Need help at weigh station

Everything you ever wanted to know about weighing Cat Scale info

buck n duck wrote:
Is there anyway to get individual axle weights on TT? Or is that important? How likely is someone to overload one side or axle on the TT? Could I have too much weight on a single tire and it is overloaded?

Yes but it will require a 4th weight and some help from the DW or somebody. Just pull on the scales until the trailer axles are each on a pad. This is where you may need help as it is difficult to see if each is on a pad and not bridging a pad.

Do this with the WD engaged as that is how it will be when towing and you are interested if the weights are near even and less than tire capacity.

If it is a single pad scale just stop with front axle of trailer on the scale then pull forward where everything is on the scale. That is what I do as I use the scale at my local garbage transfer station. They let me do this if they are not real busy at no cost.

Is there anyway to get individual axle weights on TT? Or is that important? How likely is someone to overload one side or axle on the TT? Could I have too much weight on a single tire and it is overloaded?

And bring a broomstick ,that intercom button is sometimes a long way up there.

First thing is to either call them or visit them with your 'car' and ask them
how much and if that is for each pass or three...if they know what it is all about
they should have a 'package deal' allowing you to make three passes within 'one'
day or more

Then the min of three passes...as you might find that you need some adjustments
and/or move stuff around...to re-weight it again


{edit}...please post back the actual weights and what you had to do
if anything to re-adjust. Plus the GVWR, F/R GAWR, GCWR and the GVWR
of your trailer...along with the brochure tongue weight & 'dry' weight

That would be a good basis for others who will read this thread

Three Passes that RCMAN listed with 3 pads. You want each axle on the truck separate weight, and TT axles combined.

Truck alone
Truck with trailer tongue on ball
Truck with trailer with WDH.

That will tell you where you stand with respect to all your ratings, as well as how tongue weight and how well the WDH is adjusted.

Depending on how busy the scale is, you may just be able do all three without moving the truck/trailer.

This is how I do it. I am not a big fan of unhooking my fiver in a truck stop lot.

At some point while traveling, and full of fuel I weigh my combination. Generally I will go inside after fueling and tell them I am a RVer and I want to run my rig across the scale. They will tell me to go ahead and come back inside for the ticket.

Take it across, they will provide directions on intercom while on the scale. Then park and go inside, pay your $10.00, and get your weigh ticket.

I go on with my travels. It could be that afternoon, or it could be in a week, but when I am unhooked at a CG I will weigh the truck just by itself. I make sure I have just fueled up.

Doing it this way actually costs you the $10.00 two times, but to me it is worth it not having to unhook and hook back up in a truck stop parking lot.

You're going to get a lot of opinions on how and what to do.

If you'd prefer to keep it simple for your first weigh . . . at the very minimum, I would pull onto the scales and weigh everything (including yourself, passengers, and all your gear, water, propane, etc.). You want to replicate how your rig will be loaded if you were actually on the road. After pulling onto the scales, the weigh station should give you three readings: the weight on the 1) front and 2) rear axles of your TV (tow vehicle), and the weight on the 3) trailer's axles. Make sure the weight on each axle (front and rear) of your TV doesn't exceed the GAWR (gross axle weight rating) for EACH axle as shown on the door jam sticker of your TV. You'll also want to add the TV's front and rear axle weights together to make sure this number does not exceed the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of your TV, also noted on the door jam sticker of your TV. Lastly, you'll want to make sure the weight on the trailer's axles don't exceed the trailer's total rated GAWR (usually noted on a sticker located on the left, front of the trailer).

Several posters have already given you some excellent advice on how to get even more detailed info. However, this is the minimum necessary to make sure you and your rig are safe.

To get everything you want do three weighings.

First with trailer hitched and WD active. Weigh each axle. Truck front, Truck rear and trailer.

Next disable the WD and again weigh each axle.

Last go somewhere the trailer can be safely unhitched and then weigh the truck only. Again each axle.

When done you should have 8 different weights.

If you are using a scale with only one pad then do this.

First time with WD active front truck axle only, then both truck axles and last truck and trailer. From these three weights each axle can be calculated. Then the same with WD disabled and the truck only.

You will stay hooked up. As you pull on you will see the sections of the scale. One for your front tires, one for your rear tires and one for the TT or 5er tires. They will have intercom usually if it works anyway. just tell them it's private weigh and they will tell when to pull off. Go park out of the way. Go get your ticket and pay. it will show front axle, rear, and TT.

You should be able to drop your rig out of the way and do a re weigh of just the tow vehicle. Do the math for the rear axle weight and it will tell you your pin weight or tongue weight.

Dont worry about it, you are new and we all are at some time.