SCORE Journal

score-journal-FEB-2020

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Rock and Roll Ford’s New 2020 Super Duty Tremor Off-Road By Dan Sanchez Photos Courtesy Ford Motor Company When it comes to a properly outfitted off-road truck, a few decals and high-pressure monotube shocks don’t usually cut it. Over time, truck manufacturers have learned that real off-road enthusiasts demand more performance from a new truck. Ford stepped into the world of SCORE off-road racing when testing its new Bronco at the 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts last November. Although the vehicle had problems and did not officially finish, the effort gave Ford a lot of credibility with off-road fans. Ford engineers are taking a much harder look at what off-road truly means and according to Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager, the company listened to truck owners who demanded more “off-road” from their trucks. Recently, Ford introduced its 2020 model F-250 Tremor, an off-road package that is designed to provide more of everything real enthusiasts want. The Tremor package offers much more than all-terrain tires and a shock upgrade. Ford, took things a few steps further and decided to add more ride height, more power, greater towing and cargo capabilities, and larger twin-tube shocks that will get a nod of approval from SCORE fans. Ford makes the Tremor package available for 4x4 model XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum F-250 and 350 Super Duty trucks that are equipped with either the new 7.3-liter gas (430hp – 475 ft.-lbs.) or 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel engines ( 475 hp – 1,050 ft.-lbs.) The Tremor package includes larger 35-inch diameter Goodyear Wrangler Duratrack tires. Although 35-inch tires are a good start, keep in mind that these are currently the largest diameter tires offered on a heavy-duty pickup. Ford also decided to add two-inches of lift to the front to level out the ride height of the vehicle that also gives the truck a total of 10.8 inches of ground clearance. For those times you need to crawl over rough terrain, the F-250 Super Duty Tremor has greater approach and departure angles of 31.65 degrees and 24.51 degrees respectively. Progressive rate springs and a rear stabilizer bar controls the body movement and keeps passengers comfortable and limits side-to-side head movement in the cab while crawling over terrain. Combined with custom 1.7-inch twin-tube shocks, the Tremor package keeps the F-250 smooth at low speeds and has an internal hydraulic rebound stop to soften hard hits. The design for off-roading didn’t take away from the Super Duty Tremor’s towing and hauling capabilities. The truck with the Tremor package offers a maximum towing of 15,000 lbs. and 21,900 lbs. for gooseneck trailers on diesel equipped trucks. Gas engine trucks have a maximum payload capacity of 4,210 lbs. One of the best features Ford engineers added to the Tremor package is a rear locking differential, along with the company’s shift-on-the-fly electronic shift engagement. The front differential has a Dana limited-slip with additional sensors that sense when a tire loses traction and adds brake input to send power to the wheel with traction. Selectable drive modes can alter the suspension settings under various road conditions, as well as a tow/haul mode, an economy mode, and a new rock-crawl mode which works on the 4x4 Low setting. All Ford Super Duty F-250 and 350 trucks utilize Ford’s TorqShift® 10-speed automatic transmission and have a 53:1 crawl ratio with 7.3L gas engines, and a 44:1 crawl ratio with 6.7l diesel engines. Learning what Ford owners liked from the Ford Raptor and Ranger, the F-250 Super Duty Tremor also utilizes Trail Control™ which operates as a cruise control on low-speed and rugged terrain. The system adjusts throttle and braking, allowing the driver to focus on steering and staying on the trail. Tapping into Ford Performance Parts catalog, a new integrated winch is available as a factory-orderable option or dealer-installed option for the Super Duty Tremor package. The winch is a Warn 12,000 lbs. model that fully integrates into the Super Duty Tremor’s front bumper and includes an abrasion-resistant synthetic cable and wireless remote control. With the addition of the winch, the 2020 Super Duty Tremor competes with the Dodge Power Wagon but offers a refined interior and excellent towing capabilities that can make the Tremor a great chase truck that can handle anything Baja would throw at it. SJ

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