Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack 2.0
Overall
User Review
( votes) Summary
The Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack 2.0 is a solid rack for home and garage gym owners that provides a sturdy 3×3 steel design with laser-cut numbering and strong 1″ hardware.
Pros
3X3 steel is solid.
Powder Coat looks great, especially in a Cerakote finish.
1″ hardware is built to last.
Tons of available accessories that are actually useful.
A great price point for the quality.
Cons
The powder coat looks great but scratches easily.
There is some movement when not bolted down.
The included wrenches are not comfortable to use.
The Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack 2.0 is the rack of choice at Garage Gym Products. I use this particular unit, with the 100″ height option for testing all new barbells brought into my testing facility and various other products. The power racks are available in 90″, 100″, and 108″ options.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Rogue Monster series of racks, they are a popular option created using 3×3″ 11-gauge steel tubes and massive 1″ hardware that bolts the units together.
Upon receiving my Rogue RM-4 the rack arrived in nearly a dozen boxes that shipped on a palette. The boxes included the uprights, the cross members, the smooth Cerakote finish pull-up bar I chose as an upgrade, and plenty of hardware.
Rogue RM-4 Rack Installation
A note on the hardware for installation, Rogue provides two wrenches with the order; however, do yourself a favor and purchase a 1.5″ socket wrench.
I always add and remove accessories, and the standard wrenches Rogue sent my way are annoying to use and don’t feel great in my hands because of oddly sharp edges.
I managed to set up my unit independently, but I highly recommend a second pair of hands.
Build Quality
Once installed, the Rogue RM-4 does have a decent amount of give when not bolted down to the floor. I’m not an overly strong lifter, but I can easily rerack 400 pounds after squatting and feel the RM-4 slides ever so slightly across my rubber gym flooring.
Still, I haven’t bolted down the unit, and everything from pull-ups to bench presses feels stable within the rack.
Several reviewers who have refused to bolt their Rogue RM-4 2.0 to the floor have suggested purchasing the Rogue Monster Mini feet, but I’ve felt confident in the product without them.
Regarding rack movement, I also noticed that my RM-4 wasn’t square at times; after several hours of tinkering with the rack, I realized I needed to tighten down the unit’s main bolts further. While the rack can still come out of square, it’s much more sturdy.
Outside of general stability, Rogue has laser-cut pin position numbers on the uprights and bottom cross member, while providing a keyhole pattern on the sides of each upright that introduces added compatibility to the unit.
In the image at the top of this page, you can see my Rogue Monolift, which I often leave attached. Check out my Rogue Monolift review here. The numbering system is easy to read; attachments can be added and removed in seconds.
There is plenty of room for workouts inside the rack with 43″ of depth. I often pull out my Prime Fitness USA FID Bench to perform various core workouts inside the rack.
I also leave my TRX Pro4 attached to the top cross member in the back of the rack and easily perform various movements.
Pull-up bar
One of my favorite parts on the Rogue RM-4 is the 43″ Monster socket pull-up bar I purchased when ordering. I chose a Cerakote finish with a smooth grip.
I’ve struggled with grip strength for a while and wanted to force myself to hold a stronger grip on the bar. The Cerakote finish is amazing, and the bar feels really solid. Like other Rogue accessories, it attacks with 1″ bolts that don’t move once attached.
At 1.125″ in diameter, the bar feels natural with a solid grip. Rogue offers fat grip and multi-grip options if you’re looking for alternatives. Speaking of dropping my barbells back into place, with a depth of 2.25″, I have yet to miss a re-reck.
Safety Straps
I also purchased the Monster Strap Safety System 2.0, which provides 3″ wide reinforced nylon straps that are rated for up to 10,000 pounds.
Using the same keyhole function along with a bolted-together design, the safety straps offer a ton of protection. I particularly like this feature because it prevents my barbells from constantly coming into contact with steel or UHMW plastic. I often use the straps to rest my barbell when I want to work on simple push presses from a static resting position.
I don’t lift particularly heavy, but I’ve dropped several 400-pound bars on the safety straps during failed squats, and they have shown no signs of stress.
Band Pegs
My Rogue RM-4 also shipped with four band begs I regularly use during resistance training, especially for seated squats and bench presses. The band pegs slide right into the holes on the bottom cross members of my rack, providing easy maneuverability.
As a nice hack, I also use the band pegs to hold my TRX Pro straps out of the way during other lifts.
I love my Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack 2.0, and I highly recommend it. I will note that I could have easily gone with the 90″ unit. At 5’10”, I have to stand on one of my Rep Fitness 3-in1 plyo boxes to reach the pull-up bar, which is a bit annoying. At the same time, I plan to add the Rogue LT-1 50 Cal Trolley 2.0 in the future, and the added height will be a nice bonus.
Overall, I love this product. The only upgrade I would make in the future would be to purchase the stainless steel option simply for the product’s longevity.
Check out what other users say on the Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack 2.0 product page.
