• RME Gear & Apparel

So how much clearance is high clearance?

deltatrader

deltatrader

Member
Location
Saratoga Springs
I see disclaimers like "high clearance vehicle recommended" on off road trails, but I wonder if there is a minimum requirement for that. :confused: Also how do you measure the clearance? Ground to axle housing?

Oh and how much clearance do you have?
 
Tacoma

Tacoma

Et incurventur ante non
Location
far enough away
Most of those "high clearance" signs generally mean "4wd vehicle"... of course back when they were first installed on "unimproved roads", that meant a truck, which has a body and frame that are a good bit higher than say.. a 2008 Grand Cherokee. You can get around bigger rocks w/tire placement but not much you can do to get the body out of the way. ;)

I maybe have 11-12" w/35's? I don't know. (to the pumpkin)
 
1995zj

1995zj

I'm addicted
Location
Herriman, UT
29"?! That's flippin tall!

I think at ride height on my 37's I'm at about 22" to the bottom of my t-case skid. I'll have to see when I get it back on all fours, but I swear it was about that.
 
Robert T

Robert T

Skull Designs Euros
Location
Salem, Ut
What trail are you looking at, what is your vehicle and lift, tire size? That might help for knowing what kind of clearence you need. I sit at 23" to my skid plate with 37" tires on a YJ
 
deltatrader

deltatrader

Member
Location
Saratoga Springs
What got me thinking about this is I have been looking for family expedition outings. I looked at hole in the rock, the maze district of canyonlands and more stuff in the swell. Those roads in have the high clearance disclaimer. I have 2 4wd drive vehicles. The best 1 for hauling 6 people and gear is, don't laugh, our Yukon XL Denali. It rides on a set of 265 monstrosity tires and really it's AWD. Is AWD still considered 4wd? My other rig is a 2 dr hoe. It's on 35's and has an element of hardcoreness. But cramming 6 of my people and gear is a stretch. Also, that rig lacks the.....comforts.

So based on some of the comments, measuring from the tcase skid is the way to go? I measured to the diff housing in the front on my Tahoe and came up with 14 inches. Oh yes be afraid, very afraid! lol!
 
Last edited:
utah340six

utah340six

Registered User
Location
west jordan Utah
27 inches to skid platewith 37 inch tires.
this winter lowered her to 24
the extra higth was getting to be a problem getting in.
so high clearance ( if you didnt get over the rock with out hitting it you went tall enuff.
a jeep with 20 inch skid can go over thing a longer vehicle cant with the same hight.
 
deltatrader

deltatrader

Member
Location
Saratoga Springs
BlackDog said:
I love a Denali.... as nice as an Escalade, with out the Cadillac Attitude.

They (the masses) can hate us.. they (Denali's) are pimp.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah I love the denali too. Hard to find a rig that will haul 7 people, 1000lbs of gear, and a loaded 23 foot ski boat with out a problem at 70 mph. All with the AC blowing ice cubes and shrek on the 15 inch screen with premium sound.;)
 
SAMI

SAMI

Formerly Beardy McGee
Location
SLC, UT
In my opinion, the Denali will be stretching what you can do in the Swell in large part due to the wheelbase. What clearance it does have will be stretched thin with the length, and then added weight of 6 people plus gear. I'd say a minimum lift of 3" and no less than 285's would be more sufficient for the Denali in San Raffael country..

The Tahoe obviously has more 'high clearance' properties, but lacks the room you need for 6 people... Are the 6 all in your family? If not, kick some out and tell them to get their own vehicle, then roll out in the Tahoe. ;)

I have done several area of the Swell in my current rig ~ 2006 Nissan Xterra w/ 2" spacer lift and skinny 32" tires with no issues. Granted, I did give my rock sliders a little love once or twice but that is what they are there for. My 1999 4runner with medium OME lift was better situated with slightly taller stance, 285's and had no issues in the Swell.
 
deltatrader

deltatrader

Member
Location
Saratoga Springs
SAMI said:
Are the 6 all in your family? If not, kick some out and tell them to get their own vehicle, then roll out in the Tahoe. ;)
Click to expand...

Yep, we're all closely related, but 2 are teenagers......So I never rule out giving them the boot:D.

Thanks for the heads up based on your trail experience. Good info.

The prospect of lifting that denali is a joke, and I don't think the wifey would be good with me busting out the saws all to fit bigger tires on that thing.
 
Houndoc

Houndoc

Registered User
Location
Grantsville
Sami touches on a great point: long wheel base for practical purposes lessens clearance. I would not liked doing in significant off-road in my Yukon XL (although I agree the ride and room where nice.)

My Montero Sport has clearance to the pumkin of about 10-11" (on 33s) with belly obviously higher.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top