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Fitness Gear Ultimate Smith-Functional Trainer Smith Machine Squat Rack with Manual


UPDATE: I actually have the printed assembly instructions manual that has illustrations and a parts list. If you need it, download it here: Fitness Gear Ultimate Smith-Functional Trainer Assembly Manual for Smith Machine Squat Rack.

I recently received one of the best gifts I could have hoped for. It was a Fitness Gear Ultimate Smith – Functional Trainer from Dick’s Sporting Goods. My wife treated me to this, in my novice opinion, awesome rack. Fitness Gear has a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods that makes it so that only Dick’s can carry this model.

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I call these typed of machines squat racks. It gets the job done for me. It’s Friday and I don’t want to be online too long so I put together a little video of it. I plan on getting into more detail on this smith machine some other day, but for now enjoy the short video.

About the Author

My name is Israel Lagares. I used to be the kind of guy that was always in shape, but over the last few years I've fallen off tremendously. This site is my final attempt to get back into shape. So far I've lost 70.4 lbs. Check out my weight loss chart, weight loss videos and progress pics. Follow my journey, those of others, and read our thoughts on various health topics. Share your thoughts, experience, and journey here on FMU.

Community Thoughts (46)

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  1. JamesNo Gravatar says:

    Good toy! I don’t have the space for anything at home (20 square meters) so I go to a gym, but I can imagine and dream having a personal gym in a room of my future house 🙂

  2. JohnNo Gravatar says:

    Man I got gipped. The last thing my wife bought me was a pack of gum!

    • IsraelNo Gravatar says:

      Gipped!!!! LOL. I havent heard that word in so long. I have never read it, but I know exactly what it is. I used to use that so much back in NYC. Wow. You just brought back some good times.

  3. JohnNo Gravatar says:

    Yeah, hopefully no gypsies read your blog or they might get offended.

  4. williamNo Gravatar says:

    Hey, I was just looking at these today. Is it very sturdy and do you really like it a lot? I don’t know which to get this one or the powertech.

    Will

    • IsraelNo Gravatar says:

      I havent seen the powertech but I have enjoyed using mine so far. It is very sturdy and allows for me to perform a multitude of exercises. I actually had to watch the instructional DVD that came with it to see what exercises can be performed. I have made up a few of my own also.

  5. JasonNo Gravatar says:

    Hey, this is going to sound really random, but my girlfriend just bought one for me too. My basement has a really low clearance and I’m concerned about it fitting. I haven’t been able to find any specs or manuals online and Dick’s couldn’t help me either, so could you please give the dimensions on this thing? Thanks…

    • IsraelNo Gravatar says:

      Jason, I will be making a post in more detail, pics and all and will remember to include those numbers for you.

      • BrianNo Gravatar says:

        I am going to drive over an hour to the closets Dick’s just check this machine out.

        They have it on sale for $899 until Sat..
        But I wish there was a peck deck on it for butterflys. Are you able to do those well with the adjustable pulleys?

        My concern is that they are too close together and you don’t get a good stretch from them. is that accurate?

        any feedback is really appreciated!
        thanks, and nice setup!

        Brian

  6. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    thanks Israel,I was going to buy this unit from Costco until i saw this Ultimate Smith from Dick’s its a few hundred bux cheaper since it includes the bench, but doesn’t look as solid as the Dick’s unit.I hope it fits in my mid size SUV for the 1.5 hour drive home..I wish i could see the exercise video before purchasing it, and making the long drive. is there anything you don’t like about it?thanks again

    • IsraelNo Gravatar says:

      that machine looks okay, but it doesnt look as sturdy as mine. I have no complaints about it to be honest. oh, and just so you know you probably wont be able to take the 4 huge long boxes in your midsize SUV. I had to have it delivered because I had a RAV4. The guy that delivered it came in a toyota tundra, the new huge one.

      • BrianNo Gravatar says:

        bro, i just bought it!!!

        Just drove like 100 miles back and forth to check it out and buy it.
        It was hanging out of my Montero Sport on I-95 for the drive home, lol..

        I’m wiped out. I might not even have time this weekend to put it together.
        I still need to get some rubber flooring as its going in the garage, and I didn’t even get a 300ib weight set yet either.

        I just watched the DVD, and as many exercises they show, there are a bunch that they didn’t even show that can be done with this thing.

        I’ll post another update when its together

        brian

        • IsraelNo Gravatar says:

          Yep, the boxes were big. I was surprised when I saw it. Plan to spend about hours putting it together and have a bug help you out. I felt the same way about the video, I kept telling myself that there are more exercises I could do.

          Good choice on the buy!

  7. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    Hi Israel,

    I’m kinda stumped putting it together at the part where you insert the weight bar for the smith machine. It seems that with the nylon bushings that are supposed to go on each end, its not quite fitting right. and i can’t slide the smith bar into through all the holes ..

    I am on step 17 where you setup the smith bar if you still have the build manual.
    I would just go down to Dick’s to check out the floor model, but its like 1.5 hours away.

    any help is appreciated!!

    Brian

  8. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    well, now i am REALLY stumped.

    I’m not sure if the side pulley cable was incorrectly setup at the factory or not, but for the life of me i cannot figure out how to run this cable to the 2 adjustable pulleys.

    The plastic ball that is on each end of the cable will not fit thru any of the frame holes, and the instruction are just awful for this part, and they mention pulley part numbers that aren’t even shown in the diagram.

    I’m totally stuck right now.
    Did you have any problems with the cable install?
    any ideas for me??

    thanks again!

    • Fat ManNo Gravatar says:

      Brian, sorry but I had professionals deliver it and install it. It took them about 4 to 5 hours to do it and they too were confused at one point. I didn’t watch what they were doing so I can’t really help too much.

  9. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    no prob Israel, i finally figured it out.. but man the instructions are so bad.

    I’m wiped out, quitting for the night. I just need to tighten up all the loose pulleys tomorrow, and it should be ready to go.
    i will let you know how it goes

    thanks again for the help

  10. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    what bothers me also is there is no care/maintenance manual, and no weight limits printed about the equipment anywhere.

    I’d like to know the max weight specs for the different exercises.

    Unless i am overlooking it somewhere..

    If I have to say anything negative about this machine so far, it would probably be that there is no company you can call to ask a specific question about this machine. All you can call is Dick’s, and get a general support operator..

  11. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    Israel,

    When you have no weight on the back of the unit for the pulley system, do you get a lot of resistance going back?

    maybe my pulleys just need breaking in, because the resistance going back seems kinda weak

    wondering how yours is

  12. BrianNo Gravatar says:

    i noticed in their instructional video, they show a unit with what looks to be silver aluminum pulleys.

    I would love to know if we had the option to upgrade to those, but like i said.. there is no way to contact the maker of this unit..or get any info on it.

    other than that, i love it so far 🙂

  13. TroyNo Gravatar says:

    Thats anice piece of equipment. Squats are one of the best overall body exercises you can do. They not only train you legs but also your abs, lower back, traps and shoulders. Plus it’s a great cardio workout.

  14. KirkNo Gravatar says:

    What did you do to figure out the problem of the little plastic balls on the end of the cables fitting through the openings in the frame?

  15. KBNo Gravatar says:

    hey Israel! Where could I find instructions on the Ultimate Smith Machine? I can’t find them! …Thanks 🙂

  16. MarkNo Gravatar says:

    I wanted to thank you for posting this. It looks like the perfect combination of features and price. I’m hoping to pick one up myself in the upcoming months. The only thing I could think to add would be a selectorized weight stack to the lat tower. But that is just a nice to have, not necessary IMO. Then again, it looks to be a two rod design so maybe the dimensions are similar to say bodycrafts weight stack option for their racks? If so, a bit of clever work with a rod and a drill, etc. could put it all together.

    • MarkNo Gravatar says:

      Hmm, I read this was made by Nautilus for Fitness Gear. Some of the components do look the same, pulleys especially. Nautilus has a 200lb weight stack upgrade that will work with any of their plate loaded racks. I wouldn’t be surprised that it would work with this rack as well.

  17. MarkNo Gravatar says:

    Israel,

    Here is what Nautilus had to say about using their weight stack with it.

    “I understand that you are inquiring information about two machine attachments. Unfortunately, the cage will not work with our equipment. The frames are built differently and if modified to fit, the warranty would be in void.”

    If I had access to a weight stack option on a Nautilus machine I would still like to measure it to see if it would fit, once I have the Fitness Gear cage.

  18. MikeNo Gravatar says:

    Hey everyone,

    I bought one of the Ultimate Smith Fnctional Trainer gyms from dicks. It was the floor model and I never got the instruction manuals or anything. I was wondering if anyone knew who to contact to try to order one of these. I also need to order one of the spacers for one of the pulleys. I was putting it together and noticed one of them was cracked and don’t want to mess anything up. Thanks for any help you can offer.

    Mike

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