Lucas Bell 
The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor is the latest extension of the brand’s ever-expanding off-road performance lineup. Slated to be the most capable midsize truck that Ford has ever created, the package’s $4,290 price tag promises to be rather affordable as well. That said, Ford Performance already has an extensive catalogue for the Ranger, which some buyers have suggested has more affordable offerings. MC&T sat down with Ford’s Ranger Marketing Manager Chad Callander to discuss how the Tremor separates itself from the existing content customers can piece together via the Ford Performance catalogue.
In June 2020, Ford announced three different Ford Performance packages for the Ranger.
The new accessory packages come by way of Ford Performance, and aim to enhance the off-road capability and appearance of Ford’s mid-size pickup. For $2,495 before installation, buyers can spec the Level 1 package which includes: an off-road leveling kit, Fox 2.0 Performance Series shocks tuned by Ford Performance, unique 17-inch Dyno Gray wheels, as well as a Ford Performance bedside graphic and windshield banner. The Level 2 package for the Ford Ranger will include all of the content from Level 1, but will also add quite a bit more performance hardware, including a performance calibration that boosts the engine up tp 315 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. The tires are also switched out for a set of BFGoodrich KO2 tires measuring 265/70R17, while a Rigid off-road fog light kit, blue tow hooks, and a Ford Performance stainless steel license plate frame round things out. MSRP before installation for the level two package is $4,495 – a few hundred dollars more than the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor.
The Ford Performance Level 3 package for the Ranger takes all of the Level 1 and 2 content, and then adds a Rigid 40-inch LED light bar kit, red tow hooks, a Ford Performance by ARB front bumper ready for a winch, the Ford Performance chase rack, and a sports exhaust system for the 2.3L motor. All of these accessories combined will run you $8,995 before installation, more than double that of the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor package. And this content, such as the light bar kit, can also be added to any Ranger Tremor.
The previously mentioned Ford Performance chip tune for the 2.3L EcoBoost engine is available for all Ranger trucks, which is 50-state legal. For $825, customers can add 45 hp and 60 lb-ft of torque for a total of 320 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. That’s sure to make a couple of Colorado ZR2 and Tacoma TRD owners a tad jealous.
Callander has been working on the Ranger Tremor project for close to two years, remarking to us that the off-road midsizer has been in the pipeline for some time now. The package includes an upgraded suspension, chassis tuning, and a swath of visual tweaks among other performance oriented upgrades.
“The Tremor is a holistic package that’s heavily engineered by our team to tweak the most efficiencies out of the suspension system… the meat and potatoes is the suspension,” said Callander. “You get Fox monotube dampers, and the rears have fluid reservoirs… The Ford Performance Packages also include these dampers and reservoirs, but it doesn’t include the whole suite of performance tuning that we put into this vehicle.”
That factory tuning is something that Callander is adamant will help to define the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor as a more complete offering than the accessory packages available from Ford Performance right now. When asked what adjustments were specifically made for the Tremor-exclusive tune, Callander had the following details to share:
“The springs have been adjusted, the height of the vehicle is up 8/10 of a inch, and the jounce travel has increased,” said Callander. “20 mm in the front, and about 30 mm in the back. That allows for additional room in allowing for larger bangs on the ride. It’s pretty significant on this package.”
The truck also sits an inch wider from the Ranger FX4. The Tremor improves standard approach, breakover and departure angles. The package features a 30.9-degree approach angle, up 2.2 degrees from the base SuperCrew 4×4, a 25.5-degree departure angle, which is up 0.1 degrees and a 24.2-degree breakover angle, up 2.7 degrees. It also has a suspension travel a full 6.5 inches in the front and 8.1 inches more than the base Ranger XL. There’s also a different tire on this new package. The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor has a General Grabber ATX, versus a BFG KO2 on the Ford Performance Packs. The interior is also touched up with aux switches, suede inserts and black accents.
That said, these off-road minded tweaks haven’t upset the Ranger’s everyday usability. Ford placed a lot of emphasis on maintaining the figures that Ranger buyers are always going to care about whether their truck is for the trails or not: maximum payload and towing capacity.
“It’s a truck first and foremost… it still has 1,430 lbs of payload and 7,500 lbs towing,” said Callander.
While some buyers will likely still maintain that they can make themselves a Tremor for less money than Ford is asking, we aren’t so sure that is the case.
“It’s a more comprehensive package (than the Ford Performance Packages)… it will be more capable than the Ford Performance Packages,” said Callander. “And it retains its on-road characteristics as well.”
