Community Forums

stevenapril · 03-28-2023, 02:17 PM

I cant seem to find one of these near me (Massachusetts) and I've read that this is required to get tire pressure correct. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

RVStitchy · 03-28-2023, 03:16 PM

It is not required but it is the most accurate method. They are not very common. Some of the bigger RV service centers offer it but not sure if any of them are up in the North East. Some of the bigger national RV rallies also offer it. I got out Coach done at North Trail in Fort Myers, Fl (if you have any Florida plans in the future).

Most people get axle weight from a local Cat scale and divide by 2 - then add 5% to account for one side possibly being heavier than the other. As you probably already know, you want the tire pressures to be the same side-to-side.

Dutch Star Don · 03-28-2023, 03:16 PM

I've owned three DP's and two gas coaches and never did a four-corner weigh on any of them. A front and rear axle weigh is sufficient to determine an appropriate weight for tire pressure purposes. A four-corner weigh is nice, but just not necessary.

Dennis C. · 03-28-2023, 04:48 PM

Michelin owner’s manuals show how to do it using a CAT scale, but not all CAT scales have enough runoff area on the sides to allow this. I use the method mentioned above, which is to get individual axle weights, divide by two and add a safety margin to allow for uneven loads from side to side.

TheRod · 03-28-2023, 06:25 PM

Check with your state's Highway Patrol, they may provide you with a resource. If you take your coach back to Newmar to take care of your pre-1 year warranty expiration punchlist they can weigh it. If you join FMCA or other RV organizations, they sometimes have an RV weighing company at some of. the events. I found 4 corner weights helpful in me knowing if our weight distribution in the coach was balanced. Surprisingly, we were within a couple of hundred pounds.

Mike8253 · 03-28-2023, 09:38 PM

The thing about a 4-corner weigh site is that you have to have access to one when you are fully loaded, which isn't easy. I recently got a 4-corner weigh at LiquidSpring, but the MH was empty except for 3/4 tank of gas. So it's nice to know how what the MH's basic side-by-side weight differences are, but it's of little use for setting tire pressures because the way you load the MH is going to alter that. Go to a CAT Scale at your 1st gas stop when you are fully loaded on a trip and get your front and rear axle weights. Then, add 5% to what your tire's inflation chart says to set what your cold tire PSI should be, and air up (or down as the case may be) the next morning when your tires are cold. And in the interim, inflate your tires to what the sticker says on your MH for your 1st day's travel.

Arch Hoagland · 03-28-2023, 10:02 PM

Some moving companies have scales at their main office, check and see if they will let you weigh your RV.

I've never done four corner, just front and rear axles.

veraken · 03-29-2023, 06:00 AM

It's hard to find a place that does 4 corner weighing. This is what I do

To determine what the right tire pressure is for you, you need to weigh your MH. Load your MH as you would for travel, fill you gas and water tanks and then get your MH weighed.

If you can't do 4 corner weighing (which would the best), this is the procedure to follow:

1. Weigh the coach axles
2. Add 5% to account for possible uneven weight side to side.
3. Divide by the number of tires on each axle.
4. Look to tire chart for your brand to find tire pressure.
5. Add 5 psi for safety

jadatis · 03-29-2023, 08:29 AM

Once you got it weighed, per axle or best per axle-end, let me make a list for your tires.
Then I make it with maximum reserve in weight and speed, but still acceptable comfort and gripp, and with a better formula calculated then the mostly used american officiall formula.
Can make it for axleweight single and dual, and for axle-end weight single and dual, whatever is needed.
Then you dont need to devide by 2 or 4, and dont need to add reserve in weight and/or pressure.
All for your conveniënce, I will do the rocket-science.

SailorSam · 03-29-2023, 10:09 AM

I'd check with RVSEF to see if they will be in an area where you can arrange to get weighed. I know they do 4 wheel weighings at many RV rallies every year.
https://rvsafety.com/

Sweetbriar · 03-29-2023, 10:41 AM

Sometimes at RV shows there will be an RV Safety group with portable scales that will weight each axle. Another source is local trash dumps or recycling centers. A third source are moving companies sometimes have scales.

One of the local cities where I live has a road bed level scale that I used. They let me drive over twice at not cost as I did not want a weight certificate and there was an electronic display of the wight on the table. With a little math it was easy to work out the individual axle weights. I moved the barrels out of the way to make the second pass.

dbircky · 03-29-2023, 10:55 AM

Unless the ground where individual scales are placed is exactly level side to side and fire and aft, four corner weights are, at best, a horseshoes level of accuracy.

bevandtomH · 03-29-2023, 11:09 AM

https://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator/

This may help as well.

Rev. Roy · 03-29-2023, 11:54 AM

A few years back I too tried to find a place for tire weight with no luck. I finally bought my own portable scales, I think it was around $1700, and have done several Friends' RV as well. The real issue with mine is trying to find a reasonably level area to use it. I have thought about taking them with us to rallies and setting it up for a "fundraiser" for a local charity. I think it would be real popular.