So an after report of the first long drive on the motorway to West VA
A lot of worry for nothing. Everything ran great. The trip was amazing and I got the hitch help I wanted. (a separate post has been made).
Uphill had to drive "manually" but otw home I set the cruise and just relaxed.
I noticed the following observations, in random order:
1. She handles lower inclines without having to drop in 4th. Cruises up fine and I lose little speed.
2. the larger Inclines when I begin to lose RPM's and have to shift to 4th I seem to have a max climb rate of 50 mph at 2100 ish rpms keeps me right at about 210 degrees and everything sounds and feels right.
3. When climbing I would wait until speed dropped from 65 to 55 (bit lower) and the revs would creep down to 1800. At this point we shift to 4th and just climb with flashers... but again at about 50 mph.
4. It was 89 degrees, feels like 96 with humidity.
5. I think my fuel tank, although looks large is only 25 gallons. I am unsure what is standard
6. M calculated the mileage up and seems to have come up with 5.5 going uphill from Raleigh NC to Peterstown West Virginia..but it was indeed a steep drive
7. I breezed through fancy gap and it was over, and I was still worrying. I hadn't realized I was over it until M told me. Too busy watching gauges
8. Downhill I was worried again when I saw the 8 mile steep grade use lower gear. I started in 4th... was too slow, so I went for 5th and it coasted down with the gearing holding me back at about 63 mph
9. Finally on Flat ground and rolling home I set the cruise and she purrs along in the sweet spot at 2000 revs and 65mph.
10. M got new data from the flat ground traveling and fill up and we think she is pulling 9.5 MPG.. is this good?
11. I believe with my gearing of 4.78 my top speed is limited at around 80 mph... I have not gone past 75mph and it easily gets there... but at this point you reach the point where more revs gives little more speed, and there is no point as my goal was 63mph at 1900 revs.
12. The actual ride was a dream... even the bad parts and bumps M didn't suffer any spinal injuries. Her seat was comfortable and in spite of the heat we were fine. Stop and go city traffic I think we might've died yes. Air con is in the works, and the on board genny means we can fire up the roof top if in a traffic pile up
13. It honestly drives just as good and bad as our old ford E-150 camper van
I didn't feel like I was driving a huge thing at all
And the hitch
P. S. "M" is Maryanne, the missus
cheers