| Unit | Dimensions | Possible exercises | Max. user weight | Weight resistance | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Gym 1400 Check Discounted Price | L:95.2" W:16" H:43.2" | 70+ | 250 lbs | User's body weight | 1 year |
The Total Gym exercising benches have been around for quite a while, and from the launch of the very first model, many others have been released. Evidently, the older models are now available for consistent discounts, and the Total Gym 1400 is one of them.
This Total Gym machine is quite similar to the Weider Total Body Works 5000. However, it doesn’t have the additional bungee cords to add resistance to the gliding board. For this model, the resistance is generated only by the 8 possible levels of incline, and of course, the user’s body weight. It also comes with several accessories over the Weider model.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 92.5L x 16W x 43.25H inches (235 x 40.6 x 110 cm)
- Assembled weight: 53.2 lbs (24 kg)
- Max. user weight: 250 lbs (113.3 kg)
- Possible exercises: 70+
- Weight resistance system: Body-weight resistance
- Warranty: 1 year
Frame construction and footprint
The Total Gym 1400 features a steel frame, coated in gray, anti-corrosive enamel. It’s actually a two-piece frame, the rails consisting of two main pieces: the lower rail assembly and top rail assembly. These two pieces connect at the middle, and lock into extended 
position. The connection is pretty solid, as the frame is rated to withstand users up to 250 lbs (113 kg).
When fully assembled and extended, the frame is pretty long, having a footprint of 92.5″L x 16″W (235 x 40.6 cm). In other words, it can accommodate properly users between 5′ and 6’5″ (152 – 195 cm). Taller users should also be able to use this machine properly for at least a number of exercises, such as kneeling rows, shoulder presses, chest presses or any exercise that doesn’t require the user’s full height.
In case you’re wondering, when folded the machine is 50.5″ (128 cm) long, 16″ (40.6 cm) wide, and approx. 8″ (20 cm) high. You can store it vertically, against a wall, or, in case you have a bed with more than 8″ clearance underneath, it should be able to fit under the bed too.
The gliding bench features quality upholstery, made of durable synthetic leather. It’s also consistently padded, with approx. 3.5″ (9 cm) of cushioning. It’s approx. 40″ (102 cm) long, and 14″ wide (35.5 cm), offering all the required comfort for your workout. Evidently, the bench glides on a set of heavy-duty rollers, which integrate small, sealed ball bearings for prolonged use. There’s also the possibility to fix the bench to the frame, in order to perform various exercises that don’t require its gliding, such as sit-ups, for example.
The upright post of the machine offers 8 adjustment positions for the frame and gliding board, offering angles between 0° and 45°. This post folds between the rails of the top part of the frame, when you need to fold up the machine.
The bases of the machine are pretty simple, cylindrical steel tubes, with plastic caps.
Accessories and other parts
There are several accessories that come up with this Total Gym exerciser. The first to put on the list is the squats stand or the footplate. This part features a solid, heavy-duty urethane material base, mounted on two steel tubes, which can be attached to the frame only on the bottom side.
The wing attachment set, in other words, the part with the handlebar and ankle pads for sit-ups, is also included. This part can be attached on either top or both base of the machine, depending on the exercises you want to perform. For example, if you attach it to the top of the frame, you can do incline sit-ups, while if you attach it to the bottom, you can do shoulder presses, pushing your body upward.
This machine offers the possibility to perform dips, featuring a set of handlebars specific for this type of exercise, bars which attach to the lower part of the frame.
When it comes to the cables and pulleys of this home gym exerciser, they’re all extremely sturdy parts. The machine includes 3 pulleys, two attached on the sides, for arm exercises, while the third is attached to the main vertical post, meant for various leg exercises. They’re made of heavy-duty nylon material, and just like the rollers of the board, they integrate sealed ball bearings. The cables are steel-made, featuring a thin PVC cover.
A set of two D-type handles with foam-padded grips is supplied with the machine. Also, for various foot exercises, the package includes a set of two foot harnesses.
The list of accessories doesn’t end here though. There’s a small stand which attaches to the upright post of the frame, stand meant to place the workout booklet for quick exercise reference. This booklet also includes a 7 days diet plan, great to follow if you want to lose some weight.
Last but not least, a DVD with exercises is supplied with this Total Gym machine. It covers most of the exercises that you can perform on this particular model, quite helpful if you want to target certain groups of muscles, and giving you the possibility to squeeze the best results from each workout.
Weight Resistance System
The Total Gym 1400 Deluxe home exerciser features a weight resistance system based on the user’s weight. There are no bungee cords or weight plates to add resistance, and the 
pulleys themselves don’t add resistance. The machine features 8 distinctive levels of weight resistance, given by the 8 positions of incline for the frame. Evidently at maximum (45°) incline, you will get the most resistance.
Differently put, the weight that the machine can generate is approx. 55% of the user’s weight, plus approx. 10 lbs, which is half the weight of the gliding bench.
So, the conclusion here, is that this particular exerciser is not exactly a machine designed to build extreme muscles. But nonetheless, it will help you lose some weight, tone muscles, perform various cardio exercises and pilates, and overall, keep yourself in a good physical shape.
Possible Exercises
Like most multi-function benches, the TG1400 offers the possibility to perform more than 70 exercises. Some of the most important are:
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
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 aductions
- 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
Many people have been asking if you can do leg presses and leg extensions on this machine. For leg presses, there’s the possibility to perform incline squats, which are sort of like leg presses. But considering that you’ll only be pressing a part of your body-weight, this type of workout won’t be too rewarding. You might as well do stand-up, normal squats. Leg extensions, in the traditional way as you would perform on a gym machine with a leg attachment such as the Gold’s Gym XR 55 for example, are not possible on this model though.
On the other hand, you can use it as a bench for various dumbbell workouts. But keep in mind that the maximum weight capacity of the machine is 250 lbs. Thus, your own weight plus the dumbbells’ weight should not exceed this limit.
Assembly and Maintenance
The assembly of the TG1400 Deluxe shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes, as most of it comes ready-assembled. All you need to do is unfold the frame, add the wing attachment and the dip bars if necessary, and start exercising. The manual offers all the instructions required, and you won’t need any other tools than the Allen wrenches supplied.
Maintenance requires the greasing of the pulleys in case they develop squeaky noises. Also, it’s best to check the rollers and the rails for the gliding bench before any workout, and remove any dirt or object on them which may cause damage.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame construction, able to support users up to 250 lbs;
- Space-saving, folding design;
- Sturdy, thick vinyl finish on the gliding board, and 3.5″ cushioning;
- 3rd pulley included, for various leg exercises;
- Versatile machine, offering the possibility to perform more than 70 exercises;
- Workout exercise booklet along with diet plan, included;
- Exercises DVD included;
- Excellent for strength, pilates and cardio training;
- Can be used for inclined dumbbell press as well;
- Quiet operation, suitable for apartment building use;
- Little maintenance required;
- Easy to assemble.
The Cons
- Limited weight resistance, not a machine for users who want to build huge muscles.
Summary
The Total Gym 1400 exerciser offers the possibility to perform more than 70 exercises, using your own body weight. It’s a machine for muscle toning, aerobic training, pilates and stamina building. It’s not exactly a machine for hardcore weight lifters, but for anyone who wants to workout at home, it simply offers the right training setting. Also, considering that many other models have been released since this one, the TG1400 is now available for a substantial discount, for less then $300.