WK Sliders - To diamond plate or not?

[FLtoCOTransplant]

For those that have the WK sliders- How stable are they when you use them as a step to get into the truck? Can kids and grandparents easily use them as steps? Also how are they when they get wet or muddy?

Since they are round I am concerned that the kids and grandparents will slip when they use them. If I diamond plate them I would think the flat platform would provide better support (though from the videos I have seen it is not like they stick out all that far). Few on here seem to put the plate on so it may not be that big of a deal.

Thanks for the info trying to make some long lead time purchases while I wait for delivery.


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[olyelr]

They work for me (and my wife and kids), but honestly as a step they are not very good. They hardly protrude enough to use much more than the outer tube edge. So close to the body that I noticed I have been scuffing the hell out of the rocker panel with my feet over the last few years. I have them with no plate and they are powdercoated... slippery as hell in just about all scenarios. I wouldnt think adding the plate would be much better though... maybe.

I would still get them again given my circumstance. But they are not much of a step. I would certainly not let my grandma try to get up on them.

[KevinABQ]

The diamond plate helps. You might want to add 3M anti-skid tape etc.

The diamond plate also somewhat protects the doors against junk kicked up by the wheels. Somewhat.

[EasyDoesIt]

With the door open, what's the distance from the cab to the outer edge of the outer tube?

For extra traction, swing by your local skate shop and grabs some grip tape for $10-$20.

[TankerZak]

I have just the tube. Works perfect. I did use some rubberized grip tape that looks nice and has stayed in place for years. Wife doesn't complain... and she complains about everything. If your super concerned get the plate... I didn't want the extra weight or a ledge for mud and ice to collect ontop of.

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[FordyceCreekTrail]

Honestly I think they work perfectly as a step. One exception, if they are wet.

[Bill2014]

They were slick for sure when they were new. wife, kids, and grandkids used to slip on them every time. Now that they are half brown with rust, they're not slippery at all - so I will leave them like that! I suspect the top plate would be just about as slippery when it's new and wet.

I'm tall enough that I hop in without even touching them...

[ramv]

I didn't want the diamond plate in the northern climate as running boards collect ice/mud really bad. They worked great there. Now that I am in Houston, I would have got the diamond plate as I have a lot of different clients etc. in and out of my truck. They work great for me personally though, but I'm 6'2"...

[m25443]

I have the full length diamond plate and prefer it. You can unbolt the diamond plate of you decide to take it off. Or you can get partial length diamond plate.

The thing that I found most useful as a step is to have them made 1"wider. Then they really work well as a step.

So, I have the 1" extra width with full diamond plate and after a week in Moab, if I had to buy another set, I'd buy the exact same way.

[m25443]

I have the full length diamond plate and prefer it. You can unbolt the diamond plate of you decide to take it off. Or you can get partial length diamond plate.

The thing that I found most useful as a step is to have them made 1"wider. Then they really work well as a step.

So, I have the 1" extra width with full diamond plate and after a week in Moab, if I had to buy another set, I'd buy the exact same way.

[XPLSV]

I have the diamond plate on mine and put the 3M anti-skid tape along the length. They are certainly not as easy to use as a step as all of the typical non-rockslider steps out there, but those certainly don't serve the same purpose of protection. I'm glad I added the plate and the tape.

[olyelr]

Like I said, they work just fine as steps for my use and family situation. But if you think they are gonna be anything remotely close to an amp step or a typical nerf bar type step then you have another thing coming. And if you think grandma is gonna safely hop up in there (wet or not) then your grandma is in much better shape then mine!

Just snagged this pic of mine, looking almost straight down on them. With typical shoes, your lucky to get the toes over the outer edge maybe a few inches at most. And getting in isnt too bad for scraping up the body (just use toes on outer edge), but getting out I have been scraping up the body with my heals.

Good enough step for me, but for you or grandma.... you decide!

[PWJouster]

ill be going full diamond plate, and adding an extra inch of width front to back.

[Oilbrnr]

I've had mine for over two years now, and I did order them with the plate. Works great as a step IMHO and do keep rocks down from coming up on the rockers. No complaints from passengers getting in or out.

I put the 3M tape on the sliders on my Lexus, and 5 years later are starting to look pretty ratty. I'm glad I didn't do down that route with the WK's. You do need to pay some attention when wet, but much less than a bare tube.

[NovA ProspekT]

I have the WK sliders with the diamond plate on top, after 3+ years of year-round use I'd order it again. It works very well as a step, and prevents ones foot from potentially slipping and getting caught between the tubes. The diamond plate is actually quite "grippy", and has worked suprisingly well even during the winter. They are also just bolted down to small tabs on the tubular rails, so they can be removed if neccessary.

[Lazarus]

I have the full length diamond plate and prefer it. You can unbolt the diamond plate of you decide to take it off. Or you can get partial length diamond plate.

The thing that I found most useful as a step is to have them made 1"wider. Then they really work well as a step.

So, I have the 1" extra width with full diamond plate and after a week in Moab, if I had to buy another set, I'd buy the exact same way.

Can you post a pic of yours? I’d like to see what they look like with the inch added on before I order mine.

[FLtoCOTransplant]

Thanks everyone for the input and perspective. I didn’t know adding an inch was an option. Do they roll the edge for safety or is it just a hard cut edge? I too am interested in pictures for this option.

Since the diamond plate is removable, that is the way I am leaning. Easier to take off than to add it after install.

Regarding traction I was thinking I could apply some roll on bed liner to the top plate as a “grip” enhancement.


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[olyelr]

Thanks everyone for the input and perspective. I didn’t know adding an inch was an option. Do they roll the edge for safety or is it just a hard cut edge? I too am interested in pictures for this option.

Since the diamond plate is removable, that is the way I am leaning. Easier to take off than to add it after install.

Regarding traction I was thinking I could apply some roll on bed liner to the top plate as a “grip” enhancement.


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The outer edge of them is the round dom tubing.

[KevinABQ]

The outer edge of them is the round dom tubing.

Unless you are very short that isn’t where you put your foot. Your foot touches the outer edge of the plate, then you rotate the foot to flat on the plate as you get into the truck.

[olyelr]

The outer edge of them is the round dom tubing.

Unless you are very short that isn’t where you put your foot. Your foot touches the outer edge of the plate, then you rotate the foot to flat on the plate as you get into the truck.
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Yes, I have a set, Im aware. I was just referring to his question about the outer edge being square or not.

Now that I reread it, Im not exactly sure what his question even was about. Maybe the diamond plate?

[FLtoCOTransplant]

Yes the diamond plate edge. Wasn’t sure if the extra inch was an overhang or just a wider plate. That picture is helpful.


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[KevinABQ]

I’ve just got the standard diamond plate. Didn’t know there were options. Not sure I’d have taken it, as that puts the truck weight on the small SS screws that fasten the plate to the slider. This seems likely to end badly.

It it’s pushing the DOM tube out that wouldn’t be so bad, but it still increases the width of the truck by 2 inches.

[m25443]

The entire slider is 1" wider (if you order the wider width), including the diamond plate. The outer edge is the same either way: Round tube with the diamond plate sitting on top. I just got back from a week at Moab and got them scraped up, but a quick bit of rust converter or black paint and they will be back to new condition. They would have gotten scraped up even if they were the standard width. I think they probably offer better protection against door dings in the parking lot!!!

Call WKOR and they can give you all the details.

[KevinABQ]

I scraped the hell out of the bottom and lower outer edges without needing them to be wider. But an interesting option I guess I missed.

[Will]

Aren't these labeled and sold as sliders? Haven't seen them advertised as steps...