Tongue Scale

rbpru wrote:
The question is what can you do about tongue weight?

I have little control over how the weight is distributed. If I am under my max cargo I am good to go.

Maybe you don't but I do ... move cargo around, even relocated the spare tire until I got what I wanted ... and I know what that is because I have a Sherline that tells me. :)

If I was really interest in my TT tongue weight, I would use a pair of bathroom scales and a 4x4.

Your choice, I've done it too, but a Sherline is easier and quicker. :B

The question is what can you do about tongue weight?

I drive my rig to the scales, I weight all three axels. I come back and weigh the truck alone. I now know how much weight difference there is on each axle for that trip. I know the tongue weight my truck sees for that trip.

The true TT tongue weight is offset by the WD hitch, and how heavy the TT is loaded. That number varies buy a couple of hundred pounds during a trip or between a short trip and a month long journey.

My TT is designed so the food goes in the pantry, the pot and pans go in the kitchen cabinet, the fresh water tank is over the axels, and the camping stuff goes into the front storage. I have little control over how the weight is distributed. If I am under my max cargo I am good to go.

For reference my brochure says my TT's dry tongue weight is 406 lbs. the CAT scales show the loaded TT adds 750 lbs. to my truck.

If I was really interest in my TT tongue weight, I would use a pair of bathroom scales and a 4x4.

I bought a Sherline used on eBay and use it occasionally. It isn't mandatory that you have one.

I like having one but if money is tight don't buy one yourself.

I bought a Sherline when we first started looking at used trailers. I knew that I had a limit on the payload I could have. We used it many times when shopping and now perhaps once per year.

The local RV guy had one in his truck. I stopped and asked him and he took it out, set it on the ground, and said go for it. I unhooked checked the weight and said thank you. Didn't cost anything but a tip. It was close to what I thought and never checked it again.

I just go a truck stop and use the scale there.

http://learntorv.com/how-to-weigh-a-travel-trailer/

I've got a Sherline LM2000 and do use it at least once at the beginning of each season to confirm my average gross tongue weight.



I think my only mistake in buying it was choosing one with a 2000 lb scale ... since I'll never own any trailer with a gross tongue weight exceeding 1000 lbs I should have bought the LM1000. Yeah, I could retrofit a 1K scale but using it just once a season it's not important enough to justify the expense ... and it is more accurate than using a bathroom scale. :)

weight the truck... then weight the truck and trailer......

cat scale charge $10.50 for a scale and a second one within 24 hours is free..

so it cost you $10.50...

minus the truck from the truck and trailer..
and the Cat scales are calibrated for Legal (court) use..

I'll wager 95% of all TT owners don't have one.

My opinion? "one and done". My current camper has never been weighed. If it tows nice and you've got no problems, then why bother with an expense like that.

If you really must know, go to your local Ford Dealership. See if they have a floor jack with scales built in, or some kind of scales. Then simply take the camper over and borrow it right there in the parking lot. Save the $135.

If not, check with your local RV dealership and just borrow theirs right there in the parking lot. A good dealer will let you use it, if you are right there.