Does it run hot while idlingly? With it skipping and backfiring and won't get over 20 mph, it kind of sounds like the catalytic convertor. Do you have one on it? It sounds like it could be stopped up.
If I let it idle the temperature does creep up. The auxiliary fan kicks on but doesn't keep up. This only acts up when the outside tem is above 85 degrees outside. I wonder how you check the catalytic converter without buying a new one. I would guess a vacuum gauge might do it. Although I would thing that if it was the converter it would do it all the time. 80 degrees and below it runs fine.