Wildtrak vs Squached Badlands for Desert Running

[Link1016]

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.

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[Jr87mustang]

There is nothing special about WT except for decals, painted parts and Baja mode. Sasquatch ANY Bronco and its just as good for overlanding. WT doesn't come with metal bumpers, under armor or washout interior. If you want to rock crawl get BL for the disconnect, it is king of the hill not WT. In fact for overlanding I would rather have the BD, comes with more stuff for Baja-ing than the WT (can't get cameras though).

 

[618TRVLWILD]

I think most people chose the BLs over the WT is for the sway bar and the wash out interior. You can build a WT from a BLs platform. Sounds like where you live washout would be handy.

I know som ppl chose the WT though bc they like the black accents if they have no plan of changing anything.

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. Kinda.

IMPO a Badlands can be a Wildtrack, but a Wildtrack can not be a Badlands.

There’s nothing rational (we’re well beyond that now) about purchasing a 6G Bronco. I say go for it, whatever fits your style ride that train.

 

[Brocked]

There is nothing special about WT except for decals, painted parts and Baja mode. Sasquatch ANY Bronco and its just as good for overlanding. WT doesn't come with metal bumpers, under armor or washout interior. If you want to rock crawl get BL for the disconnect, it is king of the hill not WT. In fact for overlanding I would rather have the BD, comes with more stuff for Baja-ing than the WT (can't get cameras though).

Besides the fact that I will never have to answer if it has SAS or a 2.7. And it looks more bad ass and ill never slow crawl my 60K Bronco over rocks. Why do you folks hate the WT so much? The big question for BL ,or any other model on resale, is if has he 2.7 or 2.3. Be prepared for a major price difference.

 

[Rivers90]

It comes down to if you want the marine grade vinyl or not.

I would want the sway bar disconnect and the MGV.
If you don't want those then you can save some money going with the wildtrak.

If your going topless a lot MGV would be good to have, or if you don't want sand in the carpet.

 

[bajabronco57]

So same boat OP. I do Northern Nevada and Baja.

The WT and BDL both have Baja Mode but the WT has Sport while the BDL has Rock Crawl. Now here is my question... if I use Baja Mode and change to 2WD will it be similar to Sport? 90% of the Desert Running I do is high speed 2WD. I normally only use 4WD at Pismo, Snow Wheeling, or when we need to go over a rocky mountain typically.

In the end I was leaning towards the BDL with Sas because I wanted the Sway Bar disconnect "just in case" and felt I could probably find a GOAT set up to make up for the lack of Sport Mode.

I think the wash out interior is pointless for desert wheeling personally. I had planned on getting Leather.

All that being said, since I am just a reservation and not an order yet, I'm considering not converting to an order and just waiting on the Warthog.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

For me it was essentially the interior color scheme. I don’t like the Wildtrack. I can live with the Badlands.

But if you’re not planning to do slow rock crawling, the Wildtrack is the obvious choice... you won’t need the swaybar disconnect (you can’t even use it at the speeds you’re driving) and rock rails and steel bumpers are also unnecessary and will (theoretically) just slow you down.

 

[Rayder]

Going off some of the payload numbers we have seen the WT is several hundred pounds lighter. That advantage is largely nixed if you get the HD bumper and plates though, I think that is where a lot of the weight is. The Badlands will just have a lot of extra dead weight if you never intend to take it rock crawling.

 

[Corsair]

Besides the fact that I will never have to answer if it has SAS or a 2.7. And it looks more bad ass and ill never slow crawl my 60K Bronco over rocks. Why do you folks hate the WT so much? The big question for BL ,or any other model on resale, is if has he 2.7 or 2.3. Be prepared for a major price difference.

Of course you will. Plenty of people don’t even know the difference between the Squirt and the Bronco.

 

[AcesandEights]

You don't need the sway bar disconnect as much as sport mode. Otherwise, functionally, they're basically the same. There will be more difference between wheelbase than anything else. For speed youd appreciate a four-door more than GOAT modes and sway bar disconnect. My opinion.

 

[mpeugeot]

As with the OP, a lot of my area is desert-like, but also have some more varied terrain as well, but the bottom line is that it is usually very hot... and for me, that means I don't want vinyl. I also tend to put a lot of road miles on a vehicle, so I wanted wheels and tires for the road and a set of off-road tires for those times that I am really getting off the beaten path.

So I ended up going with the full mall crawl specification (see below). For me, the colors were right, the materials were right, and the features were right - although I did want Baja mode for the screens. Although some would suggest that the WT is the mall crawler, really, the OBX, without the SAS and without the advanced 4x4 is the ultimate mall crawler trim (which is nearly what I got).

One person above me made a great point that the 4 door is better for high speed running in the desert. I still went with the 2 door for the better break-over angle and slightly more nimble shorter wheel base; but the 4 door would be best for the high speed off-road stuff.

 

[Bronconheimer]

Order a SASBadlands, remove the skid plates, remove the SBD, take a dump on it, and you've got yourself a Wildtrak.

 

[Canyonero02]

Do we know for sure Sport mode is 2wd? On the new F150 Sport mode defaults to 4 high. If that is the case with the Bronco then what is the difference between Baja and Sport?

 

[Raptor911]

are you sure Sport mode (f150) is 4 high? I don't think it is

Do we know for sure Sport mode is 2wd? On the new F150 Sport mode defaults to 4 high. If that is the case with the Bronco then what is the difference between Baja and Sport?

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