The Ford Ranger Tremor, despite its tidy urban manners, is most at home in the wild or on the open road. We took it out of Cape Town for two trips over the summer season, first camping and then high into the mountains.
Our first stop was Kromrivier Farm campsite, nestled at the foot of the Riviersonderend Mountain Range. We loaded up with camping gear for two couples, secured with the handy tie-down points. Despite the weight, the Tremor’s 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine (154 kW, 500 N.m torque) tackled the N2 effortlessly, sipping fuel at 10.4L/100km over the four-hour round trip.
Related: Living With It: Ford Ranger Tremor [Introduction]
Caledon offered a final pit stop before Kromrivier. After refuelling, we turned onto the R406, and soon the tarmac gave way to a long gravel road. The Tremor’s General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres and Bilstein dampers soaked up the rough terrain, an essential feature given that others had suffered punctures on the same route.
Kromrivier Farm is pure tranquillity—its crown jewel, Kromrivier Dam, a mirror of the sky framed by mountains. A single night wasn’t enough to take in the hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and 4×4 trails that begged for more exploration.
Back in the city, the Tremor proved just as capable. Its 360-degree camera made tight urban parking a breeze, while the cavernous cargo bay tackled everything from a full apartment move in one trip to weekend beach hauls.
But this beast wasn’t built to be tamed by the city. A long-planned road trip with German friends to Boesmanskloof offered the perfect excuse to stretch its legs. Swapping Gardens’ tight streets for the N1, we cruised toward Robertson, stopping in McGregor before taking on the gravel road winding up into the mountains. Engaging “4A” mode, the Tremor dynamically distributed power to all four wheels, adapting seamlessly to the terrain. With its raised 26mm clearance and wider stance, it climbed the 16km incline and tackled the final, rocky ascent to our cabin like it was born for it.
Boesmanskloof’s Ontverwacht cottages sit quietly among the peaks as if frozen in time. One misty morning, the valley seemed plucked from mythology—perfect for Zeus himself to descend from the heavens. As the fog lifted, we trekked down through wildflowers and gorges to reach Oakes Fall, a regal waterfall pouring into a crystal-clear pool. After a bracing dip, we faced the steep climb back to Eagles Nest House, perched on the mountain’s edge, surveying the valley below. Braaing on that porch is a rare privilege.
While we managed bits of the Boesmanskloof Trail (a 14km hike between McGregor and Greyton) during our climb to the waterfall, the Tremor took responsibility for most of the long hauls. Whether shuttling us to McGregor and Robertson for supplies or navigating Boesmanskloof’s off-road trails, it never faltered. The “Trail Control” function—an off-road cruise control—handled rocky terrain calmly.
After a week lost in Boesmanskloof’s peaks, the time came to trade tranquillity for the hum the new year. Over the holidays the Tremor had been a city cruiser, a moving truck and a road trip workhorse, changing hats with effortless style. The magic of the motoring world lies in the access it gives us to the natural world, and this summer – spent dipping into the beauty of the Western Cape’s wider regions – reaffirmed the beauty of four wheels and a destination.
Ranger Tremor at a glance
- Price: R978 600
- Engine: 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo Diesel, four-cylinder
- Power: 154 kW at 3,750 r/min
- Torque: 500 N·m at 1,750–2,500 r/min
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Drive Wheels: Full-time four-wheel drive with selectable modes
- Service Plan: Optional, up to 8 years/165,000 km
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Images: @oliver_driven
