If you have been to the scales and are subjectively looking at the numbers, be honest with yourself. What are the numbers telling you? Are you close on any of your limits.
We are all human and wish to take all the 'stuff' with us that we think we may need. In reality, 'less' is 'more'. More safe while traveling, more comfortable while driving, more piece of mind if we are truthful with ourselves about how much weight we can safely carry and how much 'stuff' we really need.
I say this from my own experience after many decades of camping. As recently as last spring we had packed for an all summer trip to Alaska. We headed out and stopped by our local CAT scales. I was 1920# over my gross combined axel weight ratings. We went home and started unloading 'stuff' that would have been good to have with us and 'stuff' that we MIGHT need.
Long story short, we headed out and drove 120 miles to the next CAT scales. I wanted a second opinion, from a different scale. The scaled weight was better, still 600# over gross, but the numbers also showed I was 600# OVER rear axle weight limit and 400# UNDER my front axle weight limit.
We went to BIL's place that was near by and made more adjustments. Took out a big grill, blocking and 1/2 of the tools I thought I might need. We took out 1/2 of our clothing with plans to hit the laundry more frequently. We moved the Honda generator off the rear bumper and put it in the hind seat. I had an extra LPG tank inside a milk crate also on the rear bumper that I left behind.
I felt comfortable with the weight we had removed and even took out 10# of air from the Firestone air bags because the rear was sitting a little high. The trip was now in motion.
After 13,000 miles driven, two oil & filter changes, and a tire rotation, which I completed myself while parked at remote locations, the trip was completed without incident. The 'stuff' we had removed was not missed. Just goes to prove my original statement, 'less' is 'more'.
No LEO checkpoints for weight were ever encountered.
Lakeside
