Short people and angled sliders

I'm thinking about getting some angled sliders, maybe like these: https://caliraisedled.com/products/2010-2021-4runner-trail-edition-bolt-on-rock-sliders

I like the high and tight look. The thing is, my significant other is on the short side, about 5'5". I'm trying to figure out if the sliders would be a help to her, a hindrence, or no effect. Right now with my 1.75" lift she has to work a little to get in -- there is some occasional good natured grumbling but nothing serious. (I don't want it to get serious.) Can anyone with angled sliders and short passengers provide guidance?

P.S. I know wider flat sliders would be a solution but I just don't like that look...

 

Now, I can't speak about these sliders, but I can tell you how short and/or old people will feel getting in. I have the predator steps on my 4Runner, and today my mother tried to get into the passengers side. She's 70 & roughly 5' 4". Even with the slight drop in height that the predator steps give, she still had to raise her leg rather high, just to hit the first step.

After she got her footing she then did the task of using that one foot/leg to lift her entire body into the truck (and she used the grab handle to assist). There was a lot of grunting while she got in. She did it. The fact is, short people will ALWAYS have issues getting into vehicles with high ground clearance. Side steps only help a little bit. Maybe look into the power side steps. I think they drop down 2 - 3 inches.

The sliders that you linked to, don't drop down at all, on top of that you have almost a 2 inch lift. The stock ground clearance is 9.6" on almost all 4Runners. 11 inches is a huge step up for anyone, regardless of height.

 

This is the step up to the top of my angled slider, It is right at 22”

 

And do passengers use it as a step, or do they just step over it?

 

I use them as a step, and so does my wife, she has a little trouble because she is getting ready for a hip replacement. I would recommend that you get the flat ones.

 

There's an A-pillar grab handle on the passenger side. How's her core strength?

 

I have the caliraised angled sliders, for the same reasons you want them. Get the flat ones. In your situation it wont be worth getting the extra high and tight look.The flat ones will still look very neat and tidy, since it seems the caliraised ones don’t project out a ton. But they will buy you a little extra space to put your foot sideways on the bar, and slighty lower reach to get there.

 

From all the pictures I’ve seen of angled sliders, I’m not so sure that would work well as a step especially for someone who’s shorter. This is part of the reason I removed my lift. Short wife struggled to get in and out. Just wasn’t worth it.

 

I have to disagree wholeheartedly with everyone who says that you should get flat ones. Angled sliders do help.

I am short (5',7"), and my Mom is about 5',1" and 71, her BF is about my height, or a tad shorter and 79, and my ex is 5', 4" and 45. I recently had the sliders off for a few weeks, and everyone missed having them as a step. There were comments every time we got in the car.

Sure, they won't be as helpful as a flat slider or a dedicated step. But they absolutely do help! I had no idea how much until I actually removed them.

FWIW, I have the RSG angled sliders, so I'm not sure how much the Caliraised ones protrude.

It's your vehicle. Why compromise just to make it a little better for others?

Or, do like I do and carry a folding stool for anyone who really has trouble getting in.

 

Go flat, and take a look at the RSG sliders. Great build quality, including the welds.

 

The one thing against angled is that if they do get bent (as what happened to the folks at Wanderlost Overland), you can have issues opening a door.

 

Same issue. Short wife, elderly Parents. Like the high, tight look. Ended out with RSG Flat Sliders, Mainly for the Parents. (Mid 80s). With the angled, I was worried about a slip as much as the difficulty of lifting their legs a couple extra inches. I have learned to live with the “look”.

 

I don't know what happened to Wanderlost. I've probably spent more time talking to those guys in person than reading their blogs.

But, I would imagine it takes a lot of force to actually bend decent quality sliders. Almost everyone I know runs angled sliders, and I don't recall anyone bending theirs yet.

 

They talked about it in their video on things they regret (I think) on YouTube.

Personally, I went with flat because I’m like a short person’s legs attached to a tall person’s torso.

I can’t imagine they look THAT different in person to the casual observer who isn’t breaking out a spirit level to see whether you have flat or angled sliders.

 

Thanks, at least I got one response that matches what I was hoping for -- now I can ignore everyone else, haha! Seriously, lots of good input to consider from everyone. My mom in 89 and about 5'7" and has no problems at the moment, so there must be some technique at play. Considering how hard it is for me to make decisions, I had to start early if I'm going to be able to take advantage of any black friday deals!

 

Flat is what i am thinking as well for my older mom. They will get bent anyway. lol

 

Nothing wrong with flat sliders. I'm just saying that my angled ones do function as a step, and I wouldn't buy something I didn't want to accommodate people who only ride in the vehicle occasionally.

I bought this to help my Dad get in and out, and it came in handy last year when my ex was too weak to get in.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla...ad-Capacity-7ft-Reach-Height-GLP-1S/206618097

It folds flat and barely takes up any room.

 

We originally had the OEM rock sliders, but my wife couldn't use it as a step (she's 5'8") because of low profile and how close to the body they were. I ended up buying the Shrockworks Rock Sliders (similar to those picture below) through someone for $200 (still waiting to be installed) but from what I have read online adding some tread tape of skateboard texture tape will help. I feel like the flat sliders with the enclosed top are going to be a PITA to clean. If I spend anymore time cleaning the 4R my wife will kill me!


Edit: the 4R also has a 2" lift so since we have no steps right now my wife usually needs a little "booty boost" as we like to call it.

 

Yeah, this is exactly what I want. Looks good, best clearance, seems most functional as a slider!

 

You are correct! It's also a wonderful place for rust to develop. I highly recommend against top plates. I had them, and I ended up removing them.

 

My wife is 5 feet negative 0 flat. (I think I win for shortest better half). Shes 44 and she has no issue using the angled sliders.

For the back seat get some Hallelujah Handles. Better than nothing.

THIS IS THE WAY.....

Ill use this as an excuse with my wife, so when she thinks im being overly romantic, ill just say its a "booty boost"

 

Angled sliders that are just the tube don't make a great step. Heck, even my flat sliders with dimpled top plates have limited stepping area, but it's obviously more at the rear/kickout. That's what my son uses to get in the back. But if you're talking front passenger, it's limited. You really need to look at the tube lengths that different manufacturers are using for off set, as well as the angle from the frame mounts to find a happy medium - if there is one. Ultimately, sliders are not steps.

 

I have angled Westcott Designs sliders with no top plates and as @Thatbassguy mentioned they work perfectly fine as steps. Are you going to get as much purchase with your foot as you would with flat ones and a top plate? No, of course not. But I've had kids as young as 6 and adults as old as 81 get in my 4Runner without issue. They pop their toe/ball of their foot on the slider and use either the A-pillar handle up front or the paracord handles on the headrests for the rear. I do make it point to give people a heads up the first time they get in that it's a short step and nobody has had an issue.

 

Wouldn't these be super dangerous in winter? I can imagine ice and slush building up on these quite easily.

Someone should come up with a nice air suspension for our 4 runners. Just drop it like it's hot load up and lift off.

 

Well I live in Oklahoma so we do get snow and slush from time to time I am not too worried about the amount of snow the north gets. BUT that is being said without actually having them be put through the ringer here (we got the 4R in March).

 

Oh yeah, that's another vendor I was looking at! Starting to feel better about this...

 

Apparently my 4xInnovations "flat" sliders make it difficult for my 5' significant other to get in the modified station wagon. Apparently it was a spectacle to watch her get in and out, when she used the Turd while i "deployed". Only have a 3" lift, but i guess the lack of grip tape on the bars made it a slip and slide during winter.

A very over looked option.
https://www.4xinnovations.com/2010--2023-4Runner-Bolt-On-Rock-Slider_p_157.html.

 

Agreed, you don't see 4xInnovations brought up much. That's a shame because they make great stuff. I'm getting their drivetrain and gas tank skids in the very near future.

 

I've researched many slider manufacturers & if I needed a pair for "ultimate protection & maximum strength", I don't believe that there is a better slider made than 4xinnovations. And no, I don't have any affiliation with them, nor do I currently own any of their products.

 

Those guys are just a few hours from me. If I had known they were there when I originally got my 4Runner, I probably would have gone with all of their stuff. I'm still thinking about getting their gas tank skid. The company are at my skids from did not offer a gas tank skid, so I have just been beating the living piss out of the stock one.