Slider top plates - yay or nay?

Getting ready to get some sliders and they come with the option for a top plate running the full length. I want to keep the cost down so thinking not that necessary. It's not solid, but would certainly help keep debris from being kicked up.

However, since I think I'll get the 20 degree ones it's not really a platform to stand on. Will probably add some grip tape to make it safer to stand on though. With the top plate seems like a good place for a bunch of snow and/or mud to accumulate.

If you have a top plate do you like it? If you didn't get one do you regret it?

Here's a pic for reference.

 

Im not a fan of the top plates. Mud and snow and shit can get stuck in between the bars and the plates and cause rust. The slider alone is enough to use as a step anyway, no real need for it. It also will probably be harder to coat as well, whether you use paint, bedliner, or powder coat it will take longer and youll have more material to cover.

 

Top plates/fillers are a must. Much safer to stand on (especially for pets - paws won't be falling through and legs won't be breaking), and prevents a TON of rocks from being thrown up into your doors.

 

never thought about sand as I dont have sand here in western MA. that makes sense to me. I will say that my dog did not ever touch the sliders when getting in the truck. always jumped right over it all. But he was a big ass dog so.

 

I got the top plates on mine. You do get snow and ice caught underneath, but I'm OK with that since they use gravel when it's very icy and I'd rather it hit the top plate than my doors. I just hit the accumulation with my

$24 BIRDROCK HOME 50" Extendable Snow Brush with Ice Scraper for Car | 11" Wide Bristle Brush | Size: Truck, Car, SUV, & RV | Lightweight Aluminum Body with Ergonomic Grip | Winter Auto Broom

windshield scraper if it gets too long.

 

What Blais03 said. I have boards and all kinds of ice, snow, dirt collects on top and you must be careful removing it because it can scratch the sides. I have a new set going on mine which is tubular and OEM.
Once the weather in PA. Warms up and gets into the 40,s I will install them. I will try and sell my old ones that have 400 miles on them here once that happens.
I will not ship them. The main reason I have any running board is for the mindless people opening their car doors and dink them up

 

I didn't think I'd like the top plates on mine, but I actually really like them a lot - thinking about the leg falling through thing.

RZ Rob

 

Seems having them is kind of both a pro/con - keep stuff from spraying the side but also need clean stuff off.

Since they add $150 I'm thinking don't need them. The 20 degree ones seem to hug close enough that it would be hard to slip in between.

Mine has mudflaps so that already helps some, though may remove them at some point as they seem mildly in the way when off-roading.

 

Somebody in my local bs thread didn’t have filler plates and a hunk of wood (while off-roading) came up and pole vaulted his truck through the slider. A top plate would’ve stopped it from touching the door which doesn’t open now

 

That seems like a pretty random and rare occurrence and maybe partly driver fault.

 

I vote Nay

 

Didn’t like the extra cost, didn’t like the added weight, and most importantly didn’t like the looks of top plates.

Not worried about rock chips. Buy a paint pen from your dealership and polish it out.

 

I didn't get filler plates on mine and don't regret it. No door chips, pole vaults, or anything of the sort. But I also have never hand washed my truck, which freaks out some people on this site...

I prefer the look without the plates much more. I don't have a dog or kids, and I have never stepped through and broken my leg

 

I have that exact same RCI slider set in OP post. I opted for the top plate because my mom can't drive anymore so I get elected to take her shopping, pay bills, doctor visits, etc. I was afraid her foot would get caught without it. I don't really mind it. It's easy enough to spray off the bottom side at the car wash and comes in handy as a step when setting up the RTT or tying my kayak on the roof rack. I get a little tired of people asking how I managed to bend my running boards that badly.

 

I get that all the time. ha ha.

RZ Rob

 

I ordered mine without the filler plates, and if my life didn’t change in the manner that it did, than no filler plates would still be good for me. I have since gotten two dogs who jump in and out of the truck, and one dog almost got her leg caught one day. The thought of a broken dog leg changed my mind. I have since added my own filler plates, probably cheaper than I could have ordered them with fillers. I vote yes on filler plates

 

I would only add plates if you have kids/dogs that would use the sliders as a step. Other than that, no thanks.

 

I have the RCI open sliders.... only downside is the snow tends to build up between the slider tube and the truck paneling. It can make the doors hard to open if there is enough snow build up. I do like the look of the open sliders better; just my tastes. My kids us the rear kick out as steps to get in the back seat. I do not worry about a human slipping their foot through, but a dog might have issues.

 

Happened to me also.

 

Pretty much decided this as well.

I think the plate might be more useful with flat or nearly flat sliders that stick out enough to actually be a step. As I understand it, the 20 degree sliders don't provide much access to the top so the plate is mostly obscured anyway.