Badlands.... Do I need the Sasquatch Upgrade (Newbie)

[blg]

Guys thanks for taking the time to read this question. I am a total newbie and want to get into overlanding. I decided that I am going to get the Badlands model but here is my million dollar question. Do I need to upgrade to the Sasquatch package? Here is what i am looking to do. Nothing extreme! I want to be able to head out for overnight trips in the back country and be my weekend home on wheels in the parking lots during the ski season here in WA state. No rock crawling nothing crazy I just want to get away from the people here in Seattle. This will be my everyday driver as well so keep that in mind. The one I am looking at has the Equipment Group 334A and does not have the Sasquatch upgrade. The salesman at Sound Ford told me the only difference is the Sasquatch upgrade has the bigger tires. I actually prefer the slightly smaller tires on the basic Badlands but I do want to be safe when off roading. So please any experienced overlanders here in the PNW tell me if I really need to upgrade. Thank you so much! Also to anyone in Seattle do you have a recommendation for a dealer? The guys at Sound Ford could not answer any of my questions other then they are all basicly the same.... which i find hard to believe

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[MNBigfoot]

If it's an auto the gearing is slightly different 4.46 vs 4.7, and a Sas BL's will have an extra .5" of suspension lift, basicly Sasquatch on a Badlands is a waste.

 

[WillRCTID]

Agreed. Not necessary, especially for what you want to do. I also have a non Sasquatch badlands and have camped many many nights in it on 33s.

 

[TrailDamage]

Been a long time since I was out that way so no clue on how it is these days but I don’t think Sasquatch is worth it at all on Badlands as it comes with basically everything Sasquatch would otherwise offer on other trims. The only loss is in the gearing and I think that’s actually a benefit. I had a rental 2.7 Badlands that didn’t have Sasquatch and it felt just as good to drive. I know it had smaller tires too but the gas mileage overall was such a significant leap too for me.

 

[blg]

Agreed. Not necessary, especially for what you want to do. I also have a non Sasquatch badlands and have camped many many nights in it on 33s.

Thank you!

 

[WillRCTID]

Been a long time since I was out that way so no clue on how it is these days but I don’t think Sasquatch is worth it at all on Badlands as it comes with basically everything Sasquatch would otherwise offer on other trims. The only loss is in the gearing and I think that’s actually a benefit. I had a rental 2.7 Badlands that didn’t have Sasquatch and it felt just as good to drive. I know it had smaller tires too but the gas mileage overall was such a significant leap too for me.

I've got 35s now, with the 2.7. Plenty of pep still.

 

[blg]

Been a long time since I was out that way so no clue on how it is these days but I don’t think Sasquatch is worth it at all on Badlands as it comes with basically everything Sasquatch would otherwise offer on other trims. The only loss is in the gearing and I think that’s actually a benefit. I had a rental 2.7 Badlands that didn’t have Sasquatch and it felt just as good to drive. I know it had smaller tires too but the gas mileage overall was such a significant leap too for me.

Thanks for the info!

 

[stevenstommyboy1]

Bronco Raptor. You only live once.

 

[ejpaul1]

Guys thanks for taking the time to read this question. I am a total newbie and want to get into overlanding. I decided that I am going to get the Badlands model but here is my million dollar question. Do I need to upgrade to the Sasquatch package? Here is what i am looking to do. Nothing extreme! I want to be able to head out for overnight trips in the back country and be my weekend home on wheels in the parking lots during the ski season here in WA state. No rock crawling nothing crazy I just want to get away from the people here in Seattle. This will be my everyday driver as well so keep that in mind. The one I am looking at has the Equipment Group 334A and does not have the Sasquatch upgrade. The salesman at Sound Ford told me the only difference is the Sasquatch upgrade has the bigger tires. I actually prefer the slightly smaller tires on the basic Badlands but I do want to be safe when off roading. So please any experienced overlanders here in the PNW tell me if I really need to upgrade. Thank you so much! Also to anyone in Seattle do you have a recommendation for a dealer? The guys at Sound Ford could not answer any of my questions other then they are all basicly the same.... which i find hard to believe

Ok, im in western Idaho and have a 25 badlands non sas. I do SOME rock crawling but mostly trails, is the sas better suited for rock crawling? Yes but not by a mile. I wouldnt wanna live on the difference and frankly the everyday manners are far more noticable with the 33s than 35s and fuel economy is a bit better non sas. I only know because 2 co workers have sas badlands and we compare notes.

I had my choice when I bought mine and after driving them both, gladly took the non sas. Nothing against it but it doesnt offer a ton of difference offroading and the wild part is a non sas Badlands has a hair more wheel travel

 

[crzyhawk]

IMO, Badlands non-sas is the way.

 

[NativeTexan]

I was once in your shoes asking the same question. Ford made it easy for me: said if I kept the hardtop and Sasquatch package, the order would likely be canceled after a 2+ year wait. Covid supply chain issues and what not.

For the money, I feel like I got the best of everything with Badlands non-SAS.

 

[BodieMonster]

Surprised I'm in the minority here but I would absolutely go Sasquatch. You get the gearing, the added clearance and while subjective, I love the stance of a BL on 35's compared to non-squatch. Also, if you think there is any possibility you will go to 35's at some point, I would just go for it now.

However, if you like the look of the 33's then it's a no-brainer since you will get slightly better MPG and still have a highly capable vehicle when you go camping.

 

[NativeTexan]

Surprised I'm in the minority here but I would absolutely go Sasquatch. You get the gearing, the added clearance and while subjective, I love the stance of a BL on 35's compared to non-squatch. Also, if you think there is any possibility you will go to 35's at some point, I would just go for it now.

However, if you like the look of the 33's then it's a no-brainer since you will get slightly better MPG and still have a highly capable vehicle when you go camping.

Agree with your points. I upgraded the springs to Eibach to raise it and level it out and ended up getting 35s when the 33s wore out. The gearing is the only thing I wonder about. I haven't been in enough Broncos to know how much difference I would feel with the 4.7 vs 4.46.

 

[Dr Dan]

SAS is not just tire size, it's also different differentials, suspension and tires. The M210's are (according to this forum's contributors) notably stronger than the M190's. So while it doesn't sound like you'd be able to take advantage of the SAS package, a salesman saying it's just tires doesn't know what s/he's selling. You still get locking diffs in the Badlands. The last thing of note, and somehow the most significant and least significant at the same time is tires. Badlands without SAS comes with K02's, do SAS still come with MT's? You may never note the difference if you're not pushing through a lot of terrain, but these are also the easiest things to change.

 

[rbalazs]

SAS is not just tire size, it's also different differentials, suspension and tires. The M210's are (according to this forum's contributors) notably stronger than the M190's. So while it doesn't sound like you'd be able to take advantage of the SAS package, a salesman saying it's just tires doesn't know what s/he's selling. You still get locking diffs in the Badlands. The last thing of note, and somehow the most significant and least significant at the same time is tires. Badlands without SAS comes with K02's, do SAS still come with MT's? You may never note the difference if you're not pushing through a lot of terrain, but these are also the easiest things to change.

Second this.

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