2 Door Badlands or Black Diamond?

[Eljohno]

There should be concern. Very limited use case and should be used with caution. Even at the Off-Roadeo, they caution the use of it. For most, they are better off not having it or at least forgetting they have it.

I read somewhere that is why Toyota only does rear lockers, I'm going to try to find the article!

Sponsored

 

[BroncoBobArea51]

There should be concern. Very limited use case and should be used with caution. Even at the Off-Roadeo, they caution the use of it. For most, they are better off not having it or at least forgetting they have it.

Better to have and not need, then to need and not have.

I also went to an Off-Roadeo. There was a loose rocky hill. With a front and rear locker engaged, no problem. With just a rear locker engaged, had to use a winch.

I by no means an expert, but it was impressive.

 

[DucksOff]

I have been holding out on a 2 Door Bronco Badlands with the 2.7L and the mid package, a local dealership had 3 of them for a good price but the price shot up $8000 while I was waiting on the recall for the shocks, dealer is telling me the earliest it will be ready is August and 5 other people are showing interest in them. Problem is not many of the 2 doors are floating around with the equipment I want and Ford stopped offering the them 2.7L on the 2 door for 2025 (Not counting the model for $75,000....).

I am also trying to get a final out the door price of around $45,000, most dealers that have the Bronco I want either a Badlands or a Black Diamond with the Sasquatch Package want almost $55,000 for them even though they have been sitting around for a year. So I am considering settling on a Black Diamond without the Sasquatch package as they're more of them in my area with the equipment I want at a price I find agreeable. I am just trying to figure out if I can do without the additional features of the Badlands or Sasquatch.

I live in Eastern Pennsylvania, I probably won't be doing rock crawling, just hitting trails in my area and trying to get to work in heavy snow. I see the Black Diamond has the full underside steel skid plates, which I want. I should be fine without the 4 Auto mode, I don't think I am going to be at a loss running 33" wheels, I don't think I need bead locks. What I am more upset about losing out on is the front lockers, I see they can be added on later but it will probably cost me thousands but do I even really need front lockers? The only other concern is suspension system (Hoss 1.0) much worse than what's available on the Badlands or the Sasquatch package? Plus I am sure the aftermarket and Ford Performance offer the parts to add it on down the road.

Thoughts?

Also from PA. I think when we start looking, we all want everything to avoid limitations. When you look at the prices you are forced to determine what you need vs what you want... I had the same dilemma... I settled on a BD2d with mid package and a couple of add ons, including V6 2.7 and modular bumper. The Badlands is great but how much will I use the xtra ~$10k difference in equipment...? 3D camera, 4A, the front lock differential, etc... I do not even use the the rear camera... These are things that I will not really use a lot, if at all. I quickly desisted on the sasquatch when I saw what was in my future 30k miles later. Believe it or not, the only thing I will miss is probably the heated steering wheel that will be uses several months of the year... I love my ride. I can even get close to 20 (19.7) MPG after a couple of months of use, after I discovered the eco mode. Aim high but buy smart...

 

[ChrisOfPA]

So, two schools of thought on that.

The first is, get exactly what you want from the factory. It will be just what you want from jump, and you get the warranty to cover it.

The other thought is - whatever it is you are wanting, can probably be added aftermarket, or OEM after the fact. Sometimes with either higher quality components, or better selection, or lower price (or some combination thereof).

The only thing I would say is not practical to do aftermarket (apart from engine swap or tranny swap) would the the 4A transfer case, and the value of that is somewhat debateable. The rear locker is more difficult/expensive than it ought to be after the fact, but you get it in either of these packages you are looking at. Everything else, really, is not bad to swap if/when you need it.

So I wouldn't get hung up on Badlands. A SAS Black Diamond would be a very nice haul and comparable in almost every meaningful way. And even a non-SAS Black Diamond is an extremely capable Bronco that's going to be much lighter on the pocketbook, and easy to perform with readily available parts to ugprade the bits that are different if/when you find out you need them later on.

I guess what I'm burning a lot of words on: there are not really any wrong answers here, other than to overthink it and not do anything as a result.

I am getting a little hung up thinking about losing the 4A mode on the Bronco, I thought I could leave the Bronco in 4H but reading around here last night the 4WD system isn't really designed for that. I wouldn't mind a Black Diamond if it has the SAS and Mid Package but finding a 2 door with those features plus a 2.7L at a reasonable price is a bit of a problem.

I am coming to the conclusion if I can't get the 2 door at a price I want, I may wait until next year and just order a new one, it will give me more time to save and maybe by then the dealerships will have some sales on them, it will just be a shame if I have to give up the 2.7L V6 as it seems to be a bad ass engine, especially with the Ford Performance tuner.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

So, yeah, the Hitachi is the lowest end suspension. It's not bad with the stock 33's that come on the lower trims, and it will go off roading ~ok~. But you aren't hitting the dunes at 80MPH with them, and if you want to step it up to 35(+) tires you want something with a bit more support.

They are very easy to upgrade though, and a lot of nice options that are going to cost less (and many that can be much more capable, albeit for more money) than HOSS 2.0 Bilsteins. I'd throw out the Bilstein 6112 package - which is more or less the same thing as the Ford Performance shock with an adjustable collar. And there's always the 4WP Coilover set that's still a killer deal, that Boss4x4 ~still~ seems to have available (although some folks in the 2Drs have said they seem to be more tuned for the 4Dr crowd).

Unless you are thinking about Wildtrak with the Fox HOSS 3.0... the factory suspension on either HOSS 1 or HOSS 2 is just something you live with until you decide to eventually upgrade -- be that the Hitatchis to get a step up, or the Bilsteins because they fell apart on you...

Not sure if the SAS Bilsteins are subject to the same recall as the Badlands ones - I thought they are more or less the same shock, just with a slightly different perch height.

That's good to hear, I will probably stick with 33's as I am not going to rock crawl and I will spend a lot of time on road, I am sure the 33's can handle the light to moderate off roading around here. I may check out the Wildtrak and see if they have any floating around.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

I'd throw in one more choice, how about a 2dr Heritage?

I looked at it but I wasn't too crazy about the styling, not ugly but not my cup of tea.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

Anything without Sasquatch is equally capable (except tires, advanced transfer and rear locker)…Anything with Sasquatch is equally capable (Fox coilovers, sway bar and steering excepted)…stock coilovers and wheels/tires are easy upgrades…your current use plans fit a black diamond (rear locker) well…if ya get more into it upgrades are available…pay up front or down the road…imho the aftermarket usually has better options than ford…good luck!

Thanks man, I will be watching the market and see how things settle out. Since last night I am starting to think I may just regret not getting the 4A mode available only on the SAS Package or on the Badlands Trim, shocks can be upgraded and even a front locker installed but adding the 4A system isn't possible. I have to take into consideration it would be nice to have an Auto 4 mode since I live in an area that has some nasty weather and the Bronco's 4 Hi 4WD mode isn't designed to left on all the time.

 

[MayhemMike]

Badlands has Hoss 1.0.

I went to the Nevada Off Roadeo a couple of months ago. Part of the course is a stream bad. They said don't use front lockers unless you're in a situation where you need them. Otherwise leave them off. But to lock the rear axle before you think you'll need it. We never used front lockers.

I was going to get a Black Diamond until I decided I wanted the Bilstein shocks. I think a Black Diamond would fill most people's needs unless they plan on some very rough roads.

This is looking back to the start of our route down the stream bed.

Notice the Bronco below only has three wheels on the ground.

At the New Hampshire off rodeo they had us severely inclined upward on smooth granite boulders. They first had us try to make our way up without the front locker. Then they had us select the front locker and the Bad Lands effortlessly climbed itself out of the situation. I was made a front locker convert right there and then.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

I have a ‘23 non-sas 2 door 2.7L Badlands with Wildtrak SAS rims and tires on, all I needed to do was take the crash bars off (and find a set to buy). Capable bumper w/ fogs. Sport mode added via FORScan. It has everything and it fucking rocks. You should consider a similar route if you find one available.

I appreciate you sharing, do you feel at a loss not having the 4A mode coming from PA like me? That is something I am starting to think about.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

Get the badlands sas with a front camera. Front camera is very useful on the trail and the sway bar disconnect smooths out the trail even more when you air down. There are plenty available if you can settle for used with very low miles. I saw several on cars.com in low 40s with less than 8k miles.

That is also an option, I am pretty dead set on buying new if I have the option tho.

 

[CalvinT]

At the New Hampshire off rodeo they had us severely inclined upward on smooth granite boulders. They first had us try to make our way up without the front locker. Then they had us select the front locker and the Bad Lands effortlessly climbed itself out of the situation. I was made a front locker convert right there and then.

Interesting. We didn't do anything that required a front locker, but not all our Broncos had front lockers. Maybe that's why.

We were told to always lock the rear axle before starting out, but only lock the front after you realize the situation requires it. That was to save wear and tear on the front locker.

What did they tell you?

 

[alivecchi003]

I appreciate you sharing, do you feel at a loss not having the 4A mode coming from PA like me? That is something I am starting to think about.

My 23 non-SAS Badlands has 4A. I drive using it everyday.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

Also from PA. I think when we start looking, we all want everything to avoid limitations. When you look at the prices you are forced to determine what you need vs what you want... I had the same dilemma... I settled on a BD2d with mid package and a couple of add ons, including V6 2.7 and modular bumper. The Badlands is great but how much will I use the xtra ~$10k difference in equipment...? 3D camera, 4A, the front lock differential, etc... I do not even use the the rear camera... These are things that I will not really use a lot, if at all. I quickly desisted on the sasquatch when I saw what was in my future 30k miles later. Believe it or not, the only thing I will miss is probably the heated steering wheel that will be uses several months of the year... I love my ride. I can even get close to 20 (19.7) MPG after a couple of months of use, after I discovered the eco mode. Aim high but buy smart...

Yeah, major dilemma thanks to the Bilstein shock recall removing the perfectly equipped Bronco I wanted at a price I liked, now I have to hope it will still be available months from now and the dealership will not try to rip me off as according to them 5 people are interested in it.

Since last night, I am starting to think the feature I will lose out on most is the 4A mode, so I will be watching my options and hoping something properly equipped becomes available over the next 6 months.

 

[ChrisOfPA]

My 23 non-SAS Badlands has 4A. I drive using it everyday.

That's what I thought, I got a Ford Fusion Titanium with AWD and I can't tell you how useful an Auto 4 mode has been for my commute over the years. I don't think I want to go without that in my Bronco now.

 

[alivecchi003]

That's what I thought, I got a Ford Fusion Titanium with AWD and I can't tell you how useful an Auto 4 mode has been for my commute over the years. I don't think I want to go without that in my Bronco now.

I love it, personally. Highly recommended.

Sponsored