370 LE start to finish.....

[bobmiller1]

Day 3. Our third day brings us to Hidden River Campground in Tiffin, Iowa. An awesome ride along route 24 through Illinois. A smooth 4 lane highway speed limit 60......no traffic. We headed north on interstate 74 until it closed, diverted onto I80. No problem. Traffic very heavy (Truck) on I 80......to be expected.

[Kota]

We’ve done more trips from Colorado and Michigan than I can count. I-80 is always painful. You were smart to avoid 80 across ill annoy. If you head north, we’ve stayed here for several trips. Snake Creek Recreation Area https://maps.apple.com/?address=3531...BQBA%3D%3D&t=m

[bobmiller1]

Day 4 brings us to Salem, South Dakota, just west of Sioux Falls. A really nice drive west on route 20 @ 65 MPH and then north on I 29 to west on 90. Speeds are now posted at 80 MPH. The 370LE will cruise all day at about 72 MPH at 2900 RPM. Next years install of the 2 speed rear will bring the RPM down to the 2400 RPM range which is where I would lime to be. Temps here in Salem this morning are 66 degrees......a big difference to the 97 that we experienced on Sunday at the start of our trip. Regards, Bob

[bobmiller1]

[bobmiller1]

Day 5 brings us to Sturgis Downtown RV Park.......where else.....in Sturgis. I thought Sunday’s drive was hard, but today’s was worse....104 degrees a little east of here, super heavy construction on I 90, both East and West bound traffic in the East bound lane for miles and miles @ 65 MPH, super high cross winds, and you know these things are not easy to drive, you have to drive them. Well we’re in a different time zone here, gained another hour. This RV Park is super clean, concrete pads, 50 amp service, 40.00 bucks for the night with the Good Sam discount. We’re looking forward to staying somewhere for a few days. We will be leaving here at 6 AM in the morning to try and beat the heat. Regards, Bob

[bobmiller1]

[bobmiller1]

[bobmiller1]

Day 6 brings us to Cody, Wyoming. In case anyone is interested it is not possible to drag a car up route 16 from I90. I had to stop about half way up, with tranny temp at max 280 degrees and take the Volt off the dolly. Although engine temp was good it was to steep and could not get over 20 MPH. Maybe the better route would have been more north possibly staying on I90 a little longer and taking Alt 14 west. In any event we will stay in Cody for 2 days. We are at Absaroka Bay RV Park. I don’t really care for parking lot style RV parks and I saw quite a few USFS campgrounds along the way here so I am sure I will find others along the way. We’re going to drive through the northern part of Yellowstone today to see what we can find. Regards, Bob

[bobmiller1]

[bkahler]

Wow!

Did you happen to notice what the grade was on 16?

[Air345Fly]

Do you have a lock-up clutch in your transmission?
What could explain the temperature rise unless
something is slipping?

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

Day 6 brings us to Cody, Wyoming. In case anyone is interested it is not possible to drag a car up route 16 from I90. I had to stop about half way up, with tranny temp at max 280 degrees and take the Volt off the dolly. Although engine temp was good it was to steep and could not get over 20 MPH. Maybe the better route would have been more north possibly staying on I90 a little longer and taking Alt 14 west. In any event we will stay in Cody for 2 days. We are at Absaroka Bay RV Park. I don’t really care for parking lot style RV parks and I saw quite a few USFS campgrounds along the way here so I am sure I will find others along the way. We’re going to drive through the northern part of Yellowstone today to see what we can find. Regards, BobAttachment 373884

Wow, Bob thats a hell of of route you picked, brave man !
When you pass by BuffaloBill reservoir on the way to Yellowstone send greetings from this "almost" petrified piece of "fish" driftwood I found at the shores of that reservoir in 1981. Enjoy Yellowstone and take a day trip down to Grand Teton National Park

[bobmiller1]

All kidding aside the grade on 16 was as steep as the road between my house and my shop about 45 degrees.....you know what we always say.... “Never Again” LOL, Regards, Bob

[PeterH-350LE]

if you pass a Truck runaway ramp on the left, you know you are in for some sh it.

[Smartstream]

That must have been a painful experience for you Bob. Welcome to the West.

My "Mountain Directory West" describes Power River Pass (US 16) as about 5 miles of 7% grade up followed by about 20 miles up and down when the grade starts up for 1 1/2 miles to hit 6% to 7% for another 2 1/2 miles. The west side coming downhill is similar at about 18 miles with 5% to 7% for 5 miles then 3 miles of up and down with another 10 miles of 6% down. We did this several years ago in the old Isuzu going west to east. It was a slow ride but we made it with no issues.

Had you continued to US 14 it starts up with 9 miles of 5% to 7% grade, 2 1/2 miles of as little as 2% grade and 11 miles of 5% to 6% grade. If you take US 14ALT at the top you are on "OH, MY GOD HILL" which is 10% down for 10 miles followed by another 4 miles down of 8% grade. This is why we took US 16.

We did enter the Tetons on HWY 22. Eastbound you start at the Idaho state line with 3 to 4 miles of 6% to 7% grades, then follow up with 3 miles of 10% grade to the summit. Coming down the east side is about 4 miles of 10% grade with another mile of 6% to 7% grade leading into town. Again the old Isuzu earned it's keep that day but it did spend a bit of time in 1st. gear overdrive.

Enjoy Your time in Yellowstone. One day we spent about 45 minutes stopped in traffic while a good sized herd of buffalo lounged on the road. A couple of calves were chasing each other back and forth along side the cars. Great times.

[bobmiller1]

Day 7 we stayed in Cody to give the 370LE a rest. We drove the Volt about 200 miles into the park and went up to the northern part of Yellowstone. The eastern north/south road to Tower/Roosevelt is closed so the only way up to the Mammoth Hot Springs is via the western north/south road which is a cluster f—k because you have to come back the same way. Also definitely not a friendly RV road. Today we’re going to try and get a place closer to Yellowstone in one of the USFS campgrounds closer to the park. Will probably disconnect the Volt again from the 370LE when we enter the park the hills are quite steep and I don’t want a repeat of Friday again. Regards, Bob

[Magnet18]

Wow Bob, we just missed each other!

We just took the '86 4runner for a 3 week trip and we were backpacking in Yellowstone this time last week! Spent almost 2 weeks in the area.
Took I-90 out and I-80 home and got back Friday morning.


If you want to see some wildlife, drive through lamar valley. We saw 3 bears, moose with baby, and 2 buffalo herds. There is a USFS campground just outside the park in silver gate we stayed at. And yea, you're not going anywhere fast inside the park.

[JJ1965]

Really enjoying following your adventure. My wife and I want to take the 345 to some of these places in the future. Really good to see how steep some of the grades are.

[bobmiller1]

Day 13, first day of cell service since Day 7......didn’t miss it...(the cell service. We stayed in Newton Creek campground, site 3 for 5 days, a five minute ride to the eastern entrance of Yellowstone. One of the nicest spots I’ve ever had. We’ve been in the Pinedale area the last few days just south of Jackson Hole. We day tripped to Jackson and Pinedale and had a good time in the towns. Some minor problems cropped up with the 370LE. Lost an exhaust manifold nut and lock washer on the right side. Thanks to my friends at NAPA, we were back on the road same day. I need to dial in the transmission downshifting electronically on the uphill climbs, trying to keep the engine RPM at 2600 for optimum torque has been a struggle on the long uphill climbs. I’m not sure if towing 4400 lbs. of Chevy Volt and dolly was the best idea for this trip, but at least I can say I did it once. I threw an alternator belt off the other morning when we left Newton Creek, problem was the 3 heavy duty deep cycle batteries were drawn down so much that when I started it after the fifth day the combination of the electric compressor and the 100 amp converter maxed out the 200 amp alternator. The next time I will start the generator and let it run for 20 minutes before starting the engine. I am also compiling a list of must have tools......which I own......but are not with me....Tomorrow we leave and are on our way south.....no specific destination planned, it’s more fun for us. Regards, BobAttachment 1

[bobmiller1]