2024 Badlands - to SAS or Not

[timhood]

So here is where I am at, would love others input as it has been awhile since I have had a truck.

After researching the Hoss 3.0 and reading your comments, I will never be doing high speed desert off roading. I may be doing Moab/Big Bend sort of things, light trails, small boulders etc. It appears the WT is designed for high speed Baja.

My only real concern is street comfort (I know the Bronco is not built for comfort but also don't want it to ride like a Wrangler) and being able to fit 37's.

The only thing I am "missing" from a 24 Badlands build to a 23/24 WT is the Hoss 3.0 and the price difference in those builds for me is $3820 MSRP.

My thoughts are that I want the 24 Badlands, mostly because of the new interior and the upgraded front parts that are standard. Read that the Bilsteins are more for rock crawling too. And if the Bilsteins aren't comfy enough then I can get the Eibachs for $1900 or something nicer for $4000 right?

So the 2nd question is that if I do get the 24 BL, do I get the SAS on the 24 for an extra $3245? The only thing I would be getting is the 4.7, diff wheels/tires and slightly different fenders correct? So for me it is really just the 4.7 and fenders if I am keeping them since wheels/tires will be replaced.

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What you are saying you want to do with your Bronco doesn't match what you say you want to do to your Bronco. The non-Sas (not SAS) Badlands is far more capable than your use intentions are. If you are talking about 37s, you're talking about purely a cosmetic change, not a functional change. But if you go 37s, you will sacrifice in several areas. If you are prepared to sacrifice some ride comfort, handling, and especially gas mileage to the altar of the big tire gods, then have at it. But if you prefer ride comfort matched with plenty of capability, even the Badlands model is probably overkill. But at least it's within reason. Depending on how far you plan to take that cosmetic upgrade, you are solidly into 4 figures up to 5 figures of part replacements and option boxes checked.

Are you planning to do more than this?

Or this?

Both of those were done with a non-Sas Badlands. The second video was with wet tires. The Badlands is way more capable than most people realize, even without the Sasquatch package.

The answer to your question lies in whether you're paying for looks, because you certainly don't need it for capability based on your stated use case.

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[mpeugeot]

What you are saying you want to do with your Bronco doesn't match what you say you want to do to your Bronco. The non-Sas (not SAS) Badlands is far more capable than your use intentions are. If you are talking about 37s, you're talking about purely a cosmetic change, not a functional change. But if you go 37s, you will sacrifice in several areas. If you are prepared to sacrifice some ride comfort, handling, and especially gas mileage to the altar of the big tire gods, then have at it. But if you prefer ride comfort matched with plenty of capability, even the Badlands model is probably overkill. But at least it's within reason. Depending on how far you plan to take that cosmetic upgrade, you are solidly into 4 figures up to 5 figures of part replacements and option boxes checked.

Are you planning to do more than this?

Or this?

Both of those were done with a non-Sas Badlands. The second video was with wet tires. The Badlands is way more capable than most people realize, even without the Sasquatch package.

The answer to your question lies in whether you're paying for looks, because you certainly don't need it for capability based on your stated use case.

Quite seriously, I could have done both of those things in my OBX. It's shockingly capable.

 

[CalvinT]

"I'm so glad I didn't get the Sasquatch package!" said no one ever.

I said it. But then I never considered getting it.

 

[HPNQ420]

"I'm so glad I didn't get the Sasquatch package!" said no one ever.

Well, I'm on 33's now with 5100's set at 1" of lift (same as Sasquatch, more than Badlands). Even if I go to 35's and add a FP M210 locker I'm still cheaper. But I turn my own wrenches, which seems to be out of style these days.

 

[Oldhippie]

My 2cents…badlands is basically a Sasquatch on 33s…no more capable than any other trim Sasquatch (except for the sway bar disconnect). The only reason to get a badlands is for wanted options offered…anyone planning on adding 37s would be silly to order Sasquatch on top of basic badlands…after driving a non-Sasquatch badlands at off Roadeo that scraped on nothing (everything) it was clear I would need lift and 37s…but for most folks badlands or Sasquatch is way overkill…

 

[timhood]

"I'm so glad I didn't get the Sasquatch package!" said no one ever.

I definitely said that. Especially after the early complaints about the Goodyear tires, but then again after I went off-road and realized that Sas is really just a pricey appearance package in terms of capabilities that I need.

 

[userdude]

Nine pages of people home teaming their models and pimping their decisions, lots of slagging on others decisions, backbiting of "spending too much" for blah blah (lol), and a tasty aside about burnt meat and a tedious amount of acronym shaming and abbreviation gate keepting.

If you want a nice a looking tall 4x4 and want it factory, get the BL or BL Sas. If those are just not enough but you'd still like factory fit, go Braptor. Those come with warranties on most things. You will eventually wear your tires and shocks out.

If you really want an even taller truck, look at mods but perhaps keep in mind overall budget. Know that you will spend money () on factory parts you replace. Dems the breaks.

I don't think you'll make a bad decision unless you just really beat yourself up for one of the several deadly sins others seem to think you'll make. I personally think you'll be fine. I think I might've been better served with a WT, but by no means am I unhappy with my BL Sas.

Now, let's talk about the floppy windows and useless sunshades... lol

 

[bravely]

So here is where I am at, would love others input as it has been awhile since I have had a truck.

After researching the Hoss 3.0 and reading your comments, I will never be doing high speed desert off roading. I may be doing Moab/Big Bend sort of things, light trails, small boulders etc. It appears the WT is designed for high speed Baja.

My only real concern is street comfort (I know the Bronco is not built for comfort but also don't want it to ride like a Wrangler) and being able to fit 37's.

The only thing I am "missing" from a 24 Badlands build to a 23/24 WT is the Hoss 3.0 and the price difference in those builds for me is $3820 MSRP.

My thoughts are that I want the 24 Badlands, mostly because of the new interior and the upgraded front parts that are standard. Read that the Bilsteins are more for rock crawling too. And if the Bilsteins aren't comfy enough then I can get the Eibachs for $1900 or something nicer for $4000 right?

So the 2nd question is that if I do get the 24 BL, do I get the SAS on the 24 for an extra $3245? The only thing I would be getting is the 4.7, diff wheels/tires and slightly different fenders correct? So for me it is really just the 4.7 and fenders if I am keeping them since wheels/tires will be replaced.

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23 badlands 2 door. I could not justify the sas. Didn't see any value for me. I drove it twice 2000 mile trips last year. very happy with the ride and road manners. ..plus, sas is just enough taller that I'd have trouble getting in and it would not fit in my garage.

 

[Twister22]

Love our Badlands Sas Broncos!

 

[wizardoforange]

Ford engineers put a hell of a lot of time and effort into developing the Bronco. I think you will be very well-served in Moab, Big Bend, or just about anywhere else with the Sasquatch package and you won't experience an ounce of regret with daily handling. I'd much rather have the factory Sasquatch package versus trying to cobble something together after the fact - you might wind up with a Frankenstein vehicle that you'll regret. I might catch heat for this statement, but I respect and trust Ford's engineers more than aftermarket companies and off-road shops, many of whom claim to know better than those engineers.

 

[BigHoof]

Ford engineers put a hell of a lot of time and effort into developing the Bronco. I think you will be very well-served in Moab, Big Bend, or just about anywhere else with the Sasquatch package and you won't experience an ounce of regret with daily handling. I'd much rather have the factory Sasquatch package versus trying to cobble something together after the fact - you might wind up with a Frankenstein vehicle that you'll regret. I might catch heat for this statement, but I respect and trust Ford's engineers more than than aftermarket companies and off-road shops, many of whom claim to know better than those engineers.

Completely agree. Well worth the $3800 or so with discounts for the shocks, 5 rims, and tires. At today's prices though, might rethink.

 

[indio22]

Ford engineers put a hell of a lot of time and effort into developing the Bronco. I think you will be very well-served in Moab, Big Bend, or just about anywhere else with the Sasquatch package and you won't experience an ounce of regret with daily handling. I'd much rather have the factory Sasquatch package versus trying to cobble something together after the fact - you might wind up with a Frankenstein vehicle that you'll regret. I might catch heat for this statement, but I respect and trust Ford's engineers more than than aftermarket companies and off-road shops, many of whom claim to know better than those engineers.

Sas is a nice package for those who have a real use for the functionality. But the OP wrote this: "I will never be doing high speed desert off roading. I may be doing Moab/Big Bend sort of things, light trails, small boulders etc." That doesn't necessarily sound "Sas Worthy" to me.

So many of these threads start with a premise of light (or even sometimes no) off-roading, and then somehow morph into why Sas, 37s, HOSS 3.0 etc are needed.

 

[userdude]

Sas is a nice package for those who have a real use for the functionality. But the OP wrote this: "I will never be doing high speed desert off roading. I may be doing Moab/Big Bend sort of things, light trails, small boulders etc." That doesn't necessarily sound "Sas Worthy" to me.

So many of these threads start with a premise of light (or even sometimes no) off-roading, and then somehow morph into why Sas, 37s, HOSS 3.0 etc are needed.

So you're going to argue with the OP they don't need 37's or aftermarket shocks? You definitely don't need 37's (and they are expensive!) and changing the shocks for ride comfort on a Sasquatch when the OP may have never driven one is suspect at best. If you want plush, sure, go WT or aftermarket, but do you need it?

All this YAGNI.

 

[mpeugeot]

So you're going to argue with the OP they don't need 37's or aftermarket shocks? You definitely don't need 37's (and they are expensive!) and changing the shocks for ride comfort on a Sasquatch when the OP may have never driven one is suspect at best. If you want plush, sure, go WT or aftermarket, but do you need it?

All this YAGNI.

Look, we both know that you can't be caught at the mall on anything less than 37s! Even portals are becoming a necessity for mall crawling.

 

[CalvinT]

You definitely don't need 37's (and they are expensive!)

Amazing how many people don't consider the cost of new tires. I like my K02s, they were basically free since they came with the Bronco. I also checked what it would cost to replace them before ordering my Bronco.

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