This 3-speed trans is gonna have to go...

Disagree, w e used to do so all the time. No you would not want to do so with a TRUCK "granny" compound low it's just "too low." In the days when I had my 57, and later 63 pickup, we did this routinely

Something I have just never done much. My motto is "If you're rollin, that's what 2nd gear is for"