CAT Scales - Am I too short??

ChooChooMan74 · 03-21-2013, 03:26 PM

I am planning my shakedown trip April 12 through 14 at Strawberry Park in Connecticut. Perfect, because I have to drive by a CAT scale. But here is what I am thinking. These things are made for bigger rigs? Am I going to have troubles getting my Rig on A, B, and C scales? I have never seen a CAT scale close up yet.

Now, what if I can't span all 3 scales, with truck on A and trailer on B, I can see if the truck as a whole is overweight. I am thinking, if I weight a 2nd time, with front wheels off, rear wheels on A, and hopefully, trailer on B, I can figure out if my Rear Axle weight and math to figure out my front.

Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

MtnGuy · 03-21-2013, 03:37 PM

Your front axle may need to be towards the rear of the 1st section, and your trailer axles may be towards the front of the 3rd section, but I believe you will fit OK.

kho6658 · 03-21-2013, 04:10 PM

How To Weigh | CAT Scale

indybp57 · 03-21-2013, 04:32 PM

It was a stretch (

), but I managed to get my Trailblazer extended cab and 19' Roo on 3 platforms.

rschoono289 · 03-21-2013, 04:55 PM

The CAT scale operators are pretty good. The only stretch will be pressing the button on the pedestal to indicate to the operator your ready to weighin. The button is set much higher for the large transports. (I used a stick !!) The operator will place you correctly on the scales from my experience. Always good to know your numbers. Best of luck

MtnGuy · 03-21-2013, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rschoono289

The CAT scale operators are pretty good. The only stretch will be pressing the button on the pedestal to indicate to the operator your ready to weighin. The button is set much higher for the large transports. (I used a stick !!) The operator will place you correctly on the scales from my experience. Always good to know your numbers. Best of luck

Hmmm, not my experience. The scale operators didn't instruct me how to get on the scales.

But do take a stick to reach the button. Also tell them to let you get back in the vehicle before weighing, just in case you need to get out to press the button.

**Terier** · 03-21-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Hmmm, not my experience. The scale operators didn't instruct me how to get on the scales.

But do take a stick to reach the button. Also tell them to let you get back in the vehicle before weighing, just in case you need to get out to press the button.

Not my experience either. Operater said they can't help. Ended up with negative weight twice so I gave up for the day.

TURBS · 03-21-2013, 05:27 PM

In the past when I have scaled a load they instruct you to move ahead or back as they have a camera on our local scale.
They can also tell by the scale numbers if your on correctly or not .
YRMV

MtnGuy · 03-21-2013, 05:31 PM

1 big item is to make sure that every axle is not overlapping the next section or the side of the scale.....they need to be entirely on the dedicated section. Both of the trailer dual axles need to be on the same section.

ChooChooMan74 · 03-22-2013, 01:02 AM

Thx for the replies. I guess I will go with low expectations and see what happens.

MtnGuy · 03-22-2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

Thx for the replies. I guess I will go with low expectations and see what happens.

Go with high expectations and hope for the best.

Since reweighs are usually just a $1 ea., you can do this:

If the rig won't stretch across 3 sections, weigh the tow vehicle on 1 section and the trailer on the 2nd. Now without changing anything, go back across and place the front TV axle on 1 scale, and forget about the rear axle and trailer axles.

You can take the front axle weight from the 2nd weigh-in, subtract that from the total truck TV weight of the 1st weigh-in, and determine what the front and rear axle weihts are. You would need to do that for each type of weights.........trailer with WDH spring bars in place, without spring bars i place, and then just the truck solo without the trailer, which you can stretch across 2 sections if you only have a 4' wheelbase.

If you are taking your passengers, make sure they are in the same seat and still each weigh-in for accurate information. Don't let someone go inside for a candy bar or something during 1 weigh-in.

djmac1964 · 03-22-2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

But do take a stick to reach the button.

Go inside before you pull on the scale, and get the phone # to the scale desk. Then call them when you are on the scale, and take all instructions by phone!

ChooChooMan74 · 03-23-2013, 12:10 AM

Good suggestions guys. Thanks. I will let you know the outcome in 3 weeks.

jlgail4309 · 03-26-2013, 07:43 PM

How did it work out at the scales.

ChooChooMan74 · 03-26-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgail4309

How did it work out at the scales.

I am heading out for the shakedown run on April 12 - 14. So we got a few more weeks.

ChooChooMan74 · 04-12-2013, 10:18 AM

I didn't trust the dealer in setting up the WDH, so I made a few changes. First, I tilt the head back a bit more. I have one more adjustment left.

Here are my measurements.

TV Alone
Rear 33 1/4 Front 32 3/4

Trailer, No WDH
Rear 31 3/4 Front 33 3/4

Trailer, WDH 4 Hanging (5 from the cam) Bars Parallel
Rear 32 1/2 Front 33

Trailer, WDH 5 Hanging (4 from the cam) Bars slightly Up
Rear 32 3/4 Front 32 3/4

One more thing, I did not put any air in the air bags. I put the rig back to 4 hanging. Just didn't like the look of 5 hanging. I can make a minor adjustment with the air bags to level the TV at 33. Thoughts anyone?

I am going to hit the scales today, if it isn't busy and there are no downpours.

MtnGuy · 04-12-2013, 12:37 PM

Since you are referring to a "cam", I presume you have the Reese Straight Line Dual Cam ??

Round or square bars ?? The spring bars on the round bar system need to be close to parrallel with the trailer frame......the square spring bars need to probably be facing down at the tips.

I can't find that trailer on the FR site, but the current "21" models have pretty heavy listed tongue weights for that sized trailer.....in the mid 500s.

It is amazing that the Liberty is only sinking 1 1/2" with weight put on the hitch. A lot of that can be contributed to not much overhang behind the rear wheels as the Jeeps tend to have, and also resulting with the front end of the Liberty not coming up as much. The closer you get to the center of the rear axle, the less weight is transferred to the front axle.

Reese recommends not having any less than 5 links between the snap-up brackets and the spring bars.

If it were me, I think I would tilt the head back 1 more notch, and go with 5 or 6 links of chain between the snap up bracket and spring bars. When you weigh, maybe do it traveling 1 way with 5 links, and back with 6 links. See what feels the best. Which ever way you center the spring bar notches on the cams, using the setup with different lengths of chain the notch will be off a little, so you need to consider that with the driving test.

See which gives you the best numbers at the scales. Get 4 weights.......5 links, 6 links, no spring bars in place, and the the TV only. Make sure passenger and cargo load in the Liberty stay the same during each weigh-in.

Without making any changes, your 5 link (under tension) doesn't look to shabby as it is. The 4 looks better, but you need that extra chain link according to Reese. 1 notch tilt of the head assembly equals closely 1 chain link. That is why I think with 1 more notch of head assembly tilt will get all of the weight back on the front wheel. If it is too much, then you can go with 6 links without messing with the head assembly again.

ChooChooMan74 · 04-12-2013, 01:18 PM

Mtn, I do have the strait line dc with round bars. I will try and take a pic. But the forum app has been crashing on y phone.

Weather conditions may limit my weighing. I hate cold rain.

Thx for the recommendations. I couldn't find how many links reese wants on the dc setup.

MtnGuy · 04-12-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

I couldn't find how many links reese wants on the dc setup.

Reese wants a minimum of 5 links of chain between the snap-up bracket and the spring bars on the regular setup. With the conventional setup without the cams, as the TV turns, the end of the spring bars go back and forth, and you need that chain to swing. But I have always wondered about the dual cam setup. 1st thing, between the cam and the end of the chain plate, that is probably equal to 1 link of chain. Plus, the dual cam does not move....the spring bars move over the cam. I have always wondered if owners could rig it with less than 5 links......I don't think that is specified in the dual cam setup booklet. Because of clearance issues with my square bar setup, I use 7 links of chain.

ChooChooMan74 · 04-12-2013, 02:47 PM

Mtn,

Just moved to the final tilt.

Rear 32 1/2
Front 32 3/4

I will get the final 1/4 with the air bags.

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