Stock Appoach and Departure Angles of a TB

[rgraboske]

This question came up in another thread the other day. I can't find that thread, but I do have an answer. I first measured it on my '02, but I didn't trust the answer, so I googled it, and found a specification sheet from a road test of an '02 on 4X4Review.com

Approach Angle: 29 degrees

Departure Angle: 23 degrees

Breakover Angle: 18 degrees

Ground Clearance: 8"

Front Track width: 63.1"

Rear Track width: 62.1"

Hope this helps

[irishboy02]

Those are some interesting numbers. I wonder if we would be able to comprise new ones with the now available lifts installed. Just removal of the front bumper alone would increase the approach greatly.

Cool!

[glfredrick]

Down and dirty approach angles can be figured at home with a 6' piece of 2x4 lumber. Just stick the plank into the front or rear bottom edge of the tire and lift it until it contacts body parts. Measure the angle = approach or departure angle.

Then, get out the sawsall, cut-off wheel, torch, etc., and start the modifications until it is around 90*.

My Ranger truggy is 100% (what degrees are there when the tires stick out past the front end?) up front and about 60* out back, but I also don't care if I drag the rear of the frame a bit over an obstacle.

[Trail X]

Is approach angle measured directly in-front of the tire? or across the whole front and rear clip?

[rgraboske]

Down and dirty approach angles can be figured at home with a 6' piece of 2x4 lumber. Just stick the plank into the front or rear bottom edge of the tire and lift it until it contacts body parts. Measure the angle = approach or departure angle.

That's what I did first, but the numbers seemed off to me, so I used my Google-fu to verify because I knew I'd seen it before. Somewhere I have the FWOTY test where they went off on how bad the new GM mid-size SUVs were off road

Is approach angle measured directly in-front of the tire? or across the whole front and rear clip?

James, when I measured, I put a little pressure on the things that move, like the lower air dam. My measurements were in line with those that I posted. I theory it should be almost the same all the way across because if you're going over something big, you're going to want the tire on that big thing.

[KE7WOX]

That's what I did first, but the numbers seemed off to me, so I used my Google-fu to verify because I knew I'd seen it before. Somewhere I have the FWOTY test where they went off on how bad the new GM mid-size SUVs were off road

You mean the Tahoe-sized-frameless-wagons?

[rgraboske]

That's what I did first, but the numbers seemed off to me, so I used my Google-fu to verify because I knew I'd seen it before. Somewhere I have the FWOTY test where they went off on how bad the new GM mid-size SUVs were off road

You mean the Tahoe-sized-frameless-wagons?

Nope, when the TB and Envoy came out the editor of Four Wheeler magazine did a ranting editorial on how bad they were off road. Which is ultimately true when they're stock. At least they do provide a platform to modify. It would be next to impossible to make the new stuff work off road.

[glfredrick]

Most guys typically measure directly in front of a tire unless there is some big reason to measure elsewhere. The reason for that is that the first thing you have to do to get up an obstacle is to get a tire on it. Large steps are often impossible straight on (how do you climb a wall that is taller than the truck?) so the driver usually goes at an angle, getting one front tire on the obstacle, then works the rest of the vehicle into place. Once a tire is up, the approach angle is a non-issue for the most part (but the departure angle may come into play).

Here is a picture describing what I just said. Tires are on the obstacle, but check the departure angle, which gave me fits until I cleared the bottom of the hill.

Just for fun, check out the tire marks to the right and above my 'Sploder. Take some building to get a Trailblazer up that -- that IS the goal! Who's gonna be first?

[Hpimichael02]

Ask bill I'm sure him or teebs will try it lol, but good info