Garage Gym Questions: Rack and Platform

Hi everyone:

I’m in the process of planning a garage gym for a new house, and I’m looking at either the Rogue R-3 rack (bolted into a platform or directly into the concrete) OR the Rogue RML-490C rack (not bolted). I’m thinking of doing more than one rack (either two R-3s or one RML-490c and one R-3) to allow multiple members of my family to train together in different racks.

I like Austin Baraki’s setup in the “SQUATS w/the Barbell Medicine Crew” video on YouTube. It looks like those R-3 cages in Austin’s setup are bolted into the platforms, not the floor. I assume from the looks of it in the video that they’re very stable that way. But, 1. what size are those platforms, 6’x8" or 8’x8"?
2. does the size of those platforms leave enough room to deadlift outside the rack, at the end of the platform?
3. how is bench pressing in such a setup–specifically, bench pressing with one’s feet on the wood of the platform? Any foot slippage due to lack of grip? does the bench itself slide on the wood? Thanks in advance to Austin or anyone else who can jump in and answer those questions!

  1. 6 x 8
  2. Yes, I deadlift in front of the rack
  3. I have no problems benching on that setup. My wife sometimes reports some foot slippage, so she’ll throw down a mat for her feet and that fixes the issue.
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Allan Thrall has a good platform construction video but he builds 4x8, so maybe not big enough for you. I have my 4x8 deadlift platform separate from my rack. no platform under my rack, just the concrete floor. when i’m using the rack for any exercise, the plates never contact the floor.

if you have the funds, I’d consider the RML-490c because the bigger size is better if you want to use the back of rack itself for plate storage.

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Thanks so much to everyone for the responses–this is terrific information!!

I do have a followup question for everyone. Let’s say I went with the R-3 on a 6x8 platform (Austin’s setup). I’m assuming I would bench inside the rack, as opposed to using the J-cups on the outside, using safety spotter arms–because benching outside it would seem that the end of the bench would be off the platform. So, my question is–how far away should I bolt the back part of the rack from the back edge of the platform–and how far from the wall? I’m assuming I would want to leave room for a spotter to stand back there against the wall (although most of the time we would probably just be unracking the bar ourselves, and using pins or straps for safety).

It’s very hard to be sure from looking at the “SQUATS w/the Barbell Medicine Crew” video on YouTube, but it looks like Austin has the back end of his rack bolted down about 10" from the edge of the platform and then another 2" or so from the wall.

Hope my question makes sense.

Yes, I would definitely recommend the R3 Power Rack and flat bench. The R3 is as solid as a tank anchored to my basement floor—No forward or side to side movement. My gym is in my mechanical room, which is only 12’ wide x 8’ deep. It is a little right, but it works great and beats training in a freezing cold/burning hot garage!

Currently, I just have 3/4” rubber stall mats cut to size, but I plan to make a platform like at Horn Strength and Conditioning.

-Paul

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If I went with an RML-490C, I’m assuming that we could have two people training with the rack at the same time, correct? For example, one person squatting inside the rack, while the other person squats or benches outside the rack using safety spotter arms. (I don’t mean literally doing the lifts at the exact same time, I just mean the two people having bar loaded and taking turns actually doing the lifts in their respective areas). Is there any safety issue with squatting outside the rack using safety spotter arms, by the way?

I have an R3 with the R3 add-on attachment. And a Titan squat rack for my son. Two people can use the rack set up at once but it’s distracting. Not an issue for alternating. Right now it has my Viking press left above the side I bench on and I squat and overhead press on the other side. I leave my ssb above the squat/press side and just tie it up with a cable. Sheer laziness/time restrictions.

If you have the space and funds for two… do that. Definitely. It’s safer and much easier. My choice was made before Rogue started making pretty much the same thing at a higher price. And it was much cheaper than two racks.

My rack, his rack, the heavy bag, and platform surround our gymnastics/grappling mats. Life is good that way. And the R3 is more than enough rack. But if you want the new and fancy stuff, they make you buy monsters. Plan ahead for that now.

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It’s been mentioned before but Alan Thrall has an awesome video on how to make a platform. I would recommend however that you buy the most expensive wood, and take the time to sand it with a super fine grit sand paper and then stain it, you will thank me later. It’s well worth the investment, because you don’t want to be replacing concrete flooring in a garage or basement.

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@Austin_Baraki (or anyone else who can chime in): with the R-3 bolted to a 6x8 platform, do you have enough room to overhead press in front of the rack? I assume you do, since you said you have room to deadlift in front of the rack, but I just want to be sure.

Yes, there is enough room

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Thanks, Austin!