Weigh station, is this the correct way to do it?

[DebMar]

New at this. Bringing TV and TT to CatScale weigh station to get weighed. How do I get the tongue weight?

First weigh
TV only
TV and TT loaded
TV and TT loaded with WDH unhitched

Do I need to unhitch the TV from TT totally when getting weighed? Someone said I would have to pull off to lot, unhitch and get back to scale with only my TV.

And if I find my front axles have to much weight on them, or not enough, can I adjust and get back on scales?? Thank you

[Broadway Joe]

When I weighed my trailer, I arrived fully loaded with WD hitch attached and adjusted. Pulled around again with WD unhooked and paid a a small fee for reweigh, I believe it was $3.00. Pulled around again and unhitched my trailer and left it in the parking area, and reweighed just my truck again paying the $3.00 fee. total cost was $16.00. Hope this helps.

[lbrjet]

The difference in truck weight on your first and third weighings you outlined above are the tongue weight. Before you weigh go inside and speak with the folks at the weigh desk. They will instruct you on what to say for your '2nd weighing'. Usually all weighs after the first (within 24 hours) are only a dollar or two. If it's not crowded and the truckers aren't hassling you, you can stay there all day and do adjustments. Truckers are generally nice folks.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[ependydad]

Don't mess around with your hitch on the scale- I've heard it is against the rules and often end up with a trucker behind me. Just pull off and out of the way and make your changes. If you're unhitching, park it in a truck spot. That's honestly the most stressful part for me!

[m2kamp]

Originally Posted by DebMar

New at this. Bringing TV and TT to CatScale weigh station to get weighed. How do I get the tongue weight?

First weigh
TV only
TV and TT loaded
TV and TT loaded with WDH unhitched

Do I need to unhitch the TV from TT totally when getting weighed? Someone said I would have to pull off to lot, unhitch and get back to scale with only my TV.

And if I find my front axles have to much weight on them, or not enough, can I adjust and get back on scales?? Thank you

Yup, your tongue weight is calculated by subtracting your (TV only) weight from your (TV and TT loaded with WDH unhitched) (front and rear axle obviously). You can then add this number to the TT axle weight to get your total trailer weight including tongue.

(TV and TT WDH unhitched (F+R axle only)) - (TV only) = Tongue Weight

(Tongue Weight) + (Trailer Axle WDH unhitched) = Total Trailer Weight

(TV and TT w/WDH) is used to play with WDH setting by comparing TV front and rear axle weights.

I have run my setup over the CAT scale 6 times in one visit once. The people at the desk were very friendly and they were not too busy. I pull into an empty diesel refueling spot next to the scale to adjust the hitch as its reasonably level there. Call them and ask what times they are slowest and go then. IIRC first weigh is $15, then reweights are $2 a shot.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Yup, your tongue weight is calculated by subtracting your (TV only) weight from your (TV and TT loaded with WDH unhitched) (front and rear axle obviously). You can then add this number to the TT axle weight to get your total trailer weight including tongue.

(TV and TT WDH unhitched (F+R axle only)) - (TV only) = Tongue Weight

(Tongue Weight) + (Trailer Axle WDH unhitched) = Total Trailer Weight

(TV and TT w/WDH) is used to play with WDH setting by comparing TV front and rear axle weights.

If it helps, I have a webpage that does these calculations:

Actual Weights - Travel Trailer/Bumper Pull Weights from CAT Scales - Towing Planner

[MartyQ]

If a 5th wheel. Two weighs is enough? Hooked and then unhooked? Is a similar webpage available for 5th wheel trailers?

[itat]

Originally Posted by MartyQ

If a 5th wheel. Two weighs is enough? Hooked and then unhooked? Is a similar webpage available for 5th wheel trailers?

Same website by ependydad has this page.
Actual Weights - Fifth Wheel Weights from CAT Scales - Towing Planner

[Medic97]

This is the best I was able to find for 5th wheels. if anyone else has a better site, please let us know:
RV Weight Calculator | 5th Wheel | Gooseneck | Safety Report

[beagle22b07]

How would you do the weighing if you were using a scale at a gravel pit? Would you pull onto the scales one axle at a time with the WDH, then do it again without the WDH, then the third time with TV only? I have ready access to scales locally, but CAT scales are a distance.

[itat]

Originally Posted by beagle22b07

How would you do the weighing if you were using a scale at a gravel pit? Would you pull onto the scales one axle at a time with the WDH, then do it again without the WDH, then the third time with TV only? I have ready access to scales locally, but CAT scales are a distance.

There is a CAT scale at the Flying J on I-70 at Exit 49.
https://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator/?single=769

You can do it at a gravel pit but I'm not sure you'd be able to have just one axle at a time on the scale. It would be much easier to just take the trailer to the CAT scale.

[DebMar]

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Yup, your tongue weight is calculated by subtracting your (TV only) weight from your (TV and TT loaded with WDH unhitched) (front and rear axle obviously). You can then add this number to the TT axle weight to get your total trailer weight including tongue.

(TV and TT WDH unhitched (F+R axle only)) - (TV only) = Tongue Weight

(Tongue Weight) + (Trailer Axle WDH unhitched) = Total Trailer Weight

(TV and TT w/WDH) is used to play with WDH setting by comparing TV front and rear axle weights.

I have run my setup over the CAT scale 6 times in one visit once. The people at the desk were very friendly and they were not too busy. I pull into an empty diesel refueling spot next to the scale to adjust the hitch as its reasonably level there. Call them and ask what times they are slowest and go then. IIRC first weigh is $15, then reweights are $2 a shot.

Thank you! Thanks to everyone on this forum, you are all so helpful!

[The Villager]

This link shows various configurations of TT and FW and how to position your wheels on a CAT scale. I complete the weigh process in one pass on the scale. Hope it will answer the question on how to weigh. If the pin weight is needed, a second pass with the truck only after weighing the complete unit will show the trucks weight on scale 1 & 2. Compare with the weight from the first weighing for scale 1 & 2.

https://catscale.com/how-to-weigh/

[jrminiquad]

If anyone is ever in the Canton, OH area you can PM me and I can get you hooked up with a multi platform scale (CAT scale). I work for a scale manufacturer and we have one of our scales out front as a public scale.

[beagle22b07]

Originally Posted by itat

There is a CAT scale at the Flying J on I-70 at Exit 49.
https://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator/?single=769

You can do it at a gravel pit but I'm not sure you'd be able to have just one axle at a time on the scale. It would be much easier to just take the trailer to the CAT scale.

Itat - Thanks for the tip on the Cat Scales. That location is well over an hour away. I've got an aggregate supplier about 10 min from the house. I did see a description how to do this with gravel pit scales once, but can't locate it thru the search engine. Will have to keep looking. Thanks for the input.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by beagle22b07

How would you do the weighing if you were using a scale at a gravel pit? Would you pull onto the scales one axle at a time with the WDH, then do it again without the WDH, then the third time with TV only? I have ready access to scales locally, but CAT scales are a distance.

The issue with gravel scales, as I understand it, is their size. You can do individual axles and keep getting weights (first do truck front, then truck front+rear, then truck front+rear+trailer). Then you'd have to subtract the value from the previous one to find out the change. BUT- with the size of the scales, the accuracy is suspect with just being on the edge and them being so large.

If you try it, basically you need to collect all of the same weights and then you can math things out.

I should add a new tool on towingplanner.com for this; but the concern still is accuracy of the scale with the size + using the edges.

[beagle22b07]

Originally Posted by ependydad

The issue with gravel scales, as I understand it, is their size. You can do individual axles and keep getting weights (first do truck front, then truck front+rear, then truck front+rear+trailer). Then you'd have to subtract the value from the previous one to find out the change. BUT- with the size of the scales, the accuracy is suspect with just being on the edge and them being so large.

If you try it, basically you need to collect all of the same weights and then you can math things out.

I should add a new tool on towingplanner.com for this; but the concern still is accuracy of the scale with the size + using the edges.

Thanks for the feedback ependydad, I may try it because I have free access to the scales, but eventually I'll get it done on the CAT Sacles. Your links are excellent. Keep up the good work.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by beagle22b07

How would you do the weighing if you were using a scale at a gravel pit? Would you pull onto the scales one axle at a time with the WDH, then do it again without the WDH, then the third time with TV only? I have ready access to scales locally, but CAT scales are a distance.

ependydad is on the money, but I posted a more detailed explanation a couple of years ago if you want to take a look:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post359008

I used the quarry scales a bunch of times before starting to use some local CAT scales. Our scales had a digital readout I could see from the truck seat, so I didn't have to even bother the scale operator except to get permission before wieghing.

[itat]

Using a single platform scale can work as ependydad and MtnGuy have said but you'll need 9 measurements instead of 3 and have a little more math to do. It may not be as accurate since your weights are not all properly centered on the platform but it's probably "good enough" for your purpose.

I have a CAT scale within 25 minutes of my house. Unfortunately, the one 2 minutes away closed last Fall. Check the CAT Scale Locator page to see if there is anything closer to you.