Went to a CAT scale today

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Dropnaduece

snip...... Is there a calculation for that Thanks

Grab a coffee..., the following link "may" shed some light on the subject, interesting read

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Towing: Weight Distribution (WD) Hitch --- How it Works

You will find that a WDH isn't actually designed to remove TT tongue weight off the hitch-ball..., it's primarily addressing the added weight placed on the TV's rear axle which is the resulting effect of the weight placed on the hitch-ball.

Bob

[Hohenwald48]

Although it's correct that tongue weight is what tongue weight is and won't be changed by the WDH, payload is impacted by the WDH as it actually does move some of the tongue weight to the trailer axles and off the rear of the TV.

[M&A]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Grab a coffee..., the following link "may" shed some light on the subject, interesting read

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Towing: Weight Distribution (WD) Hitch --- How it Works

You will find that a WDH isn't actually designed to remove TT tongue weight off the hitch-ball..., it's primarily addressing the added weight placed on the TV's rear axle which is the resulting effect of the weight placed on the hitch-ball.

Bob

I read all 18 pages. And forgot what I was doing. What happened to the days when my dad just hooked it up and off we went as long as the rear tires "looked okay"...

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by M&A

snip...... What happened to the days when my dad just hooked it up and off we went as long as the rear tires "looked okay"...

I remember those days

Bob

[jwmercer]

This is just BS, I've weighed hundreds of times in large commercial trucks, 80000Lbs and only once over the scale is required for an accurate weight. Anything else and the scale is out of tolerance and should not be trusted at all.

[dewey02]

Originally Posted by jwmercer

This is just BS, I've weighed hundreds of times in large commercial trucks, 80000Lbs and only once over the scale is required for an accurate weight. Anything else and the scale is out of tolerance and should not be trusted at all.

Agree, if total weight is all you want to know.

[jwmercer]

The total weight of whatever you put on the scale is all your ever going to get. Total weight of truck then total weight of truck and trailer, from there math is your friend.

[Doug]

Sir, you need to read the CAT SCALE sticky to understand why the different passes are required to sluce and dice the different weights we're after. Then math is your friend and maybe 1-2 passes after optimixing your WDH.

[Hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by jwmercer

This is just BS, I've weighed hundreds of times in large commercial trucks, 80000Lbs and only once over the scale is required for an accurate weight. Anything else and the scale is out of tolerance and should not be trusted at all.

And just exactly how did you determine the tongue weight with a single pass? Bumper pull travel trailers ain't 18 wheelers. I would think you would understand the difference. Can you imagine trying to lift up the 80,000 lb spring bars on that WDH?

[Mbranscum]

1st Pass (truck only)
Steer - 3360#
Drive - 2440#
Gross - 5800#

2nd Pass with TT (water 3/4 full with Harley Ultra inside)
Steer - 3360#
Drive 3080#
Trailer axle 6240#
Gross - 12720#

3rd Pass with WDH bars hanging
Steer - 3120#
Drive - 3520#
Trailer axle 6100#
Gross - 12740#

Best I can determine from Bob's instructions, my TT weight loaded with bike and water is 6920#

Tongue weight is 840#

Payload Rating on my truck is 1690#
GVWR of truck is 7200#
Trailer GVWR is 8000#

Any suggestions on anything I need to check or change?

Thanks to Bob for the original post of instructions!

[RedHorse1]

Compare your 3rd pass #'s to your TV's GAWR #'s. I find it interesting to compare the TV's GVW to the Sticker weight (this is how much "stuff" you are packing).

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Mbranscum

snip......Any suggestions on anything I need to check or change?.......snip

From what I can see your stated results look good, and your WDH adjustment is perfect based on your loaded conditions....., weight returned to your TV's front axle is spot on. With some of the newer TV's the manufacture gives a little wiggle room for front fender height return (weight return), your owners manual has this info.

Gross TH weight of 6,920lbs = 899lbs to 1,038lbs (13% to 15%) ideal loaded tongue weight range. Manufactures recommend a 10% to 15% loaded tongue weight range, but many folks find a 13% to 15% range enhances TV handling with longer/heavier TT's/TH's. Your 840lb tongue weight is ok, but I wouldn't go any lighter with your TH.

TH's by nature of design can become 'tail' heavy depending on toy(s) and fluid weights, thus the importance of a CAT scale visit.

Also, check your TV's rear GAWR against your scaled 3,080lbs (2nd pass)....., in many cases a TV's rear GAWR becomes the bench-mark prior to it's GVWR.

Great CAT data to start your travels with...., elements the guessing!

Bob

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by jwmercer

This is just BS, I've weighed hundreds of times in large commercial trucks, 80000Lbs and only once over the scale is required for an accurate weight. Anything else and the scale is out of tolerance and should not be trusted at all.

I used to haul mulch and wood chips on a Peerless trailer with a walking floor. having a big front end loader load the trailers over the top. We would drive on the scale and get weighed. There have been many times I was too heavy on the back tandems of the trailer or the drive tandems on the tractor. Fire up the PTO and get the walking floors moving and shift the weight which ever way it needed to go.
Yes, I have weighed 80,000 pounds but have overloaded axels.
Since trailers are empty when they are weighed At the factory, I have seen families over load the front or rear of the trailers THUS dramatically shifting the Tongue Weight.