Pieman's 2026 Badlands Build

[Pieman]

Hi everyone!

I picked up our 2026 Badlands a couple weeks ago and just wanted to share my build as I go along. My goals for this build is to honor a lot of the factory capability of the Badlands spec and augment some of the daily functionality, overall aesthetic, and add some features that I think will be useful during family adventures. I'll try to update this original post with vendors / part numbers for those interested. I hope this can be helpful or at least interesting in some way. Enjoy! -CJ

Stock Pics:

• Color Matched Door Handles

Got these from BFN Truck Shop. They take a little finesse to remove and swap out but I think they give a cleaner look than the black.

BFN Truck Shop Paint Matched Door Handles
Bronco Door Handle Swap Short Video

• McGard Black Lugs

I swapped out the 2 piece Ford OEM for McGard. I like the 1 piece design and I think the black looks nice with the dark wheels.

McGard Black Lug Nuts M12x1.5

Handles & Lugs swapped:

• Touchscreen Protector

Nothing too fancy here, just going for added protection and matte finish.

Spigen Touchscreen Protector Amazon Link

• Non-Sasquatch Fender Flares

2026 Badlands come with the "High Clearance" (Sasquatch width) fenders standard, presumably due to the wheels dropping to a +40mm offset. Personally I think the flares look a little oversized. It's subtle but was instantly noticeable for me. I picked up some used non-squatch flares just to compare. For me, this size is the way to go. Ideally I wish they were matched up to the sidewall a little more, but they cover the width of the tread and just give a tighter look for my taste. I can live with the sidewall poke. I'll probably end up trying to find some new take offs or maybe go color matched. Not sure yet.

• Sun Visor with Homelink Universal Garage Door Opener

I was shocked to see Ford dropping the Homelink visor from a number of models. Do people not have garage doors anymore? Nevertheless I was not going to go the clip on route. Super easy, one bolt, one plug swap.

Factory Ford Sun Visor with Homelink

• Leather Shift Knob

Ford Bronco Leather Shift Knob / Boot
Also surprised to see Ford drop the leather shift knob in the Badlands Lux package. Pretty quickly I noticed myself wanting a nicer touch point there. Easy little swap, just used a thin trim tool between the console trim and the shift boot bracket to free the boot. Then remove two small screws on the front of the shifter and a plug. The screws are pretty short, always a good idea to put down a rag or something in the exposed area to catch any drops.

• Ford Performance Hood Struts

Nothing too wild here. I like gas hood struts. Install takes 5min. Gotta use those Ford Points somehow.

Ford Performance Gas Hood Struts

• Center Handle Delete

Center Handle Delete Plate

• Stubby Antenna

The Stubby Antenna

• Ford Factory Roof Rack

I kept the roof rack from my '23 2dr Badlands. Popped that guy on today

• Weathertech Floor Liners

Also threw down some Weathertechs. The rubber floor is good and all but I like to be able to pull these out and really scrub them down especially after winter weather or a toddler tornado.

Planned:

• Ceramic Coat
• Window Tint
• Ford Performance Tune
• Slide out tailgate (ordered)
• Color Matched Mirror Caps
• Fogs
• Ruffland Kennels

Current Photos:

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[Fun Bobby D]

Congrats on the new ride. Looking great so far. I have been following a few of the 26MY threads and there are some hits and misses. New wheels and digital dash are hits. No homelink, crappy shifter, SAS flares for all, no mirror spot lights are definitely misses. I think you will find it’s impossible to stop modding these things. I have a 23 badlands non SAS that I have been modding since the day we brought her home. 1st pic is right after we got home from picking up. 2nd is her current state of mod. Still have a few more I want to do. It never ends, lol but it sure is fun!

 

[N8do]

Don't forget to add the front mudflaps to the list gents. That is an item you are going to need if you USE these rides like they are designed and stay functionable and "purdy."
Another item, cross member armor to go with the badlands smash plate group. I've added to the armor up and that's where I've gotten rash. The other area is the rear shock backets. Low hanging fruit on the Bronco. The rear diff skid is a cheap investment as well. That should complete an uncompleted BL armor package.

The new rides are beautiful and love the colors of both your 26's! I'm convinced the BL is the way to go for an all around formidable adventure platform. We have used ours for cross country road trip (19K in 8 months), drives and rides like a dream, and on trail rides on the DBBB in KY.

I've purposed built and drove the wheels off of an 86 Bronco and a 02 Tacoma, for the last 3.5 decades, and I am spoiled with this one. So much one can do with this platform! My 24 needed a 1 inch level due to a huge rake, seemed to squat in the front. Both of your 26's seem to be set high up front out of the gate. Enjoy my friends!!

 

[KreeHBronco]

Thanks for putting thread together!

I have a 2026 Badlands Carbonized Grey, manual, non-SAS and I too have been adding things. Here is my list of mods. Some are completed but others are still TBC. I started out with the easy and I am working my way to the hard.

1. wheel locks (black) two per tire & spare (Advanced & McGard)
2. wheel lugs (black) (DPAaccessories)
3. fire extinguisher (Kidde M5G with Bartact mount)
4. dash dual phone mount w/magsafe charging (Bulletpoint, Lisen)
5. black ball shift knob (Twisted ShifterZ)
6. side steps stirrup (Broaddict)
7. mud flaps (IAG Trailshield)
8. seat covers (black) (Mabett)
9. hood hydraulic lifts (Redline Maxlift)
10. tail gate fold out table (Broaddict)
11. cargo area raised metal molle shelf (Broaddict)
12. hidden winch (Lobo mount & Warn winch)
13. roof rack (Hooke)
14. window tint (ceramic 35% for driver and passenger door)

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