The scales will give you front/rear and trailer axle weight and total weight. I used the CAT scales. Cost around 8 bucks. Just make sure you park correctly on the scales.
Navy Chief
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie w/6.7 CTD, 6 speed auto, Factory Exhaust Brake.
2007 KZ 41CKS3 Montego Bay Sportster
2006 Kaw KDX 200
2008 Can AM Outlander Max 650
2006 Yam R6
2007 Suz GSXR 600
Golf cart
Pull on scales Front wheels on one pad,rear wheels on next pad trailer axiel on last pad get ticket. Drop drop trailer in parking lot pull truck back on scales may charge $1.00 extra for second ticket. You will have the empty weight to subtract from loaded. You will have pin weight and total load on truck
Here is what I do if its just a single scale without multi axle weigh points. 1.weigh complete truck and trailer. 2. pull truck off scales and get weight of trailer axles. 3. Drop trailer to get complete weight of trailer (axles and front jacks on scale)
Figures:
1 = total combination weight.
1-3 = weight of truck
3-2 = pin weight.
3 = weight of trailer
It may be hard to get individual loaded axle weights on a single scale.
Randy
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT CREW CAB LONG BOX (7380#)
8.1 Big block Gas/Allison 4:10 4x4
2004 Newmar Kountry Star 34 BLWB 3 Slides (15620#)
Pin Wt 2560# (16.3%) Total combination Wt=23,000#
I went to a cat scale and did not get my axles right, I ended up with weights for the steer and trailer axle. Looking back, I should have paid more attention.
The weight of the truck without the trailer is valuable because it lets you calculate your pin weight and actual trailer weight.
To get pin weight, subtract the unhitched truck weight from the hitched truck weight.
To get total trailer weight, subtract the unhitched truck weight from the gross weight.
If it helps the "scale anxiety" any, the CAT scales website has videos to show you the process and they were spot on for the one I went to.
If your not real tall, you may also need a stick to reach the button It's almost like they were expecting bigger vehicles in there.
Here is what the weigh ticket looks like: http://www.siliconjunkie.net/scale.jpg
CAT scale operator will give you instructions on where he/she wants you. I weigh at a grain elevator in a small town near me. I can weigh the trucks front axle then drive up more to get front and rear axle. Then truck and trailer and finally just the trailer. I keep a unladin weight/RAW/FAW ticket in both of my trucks so I always know its legal empty axle weights.
Jim
'03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs
'97 Park Avanue 28' with two slides
Good info provided by the others already. If you can, I suggest you also weigh the front and rear fiver axles separately.
I found that my rear axle carries 800# more than the front. I already knew the left (road) side is heavier than the right (curb) side because Newmar had the Moryde suspension changed on the left to handle the extra weight. Since the left rear carries the most weight, I had to adjust minimum tire pressures up from 65psi to 75psi - I actually run 80psi all around as a safety factor.
Well, I went to the scales and weighed in. Truck and camper together was 13,940 loaded. Went by the scales today with just the truck and the truck weighs 6,000 pounds.
JIMNLIN wrote: CAT scale operator will give you instructions on where he/she wants you.
On the highways, don't count on that.
After you push the button the operator will answer over a speaker specifically designed be impossible to understand (the same speakers they use on subways) What they will USUALLY ask is:
"First or second?" By which they mean, is this your first weigh or second weigh. The prices are different. You answer "first weigh" or "second weigh" depending - if it is a second you must bring in your first weigh slip to show them.
"Number?" By which they mean what is your truck number. You don't have one, you are a private vehicle. You answer "private vehicle". To which the response is often "what?". So then you can say "I am an RV".
After a delay of somewhere between none and a minute you hear:
"ca'monin" or "pullup" which means you should pull forward off the scales and go into the building to pay and pick up your ticket.
The CAT scales I've used have several plates - identifiable by the separations in the concrete pads on top, make sure you don't put the wheels on a separation and make sure the truck is spanning two plates and you are fine.
btw - I always do this just after filling the fuel tank - that way I have my worst case and can compare without variations in the fuel weight which can be hundreds of pounds mostly on the drive axle.
Dave Lindemulder
Tammy, Mark & Kirsten
04 Dodge 2500 4x4 SLT QC/SB
HO-CTD/48RE - Graphite: Raptor SS nerfs, Prodigy, Reese 16K Kwik-slide, BD X-Monitor, PML Trans pan, PML Diff cover, Firestone Airbags
09 Heartland Cyclone 3210
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It's almost like they were expecting bigger vehicles in there.
