Is the Ford Ranger Tremor Package Worth It?
Available for $4,290, the Ford Ranger Tremor package adds a host of off-road tuned features—but is it actually worth the cost?
Written by Andrew Biro
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Ford Ranger Tremor package adds a host of aesthetic and mechanical upgrades—such as an off-road-tuned suspension, Terrain Management System™, skid plates, etc.—that make the Ranger better equipped to handle off-road conditions. It can be purchased for an additional $4,290.
While it may not be Ford’s most popular pickup truck, the Ford Ranger is quite capable of handling both pavement and dirt roads alike, even without a package upgrade. If you’re serious about off-roading, however, the Tremor package is certainly a worthwhile addition.
That said, the Tremor package isn’t the only off-road package available for the Ranger—there’s also the FX4 Off-Road package, which is much cheaper and includes many of the same mechanical upgrades. This then begs the question: is the Ford Ranger Tremor package actually worth buying? Let’s find out.
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What is the Ford Ranger Tremor package?
Available on two trims—the 4WD SuperCrew 5’ Box XLT and 4WD SuperCrew 5’ Box Lariat—the 2023 Ford Ranger Tremor package is an optional package that allows the Ranger to better handle off-road terrain and conditions (without sacrificing style in the process).
What’s included
Unlike some optional packages, the Tremor package is chock-full of additional upgrades, most of which can be categorized as either mechanical or aesthetic improvements. For a complete list, check the table below:
Contents of the 2023 Ford Ranger Tremor Package |
|---|
Mechanical |
Aesthetic |
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Depending on whether you purchase the XLT or Lariat trim, the Tremor package also adds:
- XLT: Vinyl bucket front-seats w/ Miko suede inserts; 8-way manual adjustable driver’s seat; 6-way manual adjustable passenger seat; manual reclining seats
- Lariat: Leather-trimmed bucket front-seats w/ Miko suede inserts; 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat; 6-way power adjustable passenger seat; heated front seats; manual reclining driver and passenger seats
What it does
As you can probably guess, the Ford Ranger Tremor package’s main goal is to improve the truck’s off-road capabilities—but what does that actually mean? How do these add-ons actually accomplish that? Let’s take a look, starting with the addition of the Terrain Management System™ and Trail Control™.
Ford’s Terrain Management System™ improves off-road navigation by providing a host of fine-tuned, selectable driving modes for different terrains (e.g. sand, rock, and snow). On the flip side, Trail Control™ is a cruise-control system designed for off-road use and allows the driver to focus on steering while it handles braking and acceleration.
Of course, without a suspension upgrade, the two aforementioned systems are practically useless. That’s why the Tremor package includes a modified heavy suspension with higher ground clearance and high-tech FOX shock absorbers, both of which allow the Ranger to traverse rough, uneven terrain with ease.
If your truck gets stuck somewhere, the Tremor package’s addition of an electronic-locking rear differential will come in handy, as it allows both rear wheels to turn at the same speed, giving you more traction in the mud, sand, or slush.
Finally, parts like skid plates and bash plates help protect the Ranger’s vulnerable underbody components—such as the engine, fuel tank, and transfer case—from damage when traversing rough or uneven terrain.
MORE: How to build a custom Ford Ranger
How much is the Ford Ranger Tremor package?
By itself, the 2023 Ford Ranger Tremor package costs approximately $4,290—and as previously mentioned, it’s only available on the XLT and Lariat AWD SuperCrew 5’ Box configurations. There are, however, a few other models—namely the Ford F-150 and Ford SuperDuty—that also support the Tremor off-road package.
2023 Ford Ranger trim pricing
To put things into perspective, here are the starting prices for the 2023 Ford Ranger XLT and Lariat—or at least, those configurations that are compatible with the Tremor package.
Trim | Starting Price | w/ Tremor Package |
|---|---|---|
XLT 4WD SuperCrew 5’ Box | $36,905 | $41,195 |
Lariat 4WD SuperCrew 5’ Box | $40,945 | $45,235 |
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Is the Tremor package worth it?
As you can see, the Tremor package isn’t the cheapest of upgrades—and you may be wondering whether the features it includes actually justify shelling out an additional $4,290, or if it simply isn’t worth it.
Ultimately, we can’t answer that question for you, but we can provide insight into one of Ford’s other off-road packages as well as an alternative to the Ford Ranger altogether.
Tremor package vs. FX4 Off-Road package
As the only other off-road package available for the Ford Ranger, the FX4 Off-Road package is a toned-down version of the Tremor package—it doesn’t offer as many aesthetic improvements but retains many of the same mechanical upgrades. Ford’s FX4 Off-Road package includes the following:
- Off-road tuned suspension
- Terrain Management System™
- Trail Control™
- Electronic-locking rear differential
- Exposed front tow hooks
- Exposed steel bash plate
- Skid plates
- Off-road screen in instrument cluster
As you can see, the contents of the FX4 Off-Road package are nearly identical to the Tremor package’s mechanical upgrades—the FX4 Off-Road package, however, only costs $1,259.
2023 Ford Ranger w/ Tremor package vs. 2023 Ford F-150 TREMOR™
While it may seem extreme to suggest an entirely different model, the 2023 Ford F150 TREMOR™ is quite literally built for off-roading and excels where the Ford Ranger somewhat drops the ball—the powertrain.
One of the most common complaints with the Ford Ranger is that the 2.3L EcoBoost engine doesn’t deliver the necessary power for hardcore off-roading—and adding the Tremor package doesn’t change that. The Ford F-150 TREMOR™, however, is equipped with an extremely powerful 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine and generates enough power and torque to handle virtually any terrain you throw at it.
When combined with the model’s factory-standard 33” all-terrain tires, off-road-tuned front and rear shocks, electronic-locking rear differential, skid plates, and terrain-specific driving modes, the Ford F-150 TREMOR™ provides everything you need and more for serious off-roading.
Of course, the Ford F-150 TREMOR™ is also significantly more expensive than the Ford Ranger w/ Tremor package and starts at $60,970.
The bottom line
If you’re looking for a truck that is extremely off-road capable while also remaining stylish and comfortable, the Ford Ranger Tremor package is a worthwhile addition—but if you’re on a budget and don’t fancy the aesthetic upgrades, you’ll likely find the FX4 Off-Road package more suitable to your tastes.
In the event that the Ford Ranger simply doesn’t deliver the power you need and you have a larger budget, you might consider purchasing the off-road-ready Ford F-150 TREMOR™ instead.
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