Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

[SooLineRob]

Hi all,

As the weather up here begins to warm up and boat season is just around the corner, I'm ready to verify my towing set up is correct. My outfit is a 1990 1/2 ton Suburban, and a 2004 FW Freedom 180 F/S 4.3L.

The truck and boat/trailer are ready for towing, and I need to verify the weights are correct. I have access to a public scale (grain elevator/mill) that weighs 18 wheelers. I do have a cheap bathroom scale, but don't trust it for something this important!

How do I properly measure the truck, tongue weight, and boat/trailer axle weights using the public scale?

I have the truck and boat fully loaded with all fuel and gear for maximum weight. Do I:

Weigh only the truck first. Weight = A

Come back with the truck, boat, and trailer, and weigh the truck only again. Trailer axles off the scale, Weight = B

Weigh the truck, boat, and trailer all at once. Weight = C

Uncouple from trailer and weigh trailer/boat only. Weight = D

Couple back up to trailer, and pull truck off the scale, leaving only the trailer axles on the scale. Weight = E

I've read the posts on how to use a 300 lb bathroom scale to measure tongue weight, but I'm not comfortable with my "made in China" model's accuracy ... since it never matches MY weight immediately after a physical exam!

How do I properly use the weights I get (A, B, C, D, and E) from the semi scale to verify my outfit is properly set up?

Thanks in advance for helping the Newbie ensure he's safe!!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

With the trailer in tow, pull onto the scale so only the trucks wheels are on the scale. That weight is the weight of the truck PLUS the tongue weight of the trailer. Now pull onto the scale so only the trailer is on the scale. That weight is the trailer weight MINUS the tongue weight. Now uncouple and weigh just the truck. That weight, subtracted from the first weight is the tongue weight. Add that difference to the trailer weight to get the total trailer weight.

As for bathroom scales, when you get to my age you spend a lot of time making doctor visits and I have yet to get consistent readings from hospital and doctor office scales. So don't hesitate to use the bathroom scale.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

At my public scale, they would not let me do the half on method. They weighed the whole rig, then I pulled off and dropped the trailer and weighed the truck which of course will give ya both individual weights. Then came home and used a bathroom scale for the tongue weight. Place a board on the scale or the jack wheel will damage it, resulting in your wife's weight appearing to go up 100 lbs. which could get messy.

 

[dave11]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

Go to the scale at a time they are not busy. They should't have a problem with you proceeding as Silvertip stated.

 

[SooLineRob]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

Thanks guys!

I stopped by the grain elevator this morning, and "the guy that runs the scale" isn't there today. They told me I could stop by anytime to weigh my outfit. I hope some farmer doesn't show up with his semi today...

Thanks for the tips. I'll get to the scale during the week. Up here, there's still ICE around the edges of some lakes! Not quite boating season yet, but I'm getting ready!

 

[SooLineRob]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

... resulting in your wife's weight appearing to go up 100 lbs. which could get messy.

YEA ... that WOULD be a problem!!! Never mind the busted scale!

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

Go to the scale at a time they are not busy.

I was the only one there. According to them, accuracy is questionable when you put a small weight on the end of a 90' long scale capable of weighing 80,000 lbs..

 

[chicknwing]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

Go to the scale at a time they are not busy.

I was the only one there. According to them, accuracy is questionable when you put a small weight on the end of a 90' long scale capable of weighing 80,000 lbs..

The accuracy of the scale should not be in question. If the scale is issuing weight tickets for tractor trailers they must be certified. They have a calibration truck come in to certify the scale. Any amount of weight can be measured. Depending on the age of the scale it may be sectioned to provide the tractor trailers with axle weights. If this is the case I would try to get my axles on these platforms and get the weight of each axle.

The idea behind an axle weight is that if you can distribute the weight evenly among those axles you will get a better ride while under tow. Once you see the weights you can adjust the weight by moving the trailer axle forward to gain weight on the truck or back to add weight to the trailer. I weigh a 5 axle dump truck many times during any given day and This is the method that has worked the best for our needs.

 

[dave11]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

I weighed mine at a truck stop on a CAT scale. It is a certified weight.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Newbie ready to weigh truck & boat...

Your backwards campbell, moving the trailer axel forward puts more weight on the trailer and backwards moves it to the tow vehicle. For those that have a fifth wheel pushing the hitch forward moves weight onto the steer axel and moving it backwards puts weight onto the drive axel.