Perspective owner - Questions

[cmtaz]

been looking at Broncos, or as they say in my 4x4 club "thinking of going over to the dark side"

My current ride is a:

I'm pretty versed in off roading in a Jeep, however in the Bronco world I'm looking at 23 / 24 Wildtracks and Badlands (both Sasquatched). Seems to me that the major difference is Wildtracks = Hoss 3.0 and Badlands = Swaybar Disconnects. That is one of my questions. In my Jeep, I disconnect the swaybar , (when I remember to - because I just push the button). I'm pretty sure most of the places I go it isn't necessary but it may make things a little easier. That said, the Hoss 3.0 setup appears to be all the suspension I would need and appears more "heavy duty" the hoss 2.0 on the Badlands.

Any thoughts on this, and has anyone added Swaybar Quick disconnects to the wildtracks? Any additional information that maybe useful? One thing I noticed on the test drives is the Bronco is "head and shoulders" above the Jeep on the highway. The 2.7 is more responsive than the Jeep's 3.6 and it out handles and accelerates on the road. If anyone has experiences off roading the Bronco, I'd like to hear how the Bronco is on trails and in the desert (AZ & UTAH).

Thank you

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[Nanook]

If you plan to keep it close to factory stock, YES HOSS 3.0 is worth it.
Many have done aftermarket disconnects, I recommend going to the RockJock or Carli sway bar on your WildTrak.
Much more friendly on the wallet than swapping out the steering rack and adding coilovers on the Badlands
FWIW 2024 all Sasquatch Broncos get the Raptor Steering rack from the HOSS 3.0 package.

 

[dpAtlanta]

The 2024 Badlands Sasquatch has the Hoss 3.0... at least mine does.

 

[Brian_B]

With the Badlands, yeah, Swaybar Disco is just a button - but it will automatically reconnect itself over 20MPH. Some people get kind of annoyed with it.

It's 2 easy-to-get-at bolts if you do it manually, and there are other kits that extend the range and/or make it easier to disconnect. I just unbolt mine either before I head out, or when I get to the trail head, depending on how long the drive there is.

Yeah, one thing the Broncos don't lack is power. Even the lowly i4 2.3 does really very well in that department. They all beat out the v6 and 2.0 i4 from Jeep pretty easily. The 4xe will roughly match the 2.7, but only if the battery is charged and in use, and there's the 392, which it can go play with Raptors.

The engines generally being more powerful, and IFS vs solid front axle are the two biggest differences I've found between Jeep/Bronco -- besides not being able to flip down the windshield. IFS has it's pros and cons - it's great on the highway, not quite as good in the rocks.

(*edited for correction)
A 24 Badlands has the Severe Duty HOSS 3.0 steering rack from the WT - that was one of the MY24 upgrades. But it will still have the Bilstien coil overs - the WT comes with Foxes that are a step up.

Badlands will also already have all the skid plates - don't think a Wildtrak will come with them standard.

 

[CitrusBronco]

All 2024 SAS equipped broncos have the heavy duty steering components. Not just 2025 so feel free to get a bargain on a ‘24. The wildtrak also has the Fox shocks which are great.
The SAS equiped Broncos handles off-road at speed very well, the Fox step that up a notch.
I put the Fox on my Everglades and it’s been great at speed off-road and on the slow crawling trails.
Lots of videos of Broncos on rocky trails so you can see. I don’t have those here but plenty of spots to get a tire 4’ in the air in washouts, I think it handles it great.
The Rubicon looks great by the way.

edit
I run mine with the front sway bar disconnected manually and notice no issues. I’ll reconnect it if I do any long highway driving just for the extra safety factor.

 

[bassist]

The 2024 Badlands Sasquatch has the HOSS 2.0 suspension with effectively the HOSS 3.0 steering.

Call it HOSS 2.5

At any rate, the Badlands comes with more in the way of skid plates. It also has the vinyl interior with drain plugs. I think the Wildtrak has carpet - but I could be wrong.

 

[jgrant68]

I'm coming from a Wrangler and have a Badlands (non-SAS).

My Jeep is lifted (frankenlift with Rock Krawler, MetalCloak, and Teraflex). It has 35's with 17-inch rims. On road there is no comparison, the Bronco is light years ahead of the Jeep. I've got the smaller motor, and even in the mountains, it doesn't ever feel overworked.

Off-road, the Jeep closes the gap. The problems that you encounter on the street are a benefit on the trail. But the gap isn't that wide on the stuff I go on. The biggest thing I notice is that the 35s ride better than my stock 33s when they are aired down. My big gripe is that I don't like the push button selector to go into 4WD and miss the lever my Jeep has. And I don't like having to stop to go into 4LO.

I find the Bronco suspension more challenging to work on than the Jeep, and I sometimes miss the simplicity. I'm really dreading if I break something out in DV and need to repair it as I'm not sure I could. Solid axles are just so simple.

I don't regret going to the Bronco at all and love it even if it's more daunting mechanically.

 

[Blackcat]

I have ZERO off-road experience, but I own a 21 Sahara and a 22 Bronco Base. For ‘on-road’ use, I’m driving the Bronco 11 out of 10 times.

 

[helifino16]

Once you get the Bronco, get yourself to a Bronco Off-Roadeo. Regardless of what you end up with, you will be so impressed with the basic capabilities that sweating over a sway bar disconnect or cloth seats will feel trivial. Just be sure to get as much as you can. You won’t be disappointed Either way.

We went on a rainy day and was able to get out of predicaments I hope to never find my self in my own rig. Well worth the effort.

 

[LethalPerformance]

As someone who routinely swaps cars far too often, I can wholeheartedly tell you I am extremely happy with my '23 WT (with no plans of dumping it). We also have a Raptor at the shop and it's a beast.. I just genuinely enjoy the WT for a daily driver that can also get down with some off-roading as it needs to.
- Logan@Lethal

 

[bassist]

I'm coming from a Wrangler and have a Badlands (non-SAS).

My Jeep is lifted (frankenlift with Rock Krawler, MetalCloak, and Teraflex). It has 35's with 17-inch rims. On road there is no comparison, the Bronco is light years ahead of the Jeep. I've got the smaller motor, and even in the mountains, it doesn't ever feel overworked.

Off-road, the Jeep closes the gap. The problems that you encounter on the street are a benefit on the trail. But the gap isn't that wide on the stuff I go on. The biggest thing I notice is that the 35s ride better than my stock 33s when they are aired down. My big gripe is that I don't like the push button selector to go into 4WD and miss the lever my Jeep has. And I don't like having to stop to go into 4LO.

I find the Bronco suspension more challenging to work on than the Jeep, and I sometimes miss the simplicity. I'm really dreading if I break something out in DV and need to repair it as I'm not sure I could. Solid axles are just so simple.

I don't regret going to the Bronco at all and love it even if it's more daunting mechanically.

Jeeps require you to stop to go into 4-Lo as well.

 

[DaddyMuffin]

There’s a lot of discussion on this forum about Wildtrak v. Badlands. And full disclosure, I bought a Badlands, so I’m in ”that” camp. Someone else mentioned bash plates and how disco works. Given that fitting new plates and equipping disco (to a Wildtrak) seems a lot harder than equipping shocks (to a Badlands), I went with the Badlands. I wheel and I’m happy with my choice 3 years later. You might also check out some of the You Tubes out there of Wildtraks being rescued after smashing oil pans, etc because owners thought the Trak was top of the line and got in too deep.

 

[jgrant68]

Jeeps require you to stop to go into 4-Lo as well.

Nope, you can't go fast but you need to be crawling at between 2-5mph. I'm not sure that I can shift it into 4Lo from a dead stop.

 

[MNBigfoot]

Between the non-sas and Sas Badlands the extra $5000 gets you about $300 worth of tire/rims, $200 for flares and 4.46 gearing vs 4.7 (identical gearing with the manual).

 

[Dadsquatch]

*Prospective

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