Approach and departure angles

File:Approach and departure angle.svg

Approach angle is the maximum angle of a ramp onto which a vehicle can climb from a horizontal plane without interference. {{cite web |url=https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/angle+of+approach |title=angle of approach |publisher=The Free Dictionary by Farlex |access-date=2024-11-19}} It is defined as the angle between the ground and the line drawn between the front tire and the lowest-hanging part of the vehicle at the front overhang.{{cite web |url=http://www.carlist.com/autoglossary/autoglossary_35.html |title=Angle of Approach |website=carlist.com |access-date=2014-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328045155/http://www.carlist.com/autoglossary/autoglossary_35.html |archive-date=2015-03-28 |url-status=dead}}{{citation |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/523.2 |title=U.S. Code of Federal Regulations - CFR 523.2 - Title 49 |publisher=Cornell University Law School |work=Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) |access-date=2014-12-04 |quote=Approach angle means the smallest angle, in a plane side view of an automobile, formed by the level surface on which the automobile is standing and a line tangent to the front tire static loaded radius arc and touching the underside of the automobile forward of the front tire.}} Departure angle is its counterpart at the rear of the vehicle – the maximum ramp angle from which the car can descend without damage. Approach and departure angles are also referred to as ramp angles.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUuq1YDvnQgC&pg=PT376 |title=Automotive A-Z: Lane's Complete Dictionary of Automotive Terms |last=Lane |first=Keith |page=376 |publisher=Veloce Publishing Ltd |year=2002|isbn=978-1-903706-40-4 }}{{dead link|date=November 2024}}

Approach and departure angles are indicators of off-road ability of the vehicle: they indicate how steep of obstacles, such as rocks or logs, the vehicle can negotiate according to its body shape alone.