If this weeks brand new Ford Explorer “Tremor” edition looks familiar, you aren’t wrong. Though Ford is proudly announcing an “all new” trim, the Explorer Tremor is essentially the old Timberline trim. The headline-grabbing change is the upgrade from an I4 to a 3.0-liter V6. Oddly, the towing capacity is not increasing.

The Ford Explorer Timberline is dead, long-live the Timberline!

Ford’s having luck with off-road trims on many models. And I’m not just talking about its halo-level Raptor trims. A more affordable option is the “Tremor” package on every truck from the Maverick to the Super Duty. Over on the SUV size, you have been able to find much of the same gear in the Timberline lineup.

For example, if you ordered a Ford Expedition Timberline package it came with “Rough Road” suspension and skid plates. But the slightly smaller Explorer Crossover didn’t get left out. The 2021 Ford Explorer Timberline featured a 0.8-inch suspension lift and Bridgestone Dueler off-roading tires. Redesigned bumpers weren’t just for looks. They incorporated tow hooks and were higher off the ground to improve approach and departure angles. Best of all, the Expedition Timberline was rated to tow 5,300 pounds of your off-roading toys.

Then Ford cancelled its Timberline vehicle family at the end of the 2024 model years. But before Ford fans could mourn, the automaker announced a new off-road-ready SUV lineup. And the Explorer looks awfully familiar.

The Expedition Timberline is back as the Tremor–with a twist

Ford’s 2025 Expedition “Tremor” has nearly identical off-road bumpers as the Timberline. It even has the same tow hooks. It features some upgrades: the factory lift is up from 0.8 inches to a full inch. And it gets the Explorer’s ST’s engine. That’s right, it’s rocking the 3.0-liter turbocharged “EcoBoost” V6.

That twin-turbocharged V6 claims 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. It seemed like the all-new off-road Explorer was gunning for Tremor pickup trucks levels of capability. Then Ford announced its 2025 Explorer tow ratings.

Currently, Ford is downgrading its Explorer tow ratings to 5,000 pounds across the board. So that means the loud and proud new V6-powered off-road Explorer will technically be rated to tow less than its I4 cousin did. What’s going on here?

Automakers announce tow ratings based on a series of grueling tests. For modern vehicles, towing capacity is almost always limited by the vehicle’s cooling system–not its engine size. So if the V6-powered Explorer Tremor has less robust cooling than the old Timberline, it may not be able to haul as much. Conversely, Ford may have realized it over-estimated tow ratings and is correcting them. Finally, it may have just thrown out a blanket tow rating for all 2026 Explorers until it can complete tests with individual trims.

It makes perfect sense Ford would consolidate its Timberline and Tremor packages across its lineup. The result is just tidier and more consistent branding. But if the 2026 Explorer Tremor truly won’t be able to tow as much as the Timberline, the timing of its new truck badge is a bit unfortunate.