Torn between Wildtrak and Badlands with SAS 2024 (lots of inventory)

sundin67

I see the differences online and do not need to rehash them. I will be using NE off-roading (Mud and dirt trails) I do not plan on any rock crawling. This will also have to be my daily, work diving on the highway, kids to school etc.

My thought is to go with the one I can get the best price on. Does anyone feel differently? Is one better than the other?

If you have no plans to rock crawling then I would go with the Wildtrak if it has the Fox Shocks. Much better shock than the Bilsteins on the Badlands.

sundin67

I see the differences online and do not need to rehash them. I will be using NE off-roading (Mud and dirt trails) I do not plan on any rock crawling. This will also have to be my daily, work diving on the highway, kids to school etc.

My thought is to go with the one I can get the best price on. Does anyone feel differently? Is one better than the other?

Are you going to off-road it quite a bit? If so the Badlands has a sway bar disconnect (I use mine ALL the time when off-road) and full skid plates which might be important to you depending on where and how you plan on off-roading..

I'd say the Wildtrak is better suited for high speed driving where the Badlands will perform better in rough terrain.

If you go with the Wildtrak and are planning on doing any off-roading in rough terrain then at a minimum, at least add skid plates..

Good luck whatever you decide..

Thank you for your time in answering. I did find a Wildtrak with, "FULL VEHCLE STEEL BASH PLATES" This could be a happy middle ground.

My plan is 1x a month. Kids, work, etc. who knows the truth

Agree with above posts. We have a WildTrak and really like its features & HOSS 3.0. Ford's Modular steel front bumper provides winch, lighting and other accessory options the ploy Capable doesn't support..

Cheers

Just got a Badlands Sasquatch less than a month ago.

Contemplated the Wildtrak, but wanted the swaybar disconnect and also I don’t run more than 30mph off pavement anyways.

Happy with my choice - once I get the PPF, I’ll be back on the gravel roads in my area that I use as shortcuts.

The upgrades to the steering on the 2024 Badlands eliminates that variable.

bassist

Just got a Badlands Sasquatch less than a month ago.

Contemplated the Wildtrak, but wanted the swaybar disconnect and also I don’t run more than 30mph off pavement anyways.

Happy with my choice - once I get the PPF, I’ll be back on the gravel roads in my area that I use as shortcuts.

The upgrades to the steering on the 2024 Badlands eliminates that variable.

Thanks for contributing. The upgrades eliminate which variable? Highway driving?

sundin67

Thanks for contributing. The upgrades eliminate which variable? Highway driving?

Think Mr Bassist's referring to Ford's severe duty steering components. These are the heavier tie rods & steering rack that're part of WildTrak's HOSS 3.0 suspension.

https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/ford-bronco-severe-duty-steering-upgrade-kit-revealed/

Cheers

Consider that your interests may grow. What's fun in 2025 may inspire you to more ambitious pursuits later. I found myself looking for more technically challenging trails and backroads, which meant rockcrawling. Thus, I'm glad I got the Badlands with the skidplates and the rockcrawl mode.
Bear in mind, you can always add bottom armor later, and use Fortran to add the rockcrawl mode to a Wildtrak.

Either way, you'll be happy. We all agree on that.

Although I absolutely love my 4 door Outer Banks, if I were to buy another I would buy a Badlands first, though my dream Bronco would be the Stroppe… I think the lower armor and stab bar disconnect would tip the scale… I could always add Sport GOAT mode via Forscan without issue…

Go big if you can. There are some mighty good deals on the 2024 Braptors out there currently. I had a 2022 Wildtrak with everything you could put on it stock and loved it. You can find some 2024 Braptors now less than I paid for my wiltrak.

I got a Braptor a year ago and what a difference. It has everything anyone could want in a stock vehicle.

sundin67

Thanks for contributing. The upgrades eliminate which variable? Highway driving?

The Wildtrak has the upgraded steering, which meant less likelihood of bent tie rods off road.

The Badlands now gets that upgrade as well.

GRUMPSY

Go big if you can. There are some mighty good deals on the 2024 Braptors out there currently. I had a 2022 Wildtrak with everything you could put on it stock and loved it. You can find some 2024 Braptors now less than I paid for my wiltrak.

I got a Braptor a year ago and what a difference. It has everything anyone could want in a stock vehicle.

If I got the Raptor, I wouldn’t have been able to fit in our garage at work!

The great thing about the Badlands vs. Wildtrak if you're going mudding is the potential for Badlands to have washout flooring/vinyl interior. I get mine filthy in Michigan but know it will clean up so well. Both have benefits, however!

The raptor would be a blast. I do have to use the car in NYC sometimes, street parking is already a chore adding the raptor, lol. I found a Wildtrak with "FULL VEHCLE STEEL BASH PLATES" Yes the listing misspelled "Vehicle" Might be the best of both worlds.

raqball

I'd say the Wildtrak is better suited for high speed driving where the Badlands will perform better in rough terrain.

If you go with the Wildtrak and are planning on doing any off-roading in rough terrain then at a minimum, at least add skid plates..

How is the Badlands better in rough terrain? I would argue against that being a Wildtrak owner who tends to lead the group through the rougher stuff. ;)

The skid plates that come with the Badlands are the same ones optioned on the WIldtrak. But you can't build a 24 any more anyways. Both need aftermarket skids.

Deano Bronc

If you have no plans to rock crawling then I would go with the Wildtrak if it has the Fox Shocks. Much better shock than the Bilsteins on the Badlands.

My Wildtrak will rock crawl as well as any Badlands. Same gearing. The extra 4 inches of travel from the sway bar disconnect won't get you much.

I've only had my Wildtrak for 3 weeks, but it's my daily driver so glad I chose it over Badlands. Wildtrak is a citified country girl. Badlands straight slow country girl. I'm also at the beach and do more beach, along with trails and tracks, so higher speeds. Minimal rock crawl situations but Wildtrak can handle it regardless. Just has higher daily comfort. If I lived out west then I'd have though harder about Badlands.

If people are looking for deals in the Southeast, Ford of Murfreesboro in middle Tennessee just blasted out sales emails today (I service my vehicle there sometimes and bought a Ford from there in 2012) with $10,000 off Wildtraks, Badlands, and OBX models. (The email claimed Raptors were $20,000 off, but when I clicked their inventory they didn't actually have any Raptors.)

Just FYI if folks are looking.

Oh yeah, all 2024 models.

EZAPAR

How is the Badlands better in rough terrain?

Swaybar disconnect and standard skid plates. The Wildtrak is marketed, and equipped, for more of a high speed type terrain. Even Ford says so...