Question pertaining to scale use
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Question pertaining to scale use
How do you go about weighing your travel trailer or 5th wheel at a truck stop? Are the scales free or do you go inside and pay to use the scale? Are you allowed to unhook the tow vehicle to get a true trailer weight? Any info would be helpful.Thank you
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From: Big Red country
No they are not free, but it is relatively cheap to weigh. At the scale I use, you pay after. The display will give you a number after the light turns green, which indicates that it has your weight. Go inside and when you pay they give you the readout. Some scales have three individual scales for front axle, rear axle, and trailer. This gives you all three at once. Not sure how accurate it is though, compared to separate weights, but it is convienent. I am sure you can unhook, but try to do it when no one is waiting as the truckers will be pissed.
Matt
Matt
i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
do a combined weight. pull off the scale, and disconnect in an out of the way spot agreed upon with the scale master. then rescale with the tow vehicle. subtract tow vehicle weight from combined weight and you have trailer weight.
example: truck and trailer combined weight, 11,450 lbs. truck weight 6,450 lbs. trailer weight is 5,000lbs.
example: truck and trailer combined weight, 11,450 lbs. truck weight 6,450 lbs. trailer weight is 5,000lbs.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
it all depends on the scale, the scale master, and how busy they are. there are some small supply houses that have scales that will do it for a set price. there is a plumbing supply here that has the scale readout in the office and a speaker at the scale. the girl in the office only charges $10 for a split weight deal cause all she has to do is look at the readout. and if they know you, they don't charge at all
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: BC Canada
Sometimes when gov't transport scales are closed, the weight can be seen from the truck, or you need a buddy to read the scale.
Just drive each axle on, note the weight, then move to the next axle. Dont jam the brakes, it ruins the scales. Note your two weights, front axle plus rear for truck = truck weight, note axle weight for trailer = trailer weight (not including tongue). Now, to get tongue weight, you need to weigh truck seperate, weight trailer axle plus trailer on front jack stand. now you can do the math with 2 equations for the actual tongue weight. (but basically, rear axle weight with trailer, minus rear weight without = tongue weight.) Its not perfect because it depends how level the frame is with the truck.
Another place that has scales are feed companies, logging companies, the dump, gravel pits, cement plants. Again, often you can see the scale reading or they will print a ticket and its not that steep.
Hope this helps.
Just drive each axle on, note the weight, then move to the next axle. Dont jam the brakes, it ruins the scales. Note your two weights, front axle plus rear for truck = truck weight, note axle weight for trailer = trailer weight (not including tongue). Now, to get tongue weight, you need to weigh truck seperate, weight trailer axle plus trailer on front jack stand. now you can do the math with 2 equations for the actual tongue weight. (but basically, rear axle weight with trailer, minus rear weight without = tongue weight.) Its not perfect because it depends how level the frame is with the truck.
Another place that has scales are feed companies, logging companies, the dump, gravel pits, cement plants. Again, often you can see the scale reading or they will print a ticket and its not that steep.
Hope this helps.
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From: Monroe Michigan
Originally Posted by Mazatrol
Thank you for the information. I'd assume weighing the combined weight then the tow vehicle weight is considered two seperate weigh sessions therefore i'll be charged for two?
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