Offroad Angle Basics
- Approach Angle The angle from the leading edge of your front tire to the lowest point of the bumper or other accessory attachments, such as a winch. Knowing this angle tells you if the bumper or attachment will hit the object you are approaching.
Learn to judge the angle by stopping before you climb a rock or hill. Look at the vehicle to see if the bumper will hit the obstacle before the tire is able to climb over it.
Breakover Angle
This refers to the steepest angle you can drive over without dragging the undercarriage.
Visualize your vehicle balanced on the point of a triangle, which represents the obstacle. Both the front and rear tires are touching the ground and the point of the obstacle is touching the center of the undercarriage. The image represents your maximum breakover angle and you can drive over the obstacle.
Now visualize being on an obstacle where either both of the front or rear tires do not touch the surface. You've exceeded the maximum breakover and the vehicle will become stuck on the obstacle.
Departure Angle Similar to the approach angle, but refers to the rear of the vehicle as it comes down off of the obstacle.
Roll-Over Angle The angle of a side slope that the vehicle can maneuver without rolling over. This isn't something you can judge by looking. Get the facts about your vehicle before going offroad.
You'll understand these angles better after you cross a rock obstacle like the one shown in the photo above.
