Forum Discussion

DAS26miles's avatar
DAS26miles
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2017

Individual wheel weight, can't find scales

I've been trying to find scales somewhere in SoCal that weigh each corner of my MH instead of each axle. There just aren't any. My neighbor suggested buying a portable one and go into business. Well, I know there are lot of us out there that would like to find the weight of each wheel(s), but I'm sure you'd have to get business licenses and permits for every county here in California that you try to do business. Where would you do it? I see some have offered scales some rallies or events. Looks like scales start at $1,100 and quickly go up. Weighings can cost $30-55.
It's just an idea and I really don't want to work, I'm retired. Just looking for a place to get it weighed.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Was going to suggest Escapees, but that was done above. I've seen RV rallies offer weighings, too. Portable scales, I suppose. Try feed suppliers, moving/storage companies, even scrap yards. Just don't run your good RV tires through their shrapnel fields they call roads in there!

    What you need is a legal-for-trade scale that's just a patch in the ground so you can drive down either side.

    But seriously, My Friend, get the jump on this by going to a Travel Center (politically correct language for Truck Stop) and use their CAT Scale for aroung $10. You will get 95-pct of the benefit of four-corner weights. Load as for a trip, people and all. Hitch up your Toad. You'll get Front Axle, Rear Axle, and Toad weights.

    Guides like Michelin point out that you set pressure to the heaviest loaded tire on your axle, not according to weight on each front tire or each dual pair. Me, I just used scale weight on the chart and got MUCH better tracking with our E450. Naturally, too little air is bad, but with a Ford, too MUCH air, on the front, is bad on YOU.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    The scales in OR are left on when not stopping trucks to be weighed. There is room to get off to the side of the scale to weigh one side and then room to turn around and weigh the other side. Why turn around??? the amount the MH leans to one side will change the side weight by more than you would believe... can't just subtract the one side from the combined axle weights.
    Until you can get side weights, weigh each axle and add 5 psi.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Go to RVSAFETY.COM May cost you 60 bucks but there is a link on the page

    In the old days they linked to Aweigh-We-Go and those folks carry portable scales,, You make an appointment and they come to you.

    Many Junk yards can weigh you.. You need a segmented scale and park with one axle on each segment... Get total axle weight and total RV weight.. Then pull around so only one side is on the scale.. Get weight for that side,, Total axle weight less one side = other side.

    NOTE: scale must be FLAT, CAT scales are segmented, but are usually "Bridge" type and you can't use that kind.
  • Thanks for the tip on Congress. I see that it's an Escapee retreat, do you have to be a member? I'm in luck as we are going to the Grand Canyon in a few weeks and can take stop over the night before at Blake Ranch, then next morning head over to Congress and schedule a late morning weigh. Then on to the Grand Canyon.
    Thanks!
  • Hi,

    I simply drove just one wheel onto the scale. Then the front only, followed by the rear, followed by the whole rv.
  • DAS26miles wrote:
    Thanks for the tip on Congress. I see that it's an Escapee retreat, do you have to be a member? I'm in luck as we are going to the Grand Canyon in a few weeks and can take stop over the night before at Blake Ranch, then next morning head over to Congress and schedule a late morning weigh. Then on to the Grand Canyon.
    Thanks!


    Not sure about membership but I'd contact them anyway to be sure their equipment etc is all up and running etc. They may also have other times open or be more flexible with your schedule. When we stayed at Congress last fall it seemed like it ran like a very well oiled machine. Great people at the parks we have stayed at and well worth our membership.
  • Check out CAT Scales are the trucker stations etc.

    See if they have physical room to drive on the scales off-set with just one side of RV. Some don't have enough room OR they have rails on platforms

    First do a normal weigh....front axle on front platform and rear axle on other platform

    Then do a re-weigh with just one side/tire-axle of RV on each platform

    Do the math...full weights minus the set of side weights.....that will give you the opposite side/axle weights

    CAT Scale Locator
  • Do you know any racers? They use portable scales to set up the balance on their cars from front to back and from side to side.
  • I don't know what's the big deal about weight on all 4 wheels, just have the front and rear axel weights from any truck stop, only cost about $15.00, and just pack your motorhome even on each side of compartments, its not that hard and a little more weight on one side does not effect much.