What is a breakover angle?

What is a breakover angle?

• A. The angle formed by level ground and a line from the rear tires touch the ground to the bottom of the frame at the wheelbase midpoint
• B. The angle formed by level ground and a line from the front tires to the top of the bumper
• C. The angle formed by the level ground and the front axle centerline
• D. The angle formed by the ground and the undercarriage clearance

Answer: (A)

Breakover angle measures how steep a crest or obstacle a vehicle can clear without the underbody hitting the ground. It’s defined by the geometry between the ground and a line drawn from the point where a wheel is resting on the ground to the lowest point of the frame located at the middle of the wheelbase. The angle this line makes with the level ground is the breakover angle. That’s why the correct description describes a line from where the rear tires touch the ground to the bottom of the frame at the wheelbase midpoint and measures that angle to the ground. Other options describe different clearances or lines that don’t capture this midframe clearance geometry.

Breakover angle measures how steep a crest or obstacle a vehicle can clear without the underbody hitting the ground. It’s defined by the geometry between the ground and a line drawn from the point where a wheel is resting on the ground to the lowest point of the frame located at the middle of the wheelbase. The angle this line makes with the level ground is the breakover angle. That’s why the correct description describes a line from where the rear tires touch the ground to the bottom of the frame at the wheelbase midpoint and measures that angle to the ground. Other options describe different clearances or lines that don’t capture this midframe clearance geometry.