Truck scales/individual wheel weights

[jillhop]

I've been trying to find someplace to weigh my rig that will do individual wheel weights. All of the public truck scales in my area (like CAT scales) just do axle and gross vehicle weights. Do you call landscapers, movers, or ?? looking for a scale? I just put 6 new tires on my "new" 1998 Coachmen, and I'd like to maintain them properly and be safe!

[j-d]

Good on YOU! Many NEVER weigh and here you go! Anybody with a legal-for-trade scale. Moving/storage company, scrap yard, maybe a feed store... I just went CAT and the one I used has rails that will not allow driving off the edge. Just went through the log I kept on our first Class C, a 24-ft Holiday Rambler on E350. I got 4-corner weights on that one. Hoped I could show you the differences across the axles. Didn't find the notes. Neighbor worked for a scale company and brought one home like the DOT uses for spot inspections. About 3-ft square, made of thick aluminum. With handles that are supposed to make it "portable" but it was heavy. Trying to think of who might have a portable scale. AhHa! Call a scale company. They should know which of the scales they service could be gotten up onto with just one corner of your coach. Neighbor worked for Dickey Scales, but it seems they were a FL-only outfit. Mettler Toledo (MT.com) might be able to guide you.

[jillhop]

I took it to a CAT scale and had total and axle weights on the day I picked the rig up (basically empty). Once I get my stuff into it, I'll reweigh, but I wanted to do the wheel weights if possible when I'm loaded. There is a truck stop not too far away that I think does DOT inspections, so I'll call them and see, otherwise I'll try the wheels-off CAT weight. Thanks for the ideas/info!

[j-d]

Get a CAT Scale weight NOW and fine tune it later. Unless your coach is really odd, or loaded very strangely, you won't have what Michelin wants to check for with four-corner weights. Namely, an Overloaded Corner.
The LT225/75R16E tires on most C's will support 9880-lb as rear duals. Michelin would specify that for "Truck" weights but they've found RV's more likely to be loaded unevenly. Say your rear axle is rated 9500-lb, which still calls for 80-psi at full rated load. FORD would like you to not go over 4750 on either side. Michelin would be happy up to 4940. Corner Weights (Michelin's RV chart) help you make sure that an Axle within weight rating is not overloaded on one end. But you still inflate BOTH ENDS to the higher corner weight. Michelin makes that clear.
Get Axle Weights and you've done more than most RVers. Adjust weight based on that and you are TPE. Tire Pressure Elite. FRONT tire pressure has more effect on Class C handling than you'd ever imagine.

[PghBob]

At a number of the big RV club events like FMCA or Escapees you can get your wheels weighed individually. That's where I had our RV done. Check if there are any events in your area, and take it there. I don't believe you have to pay for the entire event if just getting the rig weighed.

[HappyKayakers]

There are companies that will do individual wheel weights, like this one: http://rvsafety.com/weighing-schedule/

[shawdowboss]

The other if you cannot use a CAT scale, see if a local quarry or elevator has a flat scale you can drive with one side on and is willing to help you out. You'd want to make sure to mention that you'd come at a time they are not busy and are willing to wait when they get trucks in. It should only take 5-10 minutes max.

Last option because it can be costly is to go to a truck shop that does DOT inspections. A lot of them have individual wheel scales so they don't have to run to a local scale to do their certifications. Those are very accurate to what's on each axle end, and/or tire depending on the scale setup they have.

[We_Cant_Wait]

Sometime you can still get a wheel weigh at a CAT scale. Look at the scale and if there is no rail along the side and the ground there is flat you can drive on the scale with the right side tires OFF the scale, this will give you the left side tire weigh. Then do a re-weigh with the whole MH on the scale for a total weight. The subtract the first weights by axle from the gross weights this will then give you the right side weights.