The Trip and the H3....

[DWPC]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

I had no problem holding 65 to 70 up those 6 percent grades on 550 from Durango to Montrose. Yes, it makes some engine noise due to the downshift to 2nd, but I just turn up the radio or sit back and relax, listening to the engine screaming. There was a lot of traffic, and no one passed me or tailgated me wanting to pass.

The stretches I'm referring to are usually bumper-to-bumper all 100 miles into LA by Sunday afternoon with nothing but semis struggling to hold 50-55 in the slow lane, and everyone else doing 75-80 in the fast lane. Its uphill like this without let-up for about 30 miles. Then you go down hill for a few miles into Palm Springs, then another similar 30 mile climb to San Berdoo. There's usually a very stiff headwind too; its where the windmill farms are! If you can't keep up, you're relegated to 'truck lane hell' stuck between slowpoke semis and U-hauls for miles.

I agree that the H3 can manage the grades at about 65 comfortably; but thats 10-15 mph too fast for the slow lane, and too slow for the fast lane by about the same margin.