In response to toyniss:
"with a locker in that situation you would have never slipped back, you would have been at a constant forward motion. "
True, with my E-lock engaged there would have been zero spin. If
I'd been driving that's what would have been done, but you know... I was referring specifically to the the G80 I saw in the video. It requires a high enough difference in rotational speeds (100-150 rpm) to generate sufficient centrifugal force to deploy the arms on the locking mechanism. That difference takes time to develop, hence the initial slip. This particular locker would have still torn up the grass a bit.
Theory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbMZ9vcYVSg
Demonstration:
Watch the RR tire spin a few times before catching.
Something interesting I noticed: Pay close attn to the LR tire and you can see it spin as torque is abruptly slammed over to it. It's hard to see, but check out the sideways movement of the truck when it happens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-rQTHMVAuw
Neat in it's own right, but I lean toward simplicity--E-lock or air lock
In response to CT Nismo:
The steep grade helps drainage, but in TN we've got this slippery clay everywhere that gets into the treads and sticks like glue. My tires ate through the topsoil and then it was spin-o-rama.
