[khan_sultan]

These days the 4x4 advertisements mention a lot of technical details and one such detail is the ramp breakover angle. I was wondering what this is and how does it help?

I can understand the angle of approach & the angle of departure angle adn it's relevance for a 4x4, but can't seem to understand the ramp breakover angle -- the included & excluded angles seem to confuse me.

Can someone help in explaining in a language that can be understood by common folks?

[clevermax]

This is a measure of a vehicle's ability to drive over a sharp ridge or ramp without touching its underside. The "included" angle measures the angle inside the ramp; the "excluded" angle measures the combined angles outside the ramp to the horizontal. A short-wheelbase vehicle with a high ground clearance and large tires will have the best (highest) ramp breakover angle.

Of course I googled it and found out. HTH.

And please check this link, it has a picture.

Ramp Breakover Angle on carlist.com

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by clevermax

This is a measure of a vehicle's ability to drive over a sharp ridge or ramp without touching its underside. The "included" angle measures the angle inside the ramp; the "excluded" angle measures the combined angles outside the ramp to the horizontal. .....

Buddy, I have seen this and the picture also -- had checked this before posting the question here.

• What is angle inside the ramp?
• What is combined angles outside the ramp to the horizontal

Sorry, but was never good at geometry..

[clevermax]

Hope this explains the included angle and the excluded angle...

[nitrous]

^^Good explanation.
Btw, This thread should be present in the 4x4 section.

[kkr2k2]

Originally Posted by nitrous

^^Good explanation.
Btw, This thread should be present in the 4x4 section.

doesnt those angles valid to other vehicles viz passenger cars, goods vehicles (oh! btw, there are 3 wheeled vehicles as well which carry goods and passengers)

Also, we can include the "gradient angles" in this discussion.

@clevermax, good work there. That was really clever.
can you also put up a diagram showing the gradient angle?

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by nitrous

^^Good explanation.
Btw, This thread should be present in the 4x4 section.

Originally Posted by kkr2k2

doesnt those angles valid to other vehicles viz passenger cars, goods vehicles (oh! btw, there are 3 wheeled vehicles as well which carry goods and passengers)

Also, we can include the "gradient angles" in this discussion.

@clevermax, good work there. That was really clever.
can you also put up a diagram showing the gradient angle?

Thanks!
I don't know exactly what is gradient angle, does it indicate the angle of the chassis with the horizontal?

[dsskumaran]

This site may give you details on the significance of not only 'Ramp Breakover Angle', but many other too.
The page does have the description too.
Rick's Buggy Project - Design Overview

Rgds,
SK

[condor]

An incident of Ramp-breakover breach that I had come across - must have been 2013. A clear case of error in judgement while trying to take a short-cut.


Location: Chord Rd, Vijayanagar, BLR