Do I need the Advance 4x4

That's a question only you can answer.
Do I need Advanced 4x4? Not me personally, it's easy enough to just push the dial where 4H is located. But it came with my sasquatch package so I have it. And to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of it. Just turning it on it engages. Hubs are locked, and you can feel the "pull" in the steering. I most likely won't use it much if at all.

So it really comes down to more of a want than a need.

Edit: To expand as I just noticed the same post from you in a different part of the forum. Adding rear locker (depending on model) for a Big Bend doesn't give you advanced 4x4, just different gears. I added that to the Bronco my BIL took (BB) just because I figured he'd use it to tow. The stock 3.73 gears will turn most tires fine. So unless you have a specific need for them, they aren't really that necessary.

Depends on what environment you drive in. If you are in a dry climate with very little rain and no snow then Advance 4x4 is kind of pointless. Advance 4x4 shines on rain slick roads and ever changing slick road conditions. It does nothing for off-roading.

The low range in the Advanced 4x4 is geared lower (3.06:1) than the standard transfer case (2.72:1), which is the main reason I want it (want, not need).

I opted to add it to my BD manual order mainly for the gearing, figure it may be a nice addition when we do get snow out here because the local DOT crew sucks at clearing the highway. Also may be handy when going up some of the steeper loose sand mountain trails.

BASH_5074

Picked the 2.3 over the 2.7 thinking I might want the locking axle after all.

I personally will not use the 4auto.... either I will be in 4H or 4L.
4A is no different than an AWD vehicle. It comes with the Sasquatch package so I don't have much of a choice. I know it's easy to say now, but watch the next thing you know (I'm using it) :cool:

My dad didn’t order it and was a little worried. Since you can click into 4hi on the fly I don’t think it’s 100% necessary. (I can’t honestly see a situation where I would be at risk of 4x4 being needed where I wouldn’t have time for the T-case to shift. Knock on wood lol.)

Being in Arizona also means that my Bronco may not even see snow for another year or three though, so YMMV.

NickP

My dad didn’t order it and was a little worried. Since you can click into 4hi on the fly I don’t think it’s 100% necessary. (I can’t honestly see a situation where I would be at risk of 4x4 being needed where I wouldn’t have time for the T-case to shift. Knock on wood lol.)

Being in Arizona also means that my Bronco may not even see snow for another year or three though, so YMMV.

It's not really a matter of having time to switch to 4H. Or even knowing when to use 4H. We had almost a foot of snow here a few weeks ago. I live out in the sticks so even though the roads get plowed they drift back over and freeze. So you can go from completely dry pavement to slick in a matter of seconds. At night on dark roads that can be pretty dangerous. I was constantly switching from 2H to 4H. If I had 4A I would have just set it and let it do it's job. It's not really a matter of necessity. More convenience.

And as I stated on other threads it is really nice to have in the rain. I had the equivalent of Advance 4x4 in my 2019 Grand Cherokee. I tried on many occasions to get it to break traction on wet roads and couldn't. That right there is a selling point for Advance 4x4 to me.

Than for all the help BN. Think I will add ut for the rain an snow.

I don't know, do you?

If you are accustomed to driving AWD vehicles, then advanced 4x is the way to go. It is not a gimmicky item like a lot of the bronco features. Having 4A vastly improves handling and safety.

I like it for “variable” conditions, where it may be dry pavement or dirt for 1/2 mile then some shady, slick sections when the snow/ice remains. Used 4A just this weekend, glad I have it.

Agree with most of the others.

My take:

• If you live down south and don't get much snow... the Advance 4x4 package offers nothing of real value unless you are really trying to optimize your gearing for rock crawling.
• If you live up north and get a significant amount of ice/snow, it can be helpful. The 4-Auto mode in the Advanced 4x4 package acts basically as an all-wheel drive system, so it can help with traction on mixed conditions (as @Shoresy mentioned). But it still isn't required.

For context... my initial order last year was a Black Diamond, and I did not have Advanced 4x4 on my order, even though I do live in an environment where it frequently snows in the winter.

(I've since upgraded my order to Badlands, but that is simply because all of the production delays enabled me to save up more money and buy a higher-spec'd Bronco.)