Weight at a truck stop

fcooper wrote:
Here's what I did several years ago, but I think it still applies at most truck stops.

Drive your rig onto the scales. You will probably find 3 scale platforms. Get your front axle on the forward platform, your rear coach wheels on the middle platform, and the toad (if attached) on the rear platform. Find the intercom on the pole at driver side of scale (positioned so driver can reach it from the cab). Push the button and when answered tell them you are a private motorhome to be weighed. When they tell you to come in and pay drive off, park, and pay. If the scale platforms are level with the surrounding pavement and you want individual wheel position weights, tell them you want a reweigh when you pay for the first weight. Drive back on the scale with only one side of the unit on the scales and repeat the process. The reweigh is a minimum charge. With these results you can calculate your individual wheel position weights.

This only works if the scale platform is level with the surrounding pavement, and there is no barrier to prevent positioning the coach appropriate for weighing only one side.

Fred

I always have a broom stick or similar ready, in order to reach the intercom button on the pole. Have never been able to reach it by arm from my drivers window.

michbill,
I haven't been through that many truck stops to give you good advice but, of the ones I have, many have been different in the outside layout. The one I actually used was a truck re-fueling station at Seven Feathers RV Resort and Casino in Oregon. I was fueling the coach and noticed the scales alongside the store. There was no kiosk or, pole or any form of communications on the outside. So, while the wife continued to fuel the coach, I walked inside and asked IF, it was possible for my coach and toad to get weighed and, what would be the cost.

Well, the nice lady behind the counter said it was perfectly ok for us to use the scales and, it would be $7.50 for the certificate. I said great. So, after we finished fueling, we pulled directly onto the scales. The only sign we saw was an LED red and green light at the end. It stayed green until I had the entire coach and toad, correctly positioned on the scale.

Then it went red. Then it went green again. Obviously it meant I was done and time to move off the scale. I then parked the rig and went inside to collect the certificate and, pay the lady. That certificate told me the weight of the front, the rear, combined and, the toads individual weight too.

On one truck scale at a rest stop several years ago, I pulled off the freeway and onto it, a great big ELECTRONIC SIGN said, "move forward" then STOP. Then, that same sign simply spit out the numbers, front, back, combined. So, there's different ways in different circumstances.

Now, if you want to get it weighed at home. There's a couple of ways to do it. One, call or find a local refuse disposal area in your neighborhood and talk to them about getting your coach weighed. Another is, find a moving and Van outfit that may be near you. Most of them have certified scales too. I've used both, several times. The one refuse and recycle establishment at our area in So CAL was $13.50 for the certificate and, the "Mayflower" brand moving outfit charged $6.50 for theirs. So, hope this helps some.
Scott

Some large truck stations offering weighing (Black Cat) are specifically constructed to only weigh by axles, not individual wheels.
This kind of limited weight information is better than nothing, as starting point. The goal for any new RV owner is to weigh at each wheel to make sure your load is balanced and within manuf limits.
There are many resources available to do this but usually not convenient.
I've had mine done at FMCA rallys, some have talked a state weighing station into getting it done by wheel. Some larger truck repair centers will do it for a fee, etc.

As above, or go inside if you can't reach the call switch to the check out counter & talk with the attendant first, they will guide you through the process.

Here's what I did several years ago, but I think it still applies at most truck stops.

Drive your rig onto the scales. You will probably find 3 scale platforms. Get your front axle on the forward platform, your rear coach wheels on the middle platform, and the toad (if attached) on the rear platform. Find the intercom on the pole at driver side of scale (positioned so driver can reach it from the cab). Push the button and when answered tell them you are a private motorhome to be weighed. When they tell you to come in and pay drive off, park, and pay. If the scale platforms are level with the surrounding pavement and you want individual wheel position weights, tell them you want a reweigh when you pay for the first weight. Drive back on the scale with only one side of the unit on the scales and repeat the process. The reweigh is a minimum charge. With these results you can calculate your individual wheel position weights.

This only works if the scale platform is level with the surrounding pavement, and there is no barrier to prevent positioning the coach appropriate for weighing only one side.

Fred