To weigh or not to weigh

[riven1950]

Ok, I have a 2004 f150, 4x4, 4.6l with tow pkg. Am towing an Aerolite 718d with a supposed dry weight of 3050 lbs. There are only 2 of us and we travel pretty light, so I am not really concerned about weight issues and it tows fine in the flats, will find out in next few weeks about the hills.

My questions are: 1: Folks are always talking about weighing their rigs. Since I live in a more rural non-industrial area I am trying to figure out were everyone goes to get their weights. Thought I would do it out of curiosity next time we get all loaded up. Closest CW or similar is like 35 miles. No big truck stops close by.

2: How do you get an accurate hitch weight?

3: Next trip will be to NC mountains. Anyone know of a place between Holden Beach NC and Asheville via 74 to Charlotte, then on to Hendersonville, Asheville were there is a convenient place to stop and get weighed?

Sorry if this is a duplicate...I know there is a million post out there on weighing / weights.

[NC_Hauler]

..Like I stated, if you're on I26 going toward Hendersonville, when you pass the Asheville Airport Exit, and before you get to the Mountain home exit, you'll see a truck stop on your right....should be on your way to wherever you're heading in the Hendersonville area..

[riven1950]

Thanks so much for the info. Hate to make a special trip ( 40 miles to a bigger town ) to do this so will try and do it on my upcoming trip to the mountains. That way we will be loaded and get a realistic picture of our situation. We do have a landfill scale and I have been over it many times with a utility trailer but they are always very busy and it's a bad dusty road so not a good place to try and weigh my tt ...in my opinion.

[Dennis_M_M]

Almost every truck stop has a CAT scale that will give you three weights: front axle, rear axle, and trailer axle(s) on one pass.

Weigh the entire rig once, then drop the trailer and weigh just the tow vehicle. The second weigh is usually no charge.

You can calculate the hitch weight from there. Weight of TV with trailer (front+rear axles) minus weight of TV w/o trailer = hitch or pin weight.

If you are not sure of the weighing procedure, park and inquire at the fuel desk. They will fill you in.

[JIMNLIN]

jason4598 wrote:
Scales are sometimes available at grain elevators, quarries, and landfills.

and a area feed store that has their own mill may have a platform scale.
Also we have a scrap steel recycling yard down the road with scales.

Moving van warehouse can have a scale. Some may or may not charge for the use of their scales. There is scale etiquette such as don't stab the brakes or go pedal when stopping and starting while on the scales. Sitting with the foot on the brake and tranny in gear can give a faulty axle weight. Put'r in park.

These are generally a single platform type scale.

1st scale run.
(1.)I drive my trucks front wheels on as far as possible for front axle weight. (2.)Then drive the truck all the way on for a gross weight. Subtract front axle weight from gross weight = rear axle weight.

2nd scale run.
With the trailer hooked up just repeat steps 1 and 2 above.

(3.) then pull forward till all wheels are on the scales for your gross combined (truck and trailer).

All the numbers you will give you the math for the trucks front and rear axles weight and the weight the trailers axle are carrying.

[NC_Hauler]

Sorry about that, I meant to answer how to check trailer tongue weight and copied the below WITH PICTURES to try to help, but pictures didn't show...

I just Googled, "How to check Travel Trailer Tongue weight....hope it'll help, sure there are some in here with simpler instructions and pictures...

Determining Trailer Tongue Weight
In order to select the correct components to safely tow your trailer, you need to know its tongue weight. This is the weight that the fully loaded trailer exerts downward on the hitch ball of the tow vehicle. If you don't know the tongue weight of your trailer, there are several different ways you can determine it.

Tongue weight scale
Bathroom scale
Commercial scale

Remember, if you intend to use a weight distribution system, you will want to keep in mind the weight of the contents that you will carry in your vehicle behind the rear axle. You need to know this because the spring bars, which provide the support in a weight distribution system are available in different sizes. And any weight that is located behind your rear axle affects the performance of the spring bars. You will need to include this weight so you can select spring bars of the proper size for your vehicle and trailer.




Tongue Weight Scale
We offer a heavy-duty tongue weight scale that quickly, easily and accurately allows you to get the weight of the trailer tongue. This scale can weigh a trailer tongue with a weight of up to 2,000 lbs. Since tongue weight is typically 10% to 15% of the weight of the trailer, this scale can handle a gross trailer weight of up to 20,000 lbs.



These images show the tongue weight scale in use. Be sure that the trailer is level and parked on level ground when you weigh it.




Bathroom Scale




You can use a bathroom scale and a box to measure tongue weight of smaller trailers. Place the coupler of the loaded trailer on the scale at normal towing height (Figure A). For heavier tongue weights, use the second method (Figure B). Be sure to perform these measurements on a level surface and with a leveled trailer.

To use the method in Figure B, follow these guidelines:

Always place the trailer tongue 1 foot from the pipe on the support brick
Multiply the reading on the scale by the total distance between the 2 support pipes
Use a brick that is the same thickness as the scale so that the 2 x 4 is level when you weigh your trailer

For example, if the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the scale is 2 feet and the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the support brick is 1 foot, then you would multiply the reading on the scale by 3 to get the tongue weight. If the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the scale is 3 feet and the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the support brick is 1 foot, then you would multiply the reading on the scale by 4 to get the tongue weight.




Commercial Scale
Another way to determine your trailer's tongue weight (and get your vehicle and trailer weights) is to take the trailer with your tow vehicle to a scale at a truck stop, quarry or material supply center. For a small fee, you can weigh your tow vehicle and trailer there.


A. Determine Weight of Vehicle with Tongue Weight



Your vehicle and trailer must be fully loaded and fueled just as they will be when you are leaving for a trip. First, drive on to the scale with all 4 wheels of the truck and record the weight of the truck with the trailer attached.


B. Determine Weight of Vehicle without Tongue Weight



Next, unhook the trailer and jack up the trailer tongue so there is no weight on the hitch ball. Make sure that the trailer jack is not on the scale. Record the weight of only the truck on the scale. This is your gross vehicle weight (GVW). Now, subtract the GVW from the weight of the truck with the trailer attached. This will give you the tongue weight of your trailer.
A - B = Tongue Weight




Determine Tongue Weight for Weight Distribution System



If you want to use a weight distribution system, remember to include the weight of any gear you might load behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. You should add the weight of this gear to your tongue weight to select a weight distribution system of the proper size. To get the weight of the gear behind the rear axle, weigh your vehicle with this gear and without. Then subtract the weight without the gear from the weight with the gear. This difference is the weight of your gear. In the formula below, C represents the weight of your gear. A represents the weight of your tow vehicle including the tongue weight. B represents the weight of your tow vehicle without the tongue weight.

A good time to get this weight is when you are determining your tongue weight as described in step B, above. You can get the weight of your gear while you are weighing your tow vehicle.

Weight of Vehicle with Gear Behind Rear Axle - Weight of Vehicle without Gear Behind Rear Axle = C (Weight of Your Gear)

A - B + C = Tongue Weight for Weight Distribution System




Determine Additional Weights




Weight of Your Trailer
While you are at the scale you can also make sure that your towing setup is within the rated capacity of your tow vehicle. To do this, you need to get the weight of your trailer. To weigh your trailer, pull it with your tow vehicle onto the scale so you can weigh them together. This weight is your Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW). You can get the weight of your trailer (Gross Trailer Weight - GTW) by subtracting the weight of your tow vehicle alone (GVW (Step B, above)) from the weight of your tow vehicle and trailer combined (GCVW). Then check your owner's manual or with your dealer to determine if the weight of your trailer is within the towing capacity of your tow vehicle.
GCVW - GVW = GTW

[NC_Hauler]

riven1950 wrote:
Ok, I have a 2004 f150, 4x4, 4.6l with tow pkg. Am towing an Aerolite 718d with a supposed dry weight of 3050 lbs. There are only 2 of us and we travel pretty light, so I am not really concerned about weight issues and it tows fine in the flats, will find out in next few weeks about the hills.

My questions are: 1: Folks are always talking about weighing their rigs. Since I live in a more rural non-industrial area I am trying to figure out were everyone goes to get their weights. Thought I would do it out of curiosity next time we get all loaded up. Closest CW or similar is like 35 miles. No big truck stops close by.

2: How do you get an accurate hitch weight?

3: Next trip will be to NC mountains. Anyone know of a place between Holden Beach NC and Asheville via 74 to Charlotte, then on to Hendersonville, Asheville were there is a convenient place to stop and get weighed?

Sorry if this is a duplicate...I know there is a million post out there on weighing / weights.

Don't know exactly what roads you'll travel, but off I 40 as your going past Asheville, the next exit is the Candler exit, there is a truck stop that has a drive on scales right behind it....It's CAT scales and I'm going to use it next time to weigh my truck, didn't even know it was back there till I topped off with Diesel and DEF last time I was there...that one is out of the way and you wouldn't tie up anything.

On I26, heading to Hendersonville, there is a truck weigh station on your right just past Asheville airport exit.

[jason4598]

Scales are sometimes available at grain elevators, quarries, and landfills.