Wildtrak vs Squached Badlands for Desert Running

[da_jokker]

The WT is a very viable trim and folks that say it isn't are lying to themselves because they are BL biased

You can take a BL, add leather (which will give you carpet), and option all the things that WT has to offer and you will just be paying more than if you bought a wild trak.

I can (and will) add better body protection than what comes with BL and I'll have Sport mode for street use (which you can't duplicate with a BL like you can duplicate Rock mode in a WT.)

The only thing BL has is the SBD which can't be had, but aftermarket disconnects can/will be available for all the other trims.

So it really boils down to if you want the darker interior and wash-out (provided you do not go with leather)

But once you have decided to get Sasquatch, 2.7, and hard top, WT is def worth considering.

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[Five-O Donut Hole]

Yeah I don’t understand the hate either for the Wildtrak or the ’mall crawler’ term. Im willing to bet 75% of future owners of a Bronco will not use it to its fullest capabilities. Loads of ‘daily driver‘ owners IMO. Resale will be beneficial with 2.7 and sasquatch. Get the trim you’d like and be happy once it arrives.

 

[North7]

What are the real differences between a “Sasquatched” BDL and a WT? I ordered a loaded WT based on the assumption that my idea of off-roading is taking out my Can-am X3 Turbo and just hauling ass. I live at the Northern tip of the Mojavi Desert, a couple valleys north of Johnson Valley CA. I basically have access to all of the Mojavi desert OHV areas and Death Valley from my drive way. In my Can-am I also probably spend 90% of the time well over 20mph. Based on everything I’ve read and seen, I kind of expect the WT to be the closest thing to a street legal – luxury - SXS in existence. On days that I don’t feel like putting on gear and suffering 115-degree temps, I’d like to “drive” the same trails I normally do, in a little more comfort with the AC blaring under the hard top. On pavement I hope it rides equal to or better than my current daily driver which is a 2017 F250 FX4 diesel. As far as gas mileage goes, my truck gets around 15 MPG in town and I would be happy to simply do better than that. Since I’m keeping my truck, I’ll always have access to a larger 4 door vehicle and should have no problems with a 2 door Bronco as my primary daily driver.

I settled on a WT last August when I put in my reservation and kept the same build when I converted it back in January. Since I keep seeing folks talk about getting a BDL over a WT, and I’ve seen plenty of posts where folks claim that the WT is a “Mall Cruiser” compared to a BDL, I’m hoping I can get a better understand of why a lot of people think that and what are the real “functional” differences between the two models. I do understand that the 2 main differences are Sport Mode vs Rock Crawl and having the Sway Bar disconnect and I realize that I can build a BDL to pretty much be a WT but doing that makes a more expensive build and I would be giving up the running board/step option.

If I lived closer to MOAB or the Rubicon, I would probably have a different perspective, but since off-roading is not only about rock crawling, what are the real benefits of having a Sway Bar disconnect specifically or a BDL in general if I plan to spend most of my time in the Mojavi or maybe the occasional trip to Glamis or the Ash Meadows Dunes?

I do apologize since I’m sure my questions have been discussed “at nauseum” in other threads through the forum but since I’m new, I was hoping to get a more focused discussion. I have not received any build notification so I figure I should validate my WT decision and see if there are any other differences that I haven’t come across.

If you know Mojave you know what washboard roads are, you want the Badlands factory SBD. You can add running boards all day long to the Badlands but not the factory SBD to the Wildtrak.

 

[Sighlense]

What the BL lovers can’t seem to understand is, we don’t care that the WT doesn’t have SBD. The WildTrak was love at first sight. Oh, and it has sport mode.

 

[Gamecock]

For desert running, it just comes to the wash out interior. For an all arounder, the BL has must haves for me...the SBD, Rock Crawl mode, factory skids, steel bumpers, MGV, sliders....way better as an all arounder for my needs, but the WT is still awesome. It would be very viable for me if it had the SBD....because I could add the rest.

 

[Jr87mustang]

If you know Mojave you know what washboard roads are, you want the Badlands factory SBD. You can add running boards all day long to the Badlands but not the factory SBD to the Wildtrak.

Agreed.
The BL and FE have a distinct mechanical advantage over the WT. A Base Sas and a WT have no discernible differences that you will tell out on the actual dirt. Stock for stock if I was putting trims in order for "Desert Running" from most useful to least it would be FE/BL, BD, then WT/OBX/BB/Base. Pretty sure I can get by without leather seats and 360 degree cameras for desert running........going with plastic bumpers, no sliders, no bash plates of any kind, and no place for a winch would not be prudent. Again, stock trims.

 

[North7]

Agreed.
The BL and FE have a distinct mechanical advantage over the WT. A Base Sas and a WT have no discernible differences that you will tell out on the actual dirt. Stock for stock if I was putting trims in order for "Desert Running" from most useful to least it would be FE/BL, BD, then WT/OBX/BB/Base. Pretty sure I can get by without leather seats and 360 degree cameras for desert running........going with plastic bumpers, no sliders, no bash plates of any kind, and no place for a winch would not be prudent. Again, stock trims.

Yeah, the Badlands did not have any problem running 60-70mph at nearby Johnson Valley.

 

[BroncoKong Jr.]

I kind of wish Ford would've made a desert runner trim like the Mojave, but I guess that's the Warthog/Raptor.

 

[lobbs611]

The fact that what Ford chose to run out at their desert events were almost exclusively Badlands and First Editions (fancy Badlands) should tell you everything you need to know. There's nothing special about the Wildtrak other than it being a Outer Banks with a few popular options standard.

 

[618TRVLWILD]

By the way. I did learn on B&P you can add full skids to WT. I don’t think you get that option on the BLs. So that could be something.

edit: standard on BLs.

 

[BroncoKong Jr.]

By the way. I did learn on B&P you can add full skids to WT. I don’t think you get that option on the BLs. So that could be something.

They're stock on the BL

 

[618TRVLWILD]

They're stock on the BL

Duhhh!!! Haha bronco brain fart!

 

[Corsair]

Agreed.
The BL and FE have a distinct mechanical advantage over the WT. A Base Sas and a WT have no discernible differences that you will tell out on the actual dirt. Stock for stock if I was putting trims in order for "Desert Running" from most useful to least it would be FE/BL, BD, then WT/OBX/BB/Base. Pretty sure I can get by without leather seats and 360 degree cameras for desert running........going with plastic bumpers, no sliders, no bash plates of any kind, and no place for a winch would not be prudent. Again, stock trims.

I bet a lot of WT reservations/orders were placed because of it being marketed as a desert runner without there being, as you mentioned, an advantage between that and any other Sasquatch trim.

 

[Corsair]

By the way. I did learn on B&P you can add full skids to WT. I don’t think you get that option on the BLs. So that could be something.

edit: standard on BLs.

Is this your stealthy way of throwing shade?

 

[mpeugeot]

Agreed.
The BL and FE have a distinct mechanical advantage over the WT. A Base Sas and a WT have no discernible differences that you will tell out on the actual dirt. Stock for stock if I was putting trims in order for "Desert Running" from most useful to least it would be FE/BL, BD, then WT/OBX/BB/Base. Pretty sure I can get by without leather seats and 360 degree cameras for desert running........going with plastic bumpers, no sliders, no bash plates of any kind, and no place for a winch would not be prudent. Again, stock trims.

The OBX is a lightweight Bronco, which is a plus for Desert running... A SBD can be installed, if desired, it just won't be as slick as the BL. So if you aren't going to hitting some serious rocks, the OBX is an interesting option.

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