Do any TC dealers have scales?

[Bob__B]

I have an older Lance camper, and am seriously considering upgrading to something new..er now that I am getting ready to retire and hope to be spending a LOT more time in the camper.

Do any of the TC dealer have scales to make sure you are within all your truck weight ratings before driving off the lot?

I have been doing research, and see that a LOT of people are unpleasantly surprised that their rig weighs in a lot higher than they expected.

If the TC dealers don't have this available, I would think it would be a really good thing to add in order to have something that differentiates that dealership.

[HMS_Beagle]

sleepy wrote:
I read these responses and wonder:

People say that they actually buy wheel scales... what do you do with them after you weigh your camper?

OMG that is crazy... I could purchase another PVSolar panel for that kind of money... and use it everytime I use the camper

...

There is a bit of obcession here... do some of you weigh every trip?

Sleepy

I use it for more than just weighing the camper (which I have done once). I have quite a lot of tools I use only occasionally. Some of which occasionally get used on the camper.

[bighatnohorse]

From the Eagle Cap / Adventurer website:

"Adventurer takes great care in providing accurate truck camper weights and measures information on its units by weighing each camper individually. Please check the wardrobe or closet for an accurate unit dry weight with factory installed options at time of manufacture."

The Eagle Cap factory use to weigh each camper individually before shipping to the dealers. Eagle Cap was bought by Adventurer.
And the Canadians that use to own Okanagan Campers now own the Adventurer/Eagle Cap factory in Washington State.

Be careful before making bets against the dealer regarding camper weight.

[sleepy]

I read these responses and wonder:

People say that they actually buy wheel scales... what do you do with them after you weigh your camper?

OMG that is crazy... I could purchase another PVSolar panel for that kind of money... and use it everytime I use the camper

When I bought my truck I drove it empty through the weigh station on I-40 Knoxville... wrote down the front weight... pulled forward... wrote down the rear axel weight (one minute total)

Drove to AdventureRV... Leonard loaded our brand new Lance 1161, hooked everything up... I drove back to the weigh station with a huge smile... waved at the guys inside the weigh station... pulledthe front onto the scales, weighed the front axel and wrote it down... pulled forward... wrote down the rear axel weight... one minute total elaspsed time

No charge... and of course no documentation... but what would I need doc's for?

There is a bit of obcession here... do some of you weigh every trip?

Sleepy

[Mike3]

I just picked up my new Adventurer 116DS yesterday. It was within 50 lbs. of their website's build your own weight with options; about 4600 wet and a few personal items.

[Joe417]

All the measurements I've made against the manufacturers brochure for base weight of the AF990 is very close "as long as you read the fine print". You have to add the "mandatory option" and then add the "real" weight of the extra options.

My confusion came in when documentation said "dry" while the label on the back of the camper said "with water and gas". The brochure specified weights of the "extra options" was quite a bit off.

[okan-star]

I bought an Okanagan made in Canada , and because it came across the border it had a unit weight cert with it , knew that was accurate
My old Lance had with it in all the paperwork , a consumer information sheet that added all the weights of options , and gave a total wt , not sure how accurate , I think its close
Most camper makers do better by leaving consumers to add things up , and leave it all shrouded in mystery
This site I probably your best way to get an accurate wt , by someone else's personal experience

[HMS_Beagle]

Bob B wrote:

HMS Beagle wrote:
I own a wheel scale, bought it off of eBay, and it wasn't all that expensive. If you are headed for the dealer, stop at a rental yard and rent a wheel scale for the day. Tell the salesman you will pay him $5 less for each pound over the sticker the camper is - that ought to scare the hell out of him!

I never thought of renting a wheel scale....It seems like the weight on each wheel whould be the most valuable information.

I think I paid about $250 for a single wheel scale, claimed accuracy is +/- 1% of applied load. To use it properly, you need to make a block the same height to put under the opposite tire. To be really, really correct, you should have the other axle at the same height, though the error will be very small. It looks like this but don't buy that one! Keep looking, you can find one in good condition for less.

[bobman]

I drove down to my local gravel pit and asked them if they would weigh my truck they did ...for free

[Bob__B]

dbbls wrote:
All snakes have scales!

Not sure I understand the reason for that one:h ....yeah, I do get the pun.

[dbbls]

All snakes have scales!

[ISBRAM]

Hallmark will weigh your camper for you to give you the exact weight with options before they load it on your truck. I’m sure that they could guestimate during the build order pretty darn close with the options you select.

From my experience, most of the time a truck camper weighs a heck of lot more than the stated or advertized weight.

[campn4walleye]

We argued with an AF dealer regarding weight. He swore up and down that the written weight was "wet weight". He was so sure that he voluntarily weighed the unit. Much to his chagrin, we were right and he was WAY off.

We got our deposit back.

Can't hurt to ask if they'll weigh the unit for you. A reputable dealer won't hesitate, but sadly, they are few and far between.

[Stars101]

DH and I have wanted to buy one for years but they are big $$$. Start at $1,000 and go up from there... $3-4,000 seems average price. I never thought of ebay, I'll keep my eyes open.

[dadwolf2]

5 star RV out of Denver weighs their campers. No, I didn't buy from them but I probably should've!