So I visited a truck stop...

[Vtec44]

... and it happens to have a scale so I went on it to weigh my trailer. She's just over 2100lbs. Have you officially weigh your trailer? It was a lot easier than I expected. It felt so weird pulling my tiny trailer next to a bunch of big rigs.

IMG_8285.jpg (254.03 KiB) Viewed 1958 times

[XR-duous]

This is on my list for sure. Once I get it fully built I plan to head up empty and then loaded. I'll use the numbers to better determine tongue weight and tire pressure. Did you have to unhook the trailer from the truck?

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[swoody126]

most metal recycling businesses also weigh trailers

you can simply pull the TV wheels off the scale to get the weight riding on the tires

or you can unhook the trailer w/ both trailer tires and the tongue jack left on the scale to get a total weight

IIRC truck stop scales weigh by the hundred weight and recycler's scales weigh by the pound

sw

[booyah]

860lbs for smiles to go. Weighed it on the way home from a trip, so it had a half full cooler, but was otherwise loaded for war

[Vtec44]

This is on my list for sure. Once I get it fully built I plan to head up empty and then loaded. I'll use the numbers to better determine tongue weight and tire pressure. Did you have to unhook the trailer from the truck?

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I didn't have to unhook the trailer. There are 3 metal plates on this scale and they told me to place the trailer's axle on the very last plate. I weighed mine fully loaded with the water heater system, full propane tank, and a Honda EU2000 inside.

[Vtec44]

860lbs for smiles to go. Weighed it on the way home from a trip, so it had a half full cooler, but was otherwise loaded for war

Oh wow! You can pretty much tow that with anything!

[Squigie]

I've had to scale vehicles for many reasons in many places. (Free scales at truck stops aside...) The easiest was a recycling center in Henrietta, NY. Convenient location, quick service, easy exit for people only using the scales, and it only cost $2. Also; accurate to the pound, and verified with check weights twice a week.

It's a bit more of a drive where I'm at now, but still cheap (often free) and there's room to park a trailer and weight the vehicle by itself, in order to get the most accurate trailer weight possible with those scales. Not very precise, though. Their scales round to the nearest multiple of 20, and only get checked once a year ... just before the Weights and Measures Bureau's annual inspection. Landfills don't care about accuracy and precision as much as recycling centers.

[booyah]

860lbs for smiles to go. Weighed it on the way home from a trip, so it had a half full cooler, but was otherwise loaded for war

Oh wow! You can pretty much tow that with anything!

when I built it weight was a major concern, the original tow vehicle I pulled it with was a Scion XD 5speed.

1.8l FWD hatchback, not a ton of power size or tow rating.

Now a days we pull it with a Kia Sorento V6 AWD so its less of an issue, but since its so light I can pull it around the yard with the riding mower

[RJ Howell]

Most local recycle stations, like we have in town, will weigh you for free (if you don't want the weigh ticket). My town the guy now comes out and asks where I'm going, I've done it so many times before leaving. I drive up, weigh everything, truck and all. Pull out, detach and weigh the truck alone.

Your way gives you trailer weight minus tongue weight. I have to go home and weigh the tongue separately. Smart thing for me would be to drop the trailer on the scales, but they are way to busy (even in my small town) for that crap. The manager, now a friend, tells me let's do that on a Saturday afternoon. No one (or a very few) are on the scales passed 1pm. I'll have to take him up on that at least once to check my home numbers.

[S. Heisley]

... and it happens to have a scale so I went on it to weigh my trailer. She's just over 2100lbs. Have you officially weigh your trailer? It was a lot easier than I expected. It felt so weird pulling my tiny trailer next to a bunch of big rigs.

I suspect that was the loaded weight. If so, try to get the "factory" (unloaded) weight. Unless your trailer has brakes, it should not weigh more than 1500 lbs in California. That's the law.

[gudmund]

my 5x8 tear - empty was 1150 lbs (with the spare mounted) and 1440 lbs loaded (+the 160 lbs tongue weight puts it at 1600 lbs total ) Have used 'many' of my states weight stations after hours and what has impressed me is that they have all 'agreed' with each other - along with the ones in the state of Oregon agreeing also!! (the difference between them is Washington's are in 20 lb increments and Oregon's are in 50 lb increments) And YES mine has trailer brakes!! ............................

[Vtec44]

my 5x8 tear - empty was 1150 lbs (with the spare mounted) and 1440 lbs loaded (+the 160 lbs tongue weight puts it at 1600 lbs total ) Have used 'many' of my states weight stations after hours and what has impressed me is that they have all 'agreed' with each other - along with the ones in the state of Oregon agreeing also!! (the difference between them is Washington's are in 20 lb increments and Oregon's are in 50 lb increments) And YES mine has trailer brakes!! ............................

Right on!!

[Gold5one]

Glad that you have trailer brakes!- it will save your tow vehicle's brakes! The ABS servo control valve went out on my Chevy HHR after my last 1000 mile trip - Looking back, I had some pretty difficult braking situations and I think the extra hydraulic stress cause the module to fail. - I have a Honda Element now-