Any update? Did you purchase the 4xInnovations sliders? I have a set myself in hand, just getting around to mocking up for install. Upon 1st mockup, I hit the bottom of my Limited trim at the front and rear. Not concerned with trimming, but just wondering if you have the same issue? Also, got the the partial step plates for my gf, but I dunno how functional they are actually going to be if I set the slider at a 10-15 degree angle.
So mind you I work in a machine shop and all the equipment was available to me, but nothing I used was anything crazy or out of the ordinary. I've been putting the sliders off until a couple weeks ago but yes I ran into the very same problem - when using the legs how 4xI sent them (one flat end, one 15 degrees, about 6in at it's longest) I found even with everything as low on the frame as it could possibly go the sliders were sitting awfully close; I'm talking 1/8th inch at absolute most and a hair at it's worst. I really wanted mine kicked up 15 degrees as opposed to flat and eventually I came to the conclusion it just wouldn't be possible with the provided pieces - even if they were just a little longer you'd still be cutting it close, so my answer was to not only lengthen them but notch the other end as well at double the opposing angle.
To help visualize what I'm talking about I've made a diagram showing what I'm describing. In my thread this weekend I'll have some more pictures but this should be more than enough.
What I did is went out to a local metal supplier and bought 6 new pieces of 2x0.125" square tubing (I have the square main tube option), and had them cut these pieces to 7in each. On each of these pieces, starting as close to the end as possible I notched one side at 15 degrees then notched the
opposing corner at 30 degrees
in the same direction. You want to make a parallelogram here, not a trapezoid. It is important to match your line as closely with the corner as possible to minimize material loss, as doing these notches will give you a midsection that's roughly 0.5in longer than before (the midsection will now measure right around 6in, as opposed to it's longest point.) I helped mark what I'm talking about in both grey and green. The side with the lesser angle will go towards the frame, the legs will kick
away from the body, then the greater angle will bring the sliders back
up 15 degrees.
For the new gussets I simply got some thick steel plates and used cardboard pieces to help tessellate the correct shape/angle - which can easily be found by copying the corner in red.
Now you should be ready to mock up and have much,
MUCH more space to work with - having the legs like this not only gives you more area to choose from when setting the legs on the plates (as opposed to the bottom or nothing) but will also give you much more area to choose where to set these plates on the frame AND give you way more clearance between the body and main tube. In theory this is also a structurally stronger design and even when the sliders are flexing you should have better clearance; if you were to take a spine-breaking wallop like in 4xI's testing video, at absolute
worst the legs will come up parallel with the rocker panels instead of levering directly into them. To boot, with these new legs the sliders don't stick out any further than they would originally. The only downside to this was the 30 degree end now has an opening greater than 2in, leaving a narrow gap that must be filled somehow - whether it be cutting+pounding it into place or welding on a small plate to fill it.
Like I said, I have the square tube option; so if you have the round tube/legs it might not be as simple but should be very easy if you have a basic chop saw, as most have settings for 10-30 degrees already.
In regards to the steps, 15 degrees is about the tipping point of being usable from what I understand. 10 degrees might be a little better but I don't know if it would be a HUGE difference over 15 - I imagine you probably won't be using the tread plate much at that point regardless. Obviously having them set straight out is the best way to fully utilize them as steps, but plenty of people have theirs set at 10-15 degrees and are able to use them regardless, maybe putting a little griptape on them to help in the rain.
