Quote:
Originally Posted by TimLoon
Didn't think about usng the scale at the dump. Only problem is most emplyees there are really nice and there is one really cranky guy. Guess who normally operates the scale?
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I finally figured out how to get the weight of "4 corners" at any CAT scale. A CAT scale has 3 pads; Steer axle, Drive axle & Trailer axle. Here is how you do it:
(This is for weighing a NON-tag rig and NOT weighing a toad.)
Go see the "weighmaster" at the scale and explain what you are about to do. I have found if you do that they will work with you, be able to watch for you on the second trip around (I'll explain that later.) and charge you with a weigh and a re-weigh. Unless they have seen this before they may even think that it won't work. IT DOES.
1. Drive onto the scale and place front wheels on the farthest pad (Steer) and the rear (Drive) wheels on the middle pad. This will put you at the speaker panel where you hit the CALL button to get weighed. Wait for them to confirm it is done.
2. Next, you MUST leave the scale pads because the CAT system will not do a second weight until it get's cleared. Depending on how busy they are you will either need to drive through the arch that protects the scale or you might be able to back up until all wheels are off the scale. I generally go around the block.
3. When you re-enter the scale you straddle the left or right side of the scale so that either the left or right side wheels (your choice based on any obstructions near the scale) of your rig is directly over the center of the scale. You then make sure your front wheels are now on the DRIVE pad and the rear wheels are on the TRAILER pad. Depending on how well you coordinated it and how noisy it is, you might be able to hear them through the speaker that it is done. Once it is done you may need to back up a short distance to get your rig to line up properly to get through the arch that protects the scale.
4. Go to the weighmaster and get 2 weight slips. Generally this will cost you about $10-$13. My last one cost $10.50 which was $9.50 for the first weigh and $1.00 for the re-weigh.
Here is what I got on my last weighing
Ticket #1
STEER AXLE (TOTAL) - 7680
DRIVE AXLE (TOTAL) - 15120
TRAILER AXEL (TOTAL) - 00
GROSS WEIGHT (TOTAL) - 22800
Ticket #2 (MY RIGHT SIDE WHEELS ON SCALE)
STEER AXLE - 00
DRIVE AXLE - 3800 - (Steer axle now)
TRAILER AXLE - 7780 - (Drive axle now)
GROSS WEIGHT - 11580 - (right side weight)
Now it is simple math
7680 (full steer) - 3800 (right side steer) = 3880 left steer wheel
15120 (full drive) - 7780 (right side drive) = 7340 left drive wheel
So my highest corners:
left Steer - 3880 (only a 80 difference! Nice L/R balance)
Right Drive - 7780 (right side 440 heavier so I can use that info to re-balance.)
NOTE 1: I'm no engineer and I have to assume that there will be slight variations caused by how well you center up the wheels on the pad during the second weighing and also whether the placement of the "off scale" wheels is exactly level or not. As anal as I am, I think that following these procedures is as good as you can get without having access to mobile scales placed under all 4 wheel sets at the same time. If you follow the +5 PSI rule of thumb, you should never have an under inflated tire based on your weight charts for your tires.
NOTE 2: I had a weighing the previous day where the drive axle was left side 7720 & right side 7780. I emptied about 300-400 lbs of grey & black tank holding. I suspect that those holding tanks are nearer to the left side of my rig explaining the 440 imbalance towards the right. Moving fresh water to holding tanks might also re-balance towards the left. I need to look at my coach diagram to confirm my suspicions that but it makes sense.
BTW...you WILL get some strange looks by any truckers in the area when you do the second weighing.
Kinda the "WTH!?" (dumb RVer) look. LOL