Bayou Fitness Total Trainer DLX-III Home Gym

Unit	Dimensions	Possible exercises	Max. user weight	Weight resistance	Warranty
Bayou DLX-III Check Discounted Price	L:94" W:20" H:48"	70+	400 lbs	4%-69%	1 year limited

The Bayou Total Trainer DLX-III home gym is fairly similar to the Total Trainer PowerPro. However, the main difference between the two exercisers is the fact that the PowerPro has only one central gliding rail for its board, while for the DLX-III model the board moves on two separate rails. Also, this model has a lower overall weight capacity.

Nonetheless, the Bayou Fitness DLX-III Total Trainer is an excellent fitness machine. It makes available a wide array of exercises. As the brand name suggests, most of the weight resistance is generate “by you”, as it uses your bodyweight. But as opposed to other similar exercisers, the DLX-III comes with quite a bunch of accessories. In this review, we’ll try to cover each and every aspect regarding this home gym equipment.

Technical Details and Specifications

• Assembled dimensions: 94L x 20W x 48H inches (239 x 51 x 122 cm)
• Assembled weight: 102 lbs (46.2 kg)
• Weight capacity: 400 lbs (181.4 kg)
• Possible exercises: 70+
• Weight resistance system: Body-weight resistance
• Warranty: Parts 1 year

Frame, parts & included accessories

The Total Trainer DLX-III is built on a steel frame featuring an impressive sturdiness compared to other models, such as the Weider Ultimate Body Works, for example. It has a weight capacity of 400 lbs (~181 kg). The main gliding rails of the board, as well as the curved bar that hosts the footplate feature a chrome finish, while the rest of the metallic parts in its construction have a black paint finish. Evidently, the chrome and paint finish is resistant to corrosion. However, this machine is intended for indoor use only. If stored or used outside, eventually moisture may corrode some of the bolts, nuts and other parts which are not corrosion resistant.

When fully assembled and extended, this Total Trainer home gym is fairly large, especially lengthwise. It’s 94″ (239 cm) long, and 20″ (51 cm) wide. But the good news is the frame features a folding design. It can fold at the middle, and when folded, it can be stored in a 20″ x 14″ (51 x 36 cm) space, with a height of approx 50″ (127 cm).

The DLX-III Total Trainer is also rather heavy. With the frame fully assembled is weighs approx. 102 lbs (~46 kg). However, it’s easy to move it around for storage, as the caps on its bases rotate, acting as wheels. So, relocation, folding, and unfolding are done with minimal effort.

The gliding board is quite a bit heavier than for other similar machines. It’s also thicker, incorporating more cushioning. It’s equipped with a heavy-duty vinyl upholstery made to last for many years of use, with the embroidered Bayou logo on top. Its bottom metallic frame features heavy-duty wheels with stainless steel sealed ball bearings for smooth operation and a prolonged lifespan. In case you’re wondering, the gliding board is 46 (117 m) long, and 14″ (35.5 cm) wide. Also, given the overall dimensions of the machine, it can accommodate users up to 6’7″ (201 cm) tall for the majority of exercises.

The Bayou Fitness Total Trainer Power Pro is equipped with a set of durable nylon pulleys with industrial grade ball bearings, designed for smooth and lifetime use. The pulleys pivot, adapting to the exercise you perform in order to supply a smooth, unhindered movement. Also, one of the mobile pulleys can be attached to the top bar of the vertical adjustment bar, in order to perform exercises such as glute pulls or leg extensions. The gliding board is also equipped with a set of two pulleys, situated at the top end, underneath it. However, not all exercises require the usage of the board pulleys.

The Squat Board is a heavy-duty part, also fairly large in size, being able to accommodate footwear of all sizes.

There are several attachments and accessories included with this fitness machine. These are: Dual Leg Cuff Assembly, Pro AB Crunch Strap, Pilates Toe Bar, Sit-up Cuff Strap, Power Weight Bar for Adding Free Weights, Bicep Power Flex, Bicep Curl Press Bar, Chrome Pull-up Push-up Bar, and two Chrome Independent Twin Handles. Along with these, there’s also a DVD which covers a series of exercises that can be performed on the Bayou Total Trainer DLX-III, with instructions on how to perform each exercise correctly, in order to obtain maximum results.

Weight Resistance

Since it’s a Bayou Total Trainer, most of the weight resistance is generated “by you”. Depending on the incline you select for the gliding board, some of the exercises will provide more or less resistance. The top vertical bar offers 11 locking points for the main rail and gliding board assembly, which basically means that the machine offers 11 levels of weight resistance. This feature allows you to vary the percentage of body weight lifted from 4% to 69%. Differently put, when attaching the gliding board assembly to the lower position (horizontally) you will benefit from the minimum level of resistance. When attached to the highest position, you will get the highest resistance.

Depending on how you attach the ropes to the pulleys, you can benefit from 1:1 or 2:1 weight ratios. These aspects are all covered by the included manual, which provides instructions for all types of resistance and exercises.

A Power Weight Bar accessory is included with this exerciser. By attaching it to the gliding board, you can add free weights to it. The recommended weight load for this bar is 100 lbs (45.3 kg), 50 lbs (22.6 kg) on each side, but make sure your own weight plus the added free weights won’t exceed the 400 lbs max. weight capacity of the machine.

The pegs of the Power Weight Bar are designed for Standard weight plates, with holes of 1″ (2.54 cm). However, you can always improvise and add some adapters for Olympic weight plates if it’s the case.

Possible Exercises

The Bayou Fitness Total Trainer DLX-III offers the possibility to perform more than 70 bodyweight-based exercises. You will find some of them on the list below:

Abdominal Exercises

• Crunches
• Trunk rotations
• Resisted crunches
• Inclined crunches
• Crunches with leg curls
• Sit-ups with feet attached
• High leg pull-ins
• Low leg pull-ins
• Side planks

Arm Exercises

• Biceps curls
• Lateral single-arm biceps curls
• Lying biceps curls
• Biceps curls with hyperextensions
• Biceps curls with leg curls
• Biceps curls with crunches
• Chin-ups
• Dips
• Triceps extensions
• Kneeling triceps extensions
• Lateral single-arm triceps extensions
• Prone triceps extensions
• Punches

Back exercises

• Pull-ups
• Back flies
• Prone back flies
• Back flies with leg curls
• Hyperextensions
• Aerobic rowing
• Crossover rowing
• Kneeling rowing
• Lateral pulldowns
• Lateral pulldowns with squats

Chest Exercises

• Chest presses
• Wide grip chest presses
• Close grip chest presses
• Incline push-ups
• Chest flies
• Incline chest flies
• Lateral chest flies
• Decline chest flies
• Pullovers
• Pullovers with crunches
• Pullovers with twisting crunch
• Pullovers with squats

Leg Exercises

• Leg curls
• Calf raises
• Reverse leg curls
• Squats
• Single-leg squats
• Kneeling single-leg squats
• Wide squats
• Twisting squats
• Jumping squats
• Front lunges
• Hip extensions
• Hip adductions
• Hip abductions

Shoulder Exercises

• Shoulder presses
• Upright rows
• Upright rows with leg curls
• Upright rows with hyperextension
• Lateral deltoid raises
• Front deltoid raises
• Lying front deltoid raises
• Front deltoid raises with leg curls
• Wide grip front deltoid raises
• Front deltoid raise with supination grips
• Shoulder extensions
• Shoulder extension with hyperextension
• Shoulder extension with leg curls
• Lateral arm pulls

Assembly and Maintenance

The machine comes fully assembled. However, since it comes with quite an assortment of accessories, not all of them are connected. So, depending on the exercises you want to perform, you will have to attach or relocate the accessories accordingly.

For maintenance, you should periodically inspect the integrity of the machine, re-tighten bolts and parts if necessary. The machine’s rails must be kept clean, free of any small objects, sand or textile fibers which may cause damage to it, or to its rollers. And finally, if the pulleys develop squeaking noises, lubrication should solve the problem.

The Pros

• Sturdy frame construction, with a maximum weight capacity of 400 lbs;
• Folding design, storable in a space of 20″ x 14″;
• Transport wheels on the base bars;
• Sturdy, thick vinyl finish on the gliding board, and 3.5″ cushioning;
• Includes many accessories such as Dual Leg Cuff Assembly, Pro AB Crunch Strap, Pilates Toe Bar, Sit-up Cuff Strap, Power Weight Bar for Adding Free Weights, Bicep Power Flex, Bicep Curl Press Bar, Chrome Pull-up Push-up Bar, and two Chrome Independent Twin Handles.
• Versatile machine, offering the possibility to perform more than 70 exercises;
• 11 levels of resistance, from 4% to 69% bodyweight;
• Workout exercise booklet included;
• Exercises DVD included;
• Can be used for incline dumbbell press as well;
• Perfect for strength, pilates, muscle toning, and cardio training;
• Quiet operation, suitable for apartment building use;
• Little maintenance required;
• Comes fully assembled.

The Cons

• Limited weight resistance – not a machine for advanced muscle development;
• No weight plate peg adapters for Olympic plates (the weight load bar is for Standard plates only);
• Weight plates not included.

Bottom Line

The Bayou Fitness Total Trainer DLX-III is a bodyweight-based exerciser featuring 11 weight resistance levels, ranging between 4% and 69% of your bodyweight. It comes with many accessories that will help diversify your workouts, including a free weight bar which can be attached to the gliding board in order to load with free weight for extra resistance. It’s a perfect trainer for pilates, muscle toning, various cardio exercises, and weight loss. It actually makes available more than 70 exercises. And finally, it’s not one of the most affordable Total Trainers, but its quality and versatility definitely match its price.