- First Name
- Ben
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2026
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 35
- Location
- East Bloomfield, NY
- Vehicle(s)
- 2025 Bronco Badlands, 2017 Toyota Tundra
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
I've done 1200 miles and figured I'd write about my experiences, what I like and don't and finish with next steps.
Well, I've done 1200 miles on the most expensive and newest vehicle I've ever owned. I picked up a 2025 Badlands Sasquatch almost exactly one month ago today. Today I hit 1200 miles (it's actually about 1250 total with test-drive miles from others).
It's a Badlands Sasquatch with 2.7l V6, Mid Package, gloss-black sound-deadening hard top, Modular Bumper, Tow Package. It came with roof & door bags. Mods are JCR Offroad short roof-rack, 3D Printed door pockets.
The driving is evenly split between Adirondacks and Fingerlakes regions of New York. Rural and Suburban with a lot of really rough roads. Some of that on dirt roads.
I love the confidence the vehicle has on those bumpy, broken, messed up roads. Exploring the woods and trails and putting myself in questionable (in other vehicles) spots has gotten better already. I bought this as my kayak fishing rig to take to remote places with a kayak on top or on a trailer behind, and I'm very excited at what it has done already and at the potential.
The ride is fine. You definitely feel that Sasquatch suspension on the highway bumps - not bad, and still better than a small car, but could be a lot gentler if that's what you cared about. But when I turn offroad, the Bronco feels like it's come home. Driving over rock and bump and washboard road like it's nothing. It felt amazing. The "adventurous" part of my trips has become the most fun driving of the trip, and that's exactly what I was paying for. I can't exaggerate how natural and comfortable the Bronco feels off of the pavement - I've started cutting the corner turning into my dirt drive up in the woods, just to get a few more feet offroad.
Road noise is definitely louder at speeds over 55mph, but only a bit more than the Tundra and FJ Cruiser before that. I don't buy quiet vehicles. The wind doesn't bother me. Speaking of sound, the famously bad sound system is bad. I mostly listen to podcasts, and I'll be fine with that. Music is ... sometimes OK? Some songs are missing so much that I just skip them. Eventually I'll go looking for a way to fill out the sound on the cheap. I don't need a lot of power, but... I had an after-market Kenwood Excellon and JL speakers in the Tundra, so this is a huge step down for music.
I love the swing-out tailgate. If you've ever tried to swing up a cross-over tailgate underneath a roof mounted kayak to get gear in or out, you've probably got dents in your skull to match mine. The cargo area is roomy - I fit four suitcases and my YakAttack Black Pak in the back this week without dropping the back seats or stacking above them.
I've taken the first two rows of the hard-top off and gone for a two-hour drive around the Adirondacks on a sunny day. It was wonderful! Easy off and easy on. Took a little learning, especially with the short roof rack there, but I did it. I have not yet attempted the cargo top or taking off the doors. Soon, I hope. I need to understand if it's legal to be on roads without doors in NY.
I love the wide flat dash, and I'm making plans already for use of it. In part, because of the poor cabin storage. I'm coming from a 2017 Tundra in which the console probably has enough room for a small child. It's huge. I kept a ton of stuff in there, and could still easily put a gallon or liter jug in there when stopping at the store. In comparison, I find I'm struggling to fit my vehicle EDCs in the Bronco's default storage. Some stuff, like tools and paracord, have gone in the cargo-area "cooler" under the floor, but that means no cargo mat for me, if I want to access those. I've ordered a couple molle pouches to fit to the back of the driver's seat. I'm hoping that will solve the problem. I think the reason they don't give a printed manual with the Bronco is that it would use all of the cabin storage on its own, and you'd notice in the test-drive.
My big "fear" had been mileage. Not that I'm super sensitive to it, but I wanted an improvement over the 13.8mpg I get in the Tundra. I'm averaging 18.4mpg so far, with a brief jump to 18.5. I live in ECO mode, because I don't need to jumpy takeoffs. I got the V6 for kayak-trailer towing confidence, not racing. The NA V8 and throttle response in the Tundra are such that the Eco mode in the Bronco is closer to what I'm used to. The Normal mode is fun, but I'd rather get the better mileage.
Mods and additions
Here is what I'm looking to add. Maybe in priority order:
Hope you enjoyed this. What do you think I should do next?
Well, I've done 1200 miles on the most expensive and newest vehicle I've ever owned. I picked up a 2025 Badlands Sasquatch almost exactly one month ago today. Today I hit 1200 miles (it's actually about 1250 total with test-drive miles from others).
It's a Badlands Sasquatch with 2.7l V6, Mid Package, gloss-black sound-deadening hard top, Modular Bumper, Tow Package. It came with roof & door bags. Mods are JCR Offroad short roof-rack, 3D Printed door pockets.
The driving is evenly split between Adirondacks and Fingerlakes regions of New York. Rural and Suburban with a lot of really rough roads. Some of that on dirt roads.
I love the confidence the vehicle has on those bumpy, broken, messed up roads. Exploring the woods and trails and putting myself in questionable (in other vehicles) spots has gotten better already. I bought this as my kayak fishing rig to take to remote places with a kayak on top or on a trailer behind, and I'm very excited at what it has done already and at the potential.
The ride is fine. You definitely feel that Sasquatch suspension on the highway bumps - not bad, and still better than a small car, but could be a lot gentler if that's what you cared about. But when I turn offroad, the Bronco feels like it's come home. Driving over rock and bump and washboard road like it's nothing. It felt amazing. The "adventurous" part of my trips has become the most fun driving of the trip, and that's exactly what I was paying for. I can't exaggerate how natural and comfortable the Bronco feels off of the pavement - I've started cutting the corner turning into my dirt drive up in the woods, just to get a few more feet offroad.
Road noise is definitely louder at speeds over 55mph, but only a bit more than the Tundra and FJ Cruiser before that. I don't buy quiet vehicles. The wind doesn't bother me. Speaking of sound, the famously bad sound system is bad. I mostly listen to podcasts, and I'll be fine with that. Music is ... sometimes OK? Some songs are missing so much that I just skip them. Eventually I'll go looking for a way to fill out the sound on the cheap. I don't need a lot of power, but... I had an after-market Kenwood Excellon and JL speakers in the Tundra, so this is a huge step down for music.
I love the swing-out tailgate. If you've ever tried to swing up a cross-over tailgate underneath a roof mounted kayak to get gear in or out, you've probably got dents in your skull to match mine. The cargo area is roomy - I fit four suitcases and my YakAttack Black Pak in the back this week without dropping the back seats or stacking above them.
I've taken the first two rows of the hard-top off and gone for a two-hour drive around the Adirondacks on a sunny day. It was wonderful! Easy off and easy on. Took a little learning, especially with the short roof rack there, but I did it. I have not yet attempted the cargo top or taking off the doors. Soon, I hope. I need to understand if it's legal to be on roads without doors in NY.
I love the wide flat dash, and I'm making plans already for use of it. In part, because of the poor cabin storage. I'm coming from a 2017 Tundra in which the console probably has enough room for a small child. It's huge. I kept a ton of stuff in there, and could still easily put a gallon or liter jug in there when stopping at the store. In comparison, I find I'm struggling to fit my vehicle EDCs in the Bronco's default storage. Some stuff, like tools and paracord, have gone in the cargo-area "cooler" under the floor, but that means no cargo mat for me, if I want to access those. I've ordered a couple molle pouches to fit to the back of the driver's seat. I'm hoping that will solve the problem. I think the reason they don't give a printed manual with the Bronco is that it would use all of the cabin storage on its own, and you'd notice in the test-drive.
My big "fear" had been mileage. Not that I'm super sensitive to it, but I wanted an improvement over the 13.8mpg I get in the Tundra. I'm averaging 18.4mpg so far, with a brief jump to 18.5. I live in ECO mode, because I don't need to jumpy takeoffs. I got the V6 for kayak-trailer towing confidence, not racing. The NA V8 and throttle response in the Tundra are such that the Eco mode in the Bronco is closer to what I'm used to. The Normal mode is fun, but I'd rather get the better mileage.
Mods and additions
Here is what I'm looking to add. Maybe in priority order:
- MOLLE pouches for storage inside
- Replace the grab handle with a purse pocket (likely 3D print this). Happy wife, happy life.
- Hat hook to hold my ballcap on the dash. Another 3D printing project
- 3D printed fishing rod tubes for the trail sights
- Fog lights. We get real dense fog here in the Fingerlakes in the early morning
- Rear aux lights for help backing kayak trailer in pre-dawn hours
- Hard top lift / storage
- Cargo area protection mat
- Rear seat back protection. I plan to do a lot of cargo moving in here, and don't want that carpet
- Floor mats? I like the washable floor, but it's a little slippery and I wear through mats over the years
Hope you enjoyed this. What do you think I should do next?
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