Which term describes the angle of departure in relation to the rear axle?

• A. Angle of Departure
• B. Angle of Attack
• C. Deck Angle
• D. Recovery Angle

Answer: (A)

In vehicle clearance terms, the angle of departure is the rear clearance angle—the steepness of a rear obstacle or drop that the vehicle can exit from without the rear undercarriage contacting the surface. It is defined with respect to the rear axle, showing how far the back end can “depart” from a surface.

That’s why this term is the best fit for describing the angle of departure relative to the rear axle. The other terms refer to different ideas: angle of attack is about the orientation of a body or tool to an approaching surface (not rear clearance); deck angle describes the tilt of the deck or pump platform; and recovery angle relates to how the vehicle can recover from a tipping condition, not rear-end departure clearance.