Ford is Making it Easier for Owners to go Off-Roading - the Only Catch is That Your Car has to be Less Than Nine Years Old and Have a Modem

Ford, like many other automakers is really leaning into the off-roading trend. Ford is out with a new Tremor trim for its 2026 Ford Explorer, that gives the Explorer more capability for taking on the trails. Ford also has special off-roading packages for the Bronco, the F-150, Ranger, Maverick and Expedition. Now, Ford is offering owners a free, one-year subscription to an outdoor navigation service called onX. Ford describes it as “bringing off-road adventure to your dashboard. 

Ford Has Been Growing its Off-Roading Presence in Recent Years

As I have reported previously, Ford has set up a number of off-roading programs to help drivers learn to be better drivers out on the trails. The Bronco Off-Roadeo program offers guides teaching all levels of drivers how to be more capable out on the trails in training sessions all over the country. Ford’s Bronco and Bronco Sport have been immediate hits in the off-roading community. Ford has enhancing its Bronco Off-Roadeo to make it even more fun for Bronco owners. Once Bronco and Bronco Sport owners have completed the complimentary Bronco Off-Roadeo hands-on driving experience, Ford will allow them the opportunity to return and continue expanding their off-road skills using their own Bronco.

“Ninety percent of Bronco Off-Roadeo participants say they want to return and learn even more,” said Kelsey Gerken, Bronco consumer strategy manager at Ford. “Bring Your Own Bronco gives them that chance, expanding the Off-Roadeo experience to two unique, four-hour courses that further grow a Bronco owner’s skillset.”

The Raptor Rally Offers Similar Training for Ford Raptor Owners

Last October, an estimated 700 people brought 400 Ford F-150 Raptors, Ranger Raptors and Bronco Raptors and converged on Lake Havasu, Arizona, for the second annual Raptor Rally. Ford’s Raptor performance vehicles celebrated their 15th anniversary in 2025. What better way to show your love for your vehicle than to go tear up the trails? The Raptor Rally drew enthusiasts and pro drivers. Owners got the chance to learn from the pros and see what is planned for the future. 

The rally offered a day and a half of off-road experiences like dynamic trail drives and the ability to jump their own Raptors. Owners can also participate in expert workshops. Representatives from 11 different Raptor clubs also attended. 

How the onX Partnership Will Help Drivers

Whether you’re heading out for a family bike ride, a weekend fishing trip, or your first real off-road trek, finding and navigating the path should be easy. Ford and onX will give eligible Ford owners the tech they need to explore by giving complimentary access to the onX suite of apps for one year. This suite can help them get outside and make the most of their vehicle’s off-road capability.

The collaboration is also part of a long-term plan to make it easier for customers to explore the world around them with their vehicle using software, no matter what their outdoor passion might be. The goal is to take this even further and create customized experiences inside Ford vehicles to enable that. This is just the first step in that journey.

To show what’s possible with Ford vehicles and the onX app, the two companies are launching a new off-roading series called "Chasing Off-Road Confidence." It will be hosted by off-road enthusiast Chase Gentry. 

Every episode will feature different Ford vehicles and trails of varying difficulty levels. Chase will be joined by Ford fans across the country. The drivers will range from beginner off-roaders to experts. Chase will coach, while the drivers can share tips, learn from each other, and enjoy new adventures.

The first episode features a Las Vegas mom, Susan Kikuli, taking her boys off-roading on the 13-Mile Loop trail near Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. She tries onX for the first time to navigate the journey.

Chase explains that "onX Offroad is so cool because it helps you discover hidden gems like this. A lot of it is knowing the capability of your vehicle — like this particular vehicle, the 2026 Ford Explorer Tremor, is highly capable. That extra ground clearance, the underbody protection, the intelligent four-wheel drive system, putting it in off-road mode — you're going to have that peace of mind that you can get out and back home."

Susan summed up her experience saying, "Wow, what an amazing experience. It turns out I had it in me the whole time."

What Ford’s onX Trial Offers

Ford is offering owners one year of complimentary access across the highest tier of all four onX apps. The OnX apps can be used seamlessly via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with the navigation map displayed on the in-vehicle screen. And, when you know you won’t have connectivity coverage, you can download maps ahead of time to explore with confidence.

Customers must be an owner of a 2017 or newer equipped Ford vehicle with an activated modem. The offer is only open to new onX customers. The offer will be available now through 2028, giving millions of Ford customers access to onX app membership.

The complimentary access allows customers to activate one or all four of onX’s apps.  

According to onX, here is all you can explore:

onX Offroad: To explore where the pavement ends, access 650,000+ miles of routes with difficulty ratings, photos, and detailed descriptions so you can choose the trail and line that is right for your skill level and vehicle.

onX Fish: Spend more time fishing and easily find new waters, verified access points, species insights, and access information on local regulations.

onX Hunt: To hunt responsibly, navigate public and private land boundaries, customize your maps, and access advanced scouting tools for the field.

onX Backcountry: Get off the beaten path with over 1 million miles of detailed routes for hiking and biking trails, ski routes, and climbing areas, plus 3D offline maps for when you are without connectivity.

To get the one-year onX subscription, either open your Ford app or visit onxmaps.com/ford to start your adventure. Remember, your vehicle must be a 2017 or newer and it must have an activated modem.

Image by Ford

About the Author

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X  and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.