Weighing your TC for an accurate measurement?
How do you weigh your truck camper for an accurate measurement for total weight and axle weights on a public scale?
Forum Discussion
It does depend on the type of scale.
The CAT scales are very good. They have to be because if a trucker gets an overweight ticket (and they are expensive) after checking at the CAT scale, they will come back and be all over the scale owner. If anything, they may show you slightly heavier than you actually are (if they show a trucker they are right at the limit but actually 500lb below...no risk of a ticket)
Public scales...depends.
- Stationary scales used for enforcement will be very accurate also and they will be calibrated regularly. They need this in case a ticket is fought to prove to the court that the scale numbers are accurate. The only concern is...the calibration typically is based on commercial trucks. A little truck camper may not be outside the calibration parameters.
- Weigh-In-Motion...depends greatly on why it was put in place. High speed ones can have quite a bit of variation, Type II can have +-30% axle and +-15% GVW and still be in spc. You likely won't have access to the data from these anyway. These are used for statistical purposes not enforcement. The low speed ones fairly accurate but not enough to get detect 50-100lb overweight situation. Type III WIM are +-6% for GVW but an axle can be +-15%. Also they are really intended for commercial trucks. The validation doesn't include passenger vehicles, so take it with a grain of salt.
The CAT scales are very good. They have to be because if a trucker gets an overweight ticket (and they are expensive) after checking at the CAT scale, they will come back and be all over the scale owner. If anything, they may show you slightly heavier than you actually are (if they show a trucker they are right at the limit but actually 500lb below...no risk of a ticket)
Public scales...depends.
- Stationary scales used for enforcement will be very accurate also and they will be calibrated regularly. They need this in case a ticket is fought to prove to the court that the scale numbers are accurate. The only concern is...the calibration typically is based on commercial trucks. A little truck camper may not be outside the calibration parameters.
- Weigh-In-Motion...depends greatly on why it was put in place. High speed ones can have quite a bit of variation, Type II can have +-30% axle and +-15% GVW and still be in spc. You likely won't have access to the data from these anyway. These are used for statistical purposes not enforcement. The low speed ones fairly accurate but not enough to get detect 50-100lb overweight situation. Type III WIM are +-6% for GVW but an axle can be +-15%. Also they are really intended for commercial trucks. The validation doesn't include passenger vehicles, so take it with a grain of salt.
