CAT Scale Opened My Eyes

[eldermike]

You know, (just an example) 7,100 lbs is 3 percent over 6900 lbs and the scales are most likely 5 percent calibration, if that.

[Nighthawk 96]

Russ

My latest CAT Scale figures. (dry weight out of factory is 5834#)

Truck by itself with just me and full tank of gas: Steer Axle 3240
I have 250# cap. Weight includes hitch Drive Axle 2700
GVWR 6900# Total 5940

So as you can see I have less than 1000# remaining for payload.

Fully loaded trailer with DW added to truck Steer Axle 3360
WDH with spring bars engaged Drive Axle 3580
One sway control attached Trailer Axle 5920
Total 12860

So I am slightly over payload. I am under the rear axle rating of 4100 by a
comfortable amount. I run with about 1/3 tank of water and other tanks
empty. My Tow rating is 10100# and GCVWR 16000#.

I believe in the 20% rule, which is towing with 20% of your GCVWR in reserve.
I am right at that so my current trailer is as heavy as I would care to pull.

Since this weighing I have upgraded my spring bars from 800# to 1200# and I am experimenting with the proper number of chain links. But this won't change any
measurement by much.

[Tim L]

Tongue weight is without WD bars. Just purely the tongue of the trailer on the scales. The earlier advice is good, of moving items from truck to trailer. However, DO NOT try to weight the back of your trailer to subtract from the truck load. You NEED 10 to 12% or even as much as 15% tongue weight. If you hang stuff on the back, and move heavy items from front to back, get ready for sway! Use the front and rear wheel well to ground, before and after measurements to set your WD bar angle.

[Revschuette]

Originally Posted by Russ661

I've been wanting to run my rig over the scales and finally got around to doing it today. It was an eye opening and somewhat sobering experience.

My TV is a fully optioned 2012 Silverado 1500 4x4 Extended Cab 5.3 liter automatic with the HD tow package rated to tow up to 9600 pounds. Truck was weighed w/full tank of gas, 2 adults, 2 dogs (1 big 1 very small) fiberglass shell, bed liner and a bicycle in the back and came to 6420 pounds.
My TT is a 2014 27 DSRL. I weighed the TT with a full tank of water on board and all our camping gear/groceries/drinks. Trailer weight was right at 6760 pounds. GM says the GCVW should be no more than 15,000 pounds so I am good at 13,180.
Truck weight with trailer attached, no WD hitch 7180 for a tongue weight of 760. So far so good.
Truck weight with weight distribution goes down to 7060 (trailer weight goes up to 6120) for a tongue weight of 640 which means the tongue weight is light, not even 11% of the trailers weight. Not so good.
Now the bad part: the tag on the inside of the drivers door puts the GVWR at 7000 pounds which means I am over weight by 60 pounds. What really blows is that the tongue weight is already light; if I change the adjustment of the hitch to take more weight off the truck the reduction pushes me under the 10-15% tongue weight to trailer weight ratio recommended by GM.
For what it's worth the truck tows the trailer just fine the way it is set up now so I guess I don't have much in the way of options other than to not carry a full tank of water thus lightening the tongue weight slightly and live with the max GVW condition while keeping a sharp eye on maintenance items. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions that do not involve buying a bigger truck would be appreciated. Thanks

"Truck weight with weight distribution goes down to 7060(trailer weight goes up to 6120) - Is this correct? Or do you mean 7120 vs. the 6120? Below is the number you gave with camper loaded with gear.

"Trailer weight was right at 6760 pounds."

I find your post interesting as we ordered a white hawk 28dsbh and are also looking at trading in our truck. I would love and am able to get a 2500 HD, would be a gas, but it also would be my daily driver, thus still a desire to stay with a 1500. Just not sure now after looking at your numbers. makes me question things a bit more.

[Camper_bob]

Russ661, something in your original post has been bothering me.

You state that your truck loaded and ready to go scales out at 6420. Your scale weight with trailer attached, WDH disengaged is 7180, with WDH engaged is 7060.

I'm not concerned about the accuracy of those weights, I'm concerned with the accuracy of the GVWR on your truck. I tow with a 2012 GMC Sierra Crew SLE 2wd, arguably not "optioned out" and my door pillar reads 6800 for GVWR. I could understand some variance in that number, but 400 lbs seems like a pretty big variance.

Your truck is 4wd and probably has more options than mine, so I have a tough time figuring how your GVWR is higher than mine, esp by that margin.

Are you sure about your GVWR? Did you get it from the sticker on your door pillar?

[Russ661]

Revschuette,
I messed up when I weighed the TV: I had both TV axles on the front axle weight scale and the trailer wheels on the third scale; missed the second scale completely. First I weighed the truck alone as stated and it weighed 6420 pounds. Then I backed up and hitched on the trailer and weighed it again. It weighed 7180. 7180- 6240 = 760 pounds toongue weight. Trailer weight was showing as 6000 even. Hooked up the WD bars and the truck weight went down to 7060 while the trailer weight went UP to 6120 which tells me I transfered 120 pounds back onto the trailer axles. I'm sure there was some amount moved from the rear TV axle to the front but I can't say how much. Given that tongue weight is part of trailer weight then the 760 + 6000 = 6760 total trailer weight.

Camper-Bob, the sticker in the door jamb says 7000 GVWR so the difference is only 200 pounds. I have no explanation for the variance.

[DJsFolly]

Finally read my 2011 F150 Owners Guide, what a relief.
The EcoBoost can tow up to 11,200 with weight distributing hitch, 1,120 on hitch, must have Heavy Payload Package, this includes 3.73 rear and LT E tires. I have the 8,200# package - 2,393 sticker cab/bed. Without weight distribution 5,000 with 500 tongue. Full load on the hitch and 550 in the cab, still have 723 to spare. Actual scale weight 6,260, difference 1,940 - 2,393 = 453, still on the safe side (I'm glad they just look at the door jam).
What I have been noticing is the tow rating may be great but the payload is wacky compared to it. 10,000 tow rating, 800 tongue before weight distribution and 1,700 combined payload. Be sure to upgrade to LT E rated tires and check hitch - Class IV.
You guessed it, went from 30 TT to 2014 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5 BHS, 10,100/1,510 pin.

[tjpolsin]

Lesson learned here is that your tow vehicle can be either a tractor or a bus, but it can't be both when you look at max ratings.

Trailer tongue weight (or pin weight) plus driver is pretty much all you can carry in a TV when towing at max capacity.

Tim

[Revschuette]

My '09 Chevy 1500 has a posted GVWR of 7000 on the door also.

[rryman]

Where does one find these "CAT" scales? I don't think there is any in our area. I'd be interested in weighing our rig when we get ready to take off. Pretty sure we're good on all points, but would be interesting to know.

[norty1]

Catscales.com

[Nighthawk 96]

Many truck stops, especially adjacent to an Interstate Hwy, have them.

[RedHorse1]

What Nort and Night say. Look at the truck stops on the interstate, almost everyone seems to have a scale.

[rryman]

Thanks for the info. I checked out their website and found one at the new truck stop at then North end of town. Fairly new truck stop and I had forgot about it.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by rryman

snip..... Fairly new truck stop and I had forgot about it.

Once you arrive at the CAT scale, the info in the following JOF link may be helpful:

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...v-tt-3871.html

Bob

[oldmanAZ]

Most truck stops have the scales. Many years ago I found one at a metal recycling center that was close to my house, but I was never sure of its accuracy.

[RedHorse1]

In my many (3) trips to the scale I've noticed they weigh to the nearest 10# but I have faith they are plenty accurate enough for what we need since they have a guarantee of accuracy. I think I've seen other scale brands but couldn't tell you the name.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Russ661

Camper-Bob, the sticker in the door jamb says 7000 GVWR so the difference is only 200 pounds. I have no explanation for the variance.

Originally Posted by Revschuette

My '09 Chevy 1500 has a posted GVWR of 7000 on the door also.

Well, now I just feel cheated.

When you're on the margin like I am, 200 lbs is a big deal.

Hopefully I won't have to worry about it ever again soon!

[rryman]

I just weight our TV yesterday at a Cat Scale just to get the weight of the truck fully loaded with all the stuff. I'm within about 500# of max on the steering axle, and still have about 2600 + to go on the rear, so should be good, with an advertised tongue wt. of 1250#, plus probably another 500 for cargo stuff. I'm "thinking" that a full tank of water behind the axles will offset some of the tongue weight.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by rryman

I just weight our TV yesterday at a Cat Scale just to get the weight of the truck fully loaded with all the stuff. I'm within about 500# of max on the steering axle, and still have about 2600 + to go on the rear, so should be good, with an advertised tongue wt. of 1250#, plus probably another 500 for cargo stuff. I'm "thinking" that a full tank of water behind the axles will offset some of the tongue weight.

When you weighed were you loaded as you travel, or nearly so? IMHO take the dru TT weight, add 1000# for your "stuff", multiply by 0.15. That's an estimate of your loaded weight and tongue weight. I'm bettin' you are gonna be good.