2021 Ford F-150 Tremor: Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year Contender

ford f-150 Full Overview

If you have been paying attention to the state of the pickup industry for any amount of time you will have noticed that off-road packages have become increasingly popular. These are not just the typical shocks, stickers, and skidplate packages either. Manufacturers have begun introducing trucks with more complete off-road hardware packages and customers have responded quite favorably. Ford has jumped on this trend with both feet with its new Tremor package, which first debuted on Super Duty, followed by Ranger, and now by F-150.

The Ford F-150 Tremor splits the difference almost perfectly between a standard Lariat FX4 and a Raptor. The truck comes fitted with a small suspension lift, 33-inch General Grabber tires, monotube dampers, a locking rear differential, optional Torsen front limited-slip differential, Ford’s fancy Torque-On-Demand transfer case, a host of skid plates, and much more. Best of all, the Tremor can still tow nearly 11,000 pounds and haul more than 1,800 pounds.

The Ford F-150 Tremor sounds amazing on paper, but does it have the right combination to win the title of Pickup Truck of the Year? Keep reading to find out!

Ford F-150 Tremor RTI Ramp and Track Data

Ford has what is likely the deepest collection of engine offerings available today for its F-150 line of half-ton pickups, with a total of seven different mills to choose from. However, not every model can get every engine, and for better or worse the F-150 Tremor comes fitted with only the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. We say that not because the EcoBoost is a bad engine, as this potent twin-turbocharged V-6 pumps out 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Rather, we know Tremor buyers would also appreciate both the traditional 5.0-liter V-8 or the economical (and more powerful) 3.5-liter PowerBoost hybrid as options as well.

At the track the Ford F-150 Tremor laid down some pretty serious figures. Weighing just a tick more than 5,000 pounds and sporting 3.71:1 axle gears, the Tremor ran from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.69 seconds. Although this was about a half-second slower than the F-150 Raptor, the Tremor’s time was nearly a full second quicker than the Tundra TRD Pro. Extending things out to 1,320 feet, the Tremor ran through the quarter-mile in 15.28 seconds breaking the beams at 91.8 mph, again besting the far more powerful Tundra. Full effort on the binders brought the Tremor from 60 mph to a stop in 140.26 feet, which was third best in our test group.

Moving on to the RTI ramp the F-150 Tremor performed admirably for a truck of its size, scoring a 557.43. Yes, the F-150 Raptor’s score was much higher, however it also utilizes a newer five-link rear suspension design. More impressive is the fact that the excellent Toyota Tacoma only bested the Tremor by one point.

Ford F-150 Tremor Interior and Exterior

Knowing that customers might have different desires for interior trims and technology packages, Ford offers the Tremor in three different configurations: Standard, Mid, and High. Our test vehicle was a fully-outfitted Tremor High, which means that it came to us with Ford’s 12-inch infotainment screen, digital dashboard, unique leather-trimmed seats, LED projector headlamps, a 360-degree camera suite, and much more. Our judges spent the long week raving about the Tremor’s interior. The team loved the massive screens and appreciated Ford’s new Sync 4 system. Our judges also raved about the impressive 18-speaker B&O Unleashed audio system. Gaining high marks as well were the truck’s leather-trimmed seats, wide door openings allowing for easy entry and exit, and enormous amount of legroom for all passengers.

The truck’s exterior styling won many fans as well. Our judges loved the Tremor’s rugged off-road looks, which come without all of the “desert racer” vibes of the F-150 Raptor or Tundra TRD Pro. The truck’s gold accents, including tow hooks, were well-received, as red has become thoroughly played out. Speaking of recovery points, the Tremor comes generously-equipped with Raptor-style recovery hooks in the front and rear bumpers, along with a two-inch hitch receiver. Everyone really enjoyed the truck’s clean lines and simplicity. The adaptation of Raptor’s robust front skid plate is a nice touch, however several judges noted that the bumper could have had a touch more clearance or the front could have benefited from a bit more lift. The truck’s wheel and tire package was well received, with everyone agreeing that the 33-inch General Grabber ATX all-terrain tires were a great fit for Tremor. There was, however, a small subset of judges who noted that they would love to see 35-inch tires as an option for Tremor—because why not?

Ford F-150 Tremor on the Highway

As far as off-road trucks on the highway go, the F-150 Tremor may just beat them all. At its core the truck is a basic F-150 pickup, which is a fabulous highway machine to begin with. The EcoBoost V-6 proved to be a crowd favorite, with some even stating that it felt quicker than the more powerful High-Output EcoBoost of the Raptor (bonus points for requiring just regular unleaded fuel). And of course the transmission scored highly as well for providing the quick and smooth shifting that we’ve become accustomed to. The truck’s suspension was quite smooth on the broken asphalt streets near our headquarters in Los Angeles, and soaked up the concrete highway undulations just as well. In this regard we found the truck’s monotube shocks to be fairly well-tuned. Our judges also noted that the Tremor felt very maneuverable for a full-size truck, and gave it high marks for its handling abilities too. The truck’s cabin was ultra-quiet and the seats were beyond comfortable, even for the taller members of our judging staff. When it came time to head out on longer highway slogs those who drew the Tremor were certainly the luckiest of the bunch. When it came to highway road manners it proved difficult to drag anything negative out of our judges, which is why the Tremor scored highest in this category when numbers were put to paper.

When the Pavement Ends

Though the F-150 Tremor appears mild-mannered on the highway, it’s an absolute animal in the dirt. Our tester came fitted with all of the bells and whistles (excluding any actual bells or whistles) including the optional front Torsen limited-slip differential, Trail Turn Assist, Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, off-road drive modes, and a bank of six Upfitter switches. The truck also has unique upper control arms, knuckles, monotube shocks in the front, twin-tube shocks in the back, Raptor skid plates, and aluminum side steps/roost guard. It doesn’t stop there either—the Tremor is fitted with the same Torque-On-Demand transfer case as Raptor along with meaty 33-inch General Grabber ATX all-terrain tires. So, to say that the F-150 Tremor is more than just a sticker package would be the understatement of the century.

Hitting the trail, our judges were both surprised and impressed with the Tremor’s performance in nearly every discipline. Specifically, the truck really impressed when it came to navigating rough and rocky mountain trails. Performance on the steep and rutted hill-climbs also impressed as the truck easily clawed its way up the obstacles, never hurting for traction. Desert washes, whoops, and graded roads were handled well by the Tremor, however it was these trail types that drew the truck’s only criticism; specifically, our judges noted that the ride could be a bit rough and the suspension not as compliant as some thought it should be. This likely comes from the fact that the F-150 Tremor doesn’t utilize the same Fox-brand dampers as the Ranger and F-150 Raptor. For the amount of performance hardware the F-150 Tremor comes fitted with, it’s fair to say that the truck could use a better set of dampers. Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass units similar to the Tundra TRD Pro shocks would make a world of difference.

Our judges also had plenty of opportunities to experiment with the Tremor’s various electronic driving aids. While our team is generally pretty old-school in thinking, we found the tech impressive nonetheless. Trail Control is fairly straightforward and was easy for everyone to use and understand. The Trail 1-Pedal Drive feature took a lot more getting used to and divided the judges most. Really the most fascinating to everyone was the inclusion of Trail Turn Assist on the big Ford. By using the rear brakes to hold the inner tire when the steering wheel is turned to full lock, the truck is able to pivot on that tire. This feature is fun to watch work on a Bronco, but it’s downright impressive on the Tremor. It didn’t surprise anyone that the F-150 Tremor racked up the second-highest score in the off-road category, falling behind only the Raptor.

Bottom Line

By this point you must be wondering why the F-150 Tremor does not take home the hardware. The answer is as simple as one word: Raptor. In any other year the F-150 Tremor would have been unstoppable. The truck is comfortable, it’s powerful, and it’s packed with all the latest technology. Oh, and it comes fitted with a full wish list of off-road hardware that is sure to make any backcountry explorer giddy with excitement. Tremor also doesn’t give up much when it comes to towing and hauling capability. Unfortunately, Tremor’s all-new big brother came to the party as well, stealing away not only the Tremor’s thunder, but also the trophy, if just barely.

Looks good! More details?

What’s Hot

Powerful EcoBoost V-6 engine, monotube dampers, classy off-road styling.

What’s Not

Tires appear undersized, extensive technology suite can be overwhelming, polarizing views on the Raptor-style side steps.

Logbook Quotes

“This truck was a big surprise when it came to wheeling in the rocks!”
“The Tremor feels like a civilized Raptor, and for quite a bit less money too. “
“Wow, this interior is so quiet and comfortable. “
“Please put some real shocks on this truck, it would be unstoppable with a better set of dampers. “
“There’s tons of power under my right foot, but I still think I’d prefer to have the 5.0-liter V-8. “
“Thank you Ford for using yellow and gold accents, I was getting really tired of red on everything with an off-road package. “