Abstract: An auxiliary transmission unit having multiple countershafts is disclosed for use in a motor vehicle. The countershafts are disposed about an input sun gear and an output sun gear in such a manner as to provide an opening for a shift fork to reach a central shift mechanism locating the planet gears, one with respect to the other, at angular alignment positions in an unequally spaced manner. A tooth of one sun gear at an alignment position will be aligned with a tooth of the other sun gear at least once during one revolution of a countershaft. The unequal spacing of the countershafts provides reduced height for the auxiliary transmission housing.