I love my truck it is a 97 F150 4x4 that I bought used w/52K miles and haven't had a lick of problems with it other than the dealer put fouled plugs in it at the 60K mile checkup, but that is another story I do not want to get into. My only complaint on the truck is that reverse gear on the 5 speed seems to be higher than 1st so that when I backup a mild to medium incline I either smoke the clutch or have to ride it to keep from stalling. So most times I have to put the truck into 4 low to backup a hill. I do not have this problem in 1st gear. Anyone else have this problem, or is it just my the clutch.

Dnmeistr

 

Reverse gears often get the least attention during the design phase of a transmission. Their ratio is usually limited by available realestate in the gearbox -- and sometimes sacrifice noise for strength (spur) -- and smaller is 'taller' in your case.

You've already figured out the best work-around -- the extra reduction provided by the transfer case.

 

I too have the same problem. I thought it was just my truck but it still does it after a new clutch and rebuilt transmission. I guess you just have to take the good with the bad.