Thread: Sliders/Steps (again)

What's the logic with the checker plate on the bottom? Surely that would collect mud/dirt as well as water? Seems counter intuitive.

Originally Posted by Lukeis

What's the logic with the checker plate on the bottom? Surely that would collect mud/dirt as well as water? Seems counter intuitive.

It's a bit hard to tell in photos but much closer to the top than the bottom - less than 2mm from the top level of the bars. Checker plate gives more grip as a step and also makes them much stronger. I like personally like the look better too but yes, there is a little pooling on top - that's why I'm going to drill some drain holes in them...
David

Originally Posted by Lukeis

What's the logic with the checker plate on the bottom? Surely that would collect mud/dirt as well as water? Seems counter intuitive.

I have a bottom plate but it's not checker, just plain plate.
It works as a skid plate to better slide over protruding obstacles that can hang up between the tube and door.
Perhaps more common is sticks and branches that get into the gap between tube and door, also stopped by the plate.
The plate also prevents stones flung up by the outer edges of the front wheels that miss the mud flaps from hitting the rear wheel arch flares.
These stones would also be stopped by a top-side tread plate.


Dirt & mud does collect but is quite easy to hose away. I would guess no more difficult than hosing up underneath a tread plate.


Another consideration is strength. The plate acts like a stiffening diaphragm.
This will better distribute heavy impacts through the slider.
This would also be true for a plate welded in closer to the top like David has.

And regarding the original question about offset, here's the standard horizontal offset for APT.
I think others are similar.


Regards,
Scott

Dirt and mud doesn't get stuck in there though as the plate is open on the sill side so a simple hose out.

Does a magnificent job of keeping the lower section from flicking mud up, can't get hung up on the out riggers etc

FYI - I have no plates on my sliders and on a recent trip two branches must have come through the gap as I now have damaged the rubber on the bottom of the door (one on each side). I can definitely agree that the plate would have prevented this

Damnit, forgot to order the tread plates on mine, hopefully not too late. Was there much of a price difference between the two Scott?

Russ do you mean the checker tread plate that David got or the bottom skid plate I have?

Scott

Oops, the bottom skid plate i mean.