Jeep Stacking: What Is It and Why Do Jeepers Do It?

Jeep stacking is, in its own right, a sort of art form to the Jeep community. It’s the process of using another Jeep’s tire as an RTI ramp to show off your locker-stuffed front differential, your suspension’s articulation, and your prowess behind the wheel; after all, only an expert would dare park virtually on top of their buddy’s Wrangler. 

Typically, Jeep stacking is performed not for yourself but for the enjoyment of others. It’s a way to set up the perfect car-show look or impromptu photo-op, whether parked at the end of the Rubicon, washed up for the show-and-shine, or posted up with your fellow Jeepers in a restaurant parking lot for a photoshoot (no shame, we’ve all been there). 

Where did the art of Jeep stacking come from? Honestly, who knows? Whether it was an accidental occurrence while parking at a show or crowning a blind hill, the odds are it earned a photo, which spread through Jeep forums or social media sites like wildfire. Since then, a proper Jeep stack has become a right of passage. If your Jeep is built enough to manage a solid stack, you’ve made it.

Approach Angle

Approach angle is defined as the maximum upward angle of an inclined surface that your Jeep can climb; in Layman’s terms, this means the steepest object your Jeep can climb without making contact with the front bumper, axle, or any other part of the chassis. 

While relatively capable in stock form, a Jeep’s approach angle can be improved substantially by increasing lift height, adding larger tires, and installing high-clearance bumpers. In Jeep stacking, a higher approach angle helps your Jeep to climb over the target tire without the bumper or chassis getting in the way.

Break-Over Angle

Break-over indicates the steepest angle your Jeep can climb over without making contact with the center of the body; basically, it’s the tallest obstacle your Jeep can pass over without high-centering. 

Increased ground clearance is realistically the only thing that improves a Jeep’s break-over angle, which can be accomplished with a taller lift, low-profile or no steps, and oversized tires. However, this angle isn’t overly helpful while stacking unless you’re a touch overzealous and accidentally drive over the target tire.

Departure Angle

The departure angle is similar to your Jeep’s approach angle, except it focuses on the rear end rather than the front. 

A high departure angle means your Jeep can climb up and down aggressive obstacles without dragging the rear bumper, fuel tank, hitch, etc. Like approach angle, departure angle is improved with lift kits, high-clearance rear bumpers, and oversized tires. While not directly correlating to Jeep stacking, your rear bumper could potentially drag in extreme conditions, like attempting to stack on a 40” tire. 

While these numbers vary by generation and model, most stock Jeeps average approach angles in the low 40º range, break-over angles in the low 20º range, and departure angles in the low 30º range. Of course, these numbers can increase exponentially with upgrades like oversized tires, which you can achieve by researching proper Jeep tire size. 

Tips to Stack Your Jeep!

While we’ll tentatively recommend stacking due to the risk of suspension, body, and tire damage, we have a few tips to prevent pride-based repairs or injury.