Different Tongue Weights same size trailers 28' vs 27'

[m.hony]

Looks like the Cat scale only gives weight readings in 10# increments. Every number ends in zero.
It may even be 20# increments or possibly a coincidence. On my particular Cat scale tickets the weights all end in 40 or 60#.
A sherline (spelling?) scale may be the only way to get an exact number. Sometimes at rallies someone with a scale will run around and weigh everybody's trailer.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Looks like the Cat scale only gives weight readings in 10# increments. Every number ends in zero.
It may even be 20# increments or possibly a coincidence. On my particular Cat scale tickets the weights all end in 40 or 60#.
A sherline (spelling?) scale may be the only way to get an exact number. Sometimes at rallies someone with a scale will run around and weigh everybody's trailer.

A Sherline is basically a hydraulic pressure gage that goes from 0 to 2000 pounds on a dial, and so the best you can do is within a 100 pounds or so.

[Vitaminsea]

I did reverse my post. It was 100 pounds heavier at the jack than the tongue weight. My mistake on posting.

[Alphonse]

Originally Posted by SteveH

A Sherline is basically a hydraulic pressure gage that goes from 0 to 2000 pounds on a dial, and so the best you can do is within a 100 pounds or so.

Steve, I have one and checked with Sherline before I bought it and they say the accuracy is +/- 2% in the middle range. So for the 2000 pound scale, at the 1000 pound mark the range is 980 to 1020 (i.e. +/- 20 pounds).

The issue I have had with the scale is not so much the accuracy but assuring a level platform to put it on and to make certain it is loaded axially when using it. Otherwise it has been okay.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

Steve, I have one and checked with Sherline before I bought it and they say the accuracy is +/- 2% in the middle range. So for the 2000 pound scale, at the 1000 pound mark the range is 980 to 1020 (i.e. +/- 20 pounds).

The issue I have had with the scale is not so much the accuracy but assuring a level platform to put it on and to make certain it is loaded axially when using it. Otherwise it has been okay.

I don't dispute it's accuracy, it's just that you are reading it from a 270 degree dial (+,-) that goes from 0 to 2000lbs. To get 20lb resolution you need a magnifying glass and a pair of accurate dividers.

[Airstreamer67]

I find the Sherline dial easy to read without the help of magnifiers.

However, since it is an analog scale, one must judge proportionally where the indicator is between the dial's graduations to interpret the precise weight. This comes quite naturally, as demonstrated when one interprets the precise time on a dial clock by the relative positions of the arms between numbers. Only with a digital scale would one be able to be more precise about the readings.

In any event, a few pounds plus-or-minus doesn't make a significant difference for our purposes here.

Regarding the leveling issue, I use a dial or bubble type measuring device to get things level and perpendicular. If these factors are off, it can cause a side-loading issue on the scale's piston which can result in inaccurate readings. I always raise and lower the trailer's tongue on the Sherline several times during any weighing session, making sure things are straight and the results are repeatable. This helps eliminate any variables regarding this issue.

[Alphonse]

From this I read 1037.75 pounds. Therefore less 2%, it might be 1016.75 lb or plus 2%, it might be 1058.25.

I think I will be lazy and call it 1040 lb. I even checked it couple of times and it landed in the same spot!

[SteveH]

Looks more like 1046 to me. :-)

[switz]

If 50 pounds is going to make the difference in the TV and trailer tongue weight, then I think maybe the the TV is under rated for the job.

I crossed the CAT scales with my 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI on the way home with the new empty 25FB International Serenity. The weights on the MB axles were fine.

The dealer service manager stressed that this year's car was rated for only a 5,000 pound trailer. The empty trailer weight was about 6,100 pounds. Fully loaded for camping, the trailer came in at 6,960 pounds. Now the front axle was overloaded and the GVWR was exceeded. I could have massaged the weight off the front axle to the rear axle and then not have exceeded each axle rating, but the GVWR would still have been overloaded and the drive line capability was exceeded by nearly 40%.

I elected to not trash this expensive car and continue to use it as my economical daily driver. I purchased the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500HD diesel where no GAWR axle ratings would be maxed out and the trailer weight would be under the maximum rating.

I crossed the CAT scales with the new Classic model 30 very lightly loaded for an overnight and the truck had a Honda 2,000 watt generator and a 5 gallon full gas can in the bed. No axle ratings were exceeded and the total weight was 16,940 pounds.