Tongue weight gauge interesting

1L243 wrote:
The bathroom scale works ok if you are well under 1000 lbs. Most bathroom scales only go up to 300 lbs and if you have a lot of TW you have to keep getting further out on the bathroom scale. I was able to do it for my 1350 lbs of TW but I bent the bathroom scale.. I eventually went to a commercial scale to verify the bathroom scale method and it was pretty close.

Like most Toy Haulers, my Toy Hauler bumper pull with it 2700lbs loaded tongue, is hard on bathroom scales, even with a 8' long lever... lol

While the receiver hitch scale is a good novel idea, most/many bumper pull Toy Haulers, are unfortunately way over its max capacity.

I just weigh my rig at a local truck stop that has a CAT scale. It cost me $9.50 each time I weigh.

I have a slip I carry in the truck for empty truck with full fuel and 5th wheel in it plus the wife, dog and myself. This would be as heavy as it ever gets unloaded.

I also carry a CAT slip with the Fusion hooked up and loaded for a two week trip (as heavy as it will ever be loaded).

It is pretty easy to estimate the weight for lesser loads of water in tank or no toys onboard types of trips.

Using CAT slips tells all. I know the weight on each truck axle, the pin weight and weight on trailer axles under both loaded and empty conditions.

I also took my Fuzion straight to the scales the day we took delivery and got an empty/dry weight for it. For those of you who have never weighed your rigs, you will be amazed how fast things get heavy when you make the beds and store some supplies onboard!

popeyemth wrote:
Both of those are EXPENSIVE answers to a question that only rarely comes up for a camper.
Google " measure trailer tongue weight" for a simple way to use a box and a bathroom scale to do this virtually free.

Maybe for a 15 foot camper with a tongue weight of 300lbs. Drop my tongue on a bathroom scale and I'll show you a broken bathroom scale.

The bathroom scale works ok if you are well under 1000 lbs. Most bathroom scales only go up to 300 lbs and if you have a lot of TW you have to keep getting further out on the bathroom scale. I was able to do it for my 1350 lbs of TW but I bent the bathroom scale.. I eventually went to a commercial scale to verify the bathroom scale method and it was pretty close.

I pull the 5er onto the plastic blocks, then use the scale on a jack as close to the wheel as I can get, raise the tire enough to pull the block out, then lower it enough that the block won't fit back under the tire. It's not perfect, but it's very close and that works well enough for me. And it tells me if I have one tire or axle with more weight than the others.

I was surprised to see that the side of the Fuzion opposite the stove and refrigerator was heavier. That's the side with the biggest slide so I guess that's why.

fj12ryder wrote:
I also have one of the Sherline scales. It works great to weigh each wheel of my triple axle toyhauler. Not really that expensive when they do the job without a hitch (ba-dum-boom).

Whats your procedure for doing that?

popeyemth wrote:
Both of those are EXPENSIVE answers to a question that only rarely comes up for a camper.
Google " measure trailer tongue weight" for a simple way to use a box and a bathroom scale to do this virtually free.

I've used this method a couple of times. It's very accurate if done right, but something quicker and more simple sure would be nice!

I also have one of the Sherline scales. It works great to weigh each wheel of my triple axle toyhauler. Not really that expensive when they do the job without a hitch (ba-dum-boom).

Both of those are EXPENSIVE answers to a question that only rarely comes up for a camper.
Google " measure trailer tongue weight" for a simple way to use a box and a bathroom scale to do this virtually free.

I have one these SHERLINE SCALES in my tool box that I have used when I need to know those things.

Having one built-in to the hitch would be nice to have...



Roy Ken