Help Deciphering CAT Scale Weights
Hi all, New to the forum, and to RVing. I want to make sure my WDH is adjusted properly. I took my rig and travel trailer (TT) to the scales this past weekend and did three passes: first was hooked...
Forum Discussion
RobWNY wrote:
I'm confused how you lost 20 pounds completely using WDH bars (14,140 compared to 14,160 for the other two weight rating passes).
The specs for scales provide an error tolerance. 20lb is nothing on a truck (and yes, they typically error on the conservative side as truckers get upset if they get an over weight ticket). So with slightly different placement of the vehicle, a little fuel used or other minor changes, it may come up slightly different but still well within spec for the scale.
In the non-WDH, loading the rear axle picks up more weight because some of the front axle weight is moving back to the rear axle (think of the rear axle as the center of a teeter tautter. That also moves more of the trailer weight to the hitch for similar reasons (harder to explain as force distribution is a little more complicated as the WDH is applying a moment arm in the opposite direction around the hitch). This is perfectly normal. I don't have the stationary scale specs but I just checked and for weigh-in-motion systems I work with, the top spec allows 6%+- for GVW. Stationary has closer tolerances but still you aren't going to get it down to the nearest ounce.
Looks like you are about 180lb over on the rear axle. I don't think you can reasonably just crank down harder on the torsion bars to make that up.
I'm coming up with 840lb hitch weight (7400-6560 = 840) and 11% (840/7400). So I would be hesitant to shift weight to the back of the trailer to reduce hitch weight or you could create a sway issue.
Do you have cargo in the rear of the truck that could be moved to the trailer (without exceeding the trailer GVWR). Cargo in the rear of the truck is almost 100% going on the rear axle.
You can check details on the individual rear suspension parts and see what is creating the limitation on the RAWR. The Expedition is likely different but the F250 and F350 (SRW) were for many years identical except for the spring pack, so if you upgraded the springs, you effectively got a F350 (not in legal terms but in practical terms).
What the GVWR on your truck? I did a quick check online and it looks like 7300lb but you are at 7580lb already but you might have a different model from what I found.
