diff --git a/vars/gitSSHCheckout.groovy b/vars/gitSSHCheckout.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf6e0e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/gitSSHCheckout.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+def call(body) {
+  // evaluate the body block, and collect configuration into the object
+  def config = [:]
+  body.resolveStrategy = Closure.DELEGATE_FIRST
+  body.delegate = config
+  body()
+
+  def merge = config.withMerge ?: false
+  def wipe = config.withWipeOut ?: false
+  def targetDir = config.targetDir ?: "./"
+  def port = config.port ?: "29418"
+
+  // default parameters
+  def scmExtensions = [
+    [$class: 'CleanCheckout'],
+    [$class: 'RelativeTargetDirectory', relativeTargetDir: "${targetDir}"]
+  ]
+
+  // https://issues.jenkins-ci.org/browse/JENKINS-6856
+  if (merge) {
+    scmExtensions.add([$class: 'LocalBranch', localBranch: "${config.branch}"])
+  }
+  // we need wipe workspace before checkout
+  if (wipe) {
+    scmExtensions.add([$class: 'WipeWorkspace'])
+  }
+
+  checkout(
+    scm: [
+      $class: 'GitSCM',
+      branches: [[name: "${config.branch}"]],
+      extensions: scmExtensions,
+      userRemoteConfigs: [[
+        credentialsId: "${config.credentialsId}",
+        name: 'origin',
+        url: "ssh://${config.credentialsId}@${config.host}:${port}/${config.project}.git"
+      ]]
+    ]
+  )
+}