Badlands.... Do I need the Sasquatch Upgrade (Newbie)

[crzyhawk]

First, you don't "NEED" Sasquatch...but need has little to do with my own car buying choices.

Second, be cautious with certain dealers. Not naming names, I've had some poor experiences with some So. King Co. dealers. I've actually had decent luck with Autonation Ford in Bellevue, though. I expected them to try to rip me off a couple of times, but they didn't!

My dad had a problem with a stealership in the Tacoma area, but that was in the early 90s. I don't remember their name, but they were a pretty big dealer. I'm so out of touch with home though, I'd have no help to give the OP in that area. I don't think I have been home since 07.

As far as SAS, I agree with you that need has little to do with car buying decisions. That said, I do try to be honest with myself regarding what I pay for. For anything other than a badlands, SAS offers you a lot. For a badlands though, the improved articulation of the non SAS is better from what I have heard. For a badlands, Sasquatch really is mostly a wheel and tire package. The tires, most overlanders are going to replace anyways. So you're down to wheels. With the beadlock capables not being standard anymore, you're left with what imo, is a fugly wheel that I'd be replacing anyways. So, why on earth would I actually WANT to SAS my bronco, for anything beyond telling people "of course, I have the sasquatch package".

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[SoDak1623]

the non sas version actually has better articulation than the sas version from what I have been told.

I should have worded it better. I meant that the 35s and small lift of the sasquatch come with less articulation over the stock badlands. The stock badlands was very specifically equipped and engineered by the Bronco team, and it has shown me its plenty capable.

 

[crzyhawk]

I should have worded it better. I meant that the 35s and small lift of the sasquatch come with less articulation over the stock badlands. The stock badlands was very specifically equipped and engineered by the Bronco team, and it has shown me its plenty capable.

That's honestly the conclusion I have come to. If money were not an object, and I was buying again, I'd buy a non-sas Badlands, and that includes the Raptor.

 

[MilesTeg]

Guys thanks for taking the time to read this question. I am a total newbie and want to get into overlanding. I decided that I am going to get the Badlands model but here is my million dollar question. Do I need to upgrade to the Sasquatch package? Here is what i am looking to do. Nothing extreme! I want to be able to head out for overnight trips in the back country and be my weekend home on wheels in the parking lots during the ski season here in WA state. No rock crawling nothing crazy I just want to get away from the people here in Seattle. This will be my everyday driver as well so keep that in mind. The one I am looking at has the Equipment Group 334A and does not have the Sasquatch upgrade. The salesman at Sound Ford told me the only difference is the Sasquatch upgrade has the bigger tires. I actually prefer the slightly smaller tires on the basic Badlands but I do want to be safe when off roading. So please any experienced overlanders here in the PNW tell me if I really need to upgrade. Thank you so much! Also to anyone in Seattle do you have a recommendation for a dealer? The guys at Sound Ford could not answer any of my questions other then they are all basicly the same.... which i find hard to believe

No, the SAS is a waste of money in your case, for sure. I'm not sure about '26, but in my '24 there were three differences:

• bigger, mud terrain tires - provides ~1" of additional ground clearance. These are uncomfortable and LOUD on a highway.
• 3/4" of suspension lift - provides a tiny bit better approach, departure and breakover angle.
• bigger fenders (because bigger tires)

That was not worth $6,000 to me, ESPECIALLY since those mud terrain tires are LOUD and not very good on highway, especially in water/snow/ice. And, to get fully to SAS spec will cost LESS than $6,000 for me, should I chose to upgrade because none of those things require a huge amount of work (the hardest/most expensive would be the slightly bigger coil overs/suspension)

Everything else about the SAS is already a default part of the Badlands:

• front/back locker
• 4.7 diffs
• sway bar disconnect
• beefed up steering/tie rods
• auto 4x4

The stock Badlands will be far, far more machine than you need for many years if you are a total newb, and IFF you get to the point where you outgrow the Badlands, you probably want to upgrade BEYOND the SAS (bigger lift, bigger tires, etc.) so.. don't waste your money IMO.

You are much better off taking that money and putting into things that WILL benefit you now for overlanding, like recovery equipment, safety equipment, etc.

 

[EasternSierra]

Things to consider that haven't been mentioned above and how they related to my own Bronco decision:

• Some people like, some don't like the Sasquatch 35s. Considering the kind of country I go to, I wanted more durable tires. I can get takeoff fenders cheap to cover them. For some of us, there's no point paying for more expensive tires we're going to replace long before they wear out.
• I've also heard complaints about the durability of both the default Badlands shocks and the Sasquatch shocks. There are other options that are better so I plan to install one of those (maybe HOSS 3.0). Again, no point paying for something you're going to replace, if you plan to do that.
• If your Bronco is going to get a lot of miles fast then maybe you can pay for the above items, let them wear out, then replace them with better. My Bronco is just for recreation and I'm already an old man, so that's not a great choice for me personally. Will I still be 'wheeling in 5 years?
• For some people, getting the larger tires and Sasquatch shocks from the factory can be worth it, especially if you don't plan any later suspension/tire upgrades.
• In my case, I would have been paying for tires and shocks I planned to replace soon anyway, and for an automatic transmission I wasn't even getting. No dice!

Everything else about the SAS is already a default part of the Badlands:

• front/back locker
• 4.7 diffs
• sway bar disconnect
• beefed up steering/tie rods
• auto 4x4

The 4.7 diffs on a non-Sas are only on the manual. So this issue is still in play for most buyers considering a Badlands.

 

[dpAtlanta]

I always love these discussions! No right answer of course...depending who you ask

This thread kinda reminds me of the Mustang6G forums... the non-GT350 owners tend to talk down on the GT350's reliability, and almost all who talk down do not own a GT350.
It's all good, these are only forums... and that's what forums do.

Get what you can afford and what you want to pay for.

I didn't need the Bronco... I just bought a fun Toy that I could afford.

I'm not sure if I have the SAS package... let me go check.

 

[crzyhawk]

This thread kinda reminds me of the Mustang6G forums... the non-GT350 owners tend to talk down on the GT350's reliability, and almost all who talk down do not own a GT350.
It's all good, these are only forums... and that's what forums do.

Get what you can afford and what you want to pay for.

I didn't need the Bronco... I just bought a fun Toy that I could afford.

I'm not sure if I have the SAS package... let me go check.

The anaolgy isn't good. There's a hell of a difference between a Coyote and a Voodoo, as you well know. There is almost no difference between a Badlands and a Badsquatch. What would your opinion on the GT350 vs GT be if your GT350 came with a Coyote and had a wheel and tire package?

 

[dpAtlanta]

The anaolgy isn't good. There's a hell of a difference between a Coyote and a Voodoo, as you well know. There is almost no difference between a Badlands and a Badsquatch. What would your opinion on the GT350 vs GT be if your GT350 came with a Coyote and had a wheel and tire package?

Good question, but I wasn't making that analogy... it was simply that those who defend, defend what they have, and those who criticize, criticize what they don't have.
It's just human nature.

 

[BroncocnorB]

Things to consider that haven't been mentioned above and how they related to my own Bronco decision:

• Some people like, some don't like the Sasquatch 35s. Considering the kind of country I go to, I wanted more durable tires. I can get takeoff fenders cheap to cover them. For some of us, there's no point paying for more expensive tires we're going to replace long before they wear out.
• I've also heard complaints about the durability of both the default Badlands shocks and the Sasquatch shocks. There are other options that are better so I plan to install one of those (maybe HOSS 3.0). Again, no point paying for something you're going to replace, if you plan to do that.
• If your Bronco is going to get a lot of miles fast then maybe you can pay for the above items, let them wear out, then replace them with better. My Bronco is just for recreation and I'm already an old man, so that's not a great choice for me personally. Will I still be 'wheeling in 5 years?
• For some people, getting the larger tires and Sasquatch shocks from the factory can be worth it, especially if you don't plan any later suspension/tire upgrades.
• In my case, I would have been paying for tires and shocks I planned to replace soon anyway, and for an automatic transmission I wasn't even getting. No dice!

The 4.7 diffs on a non-Sas are only on the manual. So this issue is still in play for most buyers considering a Badlands.

It’s a 10 speed trans. Next step up is a CVT. I truthfully think think the 4.46 is a better ratio

 

[michelle227]

Is Hoss 3.0 available to non-SAS builds?

As I recall from my '26 order, it forced SAS to be added. Otherwise, I would have added it...

2dr 7spd Badlands in the correct color

Oh, all Badlands in '26 seem to have the wider fenders. Mine came with the Goodyear tires.

 

[crzyhawk]

Good question, but I wasn't making that analogy... it was simply that those who defend, defend what they have, and those who criticize, criticize what they don't have.
It's just human nature.

Ah I see what you're saying. I personally have no pony in the race with neither a Badlands nor a Sasquatch. Both are more capable than what I have. The paper specs tell me that paying for SAS on a Badlands isn't a good value, as you really aren't getting much out of it. SAS on my Big Bend on the other hand would be a massive step up. Badlands is just too good out of the box, and it's probably only a matter of time until it gets dialed back a bit by Ford to make SAS look more appealing.

 

[MilesTeg]

The 4.7 diffs on a non-Sas are only on the manual. So this issue is still in play for most buyers considering a Badlands.

Ahh, interesting. When I bought my manual I just assumed the auto would have the same diffs.

 

[Bugkillah]

just bolt on takeoff Sasquatch wheels/tires. GTG. Honestly my non SAS 2.7 with auto is pretty good driver. Tight fit on CHMRBL? But the spare fits

Did you remove crash bars? I had to.

I upgraded my non sas badlands 2 door 2.7 to sas wildtrack takeoffs, added 3rd brake light extender bracket, swapped fender flares for wider sas fender flares, and removed crash bars. Wondering if I can go 37’s on next tires.

 

[Motovita]

Ah I see what you're saying. I personally have no pony in the race with neither a Badlands nor a Sasquatch. Both are more capable than what I have. The paper specs tell me that paying for SAS on a Badlands isn't a good value, as you really aren't getting much out of it. SAS on my Big Bend on the other hand would be a massive step up. Badlands is just too good out of the box, and it's probably only a matter of time until it gets dialed back a bit by Ford to make SAS look more appealing.

I think it did for 26, I don't know about the Sasquatch but the Badlands no longer comes with swaybar disconnect, it's an option, which is a huge benefit for offroad use. I think the good news is that since it's an option it can be ordered for the lesser packages as well.

 

[crzyhawk]

I'd personally rather add the swaybar aftermarket. I've heard a lot of folks complain that it's failed and when tied into the computer causes a lot of issues. Adding it after the fact seems to lose that issue.

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