Snowy driveway + spinning wheels + VIOLENT SHAKING = Trouble?
 

Well this is an unusual situation. Just after snow started here in NY state, I was trying to get up my driveway when something weird happened. I turned off the road (still in 2HI because of sharp turns) and tried to get up the driveway. I was spinning wheels a bit, but I was only using a small amount of throttle. Then all of a sudden, the car started to shake violently while the wheels were spinning. I didn't allow it to do that for more than a couple seconds. It kept doing it until I got stuck, then I shifted into neutral and allowed the truck to back down the driveway to ease the transition into 4HI. No more spinning and I backed the truck into the garage.

Then I wanted to see if I could reproduce it to make sure that it wasn't something broken like the transmission or differential. After a few minutes, I checked the transmission fluid and it was fine (still light pink). I already know the rear diff fluid is dark and it is going to be changed after the snowstorm. I am already making the arrangements for that. I changed the transfer case and front diff fluid just days ago. I moved the truck to the bottom of the driveway and tried to get up the driveway in 2HI only until the wheels started to spin a bit and then stopped. I did this 3 times, only letting it spin for no more then a couple seconds. Then after I got completely stuck again, I shifted into 4LO and got back up the driveway. The tires still slipped because of the 4LO, but there was NO VIBRATION. I backed into the garage again and did an inspection. Fluids were still okay and there was no sign of damage (no holes in the transfer case or diffs, no broken driveshafts hanging, no fluid on the floor).

Could this be something as simple as imbalanced tires from snow packed in them or could I have hidden damage somewhere from spinning wheels? In case it matters, the only gears I used on the snow were 1 and R. I never use D on snow. If I am crawling on snow and/or using 4LO, I use 1.

EDIT: In case it matters, the truck HAS A G80 AND FACTORY 3.42 GEARS. Could that be part of this?

It might just be a simple case of "wheel hop."

Uhhhh, is that destructive? Could it also be from the 150 pounds of sand in the center of the back seat for ballast and possibly another 75-100 pounds of cargo? Could the extra weight be causing it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGQ6mR7q_o

Exactly like what happened, but trying to get up the driveway and for a few seconds at a time until the driveway got steep enough to not allow enough grip to get farther up the driveway. That is when I went 4HI and it didn't happen again. Now my question is: Is there a chance I could have damaged something in the process that won't show up until I get it on the road again? Thanks

There is always a chance you can damage something. Did you? Very difficult for someone on the internet to say. You have to get out there and inspect things.

Stop worrying so much. :icon_wink: