Where to weigh Rig

[DamnYuppie]

I tried searching this site but didn't find what I was looking for. So a total newbie question here but where does one go to weigh their rig?

[JohnFreyja]

Often you can weigh in at truck weigh stations that aren't busy. But others are sand and gravel yards, Flying J or Loves Fuel Stops.

[vsheetz]

I use a nearby large garden and farm supplier. They have a scale one can even get four corner weights by turning around and entering from the opposite direction. Usually lots of scales out there once you start finding them.

[Mr_D]

Her in WA they leave the scales on when the weigh stations are closed. Usually enough room to do one side then swing around and weigh the other.
Need to do that with our MH though.

[montara24d]

I have found truck stops to be the best place. You pull the rig onto the scale, & you will see a series of sections. Put the front axle of the TV on one pad, rear axle on another, & the trailer wheels on still another pad. Go the speaker & press the button, give the attendant a truck # (make up any number) when you go to the counter you will get a printout of all three axle weights, & a total weight of the rig. If I remember $10 for the service & the weight slip.
John

[CCH]

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

It's a little intimidating first time maybe with all the trucks around - but real easy and the only problem I've had was reaching up to push the button.

There is a video on the CAT Scale website with great instructions

[paz]

Originally Posted by montara24d

I have found truck stops to be the best place. You pull the rig onto the scale, & you will see a series of sections. Put the front axle of the TV on one pad, rear axle on another, & the trailer wheels on still another pad. Go the speaker & press the button, give the attendant a truck # (make up any number) when you go to the counter you will get a printout of all three axle weights, & a total weight of the rig. If I remember $10 for the service & the weight slip.
John

After you get the weights with the truck and trailer, drop off the trailer in an empty parking space and drive the truck around to the scale again putting the truck axles on different scale segments. Pick up the phone and give them your original info and tell them it's a re-weigh. The charge will be a couple of bucks additional (not the full $10). From weight of the empty truck you will be able to calculate your pin weight.

[DrDaveMA]

At many of the RV shows there is a vendor that will weight your coach giving you weights for each corner and a full evaluation of the tires, inflation and rating. It can be a bit pricey, last time I did it was March at the FMCA rally in Perry, GA, IIRC it was $65, They will also weight your trailer/toad or your tow vehicle. I do it every 5 years or when I get a new coach or tires.

[SlowpokeSlim]

I use the local truck stop with a CAT scale. Pull in slowly and stop when your truck axle is sitting on the front scale pad. This puts your rear truck axle on the next pad back. Press the button and when they come on the speaker tell them you need a weigh. Doesn't matter what truck number you give them, they just want that so they give the right weight ticket to the right truck when you come inside to pick it up and pay at the counter.

First weigh is $10, second weigh or "reweigh" is $2, if you do it within 24 hours. If it's a reweigh, bring your first weight ticket with you, as they will need the ticket number off of that ticket to give you the reweigh discount.

I've weighed my truck by itself, and my 5th wheel at empty "dry weight", and today I go back with 5th wheel fully loaded on our way out of town for the weekend. That will give me all the weights I need to make sure I'm set up correctly, with no guessing involved.

[RussOnTheRoad]

Originally Posted by DamnYuppie

I tried searching this site but didn't find what I was looking for. So a total newbie question here but where does one go to weigh their rig?

Personal experience has taught me that when calling around to public scales you may get someone on the phone that gives you bad info.

I wanted to have my Class C "corner weighed" so I could tell how the load in my rig was distributed. This means weighting the right front, left front, right rear and left rear separately. I called around to local scales to ask if they could do this. In some cases I was misinformed and made a trip to a scale that couldn't do this. People that answer the phones at some places are low-paid counter help separated from the scales and they don't understand the terminology. Even some scale operators don't understand.

You didn't say where you are located. Some public scales in Oregon I hear are left turned on when the weigh stations are closed so anybody can use them for free. Scales can be located by Googling "public scales".

[riverss]

i would recommend a CAT scale but a word of caution bring a step stool with you because the button you need to push is located foe BIG trucks and not pick ups. I would going to this web site there is a 5 step program for weighing your rig . RV Safety|RV Towing Calculator|Tow Ratings|GCWR work sheet and calculator and the whole nine yards. once you do this you will know where you stand personally and legally. there is also room so that you can unhitch and rehitch there with out any problems.

[DamnYuppie]

Wow, a ton of great information, thanks so much!

[Cummins12V98]

I have weighed our combos several times over the years at the WA State weigh stations.

[montara24d]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

I have weighed our combos several times over the years at the WA State weigh stations.

A number of years ago in our slide on camper days, we were traveling in Wyoming. Stopped for lunch in a rest area, & across the road was a State weigh station. A member of our group asked if he could weigh the truck & camper, "sure bring it over". He was overweight, got a summons, & was permitted to move on when the truck conformed to the weight rating. Don't know if I would stop in a State weigh station, unless I was required to do so.
John