First Drive: Ford F-150 Tremor Delivers Off-Road Performance Without Sacrificing Truck Functionality

You want to haul ass in the desert? Get a Raptor. You want to haul a load through the same desert? Get a Tremor.

Since its introduction as an off-road package on the F-150 in 2021, the Tremor has quietly cemented itself as the most well-rounded version of the F-150.

This truck is comfortable enough to daily and capable enough to take it just about anywhere you’d want to go.

Ford recently invited us out to the desert and mountains of Southern California to drive both the Tremor and we walked away with some strong feelings about where this truck fits in.

Off-Road Pickup

When you think of an off-road pickup, it’s natural that an F-150 Raptor comes to mind. Afterall, it launched the factory Baja truck craze back in 2010 and has been carrying the torch ever since.

The Raptor is fully equipped from the factory with long travel suspension, wide body work, a rear locker, steel performance bumpers, auxiliary switches, drive modes, underbody protection, and tow hooks. It is designed to be hucked off jumps and soak up everything that Baja can throw at it, and it is one helluva truck.

However, there are some drawbacks that come with selecting a Raptor for backcountry exploration. The wider track can be a disadvantage on tighter trails, payload leaves a bit to be desired, and towing is significantly lower than the rest of the F-150 lineup.

Also, whether you chose the V-6 model or the V-8 model, you have a forced induction engine to contend with that has a higher thermal management demands and the added complexity of turbos or a supercharger. 

Don’t get us wrong, we love the Raptor, and especially the upgraded Raptor R (see sidebar), but for the use case of overlanding or an all-around truck, it might not be the best choice.

Tremor Package

Enter the ’24 Ford F-150 Tremor. Ever since the package’s transition to being off-road centric (the 2014 version of the F-150 Tremor was more of a street truck), Tremor has split the difference nicely between the FX4 off-road package and the Raptor.

However, Ford took the Tremor up a notch for 2024, bringing it even closer to the Raptor. 

Out of the gate the ‘24 Ford F-150 Tremor isn’t just a badge and sticker package; it has the goods that the off-road community expects.

The F-150 Tremor uses a unique suspension that incorporates heavy-duty shocks with specific tuning of the monotube front, and curiously, twin tube in the rear (c’mon Ford, get the monotubes all the way around), and it has unique knuckles.

The rear, like all non-Raptor F-150s, is leaf sprung, in this case using a two-stage leaf pack. 

The Tremor sits on 33-inch all-terrain tires and wheels with a greater offset, all of this working together to give the Tremor a 1-inch prouder ride height, about an inch wider track, and 9.7 inches of ground clearance.

Underneath, the Tremor has a full complement of skid plates, Raptor-like running boards, and a rear locker.

Ford has also bestowed the Tremor with a host of trail-centric technologies, such as Selectable Drive Modes, one-pedal drive, and Trail Turn Assist, first seen on the Bronco, to shorten the turning radius off-road.

Drivetrain

We don’t find ourselves saying this much, but one of the best features of the Tremor is its base engine. Standard motivation comes in the form of the excellent 5.0L DOHC V-8. Known colloquially as the Coyote, this normally aspirated V-8 makes 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque.

Opting for the EcoBoost 3.5L twin-turbocharged V-6 brings the same 400 horsepower, but bumps torque to an impressive 510 lb-ft pounds. Both engines are backed by Ford’s excellent 10-speed automatic transmission. 

No hybrid model is offered on the Tremor, so this model foregoes the hybrid’s 2.4kW or available 7.2kW Pro Power Onboard power systems. It does, however, have 2.0kW of exportable power, more than enough to run a campsite.

Capability

With bodywork and track width that are narrower than a Raptor, the Tremor can fit on narrower trails. While its clearances measure out to a 27.6-degree approach angle, a 21.2-degree breakover angle, and a 24.3-degree departure angle, it falls a bit short of the Raptor approach and departure, but bests it departure angle (31.0/22.7/23.9), and is an improvement over the standard F-150 (24.2/19.8/21.0).

Payload rings in at 1,780 pounds for the V-8 and 1,735 pounds for the EcoBoost truck. Compare that to the Raptor, which comes in at 1,405 pounds for the V-6 (37-inch tires) model and 1,400 pounds for the V-8-powered R.

Tremor maximum towing checks in at 10,000 pounds for the V-8 version and 10,200 for the EcoBoost truck. By comparison, the Raptor is rated at 8,200 pounds and the Raptor R maxes out at 8,700 pounds.

The Tremor splits the difference nicely between Ford’s lower trim 4x4s and the high-zoot Raptors, finding a good balance between truck work and off-road ability.

Styling

For 2024, the Tremor is even more distinctive, sporting its own exclusive bodywork from the A-pillar forward. This includes Ford’s new “coast-to-coast” grille with orange accents that emphasizes the visual width of the truck.

It also has a new power dome hood with Raptor-inspired vents, along with a new optional modular steel bumper with a center section shared with Raptor.

This bumper is designed for easy bolt-on installation of accessories, such as a winch plate or a light bar.

Interior

Like the exterior, the Tremor receives ample branding and Tremor-specific seating trim, contrast stitching, and floor mats.

Otherwise, the interior is what you would expect from an F-150 with its quality materials, plenty of tech (those camera views look great on that gorgeous 12-in screen), and great visibility.

It’s a comfortable truck that is made to soak up miles, whether they are on the dirt or the highway. 

We especially like the thick-rimmed steering wheel and seats with plenty of adjustments. Off-roaders will appreciate that while Ford is near the top of the game with the company’s touch-screen-based Sync 4 system, there are ample redundant hard buttons, the way God intended truck interiors to be.

Ford even gives you the option of folding the shifter out of the way to make room for a laptop.

Driving Impressions

We had a chance to drive the Tremor on some of California’s mountainous roads and backcountry trails and we were enamored with the V-8-equipped truck.

Yes, the EcoBoost V-6 makes more power, but there is just something about the steady and predictable V-8 power delivery, the sound of the engine going about its business, and the way the truck drives that we really appreciated.

Admittedly, the thought of the long-term reliability of a naturally aspirated V-8 crossed our minds, as we imagined ourselves wandering around the backcountry with a slide-in camper filling our bed.

On the highway, we noted that Ford did a great job tuning the suspension, as the Tremor is definitely one of the best riding F-150s you can own. Even with the squishy all-terrain tires, the truck was predictable and competent on twisty mountain roads.

Ford’s 10-speed never seemed to be lost in its many gears and the torquey 5.0L, while muted, provided a delicious soundtrack that reminded us of how a pickup should sound, especially under load as the cabin was filled with the song of a sweet V-8. 

Off-road, the Tremor simply shines, with a supple suspension that smoothed out our rough trail. Just as the suspension tuning is good on the highway, it’s equally as good on the trail, striking the right balance between the two. The Tremor is one good set of monotube reservoir aftermarket shocks away from being great off-road.

While it isn’t made for going fast in the same way the Raptor is, if you aren’t in a hurry, it has the right moves to get you where you are going while carrying all of the gear you want to take.

The rear locker also gives the Tremor sure-footed competence and the host of off-road tech can make a novice driver look like a pro, or allow those who want to use it to optimize the vehicle’s settings for the situation they find themselves in.

Our Take

In our mind, the Tremor hits the sweet spot of the F-150 lineup. It offers a noticeable step up in off-road acumen, without any ride penalty, while still offering more of the truck capability that is traded away for the all-out performance in the Raptor.

The only caveat is pricing. The Tremor starts at $66,345 (with destination), just over $14,000 less than the base model Raptor, however adding the comprehensive Tremor High 402A Equipment Group adds $11,710 to the price of a Tremor, making it dangerously close to base Raptor territory.

That being said, the Tremor is a more complete truck for the average person, making it an enticing choice for any truck buyer.

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This article originally appeared in OVR Issue 10. For more informative articles like this, consider subscribing to OVR Magazine in print or digital versions here. You can also find the print edition of OVR at your local newsstand by using our Magazine Finder.