There's the answer I was looking for.
I tried to explain that there is enough bracing at the tube butt joints that just the first step provides ample resistance to fore and aft movement as you bounce up and down the steps. As such, each additional step arrangement only improves that.
I was not able to get my description adequately explained verbally even with a basic picture.
I pointed out that there is enough "gusseting" in the section I circled in green to fully resist any forces that would create unwanted movement. I failed in making them understand that properly.
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So, I built that section in a few minutes to be roughly 6" x 7" out of 1" x .100 wall square tube and added attachment points at opposite corners.
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I hooked those up to the front bumper of the Unlimited and the engine hoist and picked the front end up off of the ground with zero deflection corner to corner in the rectangle. In fact, the little picture is showing the weight of the front of the rig on the rectangle.
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Each repetition of that feature only increases the resistance to movement. It needs no angle braces whatsover to prevent that.
Did you mean to quote Shank instead of Blackjack?