I had this issue as well until my driver's side cylinder head was replaced. Reverse is still a bit high, but I don't have to ride it nearly as much. Apparently the faulty cylinder heads on the 2012s were really robbing us of low-end power. My jeep is so much easier to drive as a result. Good luck.

 

I back mine up hill to parallel park without trouble. It's really not that bad. Try backing up in an open parking lot with the clutch all the way out. It's probably not much faster than you are going riding the clutch. I usually let mine out enough to get moving then push it in and coast when on flat ground. I have a manual with 3.21 gears. You shouldn't need low range unless you doing advanced parking

 

So you back uphill to parallel park while towing a trailer?

 

Yes. I live on a hill. There's no other way to park in front of my house. I have a 5x8 trailer, it's prob about 10 ft long, so it isn't hard to keep straight. I only use my trailer 10-12 times a year so I'm not parking it out front every day(that would be lame), and I do hit the curb now and then. The clutch isn't a problem for me though. I think once you get used to it you won't ride it as much. Like I said, I let out the clutch and push it back in once i'm moving good enough to coast. When I put my canoe on it I have to back up about 100ft to the pond launch and I'm able to do it this way too. I never smell clutch. I don't want to offend you, but if your smelling clutch you're probably doing something wrong, and you will wear out your clutch early.

 

I am assuming that the trailer you are talking about is a small utility trailer and that is a big difference to what we are talking about. The op is backing a camper trailer that is close to 4k pounds and I the trailer I am talking about backing up are well over 2k pounds. I drive 18 wheelers for a living so I am very used to backing up trailers with a manual transmission and I am going to tell you that it is difficult to back a trailer with this kind of weight with the jeep without smelling clutch unless you use 4lo.

 

Yeah I missed the weight. I didn't realize those are that heavy. I have backed up into my space with 3/4 ton on and I do have to work the clutch more so I can see 3500 lbs being a problem, but that's way over the mfg recommended limit for mine with 3.21 gears and a manual. I have however towed a half ton of wood burning pellets twice last winter and I didn't have to feather the clutch. Maybe you have a clutch problem.

 

I Was Inverted - Top Gun (3/8) Movie CLIP (1986) HD - YouTube

1:05-1:10

 

Nice...very appropriate. I forgot about that scene.

 

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I'd rather back a heavy ass trailer that is long than a 5x8 light ass utility trailer.