images: Ford
Earlier this month, one of the Bronco community’s best information sources, Bronco Nation member RagnarKon, summarized 2024 order bank news for the forums. Among the changes and additions, he listed an interesting nugget. A more robust steering gear is now standard on the 2024 Badlands trim.
Days later, he submitted a question for the Bronco brand team to cover during our Woodward Q&A: Is the new heavy-duty steering equipment coming standard on Badlands the same steering gear that is included on the Wildtrak’s HOSS 3.0?
The HOSS System
Before we get into the answer, let’s recap what all that means. We’ve linked deeper-dive stories for further reading.
HOSS stands for High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension. Since the sixth generation's launch, Ford has used the system to denote the different levels on Bronco trims. The levels became public with the introduction of the Bronco Raptor’s HOSS 4.0 in January 2022, and the next month, Ford revealed the optional HOSS 3.0 for Wildtrak, which became standard on the trim for 2023.
At a Glance –– Your HOSS System
- 1.0: standard on 2021-23 Bronco Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Black Diamond
- 2.0: standard on 2021 Wildtrak and 2021-23 Bronco Badlands, Everglades, Heritage, Heritage Limited, and Sasquatch-equipped Broncos
- 3.0: standard on 2023 Bronco Wildtrak and optional on 2022.
- 4.0: standard on 2022-23 Bronco Raptor
Read about yours: Bronco’s Boss HOSS System: 4 Levels of Performance
The suspension system includes axles, steering gear, steering rack, tie rods, shocks, sway bars, and more. As you may figure, with each HOSS increase, components of the system get stronger, meaning your Bronco is better equipped from the factory to support intense off-roading –– and modifications, as long as the geometry of the suspension is maintained. Followers of sixth gen Bronco news will remember customer concerns about tie rods and Trail Turn Assist on aftermarket-lifted vehicles. Because of these, as well as the normal desire to have the best available, people have voiced interest in getting Raptor and Wildtrak parts on their Broncos.
As it turns out, Ford has been listening.
Stronger Steering Gear for Badlands and Sasquatch Broncos
So, to bring us back to the opening question, is the more robust steering gear the same used in the HOSS 3.0 system?
During our Q&A at Piquette (recorded as a BN LIVE podcast), Brand Manager Matt Winter confirmed the good news for 2024 order holders of both the popular trim and extremely popular equipment package.
“That is the same robust steering gear from HOSS 3.0. We took feedback from customers, and now that's included on the Badlands and Sasquatch vehicles. We want customers to feel confident out there on the trail and give just a little bit stronger, more robust experience so that you have a little bit more vehicle that you can use, and really put the Bronco through its paces as it's meant to be and have a lot of fun with it out there on the trail.”
And while not every Badlands or Sasquatch-equipped Bronco owner will need the beefed-up edition, it’s awesome to know it’s there for those that do.
Making the Choice –– Badlands vs. Wildtrak
The first year of Bronco brought heavy debates between the options and costs of the Badlands and Wildtrak trims. Once 3.0 came on the scene, the choice became easier for some. Now, with this news, comparisons of the trims are resurfacing.
A 2024 Badlands starts at $49,395 and a Wildtrak at $60,025, making the Badlands the more accessible Bronco with a factory heavy-duty steering gear (but still without all the additional elements of the HOSS 3.0 or the Sasquatch package as standard).
Knowing what is now available on both and what you plan to do with your Bronco, if you are ordering a 2024 –– or if you could go back and order your 21-23 all over again, which trim would you choose?
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