgot to answer your last question. I dont have access to them used. They are sold on the Rogue website, 24’ is the shortest. So thats what I’m using.
Thank you for this great review! I’m planning to buy safety spotter arms but I’m also wondering whether you can use them inside 30″ deep racks. I mean to use them inside the racks just as flip-down safeties. It will be really helpful to me if you can give it a try!
Thanks, Ben. You can use them inside. They aren’t quite 30″
Thanks for the great review! I am considering using Rogue Arm on this PR 5000v2 due to its easiest to move compare to ISO arm. Any comment/feedback about using the Rogue Arm on 5000v2? Is it as smooth as using on Rogue?
It’s not a perfect fit to put the Rogue Trolley Arms on the PR-5000. You can feel a hint of looseness around the uprights, but they do fit. Fixed jammer arms vs the Trolley though? I don’t know how well those bolt holes will line up. It’ll be tight if it works at all.
I didn’t personally find the REP’s to be that hard to move. Not as easy as the Trolley, but not hard. I’m not sure I’d pay 3 times the money to put the Trolley on a REP rack for that reason alone.
Great and detailed review! I am considering getting this 5000v2 (if it would back to stock soon) and considering pair up with Rogue Jammer Arm with it. I learn that the upright on REP is actually slightly smaller than Rogue and wondering how does it feel when using the Jammer Arm on REP. Mainly due to Rogue Jammer Arm seems to be much easy so moving up and down than ISO Arm, which will be a big deal. Do you had any issue with it? How well does it work on REP than Rogue, such as moving up and down, also the snug fit, would it too loss on REP and causing additional shaking feel?
I replied to the first comment. Didn’t’ see this one yet. If by Jammer you mean LT-1 Trolley, it will fit, but fit loosely. If you mean the fixed Jammer Arms that don’t’ slide up and down the uprights, I do not know how well they will fit, if at all.
My second message was about the same. I didn’t see the first comment posted when I refresh it, thought it was posted unsuccessfully.
Thanks for the reply. When I said Rogue Jammer, I do mean the trolley. Because my wife is planning to use that too, so I feel like to most important thing is she would be able to slide it up and down which has to be easy enough for her to use it to justify the price. Indeed it is like 3 times the price, that’s why I want to do will it still work fine on REP 5000v2.
Due to the slight slimmer upright of REP, I am worry the trolley will be loss which turn out to be heavy to slide up and down just like ISO arm did. My understanding on Rogue trolley is it got good snug and user will not need too much afford to prevent it slip down due to gravity. If it is not the snug fit in REP, will it just become ISO arm which will need quite some effort to counter the gravity force. Not sure did I explain my concern well enough here LOL..
I’m purchasing a 90” RM6 however I really like the Rep Fitness Lat PR 5000 Lat/Low attachment and wondered if in your it may be retrofitted onto the RM6? I like much better than the Rogue Slinger system. Do you know of anyone who has tried it? If not, what opinion on this subject?
Thanks,
Darryl
That would take some heavy modifications to attach that Rep tower to a Rogue rack. It will not attach by default. It has been done, but I’ve only seen images, never guidance on how it was done. I’m assuming these folks have the skills to chop, drill, and weld components (and the time, of course.)
I’d buy a REP rack if you care about this attachment a lot, much like I’d suggest a Rogue rack if you really wanted a particular Rogue rack attachment.
Your other option is a standalone lat machine.
Great write up and one of the several in depth reviews that drove me to order the PR 5000 V2 as opposed to a Sorinex or Rogue rack. My rack will be arriving this coming Monday. I chose the 80” 4 post 41”version with the rear stabilizer crossmember and also opted not to have the lat add-on for space reasons and because I have an Inspire FT2 functional trainer so the high low pulley would be superfluous for me. As far as accessories from REP, I ordered two sets of flat J cups, the strap safeties, the drop in safeties, the dip attachment and the single pulllup bar. Debating on waiting until the ISO arms come back in stock or just ordering the
Rogue LT-1 50 Cal Trolley & Lever Arm Kit with the shorter 35” arms which leads me to my first question. Do you still have your Rogue Trolley arms attached, do they function smoothly and flawlessly and do all the bolts/pins etc.endgage properly and easily as they should and are the trolleys tight and stable?
As far as other brand’s attachments, I plan on installing the two lower crossmembers about two holes higher to accommodate 3 sets of 6” Rogue Monster Keyless Plate Storage Pins with the knurled knobs for 25lb, 10 lb, and 5lb/2.5lb Rogue Machined Steel Plates. A pair of 12” Keyless Rogue Monster Plate Storage Pins will be attached to the rear uprights as low as possible for 45s. I will have about about 650 lbs of plates stored on rack. I liked these for plate storage because they take up only 1 hole and look slick. This leads me to my next question. I do not plan on bolting my rack down, and would prefer not to use the extension feet either. Do you think that with that weight on the rack I could use the REP ISO arms or Rogue trolley arms without a problem? I can utilize bumper plates that I have for Oly lifts on the jammer arms/iso arms/ trolley arms so as to keep the steel plates on the REP rack for stabilizing weight.
Other accessories that I ordered for the REP rack and hope that they will fit are the Sorinex monolifts and the Sorinex bulldog pad. Both of these have the peg and the hitch pins close together – using holes next to each other, which will hopefully allow for full compatibility with the REP rack. Not sure if you have heard “somewhere out there” that these would work or not? Interestingly, as a side note, there are zero reviews out there for the Sorinex Monolifts, I’m sure people out there have to have them. So either they suck in design and function, which I doubt, or they just are mediocre and don’t warrant comment. I’m hoping they are great. I also ordered a pair of Ghost Strong J cups with the Duffalo bar inserts to better hold my Kabuki bar. I will update you if the Sorinex pieces workout well. Obviously it’s been some time since you wrote your review an analysis. I was wondering if your feelings are still so positively strong for this rack? I appreciate your time with responding.
My Rogue Trolley is back on my Rogue rack. It was really more experimental than something permanent, especially with REP offering their own lever arms now. Rogue’s Trolley fit, but not flawlessly. It is something you can use on the 5000 and there’s no reason to think that it’s unsafe, but it’s not a perfect solution.
The rack should not go anywhere with all that weight on it. If you’ve got it on the bare foundation it may ultimately (and slowly) slide around, but you’re not going to tip the rack or anything with the lever arms with all that weight on the rear. The stabilizer feet would definitely help make the rack feel more secure though… if you’re slinging around a decent amount of weight on those arms.
Sorinex is just too expensive, and they don’t really give a damn about the retail market. It’s a great brand if you’re willing to pay their premium, but most aren’t, so feedback is very, very limited. You have about the same situation with a REP rack and Sorinex as you do with a REP rack and Rogue. Rogue and Sorinex are generally compatible, meaning they’re both questionably compatible with REP. But yes, I still really like the REP racks.. the 5000s and the 4000. I think the only issue, and it’s rarely even really an issue, is that Rogue has all these massive, complex accessories that look cool and sound neat to own, but wouldn’t fit a REP 5000. If one can accept that there is only about a 1% chance they’d ever actually want or need any of those unique accessories, then there doesn’t have to be any buyers remorse for not having gone with Rogue. I hear it a lot though… “I think I’ll go Rogue in case I want to add x down the road.” It’s not going to happen in most cases, and tons and tons of money could have been saved with zero loss of function or safety by just getting the REP… if that makes any sense haha
So for others out there, Sorinex’s Cliff Hangers will work well for this rack. Sorinex Bulldog Pad works great, their Utility seat, adjustable foot blocks, wrist roller and strap safeties, all of which I have purchased for my REP rack. I just purchased an additional pair of cross members (since you can not just buy one) and mounted it up top in front instead of the pull-up bar to add a bit more stability and open up for attachments like the cliff hangers. Rack is unbelievably stable on rubber flooring (4 post 41″ depth). I will be using Pull-up bar to connect either the ISO Arms or the Trolley Arms, whichever system I finally go with with hitch pins for a few select movements.
– Major question, even though you said that the 50 Cal LT-1 Trolly system from Rogue will fit – specifically, do both, the hitch pin and locking pin or any other connection to upright (not super familiar with design) all engage together to secure in position. And when you say it fits loosely, is it just a little, about as loose as ISO arms fit or is it significantly loose? Sliding trolley up and down feel exactly on REP as it does when mounted to Rogue rack? Was thinking about shorter arms so that I can always switch to inside of rack if I wanted. Any thoughts as to the arm length and what I would be losing with the shorter arms? Really wanted to get your exact thoughts on fitment because you had the opportunity to have direct comparison with both racks and both arms.
Just wanted to give a full confirmation that the Rogue LT-1 50 Cal Trolley system works flawlessly on the REP PR5000 rack. I received mine (the 35″ arm length version) in addition to the optional Articulating Handles which, incidentally, are a great addition. The trolley system fits super snugly, with zero play. No wobble or give, up and down or left to right. The key is utilizing the 4 set screws on the back set of rollers to adjust the roller positions/distance they have from the front rollers, thereby removing any slop. Both sets of rollers (front and back) on each trolley sit very flush with the uprights and despite the snug positioning, the Trolley operates exactly as it is intended – smoothly and easily. I haven’t had the opportunity to use the longer 48″ arms, but the 35″ ones are easy to manipulate and if I choose, later I can position them on the inside of my rack. Both the integral spring initiated detent pin as well as removable hitch pin fit perfectly into the holes on the rack as well, so zero compromise using this system on the REP rack. Not sure what/why the OP mentioned looser fitting or wobble with his Trolley system mounted on his REP rack, but I can attest to the opposite.
I am thinking to take this route. When you say the REP rack, do you mean the 5000 or the 4000? I have the Rep 4000 and looking to get the Cal Trolley. Tired of waiting for Rep to come out with theirs.