Community Forums

Superslif · 05-28-2016, 10:57 AM

Just how does one use a CAT scale? I have no ideal what to do when I arrive at one. The reason is were loaded, I'm mean really loaded to the walls for our Alaska trip. Only so much one can pack into a 26' trailer and pickup.

I do have a large cargo carrying capacity in the trailer, but what to know where I'm at.

Hope at one of our stops we at a AT or Pilot with a scale between OH and MT.

Dale & Mark Bruss · 05-28-2016, 11:10 AM

The ideal is to have each wheel weighed because you could be within the weight limit for an axle and have an overloaded tire.

Lacking that, drive onto the scales with your pickup on the forward section of the CAT scale and the trailer on the rear portion. That will give you a reading of the truck with tongue weight included. The trailer redring will indicate how much weight is on your trailer tires.

Superslif · 05-28-2016, 11:15 AM

So the scale is actually two scales?

The posted bouchure weight (curb) on my double cab 4x4 5.7L Tundra is 5675 lbs. So I'm assuming that is one driver 150lbs and one tank of fuel, or no driver and no fuel?

JMynes · 05-28-2016, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

So the scale is actually two scales?

At least three scales, I think I've seen 4. Make sure your front axle is on one, the drive axle on another, and the trailer axles on a third section. Push the button on the panel and talk to the attendant. He'll tell you to come on in after he has the weights. My local one charges $10 for the first weigh, and a couple of bucks for reweigh within 24 hrs, if you want to adjust things and weigh again or unhook and weigh just the truck.

Superslif · 05-28-2016, 11:28 AM

OK that was what I was wondering about was how to communicate with the weight attendant. So a little speaker box. Biggest thing is the weight on the trailers axles. Leaving in 15 minutes....

In the bed of the truck I have 3 bikes, 2 inflatable kayaks and cargo box of boots, 5 gal. of gas and a few other things.

Superslif · 05-28-2016, 10:04 PM

Yes I did the one at the Portage Rest Area in western IN. ( I-90) a few hours back. The only issue was the speaker box was like 5 feet above my head. Happy to find out I was well under my axle & tire ratings. Means I can go back for more stuff or bring more stuff back from AK.

ahicks · 05-29-2016, 06:09 AM

I have issues with those speaker boxes. Can't hear worth a darn with the trucks idling and so on (background noise). I've found I can pull up onto the scales and visually check to see where my axles are at in relation to the separate scale tables, and once properly located, leave the rig where it's at and just go inside and see the fuel attendant. They'll collect the fee and provide you with a weight slip - without struggling with that darn squawk box.

JMynes · 05-29-2016, 06:18 AM

Yeah the button is high. They put it up there so the truckers can reach it out the window.

cbramsey · 05-29-2016, 08:39 AM

This video shows the process to use the CAT Scale. This particular video shows the "How To" for an RV.

http://youtu.be/ixK9BTAXqyY

bldrbob · 05-29-2016, 12:34 PM

I use a scale that has enough room on the side to drive with the right wheels off the scale.First weigh with all wheels on,second with right wheels off.Subtract one from other and have each wheel weight.

Bob

Crankshaft · 05-29-2016, 05:21 PM

CAT scales now has an app that makes weighing much easier. It's all done from your smartphone, the results are emailed to you or you can still get a printout. Haven't used it yet but may try it.

https://weighmytruck.com/how-to-use/getting-started/

Koop · 05-30-2016, 08:45 PM

About half way through this post I explain how we use truck stop CAT scales.
56 is the new 65 - Flying The Koop

Dale & Mark Bruss · 05-30-2016, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bldrbob

I use a scale that has enough room on the side to drive with the right wheels off the scale.First weigh with all wheels on,second with right wheels off.Subtract one from other and have each wheel weight.
Bob

CAT scales will not permit this. There are curbs to prevent a trucker from having wheels off the scale to lower the weight reading.

I will again emphasize individual wheel weighing is the best thing. When I had my first motorhome weighed. the front axle was fine for loading but the left front wheel was overloaded. The front left compartment had a whole lot of tools. Fixable by moving the tools around.

But a CAT scale weighing would not have caught that.

ahicks · 05-31-2016, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

CAT scales will not permit this. There are curbs to prevent a trucker from having wheels off the scale to lower the weight reading.

I will again emphasize individual wheel weighing is the best thing. When I had my first motorhome weighed. the front axle was fine for loading but the left front wheel was overloaded. The front left compartment had a whole lot of tools. Fixable by moving the tools around.

But a CAT scale weighing would not have caught that.

I've used CAT scales at several different locations, and without exception, was able to pull one side of the coach off to one side. I haven't done that in the last couple of years so I suppose that could have changed. Wouldn't make sense though.

A trucker is using those scales for his own knowledge, generally on his dime, to make sure he knows where he's at prior to entering a set of state scales. There would be nothing for him to gain by pulling off to one side at a CAT scale to get an artificially low weight.

Hopefully things have changed, but back in the day (80's, early 90's), it was not that unusual for a coach manf. to produce a coach that could only legally carry a few hundred lbs. legally. There were no "combined" weight capacity stickers required of them. When the consumers started raising hell, that's when we started seeing the then new combined number on the tags - so people would know about an issue prior to paying for it and having it weighed.