2024 Ford F-150 Tremor earns its stripes in drive from desert to mountains and back

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor off-road pickup is much more than the Raptor’s little brother. I was skeptical when Ford added the Tremor to the already crowded F-150 lineup in the 2021 model year.

The roads are full of "off-road editions" automakers tout to boost sales of pickups and SUVs.

Many are exercises in cosmetics and marketing. Add an aluminum skid plate here, an all-terrain tire there and $1,500 to the sticker price.

Engineering features that deliver meaningful off-road capability are harder to find but the Tremor delivers them, I learned on an afternoon drive from the Mojave Desert to 7,200 feet in the mountains and down a mining trail created for mules, not an $80,000 full-size pickup with a V8, B&O audio and adaptive cruise control.

The F-150 Tremor delivers all that and legitimate off-road capability. After jostling down a mountain from the pines of Baldwin Lake to the Joshua trees of Burns Canyon, I’ve got the bruises to prove it.

2024 Ford F-150 trim levels and prices

• XL: $36,770

• STX: $43,895

• XLT: $47,620

• Lariat: $65,195

• King Ranch: $73,735

• Platinum: $73,735

• Tremor: $64,150

• Raptor: $78,330

• Raptor R: $110,225

Source: Ford. Prices exclude $1,995 destination charge.

What makes it a Tremor?

I drove a Tremor with the standard 400-horsepower 5.0L V8 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, locking rear differential and low range of gears.

Features on all Tremors include:

• An inch extra ground clearance

• 33-inch all-terrain tires

• Upgraded suspension with off-road springs, front hubs and control arms

• Monotube front shock absorbers, twin-tube rear

• 2.0 kW Pro Power Onboard to power tools, campsites, tailgate parties, etc.

• Trail control with one-pedal drive

• Trail turn assist

• Electronic locking rear differential

• Modular front bumper

• Orange interior and exterior accents

• Running boards

• “Coast to Coast” grille

Tremor prices start at $64,150. My well-quipped truck — it had just about every option except the optional 3.5L twin turbo V6 engine, which churns out 510 pound-feet of torque — stickered at $78,380. All prices exclude destination charges.

Safety and driver assist features

• Adaptive cruise control

• Blind spot and cross traffic alert

• Lane keeping assist

• Automatic emergency braking

• Post-collision braking

• Reverse sensing

• Backup camera

• Pro Trailer Backup  assist

• Pro Trailer Hitch assist

• On-board scales

• Automatic high beams

• Automatic headlights

• Blue Cruise hands-free highway driving

• Keyless entry keypad

Driving impressions

The F-150 Tremor is comfortable, quiet and responsive on-road, its 33-inch all-terrain tires and other off-road gear notwithstanding.

The standard crew cab has plenty of room and storage for five people. The controls are easy to use, with a combination of a 12-inch touch screen and physical buttons and dials.

The real test in my drive came on the mining roads’ ruts and rocks, scaling a steep packed-dirt hill and maneuvering around a couple of tight corners.

The Tremor conquered every challenge, the drivetrain was more than capable of mounting the slope. The electronic trail control modulated power and brakes for a smooth climb and secure descent.

Trail turn assist, a setting that locks the inside rear wheel so the 19-foot long pickup can make it around tight corners, operated flawlessly when I needed to get around a pile of downed wood at the top of a trail.

Why get one?

The 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor combines exceptional off-road capability, good on-road manners and a big, comfortable cab. With its roomy bed for cargo and ability to power multiple electric devices, it should be a welcome addition everywhere from worksites to picnics.

2024 Ford F-150 Tremor at a glance

Full-size 4x4 crew cab pickup

Price as tested: $78,380, excluding $1,995 destination charge

Engine: 35.0L V8

Output: 400 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 410 pound-feet of torque @ 4,250 rpm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 15 mpg city/20 highway/17 combined; regular fuel

Wheelbase: 145.4 inches

Length: 231.7  inches

Width: 79.9 inches, excluding mirrors

Height: 79.3 inches

Approach angle: 27.6 degrees

Departure angle: 24.3 degrees

Ground clearance: 9.4 inches

Curb weight: 5,467-5,666 pounds

Towing capacity: 12,000 pounds

Assembled in Dearborn, Michigan

Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor pickup proves it’s more than a junior Raptor