Sliders with and without filler plates for steps

For those who have/had sliders, if you need to use your sliders as a step, would a slider without the filler plates be sufficient to get your foot on there? I don't know how big the gap is between the frame and the tubing, so I don't know how to gauge that.

Specifically looking at All-Pro HD, C4 without plates, etc. For the AP, yes I see it says "

• Slight Angle to provide clearance and a step as well"

How well does that translate into real-world usage?

 

I have Avid bolt on sliders. On the ones I have filler plates wont make any difference for the passengers on my Access cab as they make a poor step. Their too high and too close to the body. Traction tape on the bar top helps as the bar is slippery when painted and wet. But it is not the greatest step. Now the Kick-out in front of the rear tire is a whole other story. That I use allot. and if I ever take the sliders off for repainting I will add a filler plate in the kick out area.

The only reason to add the filler plate on the whole slider is for cosmetic purpose or maybe to protect the dogs feet when they climb in.

Now of you stick out the side tube a couple of inches and lower it level at the bottom side tube and straight out it may be used successfully as a step and you may want a filler plate, but then you have a hindrance climbing in and out of the truck without using the slider as a step.

Everyone's sliders are slightly different and you can have them made the way you want. Just watch out how far out your leg has to go when getting in and out of the truck when you don't want to use the slider as a step.

 

They are terrible steps if you're short or have kids using them. The worst part about them though is rubbing your leg on them as you're getting out. You can't beat the protection though.

 

This gets me wondering then. What options do I have IF I need to use it as a step as a secondary goal of sliders. Protection of course #1? Is it the angle that's more difficult to use as a step or how close to the body it is?

Wife wants to keep something on the truck so she can use as a step, but can sacrifice just a little bit of convenience (doesn't need to be equally as easy to step on as a stock tube step, but at least make an attempt at assisting in getting in the truck) to protect the truck when we wheel together. Almost ripped off our stock chrome tubes this weekend and she's like "go find sliders that work as a step too." Now, here I am lol

 

I got them with fill plates as I don't want the kids getting their leg/foot caught in there when entering exiting.

 

Personally I'm a fan of ours, obviously.

We went with smaller holes, 3/4" in diameter and dimple them so they protrude upward.

The reason for the small holes is mainly so dog paws can't get stuck in them.

Also, it allows us to make an attractive pattern.

Protruding upward gives you a raised surface to you don't slip, and if you get our powder it is non-slip. The texture is similar to grip tape.

You have a nice, wide portion to stand on too. About 4" when the door is open. Some people opt for them to be flat over our standard 20 degrees. This lowers the sliders about 2".

And in the end, they're just as strong as the ones built at 20 degrees.

 

Why do people opt for the flat vs 20 degree version? What's the difference other than the obvious 20 degrees? lol

 

I have the Mobtown Offroad sliders built at 0 degrees and with the filler plates. They are a little high for steps, but I wanted something that wasn't going to be a liability when out in the woods or offroad and the wife wanted steps. While the filler plates are a little safer for use as steps, I do worry about corrosion getting in the crevices. I might would go without filler plates if I were to do it again. But, there is a bigger chance you might get hurt if you slip. I'd probably rock some non-slip tape on the top side.

Also, I may change the sliders some day when the warranty is done..... these are fine for what they are, but I think I will just put some weld on sliders in the future.... again, to avoid creating a crevice that water/dirt can start corrosion in.

 

Steps are 0 degrees.

 

Height.

The difference in height from flat versus 20 degrees is 2". So the flat ones are closer to the ground by 2".

 

I guess for my uses, all of them *could* work. We don't usually need to stand on them flat footed or anything, so filler plates aren't completely necessary - just use our front part of our soles for an "assist" getting up. I guess as long as they're coated with a non-slip coating like Line-X, powdercoat, etc we should be fine, no?

 

Love the filler playes on mine. Not just for being easier to step on, but when I hear all the rocks that smash into the bottom of them I know that's not hitting my truck.

 

Crom has a pretty good thread and shares what he did with his..... they use them as steps. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-and-adventures.362772/page-15#post-10662685

The only concerns are if you are at 0 degrees and no plates, will you feet slip in the hole and make a bad fall worse...... If at 20 degrees will your toes just keep bumping and wearing the paint on the truck?

I'm not saying one choice is better than the others, just stuff to think about. If my wife didn't want some kind of step, 20 degrees and no filler plates would be good.

 

Oh, the kick out with filler plate is pretty sweet for accessing the top of the truck. Eventually a cap with roof rack and a cab roof rack will end up on my truck and those kick outs will make access nicer.

 

Probably won't hit our toes on the truck body. We're not tall people at all. I don't have an issue with hopping into the cab, but it's her daily and our toy together, so gotta get something that we can both compromise on the uses.

And like I said earlier, they don't need to be as good as the stock tube steps. They just need to be able to assist her into the cab.

 

Her "daily"? Wow.... What do you drive daily?

 

My MTOR sliders....

 

That's a cool picture.

 

Thanks..... fun trip.... Fort Desoto, FL