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Ford sells six models covered on this site, and their 4x4 hardware ranges from a unibody crossover without a low range to heavy-duty pickups with 35-inch tires. Each model guide gives trim-by-trim 4WD systems, engines, towing and payload, fitment notes and NHTSA recall history: F-150, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Ranger, Super Duty and Expedition.
At a Glance
| Model | Current design since | Construction | Most capable factory setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronco Sport | 2021 model year | Unibody | Badlands: twin-clutch rear drive unit, 4WD Lock, no low range |
| Bronco | 2021 model year | Body-on-frame | Raptor: Advanced 4x4, front and rear lockers, 37-inch tires |
| Ranger | 2024 model year | Body-on-frame | Raptor: front and rear lockers, FOX Live Valve shocks |
| F-150 | 2021 model year (updated 2024) | Steel frame, aluminum body | Raptor: 4WD lock, rear locker, 35- or 37-inch tires |
| Expedition | 2025 model year | Steel frame, aluminum body | Tremor: locking rear differential, 33-inch tires |
| Super Duty | 2023 model year | Steel frame, aluminum body | Tremor package: limited-slip front axle, 35-inch tires |
Ford's 4WD Systems
Ford uses several kinds of four-wheel drive, and the name on the switch doesn't always tell you which one a truck has.
- Part-time electronic shift-on-the-fly. 2H, 4H and 4L, with no center differential, so 4H and 4L are for loose or slippery surfaces. This is the case on 4x4 F-150 XL, STX and XLT trucks, the Bronco's base case, and Ranger XL, XLT and Lariat models.
- Automatic on-demand. Adds a 4A setting that engages the front axle automatically as traction requires. On the 2026 F-150 this is Torque On Demand (Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum), and on the Bronco it is the Advanced 4x4 case, which also has a deeper 3.06:1 low range instead of the base case's 2.72:1.
- Automatic with a mechanical lock. F-150 Tremor and Raptor use an automatic case that can also be locked mechanically, like a part-time case.
- Crossover 4x4. The Bronco Sport uses a power-transfer unit and a clutch-type rear drive unit rather than a two-speed transfer case. Ford still calls it 4x4 and quotes an 18:1 crawl ratio; the full-size Bronco's crawl ratios start at 57:1.
Tremor vs Raptor
The two off-road names mean different hardware on different models.
| Model | Tremor | Raptor |
|---|---|---|
| F-150 | Automatic 4WD with mechanical lock, 275/70R18 all-terrain tires, 10.7 in of clearance; 2021 specs list an optional Torsen front differential | Same transfer case, electronic-locking rear, long-travel FOX suspension, five-link coil rear, 35- or 37-inch tires |
| Super Duty | Off-road package: front lift, Dana front axle with limited-slip, 35-inch tires, 10.5 in of clearance | Not offered |
| Expedition | 2025-on: locking rear differential, 33-inch tires, skid plates | Not offered |
| Bronco | Not offered | Advanced 4x4, front and rear lockers, 418 hp, 37-inch tires |
| Ranger | Not offered for 2026 | 2024-on: front and rear lockers, FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve shocks, 405 hp |
Front and rear lockers come on the Bronco and Ranger Raptors; the F-150 Raptor's specifications list only the rear locker.
The Largest Recalls by Model
| Model | NHTSA campaign | Model years | Problem | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 | 18V568 | 2015–2018 | Seat-belt pretensioner can start a fire | 1,619,112 |
| F-150 | 26V237 | 2015–2017 | Unexpected downshift into second gear; PCM software update | 1,392,935 |
| Bronco Sport | 25V467 | 2021–2024 (with 2020–2022 Escape) | 1.5L fuel injector leak | 694,271 |
| Bronco | 26V468 | 2021–2026 | Engine-bay wiring harness can short and start a fire | 565,691 |
| Expedition | 26V344 | 2018–2022 (with Navigator) | Front seat-belt pretensioner lock-up | 419,967 |
| Super Duty | 19V880 | 2017–2019 crew cab | Seat-belt pretensioner fire risk | 490,574 |
| Ranger | 26V268 | 2024–2026 (with Bronco) | Front seat pivot bolt can loosen | 179,698 |
One campaign spans three of these models: 26V104 covers 4,381,878 vehicles, including 2021–2026 F-150, 2024–2026 Ranger and 2022–2026 Super Duty, for an integrated trailer module that can lose communication. Unit counts are NHTSA's "potentially affected" figures as of September 2026. Enter a VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm whether a specific vehicle has an open campaign.
Accessories
Category-level Ford accessory buying across the lineup is covered on the Ford accessory fitment hub. Each model guide links to fitment roundups sized to that vehicle.
Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Jeep and Ram are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.
Sources
- Ford — 2026 F-150 Technical Specifications — 2026 F-150 transfer cases by trim (part-time on XL/STX/XLT, Torque On Demand on Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum, automatic with mechanical lock on Tremor/Raptor); steel frame and aluminum body; Tremor tires and clearance.
- Ford — 2021 F-150 Technical Specifications — Optional Torsen front differential on the 2021 F-150 Tremor.
- Ford — 2024 F-150 Raptor and Raptor R Technical Specifications — F-150 Raptor electronic-locking rear differential; no front locker listed.
- IIHS — 2021 Ford F-150 crew cab pickup ratings — F-150 redesigned for the 2021 model year.
- Ford — The New 2024 Ford F-150 — F-150 updated for 2024.
- Ford — 2026 Bronco Technical Specifications — Bronco body-on-frame construction, base part-time case (2.72:1) and Advanced 4x4 (3.06:1), crawl ratios, lockers, Raptor 418 hp and 37-inch tires.
- Ford — 2026 Bronco Order Guide — Bronco trims with standard front and rear lockers and Advanced 4x4.
- IIHS — 2021 Ford Bronco 4-door SUV ratings — Bronco introduced for the 2021 model year.
- Ford — 2025 Bronco Sport Technical Specifications — Bronco Sport unibody construction, power-transfer unit and clutch rear drive unit layouts, twin-clutch unit and 4WD Lock on Badlands, 18:1 crawl ratio.
- IIHS — 2021 Ford Bronco Sport 4-door SUV ratings — Bronco Sport introduced for the 2021 model year.
- Ford — 2026 Ranger Technical Specifications — 2026 Ranger trims (XL, XLT, Lariat, Raptor), part-time case on XL/XLT/Lariat, Raptor Advanced 4x4 and front and rear lockers, 405 hp.
- Ford — Coming to America: The All-New 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor — Ranger Raptor US launch for 2024 with front and rear lockers and FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve shocks.
- IIHS — 2024 Ford Ranger crew cab pickup ratings — Ranger redesigned for the 2024 model year.
- Ford — All-New Ford F-Series Super Duty Is Built Like Never Before — All-new 2023 Super Duty; Tremor Off-Road Package with front lift, Dana front axle with limited-slip differential and 35-inch tires.
- Ford — 2026 F-Series Super Duty Pickup Technical Specifications — Super Duty steel frame and aluminum body; Tremor ground clearance.
- Ford — All-New Ford Expedition Fully Redesigned for Families with Big Lives — Expedition fully redesigned for 2025; Tremor 33-inch tires and skid plates.
- Ford — 2026 Expedition Technical Specifications — Expedition Tremor electronic-locking rear differential; steel frame and aluminum body.
- NHTSA — Recall 18V568 — 2015–2018 F-150 seat-belt pretensioner fire risk, 1,619,112 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V237 — 2015–2017 F-150 unexpected downshift, 1,392,935 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 25V467 — 2021–2024 Bronco Sport and 2020–2022 Escape 1.5L fuel injector leak, 694,271 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V468 — 2021–2026 Bronco engine-bay wiring harness fire risk, 565,691 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V344 — 2018–2022 Expedition and Navigator front seat-belt pretensioner lock-up, 419,967 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 19V880 — 2017–2019 Super Duty crew cab pretensioner fire risk, 490,574 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V268 — 2024–2026 Ranger and Bronco front seat pivot bolt, 179,698 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V104 — Integrated trailer module communication loss, 4,381,878 units, including 2021–2026 F-150, 2024–2026 Ranger and 2022–2026 Super Duty.
- NHTSA — Recalls lookup by VIN — VIN lookup for open recall campaigns on a specific vehicle.