We’re currently spending some seat time with the 2020 Ford F-250 Tremor, the first-ever off-road-dedicated package for the Ford Super Duty lineup.
The Tremor package is a substantial upgrade that adds a slew of visual and performance enhancing modifications to the 2020 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks, giving the big Ford truck a rival against the likes of the Ram Power Wagon and GMC Sierra HD AT4.
The 2020 Ford Super Duty offers three engine choices, and two of them are available in conjunction with the Tremor: either the 6.7L Power Stroke Scorpion diesel engine rated at 475 horsepower and a staggering 1,050 pound feet of torque, or the all-new Ford 7.3L Godzilla engine rated at 430 horsepower and 475 pound feet of torque. Both motors are mated to the Ford 10-speed automatic transmission that sends power to either the rear or all four wheels. While the maximum gooseneck towing rating for the dual rear wheel F-350 is a class-leading 37,000 pounds, max trailering for the F-250 Tremor is 24,200 pounds.
Furthermore, the $3,975 Tremor package is available on any Super Duty trim level except for the base XL, and only on the Crew Cab, 6-3/4′ box and single rear wheel configuration.
Our test unit is the range-topping Platinum trim and is powered by the diesel engine. It’s painted in the Blue Jeans exterior color which provides a nice contrast with the Tremor-specific, black 18-inch wheels. Other Tremor package features include:
- Aggressive 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac maximum-traction tires, the largest diameter tires available on a heavy-duty pickup
- Unique 18-inch matte-black wheels
- A 2-inch front-end lift with a shorter air dam and a rear-end lift of “around 2 inches”
- Progressive-rate springs to balance heavy-duty towing performance needs and to control body motion on rutted, rock-strewn trails
- Specially-tuned rear stabilizer bar for a lower spring rate, enabling less passenger head toss over obstacles during severe suspension articulation
- Custom 1.7-inch piston twin-tube dampers to control body motion
- Locking rear differential with electronic shift-on-the-fly engagement
- New Dana limited-slip front differential; in certain models, the front axle can sense when a tire has lost traction and uses the brakes to send power to the wheel with traction
- Deployable off-road running boards that tuck up next to the body
- Extended-axle vent tubes
- Rugged skid plates, the same as fitted to FX4 models
As you can see, it’s a fairly complete package that make the 2020 Ford Super Duty look meaner than all of its other variations, while transforming the behemoth into a true mud-running machine.
We will have the 2020 Ford F-250 Tremor for a week, which will allow us to put it through the paces and determine just how it performs in the real world, including taking it to an offroad trail to sample its adventure-seeking abilities. We’ll also drive it around town and on the highway to evaluate just how fuel-efficient its turbodiesel V8 actually is.
If you’d like to know more about this vehicle beyond the spec sheet, ask your questions in the comments section below, and we’ll reply in a timely manner as part of the Ford Authority interactive review.
Ready… set… go!
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Comments
Id like to know how you felt the transmission performed under stress. I know a week isnt long enough to expose most of the potential issues, but its long enough to go 40+mph over potholed gravel roads towing a boat, getting in and out of ruts on narrow steep gas line roads, crossing high creeks (3-5′ deep), and towing loads up highway hills.
Where will you be testing this truck at? (general region is okay).
We’ve so far driven the truck on and off the road but we didn’t get a chance to tow anything with it yet. So far, we’re impressed by how smooth and seamless it feels as it shuffles through the gears.
During the truck’s product launch earlier this year, we had a chance to take part in some heavy towing, and once again, the box proved to be fantastic under load. It doesn’t hunt gears like it does in other Ford applications, which presumably has to do with revised software programming.
1: How is the ingress/egress with the lift and the low profile nerf bars? ie would the wife complain heavily about getting in and out?
2: Any insight as to whether the availability of the package will be expanded in the future? Like say for an extended cab/8 ft bed?
You do need to climb as the truck is high this way, but it’s not too hard. My girlfriend had no issue getting into the truck and she’s not that tall.
As for expanding the package, nothing has been said so far by Ford. It’s still too new to tell.
It would be fantastic if they have this package with an 8 foot bed for those of us who work out in the field, off-road and in the mountains…
How is the tire noise from the large knobby tires? Does the road noise get tiresome after a while or is it not a problem?
not really a tremor 250 specific question there. Of course, maybe the interior does have better sound insulation. Knobby tires, no matter the vehicle, sound like an angry bee hive going down the highway. Its loud as hell in my 4runner, no matter if the windows are open or shut. If it bothers you, you can always mask it with the sound of the radio or when the tires wear out you can buy more economical and quieter street tires.
GaryB – it is most definitely a Tremor-specific question as I am specifically wondering about the tires included with the Tremor package AND how they sound specifically on this vehicle.
Knobby tires might sound the same on all vehicles from the outside, but what vehicle occupants hear inside will definitely vary based on a multitude of factors like insulation. Another major factor is the management of the air going over the tires and turbulence created in the wheel well area. The tires might all be created the same but the vehicles that wear them are not.
It’s not that loud from the inside, but the truck does ride rough on the road.
It’s not. Ford didn’t make special OEM tires for the truck. They slapped on some wranglers. And you are welcome to swap them out on day one with literally any other type of similarly sized tire you wish. The truck (should) last longer than a set of tires. So unless you buy brand new stock vehicles every time the tires wear down, the sound and feel of the tires doesn’t really have anything to do with the tremor version of the f250. It’ll sound and feel the same as putting those same tires on a normal 250. And it’ll be cheaper than upgrading to the tremor package to do so
I’d like to know about the ride quality. Soft? Harsh? In-between?
It’s kind of harsh due to the off-road tires and lifted suspension.
Why no two door, long box XL Tremor for people who actually NEED an off road work truck?
Perhaps because the Tremor is still in a niche segment and Ford wanted to play it safe for now?
Have you experienced any wandering? I test drove a Lariat Tremor w the 7.3 and it would not track straight down the road. I’m wondering if this is a solid axle thing, if it’s specific to the Tremor suspension, or if it might just be that particular truck I drove.
Yes, lots of wandering! That has to do with the tires, suspension, but also the Super Duty’s ageing architecture, which will be vastly improved for the next generation.
I am considering buying an F 250 or 350 Series truck to use when pulling a large 5th wheel camper. My questions/concerns are which truck is best suited for this job, and should the Tremor be included in this debate?
The Tremor has the highest towing rating in its class at 24,000 pounds with the Power Stroke engine. However, towing isn’t its specialty. You’d get more capability from a dual-wheel, rear-wheel-drive setup.
Piggy backing off Stephen’s question. Would a 5th wheel have issue clearing the bed rails/tailgate with the rear lift? Or would an fx4 work better?
I have a 2020 F250 SuperCab FX4 with the 7.3 Godzilla – traded a 2019 F150 with the 2.7EB – OK, I get it … huge difference all the way around … but I needed the payload. The Godzilla is a beast, I really enjoy the torque and “60’s-70’s” V8 sound. What this truck needs is an emblem bragging about the 7.3 Godzilla! I looked around and all of the Godzilla stickers are either really goofy or plan old “what the heck is that” … so I challenge anyone who is art minded to come up with a 2″ X 4″ Godzilla emblem/sticker so we can show-off this great motor.
Can the Tremor package run an 8′ bed in a F250 Super Duty Platinum Crew Cab package with the turbo diesel V8 and 10 speed package?
If so, how would it stack up against my mate’s similarly equipped 4×4 with 35’s?
When will the twin turbo 7.3 be available for the Tremor