So what's the deal with weight stations?

Living in michigan i've never seen one open! ha!

SteveWoz wrote:
Thanks everyone! That's good news!
Follow up question: Where CAN you get a motorhome weighed in order to make sure ypur not over the GVWR, or do you just estimate how much all your stuff weighs?Thanks everione!

Some places leave the scales running in their weigh stations even when they aren't actively in use, with the readouts visible from outside. Some states don't, or gate them off, or use portable scales that are not even there when the weigh station is closed. (I suppose some weigh stations also never close).

Airdaile wrote:
Maryland is the only state I've ever stopped at a weigh station because...

8. What vehicles must go through weigh stations in Maryland?

All vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 10,000 pounds must stop at open weigh stations. Only vehicles that are operating in commerce may be subject to a safety inspection.

Note that it says all vehicles and makes a separate note about the different treatment of commercial vehicles.

Also note it doesn't say Combined gross vehicle weight. So when towing with my Dodge Ram 2500 with a GVWR of 8,900 lbs, I'm driving right past.
If you are in a Motorhome with a rating over 10K you might want to stop.

CAT Scales are everywhere and actually easy to use. Don't be intimidated by the semi-trucks, just pull on to the scale. Pull on slow and don't stop fast--it's hard on the scale equipment. The scale will have 3 sections--pull forward until the steering axle is on the final section, drive axle is on the middle section, and trailer wheels are on the first section (motor homes--make a judgement on what sections to stop on). Then step out and pick up the phone. The attendant will want to know your trucking company and truck number--I usually tell them Private and #1--but they don't care--they just need to enter something. It helps them find your ticket in a stack of tickets that other drivers haven't picked up. The attendant on the phone will tell you to pull forward--just find a place to park that doesn't impede other trucks--that about all the other drivers care about--just don't slow them down. Go inside to the "Fuel Desk"--it's usually obvious. There'll be a fee ($11 last time) to get your weight ticket. You can also, usually, re-weigh in 24 hours for a smaller fee. You need to tell them on the phone that it is a re-weigh. Re-weigh is necessary to get the hitch or pin weight. While virtually all grain elevators have a scale and most would weigh free, it's likely that they only have one platform so you couldn't get hitch or pin weight without tricks such as part of the rig off the scale. Good luck weighing!

Years ago there was a post that one of the western states had a sign that said something like "...RVs this means you" indicating that RVs had to stop. Don't remember which state, and it has likely changed. If I don't see a sign that says RVs are included (never in 14 years), I keep going.

We used to go to our local grain elevator. Their scales had the "dial" right in the window, so even after closing time, we could see what we weighed.

SteveWoz wrote:
Thanks everyone! That's good news!
Follow up question: Where CAN you get a motorhome weighed in order to make sure ypur not over the GVWR, or do you just estimate how much all your stuff weighs?Thanks everione!

My town has a garbage "transfer station" that will weigh trucks / trailers for free - just call (better yet stop in) and ask when their slow times are. If you are polite, the guys there have no problem weighing pretty much anything. Basic scale, no individual wheel scale(s).

Ask around - even a large landscape / topsoil / stone supply place may have a scale.

SteveWoz wrote:
Thanks everyone! That's good news!
Follow up question: Where CAN you get a motorhome weighed in order to make sure ypur not over the GVWR, or do you just estimate how much all your stuff weighs?Thanks everione!

Find a Cat Scale near you: Cat Scale Locator

Thanks everyone! That's good news!
Follow up question: Where CAN you get a motorhome weighed in order to make sure ypur not over the GVWR, or do you just estimate how much all your stuff weighs?Thanks everione!

Maryland is the only state I've ever stopped at a weigh station because...

8. What vehicles must go through weigh stations in Maryland?

All vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 10,000 pounds must stop at open weigh stations. Only vehicles that are operating in commerce may be subject to a safety inspection.

Note that it says all vehicles and makes a separate note about the different treatment of commercial vehicles.