Weigh Station Protocol

GrouchyOldMan wrote:
Not sure where to post this,

We purchased a nice Class C last August and are still figgering things out. One big item on my list is getting tire pressure correct. I've read the info on the cab door panel and my best guess from that was 80 PSI cold. The guessing part is not knowing the fully loaded weight of the RV.

Hence, Weigh Station Protocol questions:

- Can any vehicle use the scales?

No. for commercial vehicles only. Having said that, if closed you can use it (and look through the window at the weight because they never shut off the scale sensors as a rule), done that many times..

- They often seem to be closed, does that mean you can't weigh or just that they won't record/report on commercial traffic?

- If they are open, do you just drive up and get in line?

You are non-commercial. You don't ever need to weigh

- Does it cost to weigh?

Don't go in. You might get inspected and you don't want that...

And, finally, do the truckers get pissed at sharing the line with a silly little RV?

Why should they? Truckers don't like Chickenhouses anyway.

Perhaps I'm not the only Newbie who is wondering about this so, thanks in advance,

-Grouchy

No problem

Don't know where you live, but they don't want you in the weigh stations around here. Many truck stops have CAT scales for you to weigh. Costs about $10 to weigh. The link to find the closest CAT scale is HERE.

X2^^. Stay out of the state operated weigh stations with your RV. If you want a good weight with numbers for steer and drive axles, go to a CAT scale at a truck stop and pay $11 (we did this just yesterday and do it a couple of times a year).

Rob

When you go to the local CAT scale try to do it loaded as close to your normal traveling weights as possible. Go online and get the load/inflation tables for the tires on your coach and inflate accordingly. Do not blindly just use the numbers on the door sticker as they are rarely correct for your particular load.

Over inflating the front tires is very dangerous as it reduces the contact patch and causes your steering to be loose. Passing trucks will reek havoc and windy days will not be much fun. If your coach is properly loaded you will have approximately one-third of your weight on the front axle but this varies from coach to coach. Check your coaches max front and rear axle loads as it is important to never overload either axle and a trip to the scale is the only way to know for sure.

Good luck.

:C

When the weigh station is open, you're best to stay away. Neither the truckers nor the DOT employees would particularly appreciate you being there, generally speaking.

Some states/locations leave the scales running with the display visible on the outside when the weigh station is closed. If that's the case where you are, you should be able to drive up at that point and check the weight for free without causing any ire.

As was mentioned, CAT scales or the equivalent are also an option. While they're not too hard to find in most areas, there are some places (like where I am) where the nearest one is quite some distance away.

The door sticker is usually for the maximum axle loadings. Often on an E-450 the rears would be at 80 psi and the fronts a little lower, the exact amount varying somewhat from year to year as the chassis ratings have changed. It's often a good bet that a typical class C is close enough to the chassis load limit that these are not terrible numbers to go with, at least initially.

Err, no need to stay out of state weigh stations if they are closed, or if they aren't busy. Yes, there are some states that frown on you using the scales if they are busy, and I don't. But most will readily accommodate you. You see, it's a SAFETY issue and no one in their right mind is going to hassle you about trying to be safe with a 20,000-40,000 pound vehicle by getting it weighed.

Couple ways to do it.

When closed, just drive in and weigh your right front, the scale displays are put where you can see them and nearly always left on, write that down, move the right rears onto the scale, write that down, now circle around (or just back up if you can) and do it again so you weigh your front axle, than rear axle. Later you can do the math so you have a four corner weigh. (Not all weigh stations are built to accommodate 4 corner weighing).

When open, but not crowded. Park somewhere, walk over and ask if it's ok if you weigh. 90% of the time they'll say fine. Just do the front axle, than the rear. Don't attempt the 4 corner weigh. If the place is open but empty, just drive right up to and onto the scales, the guys will just wave at you. Write down your weights and off you go.

I often see RV'ers weighing their rigs on weekends when most of the state weigh stations are closed. But I travel during the week mostly so I'll usually look for that occasional 'closed' station rather than the open ones.

Great info guys, thanks.

Someone please explain the whole CAT scale thing? Why do the truck stops have them?

The CAT Scale location finder website it totally cool, thanks for that kzspree320! Bookmarked for future use.

Does everyone do that four corner weighing deal? can't I just weigh the whole rig at once?

Mr. G. O. M.,

You can certainly weigh the whole coach but that will not help you with four corner weighing to get the correct tire pressure.

I found a moving company with our previous coach that allowed me to do 'four-corner' weighing on their scales for about $12.

On our current coach, I was at a Prevost seminar at a service facility that weighed the coach for me. They had the type of lift where they roll up the machine to each axle location (6 machines) that lift the coach all at the same time.

I recorded each wheel weight, subtracted the machine weight of 360 lbs. per position to get my actual corner weight.

Our max. axle weights are:
Front: 19,000 lbs.
Drive: 22,500 lbs.
Tag: 14,000 lbs.
Total--55,500 lbs.

I was a little over when I had a full tank of fuel (230 gallons) and full fresh water (189 gallons), so I adjusted on how much water I carry. I quickly become under weight once I burn some fuel.

I see the CAT scales at most fueling stations and used them a couple of time with the previous coach just to see how much the whole coach weighed. I was at just over 40,000 lbs. on that coach.

I would assume the reason CAT scales are located at fuel stations is that it is easy for the truckers to weigh after picking up a load to see if they are in compliance. I would think they want to see if they are legal before going through a weigh station. Unless I'm missing something, I'm sure a 'trucker' will pop in to explain the scales.

Safe travels,
MM.

fuel stations.. and CAT... are calibrated... and right on the weight receipt.. is legal for IN COURT use.

a truck going into a State Scale... being overweight.. is given a FINE on the spot..
and if really overweight may NEED to call company for a second truck and hand off loaded on the side of the state weight station. ( NOT COMMON )


Anyone.. if this no longer Fact.. please correct me... OLD SCHOOL.

I weight my truck and travel trailer as I depart for our "LONG" trip... so once a year.

We took a driving course. They said DO NOT GO THROUGH STATE WEIGH STATIONS. I'm just going from what we were told but if you are overweight through a station they can treat you just like one of the trucks and park you until you are legal. Not an experience that I want to have.