Badlands vs Badlands ... Help Me Make a (Nearly) Completely Subjective Choice

Unicorn

Just a thought... not sure it is a pro or a con for you but.... did you know that the tow package from the factory on a two door actually has different rear springs? Not true on the 4 door but it is on the two door. A two door with factory tow gets the same rear springs as the 4 door. Non-tow gets a different spring rate/part number.

RoboticsRob

This is something I’ve not heard before. Is it the same case for all the Sas, BL, and Hoss1.0 options?

Certainly would go a long way towards explaining the stiffness in the rear of our 2 door w/tow.

JoergH

Yeah, the cameras come in handy offroad too. I was recently running a trail out near my house with a buddy that has a Jeep and he called on the radio asking me to slow down, especially on the curves! What he didn't know at the time was that I could see most of the way around the curves with the front camera. Now he has camera envy. 😁 The camera also comes in really handy on hill climbs. When you can't see over the hood, you can see on the camera. This is handy at the crest as well, especially if there's a short break over at the top. Again, I was out with a bunch of folks, and we had a small hill to climb. At the top you had to make a sharp right, or you went off a cliff. The first guy up in the Jeep almost went over! He called back on the radio so everyone knew, but I had the camera on so I could easily see what was up as I approached the top.

tommygraham

I am on the SAS, high train as well. The tow isn't that big a deal because for about $200 you can add the hitch and wiring. The SAS lift along with the 35s and the use of cameras on some obstacles really helps me. Also if you ever want to go 37s it is a lot easier. Both are awesome rigs.

BostonBadlands

"Nothing succeeds like excess."
Go for the Sas/High. If you're lucky, a Sas/Lux will show up. My story:
Until the Bronco came out, I had been drooling over Jeeps, ogling them on the street, on line, and in promotional literature. I finally told the wife that finances and "life situation" were good, and I put a deposit on a 4DR Badlands/Hardtop/High/No tow/Cactus Gray. I was willing to wait, but my then-current ride (Sienna XLE/Ltd, kids grown) started getting serious repair issues. The last: A $1600 fix on two sliding doors for a car worth $3500 max.

Another dealer texted me (May 2022), reporting two cancellations: a Wildtrak and a Badlands, both at obscene dealer markup. The Wildtrak went right away. I visited the dealer the next day, and there was no budging on the markup. The most they could do was not deduct the door repair costs from my trade in. "You've been looking at Jeeps for years," my wife said. (Imprudently--right in front of the salesman!). That was her signal I had her "permission," and the unfortunate tell for the salesman that he had me. I took out my credit card, and put $5K deposit down (the most they'd accept on a card--bank fees, you know. Also my reward points).

I'm embarassed to tell you what the markup was, but I have no regrets. I was turning 75, and feeling awfully entitled. Also, I was able to drive it cross-country* to Moab and other Utah points. I've found I've utilized more of the Sasquatch/Lux package than I ever expected to.

Concluding point: By buying more truck than you currently expect to use, you allow yourself the option of more aggressive, adventurous off-roading. "Oh, I don't expect to tow," I said to myself. But then I needed to rent some power equipment, and using an open-U-Haul was cheaper than paying for delivery and pickup. I expected to just use hard-scrabble National Forest dirt roads, but my Sas package let me do genuine cross-country ("overlanding") in truly remote west-central Utah.

Go for it, lady. And if a Lux shows up--up your game!

*Crosscountry: I mean driving across the United States, but also offroading completely away from any kind of vehicle path.

OrangecrushBronco

I haven't owned a squatch, but the stance and look of it is far superior IMO. Aftermarket goes along way but as far as factory looks the SAS Bronco is one of the best in many years. I do have the HIGH LUX and it is amazing! The screen is great, though is very bright and occasionally distracting when backing up in the dark when using your actual eyes to view surroundings. I believe high automatically has 360° cameras? If so the front Camera is immensely useful for visibility when cresting hills and for spotting. This has been my favorite offroad feature. The front Camera can help with road driving too, if stuck at a light it gives a wider range of visibility then the naked eye, i.e. you're stuck at a red light where the angle of the road and the windshield requires contorting to see when the light turns green or its too bright out to see the light. The camera shows the light clearly. Both are 2 door hardtop so that's a win-win. There's is something about personally knowing the history and maintenance of a vehicle that is invaluable, particularly on a vehicle that could be sitting at a dealership for months awaiting parts. Personally I like the white. Another thing is what value would they give you on yours and (if financing) will they let you do a transfer of collateral to use your original loan terms on the new vehicle? You will likely take a huge hit on interest in today's market. Oddly enough price wise its essentially a wash as with inflation it takes $54,150.49 to get what $48000 got you about a year and a half ago. If it were me and I did trade it I would definitely try to get an extended warranty or Ford ESP thrown in given the unknowns and list of known issues. I would also look into (as with Sirius radio) does new owner mean new connected navigation services trial. The Lux has this for 3 years high has for 3 months. I didn't think I'd use it but I prefer it over my phones nav. It is integrated and amazing it can book mark places you visit and you can set it to use or avoid 4x4 roads to get where you're going. The BEST feature in the nav is when going wild in unmarked areas it leaves bread crumbs so if you go off roading or duning you can retrace your steps effortlessly. I love the screen. The day @Ford Motor Company goes completely iPad looking dashes like the Sport, Tesla ect. Is the day I never buy a Ford again. My wife would be driving a sport right now if it had a real dash.

Sdakotabronco

I like your white Bronco! I say keep what you have. You already know there is more money that you'll end up spending on tires, and you don't like the flares on the other Bronco. Is getting the 360 camera, tow, and extra clearance really worth all the extra money? Just my 2 cents.

Unicorn

Just a thought... not sure it is a pro or a con for you but.... did you know that the tow package from the factory on a two door actually has different rear springs? Not true on the 4 door but it is on the two door. A two door with factory tow gets the same rear springs as the 4 door. Non-tow gets a different spring rate/part number.

MESTUNTMAN

I think the real question is do you ever plan on adding the snow plow package?

bstottlemyer

I will throw my two cents in. I would say go with the High Package and Bigger Screen. The flares can be changed out or I think you can remove the wings. With them doing away with the 8" screens, that will date your Bronco if you resell it down the road (not a bad thing, just something to consider if you have a choice). With my Badlands, the High Package I felt was the best bang for my buck, the cameras are nice. Also like the Mirror Spotlights when camping at night, and also in dark areas, with remote start light things up around the Bronco just for convenience. With the tow package, you wouldn't have to just tow with it, could get hitch accessories; flag mount, backup light, baskets, bike rack, extra recovery point, etc. As for the dark Pinstriping, add PPF, and never will see it. But I feel can't go wrong either way, at the end of the day you have a Bronco.

Laura

So, I was passing by my dealer and saw a nice 2-door Bronco on the lot: 2021 Badlands, 2.7L / 10 speed, MGV, 11,450 miles, High, Sas, Tow ($54k)

Meanwhile, I own a nice 2-door Bronco: 2021 Badlands, 2.7L / 10 speed, MGV, 12,450 miles, Mid, Non-Sas, No Tow ($48k)

It was intriguing enough that I talked to them and test drove this incredibly same vehicle. I'm a little torn on what I want to do, because I have always wanted High package, and having the Tow package would be nice (Have I ever towed anything? No. Will I maybe one day want to tow something? Sure. Will I? 98% no 😁). However, I feel like getting Sasquatch would be a comprise -- you lose articulation, and (in my opinion), get less attractive fender flares and bumper add-ons, worse tires (replaceable, I know), and here comes the "nearly" qualifier in the subjective part -- raise your center of gravity slightly. I do want a roof rack on my Bronco at some point, further increasing it, and getting my kayak off will be harder, too.

Has anyone moved from a non-sas 2-door to a sas 2-door and still been happy off-road? Curious on your thoughts.
Also, that 12" screen is alarmingly big when you haven't been in a Bronco with one for a few months 😅 But I do like the idea of High.

BroncOitis

I sit here a couple times a month and think to myself “if I had only got the High Package” the larger screen and cameras would be a major plus.
I believe for the most part that having the 35” tires would be “in my opinion” a much better option than the 33” tires even with a little less articulation than what you would have with the 33” tires.
Since you would have Front and Rear Locking differentials, it would “to me”only make sense to have more clearance than maybe an extra inch of articulation.
The locking diffs would get you through most obstacles even with some severe angles of articulation.
Let’s just say that you are planning a trip to “oh I don’t know” let’s just say the UPs Drummond Island, 😉😉 most of that island you need more clearance than articulation, and in the areas that angles come into play, you have the abilities to Lock the Diffs. and work your way through.
If it was my choice I would go Sasquatch all the way, with the larger screen and cameras. 😀

Jakob1972

Other than gearing the Sasquatch Badlands and the Nosquatch Badlands are not different enough to notice. You can add 35" to your current ride pretty easy. And adding towing is super easy. You get used to not having the front/360 camera, but as @fordvideoguy has shown you can add a camera pretty easy. The only thing I miss by not having the high package is the zone lighting having extra light in the mirrors sure would come in handy but ditch lights would solve that. Unless they are giving you a great rate or a smoking deal on yours I vote to keep what you got.

BroncOitis

I sit here a couple times a month and think to myself “if I had only got the High Package” the larger screen and cameras would be a major plus.
I believe for the most part that having the 35” tires would be “in my opinion” a much better option than the 33” tires even with a little less articulation than what you would have with the 33” tires.
Since you would have Front and Rear Locking differentials, it would “to me” only make sense to have more clearance than maybe an extra inch of articulation.
The locking diffs would get you through most obstacles even with some severe angles of articulation.
Let’s just say that you are planning a trip to “oh I don’t know” let’s just say the UPs Drummond Island, 😉😉 most of that island you need more clearance than articulation, and in the areas that angles come into play, you have the abilities to Lock the Diffs. and work your way through.
If it was my choice I would go Sasquatch all the way, with the larger screen and cameras. 😀

Jakob1972

Other than gearing the Sasquatch Badlands and the Nosquatch Badlands are not different enough to notice. You can add 35" to your current ride pretty easy. And adding towing is super easy. You get used to not having the front/360 camera, but as @fordvideoguy has shown you can add a camera pretty easy. The only thing I miss by not having the high package is the zone lighting having extra light in the mirrors sure would come in handy but ditch lights would solve that. Unless they are giving you a great rate or a smoking deal on yours I vote to keep what you got.

extra toasty

What? Gearing is a big deal.

Adding a camera cheap?

Adding 35”s to a standard Badlands is a big and expensive deal. They will rub on the standard shock setup. New wheels needed. New flares or drive with illegal rock throwing polk. Speedometer needs recalibration.

Adding seven pin tow hitch is a expensive big deal for pre 2024 rides. Wiring is a mess. How about the stiffer spring’s?

What about warranties?

A lot of folks have spent a bunch of money trying to out smart the Sasquatch. You just can’t…