Community Forums

LK23 · 04-19-2011, 08:26 AM

We just purchased a new Class A motor home in Lincoln, NE and need to weigh the coach. It looks like the CAT scales only weigh the axles. Any suggestions where to get individual wheel weights?

hoppers4 · 04-19-2011, 09:01 AM

I weighed the four corners of my rig at the Washington State Weigh stations located along the interstate system. I only use stations that are not currently open for commercial traffic. They leave the scales on at all times. Perhaps NE weigh stations have the same capabilities.

paz · 04-19-2011, 09:17 AM

As hoppers4 says, some weigh stations leave their scales on all the time, so you can use them when the station is closed. You will have to maneuver your rig to catch each axle, then maneuver to get one side of your rig off the scales. By subtracting weights, you can determine weights for individual corners.

Sometimes a place that sells bulk goods such as stone or other landscape supplies has a scale that they will allow individuals to use for a small fee to weigh vehicles. You will have to do the same thing and maneuver your coach to get individual axles, then just one side, and you will probably have to pay for several weighings. All of the CAT scales I have seen will give you weights for individual axles, but they don't have enough room to allow you get to the scale with one side on the scale and one side off.

The other option is a major rally where a group like RVSEF will be there specifically to weigh RVs. Not only will they weigh all 4 corners, they will make recommendations on tire pressures and changes to correct overweight or unbalanced conditions. RVSEF also has several safety conferences at various locations.

Mike Canter · 04-19-2011, 09:17 AM

Some CAT scales are even with the surronding surface and you can put one side on the scales at a time. The reweigh cost is usually only a couple of dollars so you can do multiply weighs to make sure each tire is on a separate platform. One thing is that if you turned a tight corner to get on any scales or as a rountine before weighing first dump the air out of the bags and then bring them back up in Travel Mode to make sure the MH is not leaning after a tight corner or in a bind.

wa8yxm · 04-19-2011, 09:53 AM

There are two ways.. First the easy way http://www.rvsafety.org

Just visit the link on the left side of the page for weighing your rig, they come to you, set it up and provide a bunch of info CAT scales do not, Price is roughly the same

Method 2

There are two (well 4) kinds of truck scales.... We are not so much interested in segmented (Weighs each axle like the CAT scales do) or not (Wehighs the whole rig) as we are Bridge or Flat,, Many of the CAT scales are bridge scales and those just won't do.. You need a flat scale

With a flat scale if it's segmented you drive on normally, centered, and get weighed, , Then you drive so only one side of your rig is on the scale, the other on the ground.. This gives you the weights for those corners,, Subtraction gives you the other corner.

If it is a single (non-segmented) scale.. Drive so one axle is on, then the other, then one wheel, (Front) and then the rear (Same side) and do the math to get the other side once again.. You end up paying for four readings that way and might well find the link above less expensive.

To find flat scales check junk yards,, Farmer's elevators and other places which might be listed under SCALES in that book your fingers do the walking through.. Hint; The pages are yellow.

frankdamp · 04-19-2011, 09:53 AM

You might also want to see if your local waste transfer station will let you run over their scale without dumping any trash.

akadeadeye · 04-19-2011, 09:56 AM

Another option is to find a moving company storage warehouse like Allied, etc. That is where I weighed ours. It was a level parking lot. Weighed all four corners easily and they charged a total of $10.

Don

Go Dawgs · 04-19-2011, 11:41 AM

Try a large moving company like Bekins. We have one locally that will do it for free if all we need is a weight. If you need to certify they charge a small fee.