Scale question where to go.

MarshaNichols wrote:
What is the reason for weighing your RV? :h

Tow vehicles and RVs have specific parameters that they're designed to carry. If you exceed them, you increase the risk of bad things happening. Some people choose to believe that the safety ratings are extremely conservative and there's room for exceeding them; others believe that the safety ratings are exaggerated and choose to stick under them by a personal margin of error (i.e. "I don't want to exceed 80% of my tow vehicle's ratings").

I believe that the ratings are published and that's what I adhere to. I knew my camper has 3,000 pounds of cargo carrying capacity (aka******I can add to it). But what I didn't know is - how much do the 4 mattress toppers weigh, pots and pans, comforters, toys, books, TVs, grill, camp chairs, wood blocks, cases of water, food for a week, etc., etc and so on. Without weighing, I was guessing that I was under those ratings. With weighing, I was able to know exactly where I stand .

I learned some interesting things:

1. The advertised weight of the camper is a good 500 pounds lower than what my yellow sticker weight was (ok, this wasn't from weighing - this was looking at the website and then the yellow sticker on the door).

2. We've added about 1,500 pounds of "stuff" to the camper.

3. My family, our stuff and truck add-ons weigh about 1,200 pounds.

I'm under all ratings for my truck and camper.

What is the reason for weighing your RV? :h

Go to http://www.rvsafety.com

Look for a link or button (it moves around from year to year, Last time I found it it was on a banner near the top of the page) referencing weight or weighing.

We have never looked for a ticket or receipt with the weight on it.

Locally, on Southern Vancouver Island the Commercial Truck Scales are left turned on after hours. You can just pull on and get your weight. The weight is displayed on the same sign that tells truckers when to stop pull ahead next axle etc.

Going after hours gives lots of time to weight each axle and from side to side.

Allworth wrote:
Google "Cat Scales".

X2, and better yet, go to the Cat website and they'll show you how to get all the various axle/combined weights; how to weigh; what to do, etc.

Around here most places selling sand, gravel, or bulk feed have scales. Often they will let you take your time if they aren't busy. Might not even charge you if you don't need a certified receipt.

Google "Cat Scales".

Go to any Highway Patrol truck scale on the highway, pull to the side and ask if you can get a weight-wait till a lull in the big trucks. They're very agreeable but you can only get axle weights, not individual wheels. I've done it a few times, just drive thru and read your two weights on the sign and add them up for a total weight. It was also free, the best price.

belairbrian wrote:
If you want to know how much your laoding the truck axles. GO on the scale and get the weight. Pull off, unhook and go back across with just the truck. When you talk to teh scale attendant the first time they will tell you your ticket number. When you go back across tell them it is a second weigh and they will put it on the same ticket. At least that's how our CAT scale does it.

As mentioned above the cost is minimal. We were under $10 as well.

We ran in, paid and got weigh tickets each time. The ticket number was printed on it.

First weigh was $10, next ones were $2 each where we went.

Well worth the $14 to get knowledge.

If you want to know how much your laoding the truck axles. GO on the scale and get the weight. Pull off, unhook and go back across with just the truck. When you talk to teh scale attendant the first time they will tell you your ticket number. When you go back across tell them it is a second weigh and they will put it on the same ticket. At least that's how our CAT scale does it.

As mentioned above the cost is minimal. We were under $10 as well.