Rock crawling line choice

The Jimny is short and light, which helps on rock. It also has 210 mm of ground clearance and a 24-degree breakover angle, so a bad line can ground it on the middle.

Walk it, choose where each wheel will go, and go slowly in 4L. General technique, not a substitute for training or your owner's manual. Practise on easy ground first, with a spotter, and stop if you are unsure.

By Gypsy Overlanding Family ®

210 mmgroundclearance36°approachangle24°breakoverangle
Reported clearance and angles for the 5-door.

The short answer

Walk the obstacle, then choose a line that keeps the tires on the high points and the middle of the car clear. Go slowly in 4L with a spotter. Place each wheel deliberately, and ease a wheel off a ledge slowly with light brake or Hill Descent Control. The underbody and the diff housings are your weak spots.

Do

  • Walk the line first
  • Use a spotter
  • Stay in 4L at a crawl
  • Aim tires at high points
  • Ease down ledges slowly

Do not

  • Rush it
  • Drive over the middle of a rock
  • Drop off a ledge
  • Spin the wheels on rock
  • Ignore the underbody

Read the line

  • Look for the highest, flattest spots for the tires, not the biggest gap
  • Check where the diffs and the middle will pass, since breakover is only 24 degrees
  • Look for sharp edges that can cut a sidewall
  • Plan the exit as well as the entry
  • If it needs a lot of rock stacking, consider another way

Wheel placement

  • Place the front wheel on top of the rock, then the rear follows
  • Use small steering movements, since the wheel can slip off
  • Pick one wheel at a time to climb, the others stay down
  • Keep the speed at a crawl and the throttle steady

Easing a wheel off a ledge

  1. Stop square to the ledge and check with the spotter
  2. Let the wheel roll over slowly, with the brake or Hill Descent Control holding speed. See Hill Descent Control
  3. Keep the other wheels steady and avoid a drop that slams the front
  4. If the drop is too big, build it up with rocks or choose another line

Protect the car

Skid plates and sliders help, see underbody protection. Tire pressures matter too, see tire pressures. For a stuck wheel, see cross-axle flex and wheel lift.

Where these figures come from

Approach and breakover angles are as listed. Departure angle is listed as 46 or 47 degrees depending on the source. Confirm with your dealer.

Pick your obstacle

Tap an obstacle to see how to handle it.

Tap an obstacle (6 to try)

What to do for Ledge going up

Do this
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Details
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Common mistakes

  • Driving over the middle. Breakover is 24 degrees.
  • Rushing the ledge. It slams the front.
  • Skipping the spotter. You cannot see the wheels.
  • Spinning on rock. It damages tires.
  • Ignoring the exit. Plan both ends.
A final word. General technique, not a substitute for training or your owner's manual. Practise on easy ground first, with a spotter, and stop if you are unsure.