Weight of rig--steps to follow?

[Kistler]

I am going to Triple T on I-10 to get the rig (see sig) weighed. What do I get weighed? My guess is 1-front axel of tow vehicle, 2-all of the tow vehicle (still hitched to tt, I don't wish to unhitch there) 3-the whole rig, 4-trailer only (stilled hitched).

Do I have this right?

[Don in E Texas]

Prior to entering the scales, go into the office and talk to the person that will check the weight - tell him/her what you want to do. Prevents confusion (what the %(^(^ is that dude doing?).

I'd weigh the vehicle/trailer together and obtain the following weights:
Front wheel - vehicle
Rear wheel - vehicle
Trailer axles

Then go off the scales - park the trailer out of the way - re-enter the scales with your tow vehicle and weigh the following:
Front wheel
Rear wheel.

That should give you a good picture of everything.

Example: The difference in rear wheel weights of the two tests, above, would be the hitch weight of the trailer. Add this to trailer axle weights for gross weight of trailer. Gross weight of trailer plus tow vehilce front/rear axle would be combined vehicle weight.

Hope that makes sense.

Oh, when 18 wheelers enter the scales, they weight front axle, drive axle and trailer axle. They are checking the following:
Front axle not overloaded
Drive axle not overloaded
Trailer axle not overloaded
TOTAL - GROSS - weight 80,000 pounds or under.

don

[Kistler]

That makes a lot of sense. Unhitching out of the way is a must--that place is busy.

Kistler

[jcanavera]

If you want to get adventuous and if you have the resources, weigh each wheel. You may be surprised to see how the load varies based on your unit.

Remember A/S got caught on some of the later motorhomes where one of the front wheels was carrying more load than the rating of the tires? Weigh both tires and axle it doesn't show up. Weigh each wheel individually and it was identified.

Jack

[Kistler]

Adventurous hmmm....if you hear of a shooting at Triple T Truck Stop, you will know I was involved I am hoping to make this easy in and easy out and quick. They want $8 per weigh by the way.

I live up here in Oro Valley not too far from a waste collection place....they don't wish to be bothered with weighing rigs. Seems they had a bad experience; I didn't inquire as to what that bad experience was.

Kistler

[Pahaska]

The truckstop I go to charges very little for successive weighings. It also weighs each axle separately (trailer duals count as one axle).

I weigh truck with trailer with equalizer bars set.
Truck with trailer with equalizer bars off
Truck alone.

The total cost is about $8.

The above set of weighings will tell you everything there is to know about the rig including the effect of teh equalizer bars and what weight they transfer to the truck front axle.