If you’re building the custom off-road vehicle of your dreams, it’s important to think not just about the aesthetic you’re going for but how to maximize its trail-going capabilities. There’s a good chance you’re already doing this to some degree – a lift kit for extra ground clearance, big off-road tires, a winch for easy recovery, et cetera – but there are plenty of other things you can do to make sure your dream build performs as well as it could and should.
One fine example of how to maximize your off-road capabilities is to improve your vehicle’s approach angle. By upgrading to larger off-road tires and installing a lift kit, you’re already well on your way to doing so. But there’s one more perfect way to improve your approach angle, and it’s with a high-clearance bumper. Today we’ll review what approach angle is before diving into how high-clearance bumpers can help, as well as what else they can do for your vehicle.
What Is Approach Angle?
If you’re an off-road veteran you probably already know this term, but if you’re new to this you might not know exactly what the approach angle is. It refers to the steepest incline your vehicle can climb without the front bumper impacting the ground. It’s measured from the lowest point of your vehicle’s front end – which is typically the bumper, but might be a skid plate – down to the ground.
This is important for off-roading because the larger it is, the more aggressive the terrain your vehicle can tackle becomes. You won’t have to worry nearly as much about scrapes or becoming blocked with a larger approach angle. But most stock bumpers aren’t designed with off-road activities like rock crawling in mind, which is why lifting, getting bigger tires and upgrading to a high-clearance bumper are so crucial!
Benefits of High-Clearance Bumpers
There are several benefits to installing a high-clearance bumper on your custom off-road vehicle, but chief among them is obviously the improvements it makes to approach angle. They’re designed to maximize vertical and lateral clearance at the front of your vehicle, thanks to the following:
- Slim profile
- Designed to hug the body, bulky valances are eliminated to give your tires more room to climb.
- Raised corners
- Through angled wings and tapered ends, the chance of your bumper catching on rocks or trail debris is greatly reduced.
- Frame modifications
- Certain bumpers might require you to make modifications to your frame, such as trimming its horns. This allows the bumper to sit higher and tighter, optimizing clearance.
- Integrated skid plates
- While not every model will, plenty of high-clearance bumpers actually include bash skids that will help to protect the undercarriage without sacrificing your approach angle.
While your gains will vary greatly depending on the bumper you choose, you could gain anywhere from four to six inches of additional approach clearance. This might not seem like much, but it’s truly a massive improvement when it comes to navigating technical off-road terrain. Here are some of the other benefits of high-clearance bumpers:
- Many designs integrate winch plates right into the bumper as well.
- Most will also include shackle mounts, which provide built-in recovery points.
- Often constructed from steel or aluminum, they’re built to take other abuse from your off-road activities.
Upgrade to a High-Clearance Bumper Today
There are tons of high-clearance bumpers out there to choose from, from plenty of great manufacturers. Some of our favorites come from:
- Fab Fours
- Coastal Offroad
- Rough Country
- Body Armor 4x4
- WARN
- Ranch Hand
If you have more questions about approach angle or high-clearance bumpers, you can feel free to give us a call here at the Glover Customs sales desk. If you’re ready to find the right high-clearance bumper, or would like to discuss installation options, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!