Highway 70 runs up through the foothills and some narly mountains and then towards reno.
Theres quite a number of hills and turns.
Im runnin 33's with stock gears, but a pumped-up v6 and i can usually pull the steepest ones in 4th at 65 or so.
I did the hills and mountains outside of Santa Cruz in 5th gear with parts in the back and i was passing cars no problem.
still.
Id get your tires first. even if you gotta pull the hills in 1st gear, when you get somewhere and wanna sling some rocks/dirt/mud, your tires are gonna be worth theyre weight in gold.
... but dont haul that gold around cause youll have to climb the hills in 4-lo