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A lot of our fans from the Home Gym Community have asked GGR founder Coop Mitchell to review some products from Body-Solid, a long-standing company producing residential and commercial gym equipment. Well, we’ve finally answered the call; Coop got his hands on some Body-Solid equipment and he’s beginning his first Body-Solid review with their functional trainer rack attachment—and squat rack.
The Body-Solid GPRFTS Functional Trainer Attachment and GPR400 Power Rack are similar to the REP Ares and Rogue FM6: a power rack with functional trainer compatibility. This is made to be a more budget-oriented rack and functional trainer than the offerings by REP or Rogue…but does the price provide enough value? In this Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack review, we’ll answer that and more.
A Decade of Testing Fitness Equipment (And Counting)
What qualifies us to review Body-Solid and other fitness equipment companies? The answer is experience. The team at Garage Gym Reviews has first-hand reviewed countless pieces of gym equipment since 2014. Along with that, our testers all have experience in the fitness industry, being certified personal trainers, coaches, and athletes.
You could say we have amassed a “solid body” of work when it comes to fitness equipment, pun intended.
For the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack, Coop took the rack and cable machine through several workouts and exercises, noting the feel of the cables and stability of the rack. He rated each aspect of the functional trainer rack a score between 1 and 5 according to our fitness equipment testing methodology. Coop looked at features including:
- Durability and construction
- Footprint
- Versatility and weight stacks
- Pulleys and stability
- Overall value
Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack
Body-Solid GPR400 Power Rack
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Include safeties and J-cups
- Fits in basements and low ceilings
- Budget-conscious
- Heavy duty 11-gauge steel
Cons
- No numbers on holes
- Cable attachments sold separately
Bottom Line
The Body-Solid power rack is an affordable 4-post rack for anyone concerned about ceiling height. This rack stands 79″ tall and will work for most home gyms and basement gyms.
A Quick Look at the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack
Based in the USA, Body-Solid has been around for a while now, since its founding in 1989. One of their largest claims to fame is that they were the first company to introduce a lifetime warranty on fitness products in 1994. Their line of products were fairly limited until about 2016, where they made a conscious effort to expand their product line, including new power rack lines.
The GPR400 Power Rack is designed with home gym users in mind, constructed with heavy-duty 11-gauge steel and a rated weight capacity of 1,000 pounds or more. Along with the functional trainer attachment, Body-Solid has other attachments for the rack, including a landmine attachment for T-bar rows, dip bars, and more.
It also boasts a short 79-inch height. Coop himself adds, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a company brag about their rack being 1 inch shorter than competitors, but Body-Solid is letting you know this rack can fit just about anywhere.” Its low height can indeed be a great option for basement gyms, or rooms with a low ceiling.
The functional trainer attachment comes in two different versions—a plate-loaded version, or one with 210-pound weight stacks. Coop tested out the selectorized weight stacks, so we’ll be basing this review off his experience with that piece of equipment.
Body-Solid does a good job adding to the power rack’s functionality without adding too much to the overall floor space, only adding a couple inches to the height and just enough to the rack’s depth to fit the weight stacks. With it, the gym equipment can handle free weights in the rack, as well as functional training and cable exercises: lat pulldowns, low rows, and chest flyes.
Before You Buy
- The GPRFT Functional Trainer Attachment is only compatible with the Body-Solid GPR400 Power Rack. If you already have a power rack or cage, this may not be the best option for you.
- All Body-Solid products have a lifetime residential warranty, which is one of the highlights of this machine, especially from a longstanding company like Body-Solid.
- Body-Solid doesn’t sell their products on their website, so you’ll have to find a local authorized retailer, or you can find a seller online. Fitness Factory is the largest online retailer of Body-Solid equipment, and would be our recommendation for purchasing online.
Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack Video Review
Is the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack Worth It?
“This seems to me like a mid-tier rack and functional trainer,” Coop explains. “It’s higher quality than budget options like Major Fitness or RitFit, but still is budget-oriented to be cheaper than Rogue or REP’s offerings.” Still, the price isn’t as budget-friendly as we were hoping for.
RELATED: RitFit Smith Machine Review
The rack and functional trainer together cost about $2,720, which is less than the REP Ares 2.0 and Rogue FM6, but not by much. The Ares 2.0 starts at $2,799, which is slightly more than the Body-Solid functional trainer rack, but also has high-quality aluminum pulleys, smooth travel, and premium handles and attachments—which makes it a better value for not much more money.
Because the price is just a bit too high, Coop has to rate the value a 3 out of 5. “Ideally, the price needs to be lower for this to be really worth it. I want to say this is the budget Ares should be your pick if you’re on a budget, but the price isn’t quite there yet,” Coop adds.
He also notes that the rack alone is better value, as it’s $725—a good price for a heavy-duty rack. He rates the value of the rack on its own a 4 out of 5, but also mentions there are still better deals available, like the Titan Fitness X-3 Flat Foot Power Rack, which is just under $700.
Great for:
- Basement gyms and low ceilings
- Lifters who want a durable power rack with added versatility
- People looking for a lifetime warranty on their fitness equipment
Not recommended for:
- People looking for the best value in their budget home gym equipment
- Those who prefer higher quality aluminum pulleys in their cable machines
- Lifters who already have a power rack that won’t be compatible with Body-Solid
Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack Specs
| Price | $2,720 ($725 for the power rack alone) |
| Dimensions | 77” L x 74” W x 81” H |
| Weight | 625 lbs |
| Weight stacks | Dual 210-lb stacks |
| Pulley ratio | 2:1 |
| Attachments | Dual-swivel curl bar, dual-swivel lat bar, ankle cuff, stirrup handles (2), pipe-pin safeties, J-hooks, pull-up bar |
| Frame material | 11-gauge steel |
| Pulleys | Nylon |
| Warranty | Lifetime residential warranty |
Using the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack
GGR founder Coop Mitchell used the functional trainer rack from Body-Solid through a variety of movements, using both the rack and the functional trainer elements—squats, bench press, lat pulldowns, seated cable rows, chest flyes, and more. Upon using the cable elements, Coop immediately noticed some similarities to another popular rack cable attachment on the market.
“I’m not sure if the REP Ares was released first, or if this rack and functional trainer was, but it appears like they drew inspiration from each other,” Coops says of the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack. The cables converge at a high and low pulley system in the center of the back crossmembers, with dual swivel pulleys at each point, much like the upgraded Ares 2.0.
You can use a banana clip to combine the two pulleys for lat pulldowns or low rows, but you can also use one pulley for unilateral work. The swiveling movement allows for a greater range of motion and more natural movement during exercises as well. The front upright trolleys have a 180-degree swivel as well, although Coop notes that “they’re nothing to write home about.”
RELATED: Best Power Racks with Lat Pulldowns
Although the functional trainer attachment has similarities to the REP Fitness Ares attachment, it’s not built the same, made to be a less expensive rack and trainer combo.
Durability and Construction
Coop rates the construction and durability of the GPR400 and its functional trainer attachment a 4 out of 5. The rack is built solidly, with powder-coated 11-gauge steel and decent welds throughout. The rack is rated to hold up to 1,000 pounds, so it should hold up for most home gym owners without any issue. The pull-up bar has a light knurling on it that feels great in use, according to Coop.
The pulleys are nylon, which won’t be as durable as aluminum pulleys, nor will they have quite as smooth of a travel while in use. Coop wishes there was an upgrade kit available, but as is, the cables and pulleys work well enough.
There are a few finer points Coop would like to see refined for the user experience. For example, for every five holes along the rack uprights, Body-Solid has marked a smaller hole next to it to help identify where you are along the upright. This can be helpful when you’re trying to put your J-hooks or trolleys at the same height on each upright.
Still, Coop suggests numbers along the uprights to better identify your positioning “If you’re cutting little holes to mark the uprights, it can’t be much more difficult to mark the uprights with numbers instead,” Coop suggests.
Additionally, the 210-pound weight stacks aren’t marked with the weight of the stack, but just numerically (1, 2, 3, 4, etc). It makes a lot more sense to label the stacks with the weight you’re going to be using, so Coop would like to see this simple change implemented down the road, too.
Versatility
Being both a functional trainer and a power rack, there are a ton of exercises you can do, and in a fairly small space, too. Plus, the 210-weight stacks provide a good amount of resistance for your workouts. The pulley ratio is 2:1, meaning 100 pounds will feel like 50 pounds, but the high pulley can attach both weight stacks to the lat bar, meaning you can still get up to 210 pounds of resistance for pulldowns and similar exercises.
Body-Solid is beginning to integrate other pieces of equipment into their strength training ecosystem as well. Coop got to play around with the Body-Solid GLEG—a leg extension and leg curl weight bench—while testing out the functional trainer rack. The GLEG has a cable that can connect to the low row pulleys of the GPRFTS, allowing you to do leg curls and extensions with the weight stacks.
Coop rated the versatility and weight stacks a 4.5 out of 5, taking a bit off because the GLEG’s integration isn’t perfect. “It feels more like a prototype right now,” Coop says, “but it’s the kind of innovation that I’d love to see refined and improved on by Body-Solid and other companies.”
Footprint
The Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack can do a whole bunch, and in a relatively small space. The short height of the power rack alone makes it a space-saving rack. The functional trainer attachment adds a bunch of versatility, without adding too much to its overall footprint. The dimensions of the functional trainer rack are 77 inches long and 74 inches wide, with a still relatively low height of 81 inches.
Most of the larger footprint comes from the addition of the weight stacks to the back of the power rack. They are set directly behind each side, and connect at the bottom and top. It looks like a 6-post power rack, although it isn’t really; the guide rods of the weight stacks give the impression of two extra posts.. Overall, it’ll take up a bit of space, earning a 4 out of 5 rating for footprint. But given the functionality, we think the machine is worth your floor space.
Another thing to note is the low height. While this may be ideal for those looking for compact exercise equipment, taller athletes may need to bend their legs to hang from the pull-up bar effectively.
Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack vs REP Fitness Ares 2.0
REP Ares 2.0
REP Fitness Ares 2.0
Product Highlights
- Upgraded version of Ares cable attachment
- Compatible with PR-4000 and PR-5000 power racks
- Dual weight stacks with 260 lbs each
- Adds cable machine functionality to a power rack
- Built-in micro-adjustment plates
- Low row is updated to seated row height
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comparable in price to the OG Ares
- Customizable rack options
- Compatible with PR-4000 and PR-5000
- Swiveling pulleys
- Built-in micro-adjustment plates
- Adds versatility to a power rack
Cons
- Expensive
- Likely only works with REP racks
Bottom Line
The REP Ares 2.0 is an upgrade of the original REP Fitness Ares Cable Attachment. This functional trainer integration features improvements such as a raised low row attachment point, as well as a deeper set weight stack, to allow for more space within the power rack. The Ares 2.0 comes with dual 260-pound weight stacks, with an option to make them 310 pounds.
With similarities in the swivel pulley design and dual high and low pulleys, it’s apt to compare the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack with the REP Ares 2.0. The REP Ares 2.0 is built with higher-quality materials and a premium design, but it’s also made to be a higher end cable attachment.
Along with more durable aluminum pulleys and color customization, the Ares also boasts heavier weight stacks—260 pounds each that can be upgraded to a whopping 310 pounds.
The main thing that the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack does better than the Ares is a slightly better warranty. The Ares only provides a 1-year warranty on cables, pulleys, and pop-pins, whereas Body-Solid provides a blanket lifetime residential warranty on the entire machine, cables and all.
REP’s cable attachment is pricier, starting at $2,799, and the price increases if you add a rack and other attachments. Still, the mid-tier Body-Solid comes in just under the starting price of the Ares. With budget-oriented choices made on this functional trainer attachment, we would’ve liked to have seen the price be substantially lower than a premium product like the Ares 2.0.
You can see our full thoughts on the cable attachment in our REP Ares 2.0 review.
| Body-Solid GRPFTS | REP Ares 2.0 | |
| Price | $2,720 ($725 for the power rack alone) | Starts at $2,799 |
| Dimensions | 77” L x 74” W x 81” H | 57.6” W x 80” or 93” H (length varies due to customization) |
| Weight | 625 lbs | Varies by customization |
| Weight stacks | Dual 210-lb stacks | Dual 260-lb stacks (can be upgraded to 310 lbs) |
| Pulley ratio | 2:1 | 2:1 |
| Attachments included | Dual-swivel curl bar, dual-swivel lat bar, ankle cuff, stirrup handles (2), pipe-pin safeties, J-hooks, pull-up bar | Lat pulldown bar, banana clip, carabiners (7), knurled D-handles (4), choice of safeties, spotter arms, and J-cups, pull-up bar |
| Frame material | 11-gauge steel | 11-gauge steel |
| Pulleys | Nylon | Aluminum |
| Warranty | Lifetime residential warranty | Lifetime warranty on the rack; 1-year warranty on pop-pins, pulleys, bearings, and cables |
Customer Experience
Customer service really shines in one place with Body-Solid: the lifetime warranty. They have a blanket lifetime residential warranty on all of their products. In the case of the GPRFTS, it’s very rare to see cables and pulleys be covered longer than just a couple years.
However, because Body-Solid doesn’t sell their products directly, when it comes to returns and financing, you’re beholden to the terms and conditions of the seller. Online, the biggest online seller of Body-Solid equipment is Fitness Factory, which has a 31-day return policy and does have financing through Affirm. Because you’re left to the retailer’s policies, however, we rate the customer experience a 3.5 out of 5.
Body-Solid can be contacted by mail, phone, or email. If you want to contact by email, there are about eight different email addresses available, each for different concerns or needs.
Ordering and Assembling the Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack
The Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack can be bought through a local authorized retailer, or you can find it on several online retailers. Body-Solid recommends looking at Fitness Factory, the largest online retailer of Body-Solid products.
Assembly wasn’t too much of a hassle for us, as Coop didn’t mention any horror stories in assembling the power rack and cable attachment. The instructions also read pretty clear. However, because this rack is involved and has a sizable cable attachment, too, I’d recommend having at least one other person to help you, and you should set aside at least a few hours to work on this rack.
Customer Reviews
As of this writing, there aren’t a lot of reviews on the GPR400 Power Rack or the functional trainer attachment. I was able to find two reviews on Fitness Factory of the power rack, but only one review of the functional trainer attachment.
Of the reviews posted so far, they’re all 5-star reviews. Customers enjoy the rack’s stability and construction, plus the option to expand with the functional trainer attachment. One customer liked the cables’ travel, calling it “ultra-smooth.” While we may not agree with “ultra-smooth,” the cables do travel well. Still, we like to see more customer reviews, so we’ll update here as reviews continue to trickle in.
Final Verdict of Our Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack Review
Whether it’s for triceps extensions, flyes, or rows, a functional trainer attachment can add loads of versatility to your power rack. The Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack can provide just that, and with a low height and relatively small footprint, it can be a great option for your home gym. That said, this budget-oriented power rack and functional trainer combo doesn’t quite hit the mark on its price.
It’s a good machine, but you’ll be able to find better value elsewhere, either in a better value budget machine, or by spending a little more for a premium piece of equipment. Here’s some things to consider when deciding if Body-Solid’s rack is right for you:
- The functional trainer attachment is only compatible with the Body-Solid GPR400, meaning if you have another rack, you’ll have to replace it to use this attachment.
- All Body-Solid equipment is backed by a lifetime residential warranty.
- While the integration of the GLEG weight bench and leg extension is a little clunky, it’s the sort of innovation that excites us about future iterations of these power rack and functional trainer attachments, from Body-Solid and other companies.
Full Rating
Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack
This power rack has budget-oriented choices, but does the cost reflect a budget price? We’ll discuss this in our Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack review.
Product Brand: Body-Solid
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 2720
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.9
Body-Solid Functional Trainer Rack: FAQs
What is the difference between a power rack and a functional trainer?
Functional trainers and power racks in a home gym can both be a great starting point for building out your home gym’s ecosystem, as both can add attachments and versatility to your workout routine.
However, a squat rack is primarily used for free-weight movements performed with an Olympic barbell, such as bench press, back squats, or rack deadlifts. Depending on the rack you purchase, you’ll gain access to a variety of compatible power rack attachments as well, adding more versatility to a relatively small footprint in your gym.
A functional trainer is a cable machine that has resistance-based cable exercises, which can also add versatility to your exercise routine. Many companies in recent years have combined racks and functional trainers together to make unique designs for all-in-one trainers and home gyms—like the REP Ares Cable Attachment, a cable system compatible with REP Fitness power racks.
Are functional trainers worth it?
Functional trainers can definitely be a worthy investment for your garage gym, as it can add tons of variety to your typical workout regimen, especially if you don’t already have a cable machine in your home gym. That said, functional trainers often take up a lot of space, so it may be wise to prioritize other gym equipment first: barbells, dumbbells, and weight plates, for example.
Is Body-Solid a commercial brand?
Body-Solid has been around since 1989, with a long history of providing high-quality gym products and equipment. Some of their equipment is marketed and produced with home gym users in mind—such as the Body-Solid GPR400 Power Rack—but a lot of their equipment is produced for a commercial gym setting. In particular, their Pro Clubline series of fitness equipment is made for commercial use.
Each Body-Solid product is given a commercial warranty (which will vary product to product), as well as a lifetime warranty for residential use.
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