INSIDE MY GARAGE GYM: The Full Tour, DIY Hacks, Mistakes, and Equipment I’d Actually Buy Again
- The Team at Gym Reviewer
- Jun 5
- 6 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Hey guys, Gym Reviewer here. Today we’re doing something that’s been long overdue — a deep-dive garage gym tour.
Now, this isn’t one of those hyper-polished influencer walkthroughs with LED lights and zero clutter. This is a real, fully loaded, hard-earned, battle-tested home gym built over years of experimenting, flipping gear, upgrading, and making mistakes.
This is my 3-car garage gym. It’s overkill. It’s messy. It’s also one of the most dialed-in home setups you’ll ever see because it's built on trial, error, and community advice — not affiliate links and wish lists.
If you're just getting started, or you're halfway into your home gym journey and wondering what’s worth the upgrade — bookmark this post. Because I’m not just showing you what I bought... I’m telling you what I regret, what’s a hidden gem, and what I’d never buy again.
Let’s start with the layout.
🧱 Garage Gym Layout: Function > Aesthetics (But We Still Like It Pretty)
This is a 3-car garage in Southern California. Climate’s hot, space is shared with groceries and life stuff, and the ceiling isn’t especially tall. But we made it work.
Layout strategy:
Tall equipment near walls to preserve floor space.
Benches + racks modular for flexibility and multiple users.
Open center for martial arts, cable work, and dumbbell flow.
We’ve trained friends, teens, family — even complete beginners — in this space. So it's not just about what I like. It’s about making it safe and usable for everyone.
🏋️♂️ The Core: Triple Rep PR-5000 Power Racks
Yes, three of them. Is it excessive? 100%. Do I love it? Also yes.
Why I Chose the Rep PR-5000:
1” holes + Westside spacing.
Modular, stable, and heavy.
Matches the metallic black benches perfectly (if you care about the look).
Upgrades That Matter:
Rogue 30” Monster Safety Straps: These don’t fall off like cheaper brands. Add a hitch pin system and they’re practically perfect.
24” Spotter Arms: Watch out for misleading measurements — some say 24” but give you only ~19” usable space. I wanted the real thing for actual safety under a failed lift.
DIY Hack: I laid down painter’s tape on the floor for bench alignment. Not fancy, but super effective when you're moving benches in and out of the rack. Keeps things symmetrical and fast.
🛋️ Benches: Griffin vs Rep Flat Benches
We’ve got four flat benches total:
Griffin Fitness Flat Bench: 12” pad, beefy, clean finish.
Rep PR-5000 Flat Benches x2: Also 12” pads, matches the rack beautifully.
Verdict?
I slightly prefer the Griffin for pad feel, but the Rep ones match my rack and get more use. Aesthetics matter, especially in a shared space.
Coming soon: full head-to-head comparison between these benches.
⚖️ Plates: Titan Urethane Bumpers (Too Many?)
18 x 45lb
18 x 25lb
Do you need that many? Nope. But for group training, drop sets, and convenience — they’re a luxury. Still, if you're solo, cut that number in half and you'll still be over-equipped.
Urethane is the way to go if you hate the smell and bounce of crumb rubber. It’s expensive but looks clean and holds up great.
🪵 Flooring: Ribbed Horse Stall Mats
I’ve used just about every mat type, and ribbed stall mats are my go-to:
Airflow underneath = reduced mold risk.
A little more cushion underfoot.
Available from Tractor Supply, etc.
Skip the slick ones. Ribbed gives you grip and durability.
🪜 Pull-Up Bars: Dual-Level Design
We installed two pull-up bars at different heights:
Higher bar for full extension.
Lower bar for kids, teens, or shorter users (I’m 5’8”, and I use it often).
This wasn’t just a convenience — it’s an accessibility upgrade. We've trained first-timers here, and the lower bar gets more use than you’d expect.
🏗️ Lat Towers: Titan Selectorized x2
Two 300lb selectorized Titan Lat Towers. Do you need two? Absolutely not. But I wanted to test setups on both sides of the gym. Installed one between the garage doors — perfect fit, with one big caveat:
⚠️ Caution: You can’t store the lat bar on the rack overhead unless you want to crush your garage door when it opens.
So the bars live on the floor. It’s not elegant, but it works.
Would I buy two again? Nope. One’s plenty.
🥊 Punching Bag: DIY Hanging Rig
150lb Outslayer Muay Thai Bag — originally planned for a ceiling mount until a family friend (an engineer) told us not to. Load-bearing ceiling + 150lbs = disaster waiting to happen.
Our Fix:
DIY carabiner + strap system
Mounted between two racks
Stall mats underneath to reduce sag in the pull-up bar
It’s heavy to lift and store between sets — not great for lighter users — but functionally awesome.
🧪 DIY Cable System (Better Than Spud?)
I built a pulley system using:
Premium cord from Spud
Heavy-duty carabiners
Higher-quality pulleys + anchors
End result? Performs better than name-brand setups.
But here’s the irony: it might cost more than Spud's complete kit. I’ll run the numbers in a future breakdown.
🧵 Titan Trap Bar & Barbell Graveyard
Titan Trap Bar: I keep wanting to upgrade… but it works. I can’t part with it.
Custom Rogue Ohio Power Bar: Stainless shaft + chrome Ohio sleeves — a perfect accident from Rogue's grab bag. Favorite bar I own.
Hollow Budget Bars: Junk. Not worth it if you’ve lifted with quality bars before.
🧘 MMA Mats (Dollamur FTW)
If you train martial arts, jiu-jitsu, or want floor space for mobility, these are incredible. Soft, high-grip, and foldable. Not gym gear in the traditional sense, but a hidden gem for anyone serious about movement.
Inspired by Alan at Garage Gym Fanatics and McAlester Strength Co.
🏋️ PowerBlocks: Pro Series 5–90lbs
I chose the thinner profile Pro Series over the rubber-coated version. Here’s why:
Rubber-coated = too wide → limits ROM on curls and presses
Thinner = better range and feel
They rattle slightly, but they’re versatile, fast to adjust, and a top-tier buy. I use them more than my fixed dumbbells.
🧹 DIY Dumbbell Bench + Rack
Built from an old wooden bench and a few angled stall mat scraps. Why?
Mimics angled dumbbell racks
Saves $$$ on expensive mass storage
Holds 55–75lb urethane dumbbells cleanly
It’s not perfect — grabbing low dumbbells is awkward. But for $0? No-brainer.
💡 Lighting: What I’d Change
Right now: bulb sockets + clamp lamp.What I want: hard-mounted LED strips across the ceiling.
Bright, consistent lighting is a game changer for both training and video work. If I stayed in this space long-term, lighting would be the next upgrade.
🌀 Climate & Insulation Real Talk
Southern California is hot — even in November.
Our garage isn’t insulated. Neither are the doors. In the summer, this space is a toaster.
What helps:
Train outside peak hours (9am–4pm)
Use fans and hydration breaks
Don’t overcomplicate it if you're moving soon (like we are)
Insulating the ceiling and walls is a project. If you’re staying put, it’s worth considering.
🛠️ Bonus Accessories, Hacks & Regrets
Ryobi Car Buffer: Better than any massage gun I’ve used. Costs $35, warms up muscles fast.
GoFit Foam Roller: $3 garage sale gem. Way better than PVC pipe torture.
DIY Med Balls: Regret. Sand-filled and non-droppable. Should have bought slam balls years ago.
Cheap Hip Bands: Not great — but solid for travel or hotel workouts.
DIY Cork Blocks: Fall apart under tension. Foam is better.
🧰 Final Thoughts: The Realities of a Home Gym
This isn’t just a gym. It’s:
A training space
A storage room
A test lab
A work in progress
Would I buy everything in here again? No.
Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.
💬 What You Should Do Next:
Comment below if you’re eyeing any specific gear — I’ll tell you if I’d buy it again.
Subscribe to the YouTube channel for visual walkthroughs and reviews.
Follow on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, daily training, and upcoming garage gym builds.
And most importantly — keep showing up.Whether you’re building a budget gym in a corner of your basement or decking out a 3-car setup like this one — you're building more than muscle.
You’re building a better version of yourself.
Respect.
— Gym Reviewer
Watch the full video walkthrough here (Pt. 1) 👇
Watch the full video walkthrough here (Pt. 2) 👇
