Review 2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor Fits Smarter, Bigger Shoes

The 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty aims to remain the king of doing it all.

The entire 2023 Super Duty lineup has undergone heavy updates right down to its frame, but enthusiasts looking to work and play should be in good spirits.The Tremor off-road version has new technology incorporated from the Raptors, more towing and hauling capacity, better ride, and even modifications to make it easier to fit 37-inch tires have upgraded its game.

Ford invited Motor Authority to its test site in Bruce Township, Michigan, to drive through the woods, climb boulder-covered hills, and do donuts on a sandy beach to see what the updated, off-road-oriented Super Duty can do. Spoiler alert: Super Duty can still do it

The Super Duty Tremor crew cab's 6-foot-8 box is 21 feet long. This is huge, but for 2023, the surround view camera system on this large fighter went from four camera angles to seven. This allows the driver to connect all the cameras together to get a 360-degree view of what is around the truck or look down the side of the truck on the trail.

2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor

The Super Duty team also copied the Raptor team's software homework. Tread-like indicators show the intended path on the screen when the forward-facing camera angle is enabled in off-road mode. This feature was taken directly from Raptor's Baja mode, and in the huge Super Duty, it ensures that the tires are square to the desired line, eliminating the feeling that you are driving (partially) blind and missing what is right in front of your truck.

Super Duty Tremors also gained Trail Turn Assist in 2023. Originally developed for the Bronco and ported to the F-150 Tremor and F-150 Raptor, Trail Turn Assist drags the inside rear wheel for sharp off-road turns. In the case of the giant Super Duty, it could shorten the turning radius by up to 40%, allowing for delightfully tight circles around posts in the sand. However, this feature could tear up the ground and create a pile of dirt in front of the inside rear wheel. The truck eventually rolled over the pile of dirt, which is also to be expected when running off the road.

2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor

Ford's Rock Crawl, Tow/Haul, Normal, Eco, and Slippery Drive modes are joined this year by an Off-Road mode. These drive modes remain one of the automaker's aces, as they help the truck better adjust to the terrain than competitors with fewer or no drive modes.

Off-road mode does not automatically disable automatic emergency braking. I forgot to go into the truck's menu system and turn off AEB before going off-road, and when the front parking sensors turned off due to tall grass, the truck slammed on the brakes and flashed a bunch of warning lights in an attempt to protect me from imminent death. It's a pain to have to remember to go into the menu system and turn AEB off and back on when I get back on the road after an off-road trip.

2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor

David Demis, Vehicle Integration Supervisor for the Super Duty lineup, told me that a number of owners have replaced the Tremor's 35-inch Duratrac tires with 37-inch tires. The 37-inch rubbed on the front control arms, forcing the owners to get creative to get the truck running right.

The 2023 Super Duty lineup, including the Tremor, had its suspension tuned to improve ride quality. As a result, the heavy-duty trucks are not as bumpy when unloaded or on potholed roads. The Tremor's ride is especially comfortable, and the high sidewalls of the thick-walled all-terrain tires absorb more shock. Part of the suspension includes a new design of front control arms, which no longer rub on the 37-inch tires. However, Ford still does not offer 37-inch. It is up to buyers who want bigger shoes to fill.

2023 Ford Super Duty F-250 Tremor

The Super Duty Tremor is powered by a 7.3-liter V-8 engine with 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. The 10 lb-ft increase in torque is thanks to a new, smaller water pump and improved bearings and pistons for greater durability. A 6.7-liter turbo diesel V-8 engine with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque remains an option, priced at $9,995, $800 less than before. ft. will be added, but it will add $12,495 to the Tremor's bill.

With the proper settings in the Super Duty configurator, the Tremor's towing capacity will be 18,200 pounds with a conventional hitch and 23,000 pounds with a gooseneck trailer, for a payload of 4,384 pounds. That's an increase of 3,200 pounds, 1,110 pounds, and 174 pounds, respectively; the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 can tow 18,500 pounds with a hitch, but its payload is capped at 3,397 pounds, and it can only tow 18,100 pounds with a gooseneck trailer. The 2023 Ram Level HD trails them both with a conventional hitch tow rating of 16,870 pounds and payload capacity of 3,140 pounds.

The 2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor

Tremor is an off-road package that bundles off-road hardware and software, making the Tremor more capable when the road is done. Like other Super Duty variants, it will receive a notable update in 2023.

Ford has tweaked the Super Duty's exterior design. The horizontal grille is now designed to emphasize the width of the truck, blending into and wrapping around the C-clamp headlights. Steps were incorporated into the bedside and rear bumper for easier access to the cargo bed.

2023 Ford Super Duty

Inside, while still not quite up to the Ram, materials were upgraded and an 8.0-inch touchscreen replaced the truck's previous 4.2-inch screen as standard equipment; XLT models received a 12.0-inch touchscreen and a 12.0-inch digital meter cluster, which is directly derived from the F-150, and is standard on the Lariat and above.

2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor

The 2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor is priced at $60,780, and the price goes up (rather quickly) as you check the options box The Tremor package is option for $4,375, which is well worth it. The base Ram 2500 level is priced at $71,420, and Chevrolet has yet to reveal pricing for the Silverado HD ZR2.

The Tremor package can still be optioned on the Super Duty XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims; Lariat includes LED headlights, power sliding rear windows, dual-zone automatic climate control and other upgrades that seem to hit the sweet spot for those considering this truck for both work and lifestyle use. More importantly, the Lariat trim offers optional convenience features such as an on-board scale and smart hitch.

Ford will factory install a 12,000-pound Warn winch with 70 feet of synthetic cable, which currently costs $3,995. While this is $995 more than before, it is still a well-priced factory accessory for those who need clean integration and functionality.

The 2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor has found new competition since it first appeared in 2020, but its story remains the same. There is no pickup truck on earth that can do it all, from towing 23,000 pounds to off-road domination, like the Tremor.

Ford covered the cost of travel, lodging, and even donuts so Motor Authority could bring you this raw report.