Ford’s largest SUV is being treated to a new off-road option as the Tremor trim makes its way to the 2025 Expedition. Already one of the most compelling options in the full-size segment, the three-row Expedition now makes a bid for adventure-loving families with a fresh trim that includes a full suite of off-road equipment. The Tremor isn’t the first off-road-oriented trim in the Expedition’s 28 years on the market; the model’s most recent off-road offering came in the form of the 2022 Expedition Timberline, which raided the closet of the F-150 Raptor and came away with 33-inch tires, improved ground clearance, steel skid plates, and more.
While the Timberline went a long way toward showcasing the SUV’s off-road ability and aligned with an industry-wide trend that has seen automakers introduce new outfits focused on off-road performance, it wasn’t long for this world. Replacing the Timberline with the new Tremor allows Ford to consolidate its off-road offshoots while leveraging the reputation of the Tremor name, which has proved to be a popular choice since it first hit the F-150 back in 2021. Let’s take a look back at the history of the Tremor name—including a strange diversion into the world of ear-splitting audio systems—and see how the outfit has evolved over the years before diving into some of the most enticing details that’ll have you seeking a new Ford Expedition for sale.
A Timeline of the Tremor Trim
The 2002 Ranger Tremor
While the new Expedition Tremor has the potential to send shockwaves through the off-road market, the adventure-ready trim actually traces its lineage back to an unlikely source. The year is 2002, and the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) craze is in full swing. Blame “The Fast and the Furious” if you must, but JDM-style tuners are all the rage, with drivers going to great lengths to create customized, one-of-a-kind cars with cutting-edge in-vehicle tech. The Tremor package debuted on the Ranger pickup, largely focused on the audio side of the tech spectrum, offering drivers a 510-watt Pioneer sound system, a 10-inch subwoofer, four premium Pioneer speakers, and an entirely new head unit for the stereo system.
The Tremor represented a major upgrade to the Ranger’s standard audio system, and it pumped out so much head-banging power that Ford had to fit it with a beefier alternator. The alluring A/V-oriented package also included a six-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability, which, while quickly outdated, was an impressive setup for the turn of the millennium. In addition to its audio enhancements, the Tremor also set itself apart from the rest of the Ranger pack with three exclusive color options (including Chrome Yellow and Sonic Blue), five-spoke wheels, white instrument gauges, and an eye-catching decal that, along with a heavy dose of bass, announced the Tremor’s arrival on the scene.
The 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor
The Ranger Tremor only lasted until 2005, but the name would reemerge in 2014 when Ford decided to give its flagship pickup a sporty makeover. High-performance street trucks have largely disappeared from today’s market, but in the days before all-out supertrucks like the F-150 Raptor would hit the scene, the F-150 Tremor offered a pretty satisfying simulacrum. Powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, the F-150 Tremor was able to produce up to 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.
Those numbers can’t quite match the F-150’s legendary SVT Lightning and its supercharged version of the 5.4-liter V8, but it would fill an important gap until the SVT Raptor and Raptor would take up the performance crown in the truck’s 12th and 13th generations. In addition to an upgraded engine, sporty interior, six-spoke matte-black 20-inch wheels, and distinctive “hockey stick” side decals, the F-150 Tremor also showed signs of where the brand was headed. The Tremor package was available on both the FX2 and FX4 trims, which saw the full-size truck graced with a locking rear differential and some vital off-road hardware.
The 2020 Ford F-250 and F-350 Tremor
Ford’s Super Duty pickups in the F-250 and F-350 have long placed a premium on power and towing performance, but the introduction of the Tremor package in 2020 proved that these pickups were no one-trick ponies. Available on the F-250 and F-350’s XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, the Tremor package could be paired with either the standard V8 (if you can call a 430-hp 7.3-liter engine “standard”) or a 6.7-liter diesel V8 that boasted over 1,000 lb-ft of torque.
The F-250 Tremor was quickly shortlisted as a Pickup Truck of the Year contender by MotorTrend, and it’s easy to see why. The truck has all the heavy-duty equipment needed to excel in tough off-road scenarios, from its limited-slip front differential and upgraded axle vent tubes to its upsized front springs, rear spring block, improved sway bar, Raptor-style running boards, and Tremor-exclusive shocks. Throw in a set of 24-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires and there’s no arguing with the Ford F-250 and F-350 Tremor from a performance perspective.
The 2021 Ranger Tremor
The Tremor would triumphantly return to the Ranger in 2021, but it ditched the 510-watt Pioneer sound system and 10-inch subwoofer in favor of some robust off-road components that were more in line with Ford’s current off-road focus. The new-and-improved Ranger Tremor earned points for its versatility, offering reliable on-road performance, cargo, and towing capabilities while still packing all the equipment it needed for a weekend full of off-the-grid fun.
Ford gave the revived Ranger Tremor an overhauled suspension featuring off-road-tuned FOX 2.0 monotube dampers and rear piggyback reservoirs, 32-inch Continental General Grabber all-terrain tires, new wheel lips, rear recovery hooks, and exclusive seats with Miko suede inserts and black interior accents. The Ranger Tremor was all about utility, with six auxiliary switches that could be used to power winches, air compressors, lights, or whatever other tools you might need when the going gets tough.
The 2021 Ford F-150 Tremor
It was only a matter of time until the Tremor made its way back into the F-150 lineup. While the original 2014 version was limited to an optional equipment package, the debut of the 14th-generation F-150 in 2021 saw the Tremor graduate to a full-fledged trim. The F-150 Tremor can’t compete with the out-and-out supertruck that is the F-150 Raptor in terms of true off-road performance, but it offers an economical middle-ground for those who are wary of the Raptor’s potential six-figure price tag.
Retailing for just over $50,000, the 2021 F-150 Tremor was essentially a more practical, affordable alternative to the Raptor, though the two models share quite a few similarities. Ford gave the Tremor a set of skid plates, running boards, and wheels that wouldn’t look out of place on the Raptor, as well as a few components lifted directly from the range-topping trim. The F-150 Tremor shares the Raptor’s fender vents, floor mats, and, most important, its brawny transfer case and front Torsen limited-slip differential.
This truck rides on 33-inch General Grabber tires and has retuned springs, spindles, and upper control arms, a dual exhaust, front and rear tow hooks, and a full bevy of advanced off-road tech ranging from Trail Control and Trail Turn Assist to Rock Crawl Mode and Hill Descent Control. The Tremor’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 might not be able to keep pace with the Raptor’s twin-turbo variant, but the gulf in power is surprisingly narrow, with the Tremor only outpacing the Raptor by 50 hp.
The 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor
That brings us to the latest Tremor—and the first SUV to sport the name—in the 2025 Expedition. The fifth generation has plenty of surprises in store, including a fresh grille, headlights and taillights, and a new tailgate design, but the debut Tremor trim grabs all the attention this time around. It all starts under the hood, where the SUV’s standard 400-hp twin-turbocharged V6 is replaced by a high-output version that manages to squeeze an extra 40 hp out of the same engine.
The upgraded engine is exclusive to the Tremor and Platinum trim levels and arrives standard with four-wheel drive, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Expedition’s off-road potential. Ford hasn’t cut any corners in adapting the Tremor to the full-size SUV, providing the Expedition with everything from 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires and off-road auxiliary lighting to a fully armored underbody with a front bash plate inspired by the F-150 Raptor and skid plates protecting the fuel tank, front axle, and transfer case.
Any off-road driver worth their mud-splattered fenders knows how important a good suspension can be when it comes to achieving success on the road less traveled. Ford certainly hasn’t treated the Tremor’s suspension as an afterthought, loading the SUV with a retuned setup—a notable lift that, at 10.6 inches, gives the Expedition the best ground clearance in its class. The Tremor checks every box on the list of off-road essentials, offering an electronically locking rear differential and all the hardcore off-road software Ford can muster. Rock Crawl mode allows the SUV to carefully pick its way through steep, slippery surfaces while Trail Turn Assist automatically locks the Expedition’s rear inside tire for top-tier maneuverability when navigating through tight stretches of trail.
The Expedition Tremor also looks every bit the off-roader, with Ford pilfering the Raptor’s parts bin to source a set of running boards and liberally applying Tremor Orange accents to the tow hooks, wheels, fog lights, and badging. All 2025 Expedition trims feature a fresh grille, but the Tremor’s comes with a set of trail-ready LED lights recessed into the front fascia. The fifth-generation Expedition’s new two-piece tailgate also ups the SUV’s utility as an off-roader, allowing drivers to use the fold-down hatch as an impromptu picnic table, workbench, or a convenient place to clean out your catch of the day.
Ford Brings Off-Road Swagger to the Full-Size Segment
The new Tremor trim is sure to up the Expedition’s appeal for those seeking a family-friendly daily driver that can double as a weekend adventure rig, but reducing the SUV’s appeal to a single trim is doing the full-size model a disservice. The 2025 Expedition is easily the most tech-forward version to date, with a dual-level dashboard display that includes both 24.0-inch and 13.2-inch screens. The SUV’s infotainment system is powered by the Ford Digital Experience software, which leverages some clever Google goodies along with wireless connectivity options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to turn the Expedition into an entertainment center on wheels.
With three rows of seating totaling 172 cu.ft. of passenger room, a spacious trunk, Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving tech, and a new Flex Powered Console that can be adjusted by eight inches to allow backseat passengers better access to the HVAC controls and charging ports, the Expedition makes a strong case as a go-to choice in the family-oriented SUV market. Add in the Tremor’s sporty appeal, and it’s hard to make a case against swinging by your local Ford dealer for a quick test drive.
