What should I expect when I weigh for 1st time?

[Jim_HiTek]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Hard to get a weigh ticket at the Free scales

$20 is not going to break any RVr and to have the 'proof' of actual weights is priceless

Where or for what did you need proof? Ferry trip? I'm interested, just in case.

I seldom stop at an open weigh station as there are truckers trying to do their business. I did once, 18 years ago at a station that wasn't very busy. The guys in the booth though it was funny, but they waved me though. I read about the other situation on RV dot com where they did weigh the RV as they weren't busy, and even printed out the weight.

Not surprised that Texas blocks citizens from using equipment their taxes pay for. I've never tried to weigh there though so wasn't aware. I'd just go to the next state if that is what I found.

[tuffr2]

I had a CAT scale fail. I could not reach the button to call into the store to tell them I was ready. The button was too high. So the next time I took a golf club to hit the button. I pull onto the scale and I hear the intercom say truck number. I said #10 they said ok - done. I pulled off the scale and parked. In the store they handed me the yellow slip and I paid $12. I think a subsequent weight within 24 hours was $2.

I think what happened to me was one button was too low and I could not see it. The other button was too high.

I never used the golf club because the person in the store was watching the scale and saw me pull on.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by Jim_HiTek

Not surprised that Texas blocks citizens from using equipment their taxes pay for. I've never tried to weigh there though so wasn't aware. I'd just go to the next state if that is what I found.

Texas tries to protect the equipment citizens pay for. Those scales are there to protect the road the citizens pay for from overweight commercial traffic. And the police have more important things to do than fool with an rv’er that’s too cheap to pay for a CAT scale weight right up the road.

It’s about 5 hours to the next state from where I am. [moderator edit].

[Bobby F]

Just remember:

Jerks will see you and roll their eyes.

Decent people will think "I remember my first time . . ." and chuckle, with sympathy.

Never worry about the jerks.

[Toby Dog]

Here's a suggestion. Hopefully the mods will allow it'

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/f...d/29935495.cfm

[Jay D.]

here in Oregon the scales are open 24-7, you can pull in anytime and weigh for free. you pull on the scale and a digital reader board lights up with your weight, then you write it down. usually when they are closed you can have the place to yourself for hours.
Jay D.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

here in Oregon the scales are open 24-7, you can pull in anytime and weigh for free. you pull on the scale and a digital reader board lights up with your weight, then you write it down. usually when they are closed you can have the place to yourself for hours.

Jay D.

That’s a great resource. I think TX closes theirs mostly because it would turn into a rest stop otherwise. IDK

[RickLight]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

here in Oregon the scales are open 24-7, you can pull in anytime and weigh for free. you pull on the scale and a digital reader board lights up with your weight, then you write it down. usually when they are closed you can have the place to yourself for hours.
Jay D.

I've done that in Idaho, Montana and I think Washington. Small scales, not on interstates, nobody around. The smaller scales have just one scale. Pull one axle up and write down the number, repeat for each axle. If it's blocked I keep on going.

I suspect, if an actual officer wants your weight they would escort you to a scale. (Can't imagine it would happen.) Otherwise it wouldn't hold up in court. ("I just dumped 1000lbs of water!") Your insurance company may want documentation after an incident.

[Parafango]

Knowing your weight is great! Having the sheet to prove it is also good.
I have several weigh bills from CAT scales showing I'm not overloaded, not even close. I plan on using them in the "discussion" with RAM about the shank pin hole that is becoming oval. RAM engineering claims " you were either overloaded or did not install the pin correctly" I'm still waiting on the document from RAM engineering that shows the correct method of installing the shank pin. They haven't asked for the weigh bills yet.

[DRAGN83]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

here in Oregon the scales are open 24-7, you can pull in anytime and weigh for free. you pull on the scale and a digital reader board lights up with your weight, then you write it down. usually when they are closed you can have the place to yourself for hours.
Jay D.

I'm not sure if MN (where I live) let's you do that. But if it did I'd calculate how much the "free weigh" cost me. The nearest state weigh station is about 20 miles further from me than the nearest CAT scale, so 40 miles more driving. My Ram 2500 gets about 8 MPG while towing the camper so I would use 5 Gal of gas. It's $3.19/gal here last I looked so that's $15.95 in gas to avoid paying $13.00 to use the CAT scale that's closer.

In addition I don't have to write anything down. I get instant gratification through the weigh my truck app and also an email with a PDF of the weight ticket. Plug those numbers into my spreadsheet and I'm good to go.

Plus it's not like I'm doing this all the time. I did it last May when we got our new camper ind I'll do it again in the spring because we have a different truck now. But twice in a 12 moth period is unusual. So $13 for a weigh is not a hardship. It's cheap and easy so no reason not to do it.

No need to be inimidated. See: https://youtu.be/wfelG30b8hs

[Jim_HiTek]

Originally Posted by DRAGN83

I'm not sure if MN (where I live) let's you do that. But if it did I'd calculate how much the "free weigh" cost me. The nearest state weigh station is about 20 miles further from me than the nearest CAT scale, so 40 miles more driving. My Ram 2500 gets about 8 MPG while towing the camper so I would use 5 Gal of gas. It's $3.19/gal here last I looked so that's $15.95 in gas to avoid paying $13.00 to use the CAT scale that's closer.

In addition I don't have to write anything down. I get instant gratification through the weigh my truck app and also an email with a PDF of the weight ticket. Plug those numbers into my spreadsheet and I'm good to go.

Plus it's not like I'm doing this all the time. I did it last May when we got our new camper ind I'll do it again in the spring because we have a different truck now. But twice in a 12 moth period is unusual. So $13 for a weigh is not a hardship. It's cheap and easy so no reason not to do it.

No jeep to be inimidated. See: https://youtu.be/wfelG30b8hs

Very few need a weight 'right now!!' and it can be put off for hundreds of miles. And, I've not heard of anyone making a special run JUST to get a weigh in, I'm sure it has happened, I've just never heard about it on the forums. Mostly I do it when traveling from one location to another and I happen to see a weigh station alongside the road that says CLOSED, then I'll stop in. Usually I'll do it when I have new tires. And $15 saved is another ~4 gallons of fuel.

[fuzzball]

Originally Posted by AveryF

+1

The app is very intuitive and incredibly easy to use.

I'm in the app for the first time trying to set up an account. There is a box for "Company Name" that is a required entry. Any idea what I should use?

Thanks!

[maji]

Based on his concern for talking to “the officer” i got the impression the OP’s concern was regarding having to pull into an open weigh station on the highway when he comes across one.

I don’t believe RVs are required to pull in and get weighed, commercial vehicles only.

It is good to get weighed somewhere, though, per the other suggestions here. I drove 30 minutes to CAT scale last year to get my first look at my Class C’s weight. It’s cheap enough to do but when I mentioned it to my son the other day, he said “You know you can do that for free on the state scales when they’re closed, right?”

Well, I do now… 😆

[VentanaOdyssey]

Heavier than you think and very well could be overweight.