Weighing day coming up..

[Cowracer]

So, one of the nice things about where I work is we have an 80,000 tractor trailer scale. Every truck into and out of the plant must weigh. We are kinda slammed right now, but when things ease up, I am going to haul the Rockwood up to work and spend a few hours getting it weighed out. I'm trying to figure out the most efficient plan to get all the weights with the least number of movements. FYI, this is a single element scale. It just reads overall weight. It cannot read different 'zones'

Here is my plan so far:

1) weigh front axle by itself with WDH attached.

2) disconnect WDH, weigh front axle again. W1-w2 = WDH transfer.

3) Pull forward, weigh truck with trailer attached. W3 - W2 give rear axle weight.

4) Pull forward, weigh truck and trailer combined for gross weight.

5) unhitch, weigh trailer by itself.

6) grab trailer and pull forward, set jack down off scale and weigh just the trailer axles. W5-W6 = tongue weight.

I think that gives me most of the weights a man would need. If I need to make any adjustments to the WDH, i can redo 1 and 2 until I am happy.

Anybody see anything I am missing?

Tim

[Fireman1]

I believe you have a good plan. I would also add # 3.5 weight trailer axles with WDH and with out. Additionally, if your trailer is not level while towing you, may want weigh the trailer axles independently to ensure they are equal or close to equal. I wish I had access to a scale, I need to do the same thing for my new fifth wheel. My local truck stop is in the process of being rebuilt and the scale is out of service.
Happy trails.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

So, one of the nice things about where I work is we have an 80,000 tractor trailer scale. Every truck into and out of the plant must weigh. We are kinda slammed right now, but when things ease up, I am going to haul the Rockwood up to work and spend a few hours getting it weighed out. I'm trying to figure out the most efficient plan to get all the weights with the least number of movements. FYI, this is a single element scale. It just reads overall weight. It cannot read different 'zones'

Here is my plan so far:

1) weigh front axle by itself with WDH attached.

2) disconnect WDH, weigh front axle again. W1-w2 = WDH transfer.

3) Pull forward, weigh truck with trailer attached. W3 - W2 give rear axle weight.

4) Pull forward, weigh truck and trailer combined for gross weight.

5) unhitch, weigh trailer by itself.

6) grab trailer and pull forward, set jack down off scale and weigh just the trailer axles. W5-W6 = tongue weight.

I think that gives me most of the weights a man would need. If I need to make any adjustments to the WDH, i can redo 1 and 2 until I am happy.

Anybody see anything I am missing?

Tim

Buying lunch for the guy who runs the weight shop????

[Kaadk]

Is the issue that you're your trying to do 'the least number of changes' or the 'least number of passes'?

If I were you, I'd probably do it this way:

Starting with WDH hooked up:

1) Measure front axle
2) Pull forward, measure front+rear
3) Pull forward, measure front+rear+trailer
4) Pull forward, measure trailer where truck is off scales but jack will be on scales if it drops.
5) Drop the jack and unhitch, measure trailer alone with jack.
6) Hitch back up but don't engage WDH, measure trailer without WDH
7) pull around and back over scales, measure front axle.
7) pull forward, measure front+rear
8) Drop trailer so jack is off the scale and unhitch, measure truck alone.
9) Pull forward (leaving the trailer behind) and measure only rear axle.

This should give you every possible measurement, or the means to calculate every possible measurement. Now you just need to backup over the scale, hook back up to the trailer and go home to do your math.

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Buying lunch for the guy who runs the weight shop????

There is no 'guy'. It's automated where the truck driver check themselves in and out.

But I'll probably buy lunch for me, so i guess that's the same thing...

Tim

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

So, one of the nice things about where I work is we have an 80,000 tractor trailer scale. Every truck into and out of the plant must weigh. We are kinda slammed right now, but when things ease up, I am going to haul the Rockwood up to work and spend a few hours getting it weighed out. I'm trying to figure out the most efficient plan to get all the weights with the least number of movements. FYI, this is a single element scale. It just reads overall weight. It cannot read different 'zones'

Here is my plan so far:

1) weigh front axle by itself with WDH attached.

2) disconnect WDH, weigh front axle again. W1-w2 = WDH transfer.

3) Pull forward, weigh truck with trailer attached. W3 - W2 give rear axle weight.

4) Pull forward, weigh truck and trailer combined for gross weight.

5) unhitch, weigh trailer by itself.

6) grab trailer and pull forward, set jack down off scale and weigh just the trailer axles. W5-W6 = tongue weight.

I think that gives me most of the weights a man would need. If I need to make any adjustments to the WDH, i can redo 1 and 2 until I am happy.

Anybody see anything I am missing?

Tim

That seems a LOT of trouble and effort. If you go to a CAT scale, weigh your rig which will give you all three weights, Steering axle, Drive axle and trailer axles, the drop the trailer and reweigh just the truck, you will have all the info you need and it will take 30 minutes tops. And a written proof to boot.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by Kaadk

Is the issue that you're your trying to do 'the least number of changes' or the 'least number of passes'?

If I were you, I'd probably do it this way:

Starting with WDH hooked up:

1) Measure front axle
2) Pull forward, measure front+rear
3) Pull forward, measure front+rear+trailer
4) Pull forward, measure trailer where truck is off scales but jack will be on scales if it drops.
5) Drop the jack and unhitch, measure trailer alone with jack.
6) Hitch back up but don't engage WDH, measure trailer without WDH
7) pull around and back over scales, measure front axle.
7) pull forward, measure front+rear
8) Drop trailer so jack is off the scale and unhitch, measure truck alone.
9) Pull forward (leaving the trailer behind) and measure only rear axle.

This should give you every possible measurement, or the means to calculate every possible measurement. Now you just need to backup over the scale, hook back up to the trailer and go home to do your math.

I agree that this is a more sensible flow. No need to continually move or hitch/unhitch if done in the right sequence. Dropping jack and unhitching, rehitching is tedious enough without multiplying the issue.

[jkoenig24]

YES! Weights are VERY likely to differ from side to side on one (or more) axles. You really need an accurate weight for EACH wheel position. Once you have ALL that information, then you can make educated decisions re any changes that need to be made.

[W5CI]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Buying lunch for the guy who runs the weight shop????

you work where trucks come and go but you never drove one, weigh your truck one day by itself. 2, take ttruck and trl with wdh pull one Axel at a time on scale and record weights. 3, disconnect wdh and repeat step 2 one Axel at a time. then do the math. good luck.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by W5CI

you work where trucks come and go but you never drove one, weigh your truck one day by itself. 2, take ttruck and trl with wdh pull one Axel at a time on scale and record weights. 3, disconnect wdh and repeat step 2 one Axel at a time. then do the math. good luck.

Good sequence! Much more efficient.

And he's not tying up the scale while he unhitches/rehitches.

Larry

[clarkbre]

Absolutely no sense in overthinking this procedure!

Download this SPREADSHEET and have your laptop sitting on your center console. Plug the numbers in to the Non-Cat Scale Sheet as you roll on and everything will be calculated out.

You'll make 3 initial passes through the scale:
1. Truck only
2. Truck & trailer - WDH disengaged
3. Truck & trailer - WDH engaged

Based on the original results, if you don't like how the WDH is set up, adjust it and make another pass with the WDH engaged.

Repeat until satisfied.

It will end up looking something like this:

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by W5CI

you work where trucks come and go but you never drove one, weigh your truck one day by itself. 2, take ttruck and trl with wdh pull one Axel at a time on scale and record weights. 3, disconnect wdh and repeat step 2 one Axel at a time. then do the math. good luck.

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Good sequence! Much more efficient.

And he's not tying up the scale while he unhitches/rehitches.

Larry

Not tying up anything. Gonna do it on a day where we are not running trucks. Hence the "waiting for things to slow down".

Originally Posted by DouglasReid

That seems a LOT of trouble and effort. If you go to a CAT scale, weigh your rig which will give you all three weights, Steering axle, Drive axle and trailer axles, the drop the trailer and reweigh just the truck, you will have all the info you need and it will take 30 minutes tops. And a written proof to boot.

Cat scales cost $$$ and they get snippy with you if you sit on one too long while you are making adjustments. This scale is free for me to use, and I'll have it all day if I want.

Tim

[Aucoot]

Wht is a CAT scale, Thus sounds like the way to go. Thanks

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by Aucoot

Wht is a CAT scale, Thus sounds like the way to go. Thanks

A CAT scale is actually 3 separate scales in one line.

It takes separate measurements of the front/steer axle, rear/drove axle(s), and the trailer axle(s).

The 3 separate weights give a combined reading of an overall Gross Combination Weight still allowing to see if each individual axle is within it's ratings.

[llr]

personally I see no value weighing with the WDH hitch disconnected, unless you are debating if you need one or not. What does it add to know how overloaded your rear axle is or under loaded the front axle is if you are not driving like this.

When I used the CAT scale I got the 3 weights with everything hooked up, then dropped the trailer and weighed the truck.

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by llr

personally I see no value weighing with the WDH hitch disconnected, unless you are debating if you need one or not......

A WDH should be determined necessary by the preliminary listed weight specifications from the trailer, truck and truck's hitch manufacturers. Please explain how one pass through a CAT scale shows whether or not a WDH is needed.

Originally Posted by llr

.....What does it add to know how overloaded your rear axle is or under loaded the front axle is if you are not driving like this....

The axle data supplied from the disengaged WDH weigh in helps:
1. Measure the real tongue weight of the trailer. But, the weight lifted from the front axle needs to be taken into consideration for a correct tongue weight.
2. Set a baseline of how much adjustment is needed for the WDH to allow the proper amount of weight to be returned back to the front axle.

Originally Posted by llr

When I used the CAT scale I got the 3 weights with everything hooked up, then dropped the trailer and weighed the truck.

Ok. So with that information:
1. How much weight is your WDH returning to your front axle?
2. How much weight is being pushed back to the trailer axles?
3. With the WDH engaged, is there too much, not enough or the right amount of pressure on the bars?

The disengaged WDH weigh in helps answer all of these questions.

[W5CI]

Originally Posted by Aucoot

Wht is a CAT scale, Thus sounds like the way to go. Thanks

A State Certified 3 Axel scale that is at most all truck stops, The last tie I used them the cost was $10.50 for first trip thru and $1.00 each reweigh . You do receive a computer print out each trip.

[SilhouettePenny]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

Anybody see anything I am missing?

Tim

I'm gonna poke the hornets nest with a stick just a little here.......maybe carry an extra driveshaft, just in case!

(Can I buy you a drink sir?)

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by SilhouettePenny

I'm gonna poke the hornets nest with a stick just a little here.......maybe carry an extra driveshaft, just in case!

(Can I buy you a drink sir?)

Oh.... you are SO gonna pay for that, buster.

Tim

[SilhouettePenny]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

Oh.... you are SO gonna pay for that, buster.

Tim

Going to the store now.....
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