badlands with 33s. Bad choice?

I’ve got the non-squatch Badlands on order, and I plan to do lots of off road with it. Sure the Sas will be “better” off road but that would be like saying that someone who finished 5th in an Olympic event sucks because they didn’t medal. Unless you plan to start a you tube channel and do 8+ rated trails, the “basic” Badlands will probably get you anywhere you want to go.

Crawler Green

I’ve got the non-squatch Badlands on order, and I plan to do lots of off road with it. Sure the Sas will be “better” off road but that would be like saying that someone who finished 5th in an Olympic event sucks because they didn’t medal. Unless you plan to start a you tube channel and do 8+ rated trails, the “basic” Badlands will probably get you anywhere you want to go.

Just that simple! :)

The 33" KO2 tires will take you a long way off pavement & perform better in Snow than the MT tires. You will have a very good Bronco.

it is possible that many purchase the SAS package just to get the front locker and heavier differential in the lower trims and some might just do it for the looks and never off road them.

I went with the Badlands on my order to get the front locker, but didn't get the SAS because after driving both I felt like the non SAS felt better on the road. I will be using mine for a 50/50 mix of on/off road driving and won't be doing extreme rock crawling, but I wanted the front locker for using in snow and mud. I am good with the ground clearance being slightly lower on the standard Badlands.

Three additional benefits for me were possibly cheaper tire replacement, slightly better factory rated MPG for the non SAS V6, and I don't really like the huge tire and fender flare look of the SAS (I am old school and liked the factory look of the original first gen Bronco).

I also hope the slightly smaller tires won't sling quite as much mud debris up the sides of the Bronco since I live off an unpaved road.

Yes, 33s are fine for off-roading. Like all driving, improve YOU first. My old 66 CJ5 with open diffs on both ends and P215/75R15s (a whopping 27"!!!) would go just about anywhere I wanted to go. Remember, with no other mods, every 2"s of tire height only gives you 1" of extra ground clearance. The largest tire I had on any of my off-roaders (I am not a rock crawler) was 32.5s. with lockers on both ends the only thing that stopped it was getting high centered. And it was always by more than the 1.25" the Sasquatch's 35"s would have given me.
Get your Bronco, learn to drive your Bronco, have fun and enjoy your Bronco! 33's and all!

SAS on a badlands really doesn't get you that much more, for the money. Down the road you can bump up tp 35"ers if you find you'd like a little more clearance. I recently watched a video from tc customs and they test fit 35s on a stock badlands and they fit great, with the only modification being removal of the crash bars.

Badlands has all of the hardware and suspension that the sasquatch has... plus it has the disconnecting sway bar that the Sasquatch doesn't have (I think).

Badlands also has an extra bash plate underneath. And as you mentioned, more articulation.

It's literally the best trim you can get on the bronco for off roading. Finally, you'll get much better driveability and mpg on-road, which will probably be 99% of the time?

Now, if you are NOT getting the badlands, then yes, get the Sasquatch by all means if you plan to do offroading.

You’ll be fine. The tires and articulation are perfect.

i have a badlands (non-sas) on order and what i'm gonna do is once the 33's are worn out to where i want new ones i'm just going to put on 35" KO2's :) I prefer the KO2's for everyday driving which will be a majority of most peoples miles

nic

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You’ll be fine. The tires and articulation are perfect.

Do you have the front sta-bar disconnected?

AcesandEights

Do you have the front sta-bar disconnected?

if he has a badlands, they all have it

If the 33's are not enough, consider BFG KO2's in size 34x10.5-17. The sweet spot on my Rubicon.

A lot of excellent replys here.
Badlands on 33's will be formidable.
Great point as mentioned by @Bluemach1 , many Squatches are on other models that would not have the lockers and heavier duty front axle.

I'm no offroading expert, it's been many years, but I have always advised those who ask if they "NEED" Squatch to offroad....
"I learned to wheel in a 69 Bronc on 33's and open diffs. You'll be amazed at how far 33's and open diffs can take you. The new electronic nannys will take you even farther."

The Badlands basically is Squatch, ALL the important running gear is there.
Ford really made a game changer with the Squatch pkg. available on ALL models.
35's and f&r lockers from the factory.... with a warranty!!! Just WOW!

I had the oppurtunity to see a 33 Badlands sitting next to a Squatch. There was very little difference in stance and/or presence. They were both very "substantial" looking.
Any time I price a Badlands, I do not Squatch it ... and I plan to offroad it.
I can assure you, 35's will fit right on there later if you want them. Just look at my unlifted Base now on 35's.

Beadlocks on the other hand, will be pricey.

I’m of the same mind. I had badlands and MT. The only difference was the rims and tires for 4K more. I don’t like the SAS rims and tires so no deal. The BL with 33s is more than capable 99% of the situations. I use mine as my DD at 90 miles a day and also wanted a better chance At mpg and handling versus 35s. I’m agv 18.5-19mpg and I’ve had mine thru some hell of deep snow with minimal problems. Even got it stuck in mud on slippery rocks but tires wouldn’t have made a difference there. I change DD cars and got serious I’d put 2-3” lift and 37 if I was to get on a serious trail but 33s will do anything around me

I wheeled my Grand Cherokee on 33's for years all over the place. Bigger is better, but you can do a lot on that size. Expect to scrape your skid plates a lot more and be careful with tire placement.

Really good post, and some excellent responses. I have been going back and forth on Sasquatch vs. no for several months since I ordered my Badlands back in October. After reading through this post, I think it is time to call my dealer and cancel my Sasquatch order. I am going with the manual transmission so really I would be paying a lot of money for rims and tires.
This may be the first time this forum has saved me money.

I had the non sas badlands at the offroadeo it did really well. If you aren't doing heavy rock crawling you will be fine.

byronpete21

Really good post, and some excellent responses. I have been going back and forth on Sasquatch vs. no for several months since I ordered my Badlands back in October. After reading through this post, I think it is time to call my dealer and cancel my Sasquatch order. I am going with the manual transmission so really I would be paying a lot of money for rims and tires.
This may be the first time this forum has saved me money.

Great to hear. That money could be better spent on aftermarket upgrades and goodies for your badlands.

In the garage is a Badlands on 33s. At Off Roadeo I had the same. Other than perhaps some more scarping than the SAS ones, It did great. I actually think the SAS 2 door had more issues there getting up things.