noise in rear end

Recently I started to smell gear oil when I parked my truck at work. I dismissed it as being someone else car leaking in the parking lot. Today while driving to work in the fresh fallen snow I heard a loud noise when my tires broke traction several times. Thinking the worst I called the dealership and they are taking my truck in tomorrow to see what is going on. I dont see any oil leaks and the driveway has no stains from a leak. I was at a loss as to what the noise was.
I did not mention that I am hearing impaired.
This evening I took the truck back out in the snow and spun the tires and realized what I think I am hearing is snow hitting the the plastic bed and fender liners. Duh! With all that plastic back there it does not sound like snow hitting metal like my other cars did under the same circumstances. And my hearing is bad on top of it.
I am still taking it in to the shop tomorrow because its time for its service check anyway and also will let them rule out any problems. It did pass the rear end recall 6 months ago.

Im just curious if anyone else has noticed how noisy the plastic beds are in these Tacoma's?
It sucks when I can hear things I shouldn't and not the things I need to.

 

I have bad hearing as well (ear infections as a kid, metal band for several years and guns). The road noise I get varies a lot based on weather and road conditions, plus I have had rattles I think (knocks on wood) have solved

 

You are hearing the abs pump and traction control working. Look at your dash...youll see a flashing traction control light. The ABS pump is very loud

 

You can verify this by deliberately slamming on the brakes in the snow (at a safe speed). You should hear a similar noise

 

In reference to the smell of gear oil...are you plowing the rear end through snow?

 

Its never good to have noise in your rear end

 

What pjenson641 said is interesting. The noise startled me and I had no idea what it was. I will pay more attention the next time and watch my dash when it happens. I have driven the truck in the snow previously and did not hear any noise but then again I never lost traction. As for the gear oil smell the dealership ruled out any leaks today but did not offer any explanations either. Just said everything is OK. Im back to thinking it was someone else car parked beside my truck I was smelling.
When you have a hearing loss you can still hear things but they sound different to me than they would to you. I liked Fett85 comments as well. My hearing loss came from working under a trim system that sounded like a jet engine in the printing plant I worked at for 19 years. Judas Priest, Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold didnt help any either.