All Wheel Drive with FX4 versus enhanced 4X4 with TREMOR

[NoVaJimmy]

My subjective take which is more correct than everyone else:

1. The Tremor suspension upgrades are a complete joke. It goes from 8.6" to 9.4" of clearance. A proper coil lift is available in the aftermarket that is much better in every way.

2. The Rear Drive Unit of the Tremor is definitely an upgrade, but I think you would be hard pressed to find situations that it succeeds compared to the stock unit which is very good. And it isn't worth the loss of 4K tow capability to me.

3. The front bumper approach angle of the Tremor is an upgrade, but comes with the tradeoff of less cooling which is not ideal.

4. The upgraded half shafts could turn out to be a very important upgrade. I have not seen a direct comparison to stock yet. These will likely be available through Ford or aftermarket in the near future.

There is a video on TFL Truck's youtube channel where they test a regular non badlands bronco sport on their off road test course and the host kept saying things like "I don't think it's going to make it through this one" and it made it through all of them with flying colors. The thing about the Tremor RDU is yeah, it's nice to be able to lock up the unit in spots where there is low traction and both wheels are on the ground but the Maverick has no articulation and if you have a wheel in the air, the computer locking up the caliper for the wheel in the air is just as effective as "locking" the RDU.

As for the upgraded half shafts, you can find them on the Ford parts site and they are actually cheaper than the normal half shafts that come on standard AWD Mavericks.

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[No5s]

We’ve been getting more snow than usual. Our house is downhill on a paved lane that doesn’t get plowed. I tried the Tremor without locking 50/50 or rear locker similar to FX4. It hunts for traction, it gets it but it’s in hesitation mode, I made it up the hill OK. The Tremor with the 50/50 lock and rear locker does nor spin a tire, very confidence inspiring. I do wish I had 4k towing but as of now have no use for it.

 

[thevol]

We’ve been getting more snow than usual. Our house is downhill on a paved lane that doesn’t get plowed. I tried the Tremor without locking 50/50 or rear locker similar to FX4. It hunts for traction, it gets it but it’s in hesitation mode, I made it up the hill OK. The Tremor with the 50/50 lock and rear locker does nor spin a tire, very confidence inspiring. I do wish I had 4k towing but as of now have no use for it.

FYI some of the drive modes will give you an almost 50/50 split on the non-tremors, normal mode will default to FWD and wait for spin then engage so its not the best in that situation you mentioned. You can look at the AWD screen in the dash to see where the power is going in each mode, its kinda neat to watch.

 

[Nw_adventure]

There has never been a front wheel drive ranger. They are all rear wheel drive with 4x4 optional. That said the FX4/4k Mav is a pretty solid truck. The main reasons we upgraded to the Tremor are increased ground clearance(we were going to have to lift our FX4 to bring it to our house), also the front valence is higher and tighter(we would have had to trim plastic otherwise), my brother designed the shocks so I really want to see em in action, and finally we oredered from Granger in early 2022 and our XLT Tremor will come in at $29,420(after the $3000 off discount).

If you have ever thought a subaru could work for you, the FX4/4k will be a wonderful truck for you, but if you have been cross shopping midsized trucks but want something a little easier to get around in, a Tremor may be right up your alley.

I am thinking of how the Tremor shocks would work on a spring lifted FX4 ?

 

[fossil]

We’ve been getting more snow than usual. Our house is downhill on a paved lane that doesn’t get plowed. I tried the Tremor without locking 50/50 or rear locker similar to FX4. It hunts for traction, it gets it but it’s in hesitation mode, I made it up the hill OK. The Tremor with the 50/50 lock and rear locker does nor spin a tire, very confidence inspiring. I do wish I had 4k towing but as of now have no use for it.

Still trying to wrap my head around a FWD Ranger but your experience closely mirrors mine in a BS Badlands. The difference, FX4/Tremor in every day driving is a bit different. The twin clutch RDU actively shifts power left/right without having to brake the slipping wheel. When the RDU is locked (as demonstrated in the TTC and Expedition Portal videos) the free wheel does not spin uselessly and there is little or no hunting. In normal mode on both, front wheel slip engages the PTU to activate the rear. Each and every time this happens there is slippage in the PTU until f/r wheel speed is matched which generates heat, a proven issue on the standard air cooled AWD setup. IMHO the standard AWD setup is very capable, amongst the very best out there, the Tremor is better.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

FYI some of the drive modes will give you an almost 50/50 split on the non-tremors, normal mode will default to FWD and wait for spin then engage so its not the best in that situation you mentioned. You can look at the AWD screen in the dash to see where the power is going in each mode, its kinda neat to watch.

One of the places where the Tremor would excel beyond the FX4 is the fact that it has a water cooled PTU. A normal Maverick will shut down the PTU for thermal protection especially in a low speed snow scenario where the Maverick is struggling to find traction and the PTU is getting little to know air flow whereas the Tremor can better manage any overheating issues with liquid cooling from the radiator. Other than that I never had an issue with snow living in the New England mountains with my Escape but I had Nokian Hakka 7 snow tires on it.

 

[Maverickman74]

I am thinking of how the Tremor shocks would work on a spring lifted FX4 ?

As long as there isnt some unfortunate mounting difference on the front strut type dampner, then it should be great. Ideally the assembly will be longer in the travel section which would pair well with small lift springs and a spacer combo.

 

[Maverickman74]

Still trying to wrap my head around a FWD Ranger but your experience closely mirrors mine in a BS Badlands. The difference, FX4/Tremor in every day driving is a bit different. The twin clutch RDU actively shifts power left/right without having to brake the slipping wheel. When the RDU is locked (as demonstrated in the TTC and Expedition Portal videos) the free wheel does not spin uselessly and there is little or no hunting. In normal mode on both, front wheel slip engages the PTU to activate the rear. Each and every time this happens there is slippage in the PTU until f/r wheel speed is matched which generates heat, a proven issue on the standard air cooled AWD setup. IMHO the standard AWD setup is very capable, amongst the very best out there, the Tremor is better.

Once upon a time there was a fwd commercial jeep with a transfer case and a nub on the rear output and only a front driveshaft. Anything is possible.

 

[cavemold]

The fx4 is overall better package and better Mpg . The tremor is ok but after some time as passed I’d take fx4 and if you need lift it you can

 

[gte105u]

At first I was all in on the Tremor. But as I stopped and thought about it, I rather have 4K tow and more cooling than a small lift and a locking rear. I think OP falls into that as well.

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