MAJOR FITNESS PLM03 – Our Review

There are a lot of half racks in the home gym equipment market.

You know the type; a pair of uprights, usually a cable pulley system, pull-up bar, and maybe even a landmine attachment.

These are a lot of fun to work out with and their added capabilities allow for a lot more workout versatility than just about any dedicated, single-purpose squat stands.

However, if you’re like me, these racks have a glaring design…problem that makes them slightly awkward to use in the best of times and effectively unusable during the worst.

The design of their safety bars

When I’m squatting even decently heavy, I want to know that I’m can safely fail a rep. Many half racks do come equipped with some form of safety bars or another, but, in my experience, none of these compare to those you get in a full power rack.

The MAJOR FITNESS PLM03 is a full power rack and since I have started using mine, I have been squatting with heavier weights than I ever squatted in other home power racks.

As much as I appreciate being able to squat heavy, I know that leg day doesn’t go one forever; are there enough other capabilities and goodies to make it a good buy…

Let’s take a look!

Shipping/Delivery

Upon confirming my shipment, MAJOR FITNESS sent FedEx information, allowing me to easily track the rack. It arrived in three days in a few securely-taped boxes.

Given the overall weight of the rack (a little over 250 pounds) and the items included to assemble it with (ex. wrenches), each box is a little hefty. None were too much trouble for me move directly into the garage, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a hand truck or (preferably) a friend to help you move the boxes into the assembly area.

Upon unboxing the PLM03, I found all pieces to be in good working order other than very minor blemishes (to be expected during transit). Overall, a very easy and seamless process.

Shipping/Delivery Rating: 100

Assembly

Despite its slightly-larger-than-average total size, I didn’t find the PLM03 to be overly difficult to assemble. With that being said, unlike many of my other rack builds, I actually enlisted the help of a friend for pretty much the duration of the process which, as you can imagine, likely reduced the overall assembly time (probably by a lot).

The only real gripe I had with this particular assembly process was that certain “steps” in the instruction manual included, like, 7 different “mini steps” (ex. “Step 5: tighten these 12 bolts, attach this plate, screw in this peg, erect this upright…”) making it difficult to discern how the intended linear process was actually supposed to play out.

Overall, the process wasn’t that much more difficult than it is for similar racks of its size and when all was said and done, we had it up and ready in a little over 3 hours.

I do want to emphasize that although the process was definitely simplified (and sped up) by having assistance throughout the build, it certainly wasn’t required. You could, with a little patience, put this rack together with minimal, if any, additional assistance.

Assembly Rating: 90

Construction/Steel

The PLM03 is composed of 14-guage steel. This “level” of steel is in line with what many larger pieces of home gym equipment (power racks, Smith Machines, leg press machines) are made of, however, it is on the thinner, less robust side.

Additionally, the rack’s uprights are of the 2×3-inch size. This, again, puts them in line with the uprights of many other home gym racks, although the thinner and less common size makes them less durable than others as well as less compatible with many after-market accessories (which more commonly fit 2×2-inch uprights).

Construction/Steel Rating: 65

Stability

Despite its size and decently hefty overall girth, the PLM03 isn’t the most stable rack I’ve ever lifted on. There are a few design flaws that detract from this in addition to the reality that its construction simply doesn’t lend itself to being overall stable.

When I put some of my weight into the rack, it sways pretty easily. It’s not to the point where I think it would straight up tip over, but it moves much more than what I’m accustomed to in other home gym racks (even those of similar weight and steel thickness).

Unlike many other similar racks, there is no “built-in” way to anchor the rack into the ground. These others often have bottom holes where bolts can be threaded through and drilled into the ground, but the PLM03 does not. I don’t find these solutions ideal, but for a rack that is already lacking in the stability department, it would have been an appropriate feature.

Finally, the PLM03’s storage area only accommodates a few bumper plates. Even these plates don’t really add too much to the overall stability since they are kind of “floating” away from the rack. If you’re a bigger person performing exercises that usually rock your rack around a bit, don’t count on being able to weigh it down like you might normally do.

Stability Rating: 80

Functionality

I understand that a machine’s level of “functionality” is largely dependent on the types of workouts and, more specifically, the types of exercises you regularly perform. If I’m into CrossFit (which I’m not) a basic pull-up rig is going to look just fine to me whereas a bodybuilder looking at the same rig is probably pulling his hair out.

We’ve looked at a number of power rack/Smith Machine combo machines and while these certainly have additional functionality potential (I mean, they have a Smith Machine included), a lot of lifters simply don’t need, want, or use Smith Machines.

The PLM03 doesn’t have a Smith Machine…which is fine by me. What it does have is a setup that allows me to safely perform squats and bench presses from within the confines of the rack.

As it is a true “full rack”, the interior safety bars make me more confident during these lifts (especially when I lifting alone) and other exercises, like rack pulls and shrugs, are just easier to perform.

I also find these bars to be much easier to adjust than quasi-safety bars found on most half racks (in many cases, I can’t be bothered to change these out) which has led me to include a more diverse array of exercises into my routines. The PLM03 actually does come equipped with these bars, but I haven’t had a reason to use them.

Besides the PLM03’s functionality in facilitating larger, compound lifts, the dual-pulley system is a legit value add. Being able to perform legit cable work and not have to settle for dumbbell substitutes (which aren’t necessarily bad substitutes) is important to me, especially in regard to considering the racks as something to completely replace a gym membership.

I appreciate that the pulley system is “cross-swivel cable” variety and that the weight is evenly distributed to both cables (as opposed to having to load the desired weight for each cable pulley individually).

Besides cable work and big, compound lifts, I spend the most amount of my workout time performing bodyweight exercises. This is probably the area where the PLM03 has let me down the most.

I appreciate that the pull-up bar not only allows me to perform standard, close and wide-grip bar pull-ups (almost like you would in your elementary school gym). However, its interior metal for neutral-grip pull-ups only allows for a few, wider-grip variations. I prefer going narrow on neutral-grip pull-ups and I can’t really perform these on the PLM03.

With that being said, I appreciate that the dip bars allow for two different width options (“close” and “wide”) which helps to alleviate some of my grief about the pull-up bar.

My final complaint relates back to something I discussed in the stability section. I’m a smaller guy (~145 pounds) so when I’m doing a set of pull-ups or anything else that might rock a rack around, it’s not swaying as much as it would under a heavier person. When this type of swaying does occur, it’s usually easy to counteract by adding some additional weight to the rack’s storage area.

Because the plate storage area is so small and off center, it really doesn’t help to alleviate this issue.

Overall, if you don’t really need the functionality options that come with higher-priced gym equipment, (and especially if you’re not a “bodyweight ninja”), the PLM03’s offerings should be more than suitable for you. If you’re a powerlifter that likes to sneak in a cable crossover or two, you may very well be all set with this one.

Functionality: 85

Accessory Compatibility

The MAJOR FITNESS PLM03 comes with a few accessories. Additionally, the company offers a few purchasable accessory items for those who have a particular exercise in mind or who simply prefer a different type of J-cup for their rack.

However, I wouldn’t say that the included accessories nor the accessories for purchase are overly extensive. Additionally, the 2×3-inch uprights, while not uncommon, are definitely less common than 2×2-inch uprights. Because of this, there are generally less accessories available overall and available accessories are usually slightly more expensive.

Accessory Compatibility: 75

Price

The PLM03 fits into an interesting category price category between the mid-range budget racks and entry-level commercial grade gear. It’s certainly not difficult to find lower-priced power racks on popular retail website, but the rack is definitely not in the “break the bank” territory.

Like many racks of its kind, the PLM03 offers a number of package options ranging from a “base” level (where only the rack and a few basic accessory items are included) to more of an “all-inclusive” package where you get a bench, bar, and bunch of weights/plates.

Ultimately, buying direct from MAJOR FITNESS will set you back between $830 and about $2,250, depending on which package you ultimately decide to go with. If you use HELLOMAJOR you can knock another 5 percent off any product.

Price Score: 80* (if HELLOMAJOR is used for 5 percent off)

Customer Reviews

There are a lot of reviews out there for the PLM03…like…a lot.

At the time of this writing, between Amazon reviews and reviews posted on the MAJOR FITNESS website, roughly 1,550 people have weighed in on the rack.

…and collectively, they are pretty happy.

With a 4.9 cumulative review on the company’s website and a 4.6 on Amazon, the overall customer review score comes out to just under a 4.8.

Not bad…not bad at all…

Customer Reviews Score: 99

Customer Service

I don’t do much of the “behind the scenes” talking, but Tom has had a few discussions with MAJOR FITNESS over the last year, a few of which have dealt with product concerns. None of these have really dealt with “major” (ha!) problems, but they did require solutions, mainly to get replacement pieces.

One thing I will say is that the reps have been good about trying to devise different solutions when these issues arise, making suggestions or mentioning things that I wouldn’t have even thought of (mainly when it comes to assembly). Even when these solutions haven’t worked out, they’ve been quick to send out replacement parts.

Customer Service Score: 100

Who is the MAJOR FITNESS PLM03 really for?

I’m sure you probably have an idea of who I’m going to call out as a potential audience for the PLM03.

…and you’re probably going to be right.

However, let’s take a look at a few additional categories of people who may (or may not!) especially appreciate it.

Full rack squatters

I definitely feel more comfortable squatting inside a full rack with legit safety bars than I do “on the outskirts” of a half rack (I’m not even going to mention how I feel squatting in free-standing squat racks). This comfort slightly extends to benching and shrugging as well.

For those who want the additional feeling of confidence that comes from this kind of rack setup, the PLM03 has what you’re looking for.

Those who want slightly upgraded functionality

The PLM03 isn’t going to win any awards for providing unrivaled functionality and MAJOR FITNESS itself sells a number of Smith Machine/power rack combos that provide exponentially more exercise versatility.

However, I know there are a number of lifters who prefer to stick to “the basics”, supplementing with only a select few exercises as desired. If you fall into this category, the PLM03 might have just about everything you need.

Not for “functional fitness” lifters

If you’ve been doing CrossFit or similar workout programs for any length of time, you’ve probably gotten used to using freestanding (no safety bars) squat racks. If you’re comfortable squatting this way, the PLM03’s main advantage might be irrelevant to you.

How we tested the MAJOR FITNESS PLM03

I was especially excited to work with the PLM03 for a bit because it helped me scratch an itch that I feel like I’m constantly (somewhat) bothered by with most home power racks. It finally allowed me to squat as heavy as I normally would inside a cage at a commercial gym.

Needless to say, I primarily focused on heavier, compound movements, diverting away from some recent powerbuilding rep ranges I have recently been working through (more of an emphasis on power with the PLM03, to be precise).

I wasn’t able to be as consistent with larger array of bodyweight exercises that I would normally perform, mainly due to some of the limitation I mentioned with the dip and pull-ups bars, but these still made a rather large proportion of my workouts.

MAJOR FITNESS PLM03 Alternatives

As mentioned before, there are a number of home power rack alternatives, but not too many that are “full” configurations. If you’re looking for a full rack with safety bars, you have a few options; we present two below (as well as a MAJOR FITNESS brand alternative):

Frequently Asked Questions

Picking out a first “full” rack isn’t for the faint of heart. As such, we suggest checking out a few of our FAQs before pulling the trigger:

The PLM03…For Big Lifts…and a Little More on the Side

The MAJOR FITNESS PLM03 doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles that are common on many “all-in-one home gyms” today. However, in a crowd where the addition of full-fledged Smith Machine almost seems to be the norm, it’s subtle ability to facilitate big lifts cannot be understated.

I wish that the rack was a bit more stable and that the pull-up bar provided me a few more grip options, but I’m not complaining. A full rack that allows be to perform my core lifts and any cable exercises I might have programmed fits my needs perfectly. If you’re in the same camp, I think you’ll be equally appreciative.