5 speed owners

I have noticed since it started snowing that when starting out and the tires spin a bit that it shakes the axle pretty bad. not sure if thats normal.

 

It's just a bit of wheel hop. You can fix it by backing off on the throttle just a little.

 

throw some weight in the back of the bed

have you tried starting in 2nd rather than 1st gear?

 

417- listen to these guys, I feel they are correct in their suggestions.

 

The weight will help a lot as long as you have it loaded before you're out in the snow. I used to live in the back water area of Rhode Island known as Pascoag where our claim to winter fame was icy conditions. I've never had 4WD but I'd run studded snow tires mid November to March. That and a couple hundred pounds of weight in the back kept me going even when the 4X4s were sliding off the roads.

 

Studded tires are worth there weight in gold when it gets slick out, I am in a mild winter or I would have them myself. So this area you speak of...quiet out of the way kind of place or run over by condos and developments ?

 

It used to be quiet but over the last 20 years the area has built up a lot. I moved out of the woods to a different part of the state a few years ago and I havn't bought snow tires for this truck..... yet. I was out yesterday morning in a light snowstorm before they treated the roads. I guess I'm a bit rusty because turning a corner from a stop soon after leaving the house I found the ass end of the truck trying to pass me. I went back home and put some weight in the bed but boy did I miss having those studs.

 

i used to live in rhode island myself, west warwick to be exact. i knew when winter time rolled around i'd load three 80 lbs bags of quikrete into the cargo area of my 4 door 2wd chevy tracker. i never had a spin out or traction problems in winter after that.

 

I used to use 25lb bags of #7 or #8 lead shot. They didn't take up much room and I'd use the shot for trap loads in the spring and summer.

 

my 2.7L 5 speed does the same shit, year-round, I think the clutch is funky on these. It is like a SHUDDER when you take off in first gear, no matter how much weight I have in the back.

 

There is nothing wrong with the clutch, the wheel hop is the result of one tire getting traction and the other trying to bite. While starting off in second gear will work...it will burn your clutch out fast. The person that recommende laying off the throttle is correct and adding weight to your truck will also help. Wheel hop is normal and you will not damage your truck, just don't keep hopping it. If you have an LSD (limited slip diff) you will notice it more,

 

If you can find sand tubes they are about 70lbs each, so far it has worked great for me. We have had the most snow around here, central Iowa, in years.
Around here even the convenience stores sell them. At about $4 bucks each pretty cheap weight. You wouldn't feel too bad about leaving them somewhere if needed the space.

If you store them out of the sun in the non winter months I have had them last 3-4 years. The sun will rot the material they use for teh bags.

 

Are you sure your rear shocks are still good? put the weight at the very back of the truck, sand bags work great they don't move. Put a couple hun pounds at least.