wheel hop in fresh snow

[aprez27]

Ice buildup on the calipers, or drums?

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[ShadowsPapa]

Won't cause wheel hop and if the brakes have been used, the ice disappears. Wheel hop is the "jumping" of the differential or whole axle assembly. It makes the thing feel like it's jumping and in some cases it does sort of literally jump as far as the axle is concerned. Brakes aren't going to cause that as you are trying to go in the snow (or sand) and not stop.
You can actually see it when the big rigs go through deep snow and when some kid with poor traction in his hot car tries to show off and the back end jumps around.

It's caused by axle wrap in leaf spring vehicles and bushing deflection and spring bow in others.
It's literally caused by excessive torque for conditions vs. traction - worse in diesels, and it happens when the tires grip, let loose, grip, let loose, and the bushings compress, expand, compress, expand, in rapid succession

Here's a better description than I can write out off the top of my head -
Bushing deflection sets in motion an oscillation that occurs throughout the entire rear suspension. The condition is somewhat common on cars with independent rear suspensions, but it can occur on cars with live axles, too, particularly those that use coil springs and control arms.
You compress one side of a bushing, it can only take so much, and it rebounds, is compressed again, rebounds, over and over as tires grip, let go, grip, let go, and things bounce.
Happens in Ford, Dodge trucks, I've even heard of people complain about it in Wranglers.

The shock over the differential may help - there's got to be a reason for it being there, or being sold in the parts listings.
Otherwise, if you don't mind a harsh ride, go poly bushings and deal with the downside of those!

 

[Trailman]

Some good info here, thanks all. I've experienced this many times in CO. Usually starts around 8" powder, particularly if I'm the first to break trail. I've turned around a few times because I couldn't proceed in a way that go it under control. Locking the rear helps a little but not when they're both slipping in tandem.

I haven't put chains on to proceed, but I imagine that would knock it out? If the problem is "slip-catch-slip-catch" the chains should mostly eliminate the issue. (I'm talking big beefy ones with spikes.)

 

[Rocksalt]

Won't cause wheel hop and if the brakes have been used, the ice disappears. Wheel hop is the "jumping" of the differential or whole axle assembly. It makes the thing feel like it's jumping and in some cases it does sort of literally jump as far as the axle is concerned. Brakes aren't going to cause that as you are trying to go in the snow (or sand) and not stop.
You can actually see it when the big rigs go through deep snow and when some kid with poor traction in his hot car tries to show off and the back end jumps around.

It's caused by axle wrap in leaf spring vehicles and bushing deflection and spring bow in others.
It's literally caused by excessive torque for conditions vs. traction - worse in diesels, and it happens when the tires grip, let loose, grip, let loose, and the bushings compress, expand, compress, expand, in rapid succession

Here's a better description than I can write out off the top of my head -
Bushing deflection sets in motion an oscillation that occurs throughout the entire rear suspension. The condition is somewhat common on cars with independent rear suspensions, but it can occur on cars with live axles, too, particularly those that use coil springs and control arms.
You compress one side of a bushing, it can only take so much, and it rebounds, is compressed again, rebounds, over and over as tires grip, let go, grip, let go, and things bounce.
Happens in Ford, Dodge trucks, I've even heard of people complain about it in Wranglers.

The shock over the differential may help - there's got to be a reason for it being there, or being sold in the parts listings.
Otherwise, if you don't mind a harsh ride, go poly bushings and deal with the downside of those!

check out the Ram forums.. tgey have coil suspension and theyget wheel hop

 

[81Mojave]

ShadowsPapa, well stated above.
Chains can help so can greatly increases you wheel speed but usually is better to lower the traction demand by backing off.
I’m not Shute I like the extra damper on the diff, though I’m interested in your opinion / experience when you get it. I can’t imagine it not having unintended consequences in the way my Mojave suspension works.
I’d like to try to replace as little bushings over to poly until it’s not so easy to induce the wheel hop.
It’s to easy to induce in the right conditions, I can see stopping you because no matter how much I slipped the clutch it keep happening.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

check out the Ram forums.. tgey have coil suspension and theyget wheel hop

I know. I even stated as much.
I mentioned Ford and Dodge trucks - Ram is Dodge, Jeep Gladiators have modified Ram rear suspension.
And I said this:
"............it can occur on cars with live axles, too, particularly those that use coil springs and control arms."

 

[Rocksalt]

I know. I even stated as much.
I mentioned Ford and Dodge trucks - Ram is Dodge, Jeep Gladiators have modified Ram rear suspension.
And I said this:
"............it can occur on cars with live axles, too, particularly those that use coil springs and control arms."

I missed that part

 

[Gvsukids]

Add weight.

 

[Rocksalt]

Add weight.

have 120 lbs sand bags in bed

 

[Mash5]

I had it some under similar conditions but it was manageable. More or less throttle always seemed to find a spot that worked. I was a bit surprised because I always figured it was a property of leaf spring suspension.

 

[aprez27]

I only got wheel hop when I tried to spin the tires.

 

[MrJeep]

Op, did you notice any difference as the snow consistency or depth changed?
You know how the Alaskan natives have 50 words for snow or something? I've always noticed wheel hop in very specific types of snow probably due to the dynamics that @ShadowsPapa mentioned. I haven't experienced it in the gladiator but the TJ would always get it when a 5-10" deep snow had very slightly melted but not compressed all the way to a packed snow. If it only happens in certain snow then maybe it's not a problem that you can do much about. It's like a weird dynamic of the snow type, tire tread and all the other factors SP mentioned.

 

[dcmdon]

Had the same wheel hop experience here. Deep fresh snow, at least 12" on a paved 40 degree hill from a dead stop. Did not have ETC or ESC disabled.

I got significant wheel hop this weekend when trying to go fast down a snowy trail with 6+ inches of snow. It was b ad enough that I had to back off.

Traction and stability control were disabled. It did this with the rear axle both open and locked.

 

[MrJeep]

Ok I just googled the crap out of this for my own curiosity.
Wheel hop happens when the tires gain and lose traction in rapid succession.
I think what happens is the tire digs down, finds better traction on the actual ground and then launches itself into the snow (snow built up in front of tire makes a ramp) loses traction again rapidly then digs down again and the cycle repeats. This would explain why snow type and depth really matter as well as tire tread type. I don't see a way to avoid it other than swapping for tracks, being heavy enough to always be touching the ground, or deep enough snow you can't hit the ground? Though that last one has its own issues.

 

[dcmdon]

Ok I just googled the crap out of this for my own curiosity.
Wheel hop happens when the tires gain and lose traction in rapid succession.
I think what happens is the tire digs down, finds better traction on the actual ground and then launches itself into the snow (snow built up in front of tire makes a ramp) loses traction again rapidly then digs down again and the cycle repeats. This would explain why snow type and depth really matter as well as tire tread type. I don't see a way to avoid it other than swapping for tracks, being heavy enough to always be touching the ground, or deep enough snow you can't hit the ground? Though that last one has its own issues.

More damping solves this. but then you compromise other areas of drive and handling. So its a trade off unless you had an electronic damper (Like the ford Raptor) that has software that can sense it and shut it down.

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