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Hey Guys, I’ve never scaled my truck and trailer before. What is the procedure at a CAT Scale?
What are the things I to know the weight of? I’m thinking the F & R truck axles, the Trailers axles all while connected. Do I need the F & R truck axles without the trailer? How about the trailer all by itself?
Thanks in advance,
Paul
Last edited by Champster; Feb 16, 2026 at 04:28 PM.
Without trailer, when you pull up on the scale you will notice a division that the ones towards the end. As one axle each one pedestal, press the call button, the girl to counter will ask you for a truck number, say personal 17, 18, 19, 27. What doesn't matter. But whatever you tell her, when you go in to get the ticket you'll have to tell her the same information.
With a trailer, you'll do the same thing except you'll have your axles on three pedestals. Pushed the button, she'll ask you for a trunk number, the rest is rinse and repeat.
Or you call download the app instead of pressing the button and going in to get your ticket. The scales still apply the same.
Example of app.
My truck without trailer
With trailer (extremely ball-heavy)
In the line where it says trailer axle one, that was actual my triple axle trailer. The group fit on one pedestal.
Most guys will do it fully wet, in other words, with a full tank of fuel and all the accessories you would normally carry.
It's pretty easy overall.
If you weigh the truck empty without a trailer, and then add a trailer, just do your division and you'll get your trailer weight.
I've seen it before where guys will drop the trailer and pull off the scale...... I would not advise that, tends to slow down other trucks behind you.
Last edited by 1olddogtwo; Feb 16, 2026 at 04:48 PM.
I just shared this in your other thread in the towing section, but I'll post here too...
When you drive onto the scales there are 3 pads. Put your trucks front axle on the front pad, your trucks rear axle on the middle pad, and the trailers axles on the back pad. Don't worry, it will line up fine. Also, I would suggest downloading the CAT scale app and set it up before going. This will make it super easy as you drive onto the ramp, open the app and it will guide you through the process. It's quick and easy. The first weight will costs $13, and each subsequent weight will be $3.50. You set up the payments option in the app, so when you pull up it will process the payment and then immediately after you will get a weight ticket that looks like this:
Also, if you use the app, you don't have to worry about pressing the button or talking to anyone or going in to get your ticket. It all happens right on your phone. Very easy and quick!
As far as how to weigh, this is how I did when I got my truck and was setting up my truck. First, load up your truck and camper with everything and everyone you will carry, then hook up and set your WDH as you would normally set it. Make sure you have a full tank and then drive over the scales and get a weight. Then, if no one is behind you, simply get out of the truck and disengage the WDH completely and get another weight with the trailer sitting on your ball hitch. (If someone is waiting behind you, pull off, disengage the WDH, then drive back on and get the weight then.) Then pull off, disconnect the trailer and drive back across in your truck only and get a final weight.
Use the weight of your truck only as your base weight. Then compare the trucks rear axle weight to the weight you got without the WDH connected. The difference on the rear axle is your trailers tongue weight. Also pay attention to the difference in weight on the front axle. The goal of a WDH is to distribute the trailers tongue weight across both the front and rear axle of your truck. Now look at the weight with the WDH engaged. You should see that there is less weight on the rear axle, and more weight is returned to the front axle. You don't have to get 100% of the weight back to the front axle, but you want to definitely get at least 50% of it back. Probably more if it's a lighter truck. Form there you could continue to fine tune our WDH set up... to get more weight back to the front, you would need to "tighten" the WDH more. I say tighten because it depends on your WDH. On my Anderson WDH, the more I tighten the nuts, the more weight distribution is applied to the front axle.
Hope that helps some... and there may be some that can explain it better than I have. But I do agree, it's good to have an actual weight so you actually know where you stand rather than guessing. I would say that many times it is more than we think...
Last edited by chadstickpoindexter; Feb 16, 2026 at 04:53 PM.
CAT scales are made in the USA by Fairbanks Scales, since 1830. CAT, out of Iowa, buys and manages them. The scale modules are precast and cured at the Fairbanks Scales factory in Meridian MS, and shipped to the truck stop location.
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