What is Breakover Angle?
The breakover angle is a critical measurement in off-road vehicle geometry. It’s the angle formed between the ground and an imaginary line drawn from the center of your Jeep’s wheelbase to its lowest midpoint. This angle determines how steep of an obstacle your vehicle can clear without getting hung up on its undercarriage.
Why Breakover Angle Matters
A higher breakover angle allows your Jeep to tackle more challenging obstacles without scraping its belly. This is particularly important when navigating over steep crests, large rocks, or uneven terrain. Enhancing your Jeep’s breakover angle offers several benefits:
- Obstacle Clearance: A higher breakover angle allows your Jeep to clear taller obstacles without getting hung up on its undercarriage. This is especially important when traversing rocky terrain, crossing logs, or cresting steep hills.
- Reduced Risk of High-Centering: High-centering occurs when the center of your vehicle gets stuck on an obstacle, lifting the wheels off the ground. A better breakover angle significantly reduces the risk of high-centering, allowing your Jeep to maintain traction and continue moving forward over peaked obstacles.
- Increased Off-Road Capability: A higher breakover angle allows you to tackle more challenging terrain and obstacles.
- Reduced Risk of Damage: By improving clearance, you minimize the chances of damaging your Jeep’s undercarriage. An increased breakover angle will protect vital components such as your transmission, exhaust system and fuel tank from potential damage caused by ground contact.
How to Improve Your Jeep’s Breakover Angle
Enhancing your Jeep’s breakover angle can significantly boost its off-road performance. Here are some effective ways to achieve this:
1. Install a Lift Kit
A lift kit is one of the most popular modifications for improving breakover angle. By raising your Jeep’s body and frame, you increase the distance between the ground and your vehicle’s undercarriage. This not only improves the breakover angle but also enhances approach and departure angles.
2. Upgrade to Larger Tires
Increasing tire size is another effective method to improve breakover angle. Larger tires raise both the axles and the body of your Jeep, providing more clearance. However, remember that you only gain about half the added tire height in actual clearance.
3. Remove or Relocate Low-Hanging Components
Identify any components under your Jeep that hang particularly low. These might include exhaust systems, skid plates, or even factory brackets. Consider removing unnecessary items or relocating essential ones to improve your breakover angle.
4. Install Rock Sliders
While rock sliders don’t directly improve your breakover angle, they protect your Jeep’s undercarriage rocker panels when you do inevitably scrape the underside. They act as a sacrificial component, taking the damage instead of your Jeep’s body.
5. Add Skid Plates
Similar to rock sliders, skid plates don’t increase your breakover angle, but they protect vital components underneath your Jeep when you do make contact with obstacles.
2-Door vs. 4-Door
Additionally, the breakover angle can vary between different Jeep models and configurations. For example, the Jeep Wrangler JL 2-Door Sport has a breakover angle of 25 degrees, while the 4-Door Sport version has a lower angle of 20.3 degrees due to its longer wheelbase. This difference can significantly impact each vehicle’s performance in certain off-road scenarios.
Remember, while improving your breakover angle can significantly enhance your Jeep’s off-road capabilities, it’s essential to consider other factors like approach and departure angles, ground clearance, and overall vehicle stability. Always prioritize safety and responsible off-roading practices.
