swing arm 72 is configured such that its free end 72 a may be aligned with the rear slide track 46 of the corresponding upper rear rail 42 a rear slide member 76 is attached to the free end 72 a of the rear swing arm 72 in such fashion that it is free to swivel and rotate in all directions relative to the rear swing arm 72 as shown in fig3 a the rear slide member 76 may be provided in the form of a channel section alternatively the rear slide member 76 may comprise a wheel as shown in fig3 b or a flat plate as shown in fig3 c when the stepladder 10 is assembled each rear slide member 76 is positioned in the corresponding rear slide track 46 so that it may slide therein because the rear slide members 76 are free to swivel and rotate the lower rear frame 50 may articulate relative to the upper rear frame 40 without impeding the ability of the rear slide members 76 to slide within the rear slide tracks 46 in the preferred embodiment the rear slide tracks 46 are configured such that the rear slide members 76 may be conveniently disengaged therefrom thereby entirely disengaging the lower rear frame 50 from the upper rear frame 40 referring again to fig1 the stepladder 10 also features a top member 27 spanning across the upper ends of the upper front frame 20 and the upper rear frame 40 in order to enhance the stability of the stepladder 10 when in use the top member 27 is rigidly connected to either the upper front frame 20 or the upper rear frame 40 or to both in the preferred.