Questions of driving US-2 through the west

The first thing you need to do is learn how to drive on steep grades and crooked roads. Down shift and keep your rpm's up when going up the grades. Going down the grades you should be in the gear that you went up or one gear lower. I have read on this site about people getting to the top of passes with their foot on the floor and no more power. Those people did not downshift soon enough to let their engine spin. I have driven through the Rockies and Cascades with a Toyota RV (6000 lbs) with a shopping 120 hp (22Re engine and A/T) and never had my foot to the floor. Keep the rpm's up and keep downshifting.
While going down the grades, your should be downshifting and rarely hitting your brakes. If you are going faster than the slowest trucks, you are going too fast.