Wildtrak Epiphany & Validation @ 6K Miles

[linbackr99]

Similar thoughts, except for a few deviations on my build (an OBX). I wanted the lightest, quickest, Bronco configuration that would make my weekly 12 hour round trip easier for me than making the trip in my 2011 F-150 with washout floors, manual windows, locks, and mirrors.

So I ended up with an OBX 2D 2.7 with lux and tow. I am thrilled with the cloth seats (which are super comfortable and won't burn me in the Texas heat in the summer) and nicely carpeted floors which are great for driving in bare feet. The adaptive cruise control is awesome for long distance. I can quickly swap out the highway tires for my 33.5" mud-terrain tires. It is a compromise in that it's not the ultimate off-roader, but I don't feel like I am terribly limited by the lack of a front locker or SBD, especially with 33.5" tires.

I also paid under $50k. So ya, I am happy and living with the shame of not having a Badlands, WildTrak, or First Edition... LOL, owning an OBX, it's almost as bad as Herpes.

Screw that - no ‘shame’ in any Bronco in my opinion - even the Sport if that’s your thing!! I was close on the OBX myself because I actually liked the roast / black color scheme. The extra GOAT mode (for what it’s worth?) and slightly smaller price tag (still barely under 60k) kept me in the Wildtrak (I also prefer the black accents).

I agree that the cloth seats are nice - the mannequin I had for the weekend last summer has them and they were excellent - but I wanted power and I could only get power with leather … which I do really like. Congrats to you!!! Enjoy!

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[mpeugeot]

Screw that - no ‘shame’ in any Bronco in my opinion - even the Sport if that’s your thing!! I was close on the OBX myself because I actually liked the roast / black color scheme. The extra GOAT mode (for what it’s worth?) and slightly smaller price tag (still barely under 60k) kept me in the Wildtrak (I also prefer the black accents).

I agree that the cloth seats are nice - the mannequin I had for the weekend last summer has them and they were excellent - but I wanted power and I could only get power with leather … which I do really like. Congrats to you!!! Enjoy!

Can't get power seats in the 2 door. What extra GOAT mode??? I have all 8...


Although I ordered before we knew that it was going to be possible to have all the GOAT modes.
The way Ford set up the trims, I really wasn't able to order the Bronco I wanted, they all had different compromises from my perspective. Especially since the one must have feature for me forced me into a LUX package. Otherwise, I would be likely driving a 2.7 BaseSquatch 2 door with adaptive cruise control and heated seats as the only options.

I wanted a 2.7 with a manual and all the GOAT modes - Ford said, Nope.
I wanted cloth seats with the Badlands suspension, SBD, and Lockers - Ford said, Nope.
I wanted power seats in the 2 door - Ford said, Nope.
I wanted the soft-top in the 2 door - Ford said, Nope
I wanted adaptive cruise control without the B&O - Ford said, Nope.

In the end, I got most of what I wanted, but still I was forced into a trim and choices that were a compromise. Yet, still ended up pretty happy.

 

[@BadBlueBronco]

How is being able to disconnect the staybar on the fly to allow all 4 tires to contact the ground for more traction not an argument?

Hey man I’m not arguing with you. Let’s focus this fights on wildtrack owners lol

 

[ROCKO]

Hey man I’m not arguing with you. Let’s focus this fights on wildtrack owners lol

Nor I with you lol
Thought this was gonna add to the post were you and him were on lol

 

[ROCKO]

It's certainly a nice feature, but it's not like the rock crawling sneaks up on you. It is pretty easy to just disconnect the sway bar at the start of the day and go wheeling. It's not like the Bronco is going to handle badly without it at relatively sane speeds.

I am willing to bet that under most conditions, most people couldn't even tell the difference between a Bronco with or without a swaybar on the road at speeds between 30-60 MPH.

If that was the case why did ford provide this feature? It’s for the situation where you thought it would crawl over without a problem but suddenly realize you need the extra articulation. Plus the feature where is automatically connects is awesome. Imagine you going on a trail needing to disconnect then reconnect numbers times because there are long stretches where you can go 45mph. I wouldn’t say it’s a good idea to run the stay bar off at such high speeds.

 

[mpeugeot]

If that was the case why did ford provide this feature? It’s for the situation where you thought it would crawl over without a problem but suddenly realize you need the extra articulation. Plus the feature where is automatically connects is awesome. Imagine you going on a trail needing to disconnect then reconnect numbers times because there are long stretches where you can go 45mph. I wouldn’t say it’s a good idea to run the stay bar off at such high speeds.

Based on what? Have you driven a Bronco at over 45 without a front sway bar? Do you even know anyone who has? Do you have even any reports regarding the impact of the front sway bar on suspension performance or handling? If not, then you are just speaking out of your ass.

They added a rear sway bar to the 2022's, does that mean that the 2021 Broncos are rolling death traps due to rear suspension instability?

I regularly drive my Bronco over 80 MPH, should I just park it until I can upgrade and get a rear anti-sway bar?

 

[ROCKO]

Based on what? Have you driven a Bronco at over 45 without a front sway bar? Do you even know anyone who has? Do you have even any reports regarding the impact of the front sway bar on suspension performance or handling? If not, then you are just speaking out of your ass.

They added a rear sway bar to the 2022's, does that mean that the 2021 Broncos are rolling death traps due to rear suspension instability?

I regularly drive my Bronco over 80 MPH, should I just park it until I can upgrade and get a rear anti-sway bar?

Based on ford having it engage over 20mph. If it wouldn’t be an issue the feature would simply be on and off
Didnt mean to trigger you lol

 

[mpeugeot]

Based on ford having it engage over 20mph. If it wouldn’t be an issue the feature would simply be on and off
Didnt mean to trigger you lol

LOL That's funny. Triggered... LOL.

 

[skhubbard93]

So far, this thread has been a ... fun ... read. I shudder to think what will happen when the Hummer EVs start showing up. Popcorn sales go ^?

 

[Razorbak86]

Who says a wildtrak can’t crawl on rocks? Mine does great without the sway bar disconnected. I have impressed the hell out of a lot of people at Hollister Hills (I know you’re familiar with HH) with what I’ve done in my bronco out there. What’s the point of the sway bar disconnect? It’s to get more articulation, right? Why do you need more articulation? Because you have more traction when all four tires are touching the ground. So yes, there is that small window where you can have all four tires touching the ground with the sway bar disconnected when you’d have one tire still off the ground if it were connected. Having front and rear lockers is what really makes the difference when you’re rock crawling. I’m not saying the sway bar disconnect doesn’t help, but people act like it’s some magical device that could transform an all wheel drive minivan into an all out rock crawler. In reality, it just keeps your back tire 4-6” closer to the ground than mine, and mine will still pull through in those situations because you guessed it, I have lockers too.

Be honest, most badlands owners really love the sway bar disconnect so they can drop a front tire in a ditch and pose with the back tire way off the ground, and then hit the button to drop the back tire a few inches closer to the ground and look like a badass.

Disconnecting the stabilizer bar, for me, is much more about softening the ride on a rocky trail than maximizing articulation.

 

[mybikeisred]

Disconnecting the stabilizer bar, for me, is much more about softening the ride on a rocky trail than maximizing articulation.

Hmmmm? So it’s more about comfort than capability?

 

[Razorbak86]

Hmmmm? So it’s more about comfort than capability?

For me, 80% of the benefit is producing a smoother ride. Having the sway bar connected when going down a rough trail will knock you and your passengers around a bit inside the vehicle, so it's nice to disconnect to lessen that stiff suspension response at low speeds on rocky trails.

It does extend the articulation a bit, too, but it's not a solid axle, so that benefit is really marginal (20%).

 

[mybikeisred]

For me, 80% of the benefit is producing a smoother ride. Having the sway bar connected when going down a rough trail will knock you and your passengers around a bit inside the vehicle, so it's nice to disconnect to lessen that stiff suspension response at low speeds on rocky trails.

It does extend the articulation a bit, too, but it's not a solid axle, so that benefit is really marginal (20%).

Nonsense. We’ve been led to believe that the sway bar disconnect is just as important as a transfer case when it comes to off road capability.

 

[Lxatoledo]

Based on capability. Having additional capability isn’t a bad thing. Having a 58k desert runner that can’t crawl on some rocks is concerning. I have a 52k rock crawler that also is a desert runner. What is your argument? Lol

All this over driving down a dirt road….

Crazy huh? Had a great day and then folks start acting like you called their baby ugly or something. Even if I posted my EB pics from our Pritchett Canyon run.... The haters would be all, "Well it's not on 42s, with full hydro, front rear steering, cutting brakes, 60's, Atlas and running a stroker, but enjoy your little toy." Then they would tell me all about their Badlands Drain plug.

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