What Is a Good Ground Clearance for Off-Roading?
A vehicle with great ground clearance empowers you to enjoy the adventures of your dreams. You can take the paths less traveled without fear of rocks, boulders, and other obstacles snagging your automobile’s undercarriage. Trips to challenging campsites and natural scenic routes are within your reach.
But what is a good ground clearance for off-roading? If you’re going to engage in off-road adventures, you need to make sure you can put your vehicle through the paces. As providers of wheels and tires financing options, our team at Off-Road Rim Financing explores the gritty details of good ground clearance.
What Does Ground Clearance Mean?
Ground clearance refers to the lowest point of a vehicle’s undercarriage in correlation to the ground beneath it. For example, the average Toyota Tacoma has a ground clearance of nine and a half inches. Ground clearance changes depending on the terrain on which you want to traverse.
The average ground clearance for roads differs from the clearance needed for the terrain. Rock crawling requires a different clearance level than driving along sand dunes.
Ground Clearance Angles
There are three main angles to consider when adjusting your clearance. Each angle refers to how your vehicle approaches and clears different objects.
- The break-over angle is the angle between the wheels and the undercarriage’s lowest area. If you drive over a rocky area with a low break-over angle, you’ll risk your vehicle becoming stuck on that surface.
- The departure angle is the space between the lowest point of the undercarriage and the ground. A low departure angle can cause the undercarriage to drag across surfaces like speed bumps.
- The approach angle is the space between the ground and the front bumper’s lowest point. Low approach angles can also cause drag and damage to vehicle components.
Consider each of these angles before settling on a set of wheels.
What Is a Good Ground Clearance for Off-Roading?
You now know how terrain types and different angles influence your overall ground clearance. So, what is a good ground clearance for off-roading activities? Consider the off-roading adventures you want to enjoy, your vehicle’s current level of clearance, and which wheels will best fit your needs. Use the following guide to inform your final decision:
- Paved or dirt roads require at least six inches of ground clearance to keep your vehicle intact.
- If you want to try some basic off-roading with no serious terrain, you need at least eight to ten inches of clearance. This clearance level works great for simple camping trips in the forest.
- For journeys across more complex terrain, your vehicle needs ten inches of clearance or more to protect the undercarriage.
Apply for Easy Financing Options with Off-Road Rim Financing
What is a good ground clearance for off-roading activities? It depends on the adventures you choose! At Off-Road Rim Financing, we do more than inform your decisions for wheel adjustments like outlining the differences of overlanding vs off-roading. We specialize in creating financing opportunities for everyone! No credit needed, low monthly payment options, and easy financing with free and fast shipping to the lower 48 United States. Apply online now!
