Power Issues for Mountain Travel

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MarkReye1

MarkReye1

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
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Pompano Beach
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Hi all,

I just came back from a trip, and drove my 90 Toyota 4x4 PU through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. I had power issues due to the altitude of where I was driving through on I-77. I basically had to stay in 4th gear and do no more than 45 mph. That part of the trip sucked. I have a 22RE with a 5speed. If anyone has any tips, please advise.

I came home a different route since I did not want to deal with the mountains again.

Thanks,

Mark
 
I feel your pain.Just got back from Mammoth Cave over the weekend.No mountains by any means but still the 3.slow struggled up the hills.Had to put the foot to it with the cruise on to keep from losing so much speed.Even then it would still drop to about 60 sometimes & have to reach for 4th gear.I didn't really care but I had a group of 4 other vehicles following that had trouble staying regulated behind me.
 
Dan and others,

I am not a speed demon, but it was a long trip. I was driving to OH for the National Smallbore Prone Championships, and was wondering if there was anything I could do to get the truck to breathe easier when going through the mountains.

Thanks,

Mark
 
Heh, I just drove around SWVA over the weekend loaded down pretty well and 81 sucked coming over the mountain. Still, I was able to maintain more speed than what you're saying. Make sure you're geared right for the tires you're running (I'm running 4.56s with 31s), an open air filter helps, and make sure your tune up stuff is up to date. I don't have any trouble in the hills when unloaded but if I'm hauling stuff or have a truck full of people it struggles up the hills.
 
Add a header and cam shaft all your worries will go away. good power to cost ratio!!!!!!
 
I've never been in that part of the country, but where I grew up in Montana, we start at 5000' ft and just go up from there. I've never encountered serious power issues because of height. I'd venture a guess that it's a grade issue, not altitude. Going up a 6 or 7% grade, yeah you're going to have to slow down and stay in 4th and sink to maybe 50-55 mph, depending on how long a hill it is. Unless you're willing to burn some fuel, drop to 3rd and kick the snot out of it (which I'm inclined to do occasionally). :grinpimp:

Amgraham is right about how you're loaded, that definitely makes a difference. Still, I can bomb around at 70 mph with a 'typical' load at 6-7000 ft with no problem, unless I'm going up a steep hill.

All that to say, I don't think the situation you described is necessarily indicative of a 'breathing' problem.
 
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