Worthwhile purchase
My wife has been wanting to buy a Total Gym for some time now and we're glad we waited because the Total Gym 1800 seems a bit better than the 1700 for a very similar price. We had a hard time finding enough info on the 1800 but decided to take a chance. Although we're not familiar with the 1700 there doesn't seem to be anything "missing" and the 1800 does include a few extras such as larger glide board and ab boards. It also has leg pulley kit one foot harness dip bars press up bars and the wing accessory many of which I think are included in the 1700 as well.
Pluses: Convenient and easy to exercise many different muscle groups compact and reasonably priced. Adults and older kids can use it comfortably. I don't find it difficult to make adjustments even raising and lowering but may be difficult for people who weigh only 100 lbs or less.
Minuses or things that may take some getting used to:
(1) Lot of adjusting required. Different exercises require different attachments some of which get in the way of each other so you don't (can't) have everything permanently attached. At least with the hitch pins it's easy. What's not so easy is adjusting the effort level because the only way to do this is by raising or lowering the glide table so it's inclined at a different angle (all exercises require raising your body on the glide table at a steeper angle this requires more effort). So where I've started is level 1 (easiest) for a few exercises then I adjust to level 3 for a couple of other exercises. While I do expect to get stronger at the level 1 exercises I kind of doubt that I'll ever be at the same setting for all exercises.
(2) Mechanical design leaves something to be desired. (a) I have yet to find a good place to keep the handles when not using them so they just kind of rattle around on the floor. (b) There's a safety hitch pin but either I'm not using it right or it doesn't fit well - there's a hole it seems it should go in but it either goes in cockeyed or it bangs up against the main spring loaded pin that holds one end of the glide table up. (c) There's a velcro pad on one of the rails the pulley fitting rubs against this and it's going to come off sooner or later. (d) There's a foam pad that goes under the unit. But when you raise or lower the glide table the distance between the feet changes and the foam pad shifts around. Minor nuisance keeping the unit on the foam pad I'm inclined (no pun intended!) to get a nice big plywood sheet and keep the Total Gym on that. (e) Depending on the attachments in use the plastic-sheathed cable may rub on the attachment.
(3) At first it was awkward getting started with each exercise but I'm getting the hang of it. Seems to help to grab both handles of the rope-pulley and then adjust your body position. And empty your pockets ;-)
(4) Be careful with loose hair. First time my wife tried her hair got caught in a pulley assembly.
Drawbacks notwithstanding a good deal for the money.More detail ...
